A Seasonal Swagful before Festivity Plays Begin!
Our flowery adventures as they were this week
The last weeks of November are often compared to the calm before the Christmas storm but we have been busy hosting our second evening with the lovely Nordic Elements crew, unpacking so many gorgeous pieces & pots for our festive flowers, and making the last of the events before everyone turns to December dressing their home.
FLOWERS WE LOVED TO MAKE : TURAS
Today is all about a throwback to a terrific few September days in Sligo where we dressed The Model Arts Centre for a special happening called Turas. This inaugural meet aptly called ‘Conversations with the Future’ not only contained inspired days filled with future plans but asked us to conceive a contemporary Irish take on floral dressing & staging.
Ultan & myself with Damian Devaney at Turas Sligo 2023
The event blooming was a result of many months mindstorming & moodboarding. We wanted to dress the space suggestive of the mountain & seascapes of Sligo whilst simultaneously producing a dramatic impact for all Turas attendees.
Space One - The Atrium - A meandering ebulllient garland burst from the top of the rendered wall filled with colour and texture. We used a scaffold ladder to make the flowers wander in a deliberate way around the Turas graphic.
A console opposite which could have looked blank and vacant was also brought to life with a floral sculpture.
The ingredients held by chicken wire included “
Hydrangeas, Eucalyptus, Heathers, Snowberries, Grasses, Preserved Ruskus as hues of punky pinks, reds & neons played with Autumnal earthy ruddy tones.
Space Two - The Gallery - This long room would form the epicentral point of Turas. Groups at tables would hang around in discussion here. We decided to style the long stairwell wall with native planting which not only would soften the stark interior but act as a sound blanket too emitting positive air.
Appassionata Flowers x Turas
The ingredients placed so perfectly here included Pink heathers, Ferns, Mosses all combined in various groupings
And then we popped a punky pink heather plant in concrete to dress the centres of the tables keeping the sustainable contemporary vibe alive.
Space Three - The Front Gallery
Who wouldn’t want to see a mass of Montbretia/Crocosmia exploding out of moss & terracotta. Well we thought that everyone on their coffee breaks would.
This flower is usually speckled in clusters all around both gardens, seasides & country lanes in Sligo.
Space Four - The Meeting Rooms
These darker rooms required a textural blast. A seasonal boom using berries, amaranthus, willows & hazel, red orchids, hydrangea, snowberries and more was placed on perspex in each room to revive everyone sitting in there for a while.
Space Five - Juniper Barn
This home of Christopher and Dorothy-Ellen Kitchin is located on the Newpark Estate in Ballymote. The house was built in 1780 and the Kitchin family have lived at Newpark since 1912. Newpark has always been home to interesting events including heritage events, equestrian events, charity events, concerts, parties and the gardens are open as part of Sligo’s Secret Gardens. Now the barns are used for weddings, concerts, charity events, private parties and filming.
Juniper is an earth conscious venue. Surrounded by gardens, woodlands and a lake, protecting these important habitats is important to our ethos. All wood fires are fuelled by sustainably managed woodlands on the estate.
We simply placed posies we felt reflected the surrounds around all along the length of each long table to create a runner like effect amidst the cheer & conversations present for the future. What beautiful stables & places to pop our blooms into.
NATURE STUDIES : Helle Moyna, Nordic Elements :
1. What is your favourite flower & what does it evoke for you?
Tulips – I love all stages of them, from the crispy freshness to floppy full bloom. I love the tall French tulips as they are so elegant and sculptural.
2. How do you like to display flowers at home and what is your favourite vessel?
I have a variety of vessels (perk of the job and many years of collecting) so all depending on what I have picked in the garden or bought, I style according to height and quantity. It could be anything from an apple tree branch with baby apples which I will place in a tall sculptural vase or a simple cylinder vase full of tulips.
3. When setting a winter table, what would best describe your style?
Simple and elegant, always a lot going on with plates, glasses etc so I use smaller vases with stems and tealights to keep it cosy, the decorations low and let the conversations flow and also easy to move around and make space for serving dishes.
4. What elements of nature would make up a perfect dining table for you?
Foliage, I will always use some kind of seasonal foliage such as Rosemary or Thyme stems (lovely scent) sometimes just on their own or with seasonal flower stems. I also place a piece of foliage on the linen napkins.
5. Which florists do you love most around the world?
Appassionata obviously but also a big fan of Copenhagen Stalks & Roots.
(Thank you X)
6. Do you have any favourite flower books?
Bláthanna – honestly! Just love the whole artistic and natural direction.
(Thank you X)
7. What would be in your ultimate favourite bouquet?
Tulips, Hydrangeas, Tuberose, Peonies + interesting grasses and foliage
Join Helle & her amazing crew for ‘A Nordic Christmas with Helle’s Tips & Traditions’ next Wednesday evening 6th of December & go visit this beautiful store for both Christmas gifts & to see the most beautiful rug designed by Ellie Dunne & Kasthall for charity - All information is HERE
FLOWERY NOTIONS & HOW TO MAKE & DO :
YOUR FESTIVE DOOR SWAG
Well, the Druids and Celtic priests believed that evergreen foliage had magical leaves to ward off the evils of winter, the Vikings called conifers the plant of their Sun God & Christians vowed that, by hanging evergreens at home, everlasting life was both promised & that Spring would bring brightness again.
Yes, the Festive Door Swag is having a moment. This stylish and informal foliage door decoration hails from Scandinavian countries. It gives a feeling of understated elegance plus it takes half the time a wreath takes to make!
Whatever the history of evergreen door dressing, the heartiness of the branches & foliages used means that they survive harsh winter weather outside. Hanging them on your door will signify love and strength & also ensure that you have the best dressed door on your street.
THE INGREDIENTS
- Greenery Branches (use the base branches of your Christmas tree, mixes of evergreens and twigs you forage from your garden or find with fallen elements on a walk like pine, spruce, fir, lichened twigs.
- Look for Irish grown foliages/shrubs like copper beech, eucalyptus, hemlock, ozomanthus, bogmyrtle, birches & then you can add berried holly before the birds eat it..)
- Decorative elements like rosemary, dried lavender, holly look great too.
- Twine/Wire to secure the branches.
- Ribbon to cover the binding and to dress your door.
THE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cover your table with newspaper first to make the cleaning up afterwards so much better. Put on some great tunes to keep you bopping as you bind!
2. Trim any unwanted parts of the boughs.
3. The idea is that you would like your swag to hang flush to your door SO … choose the larger flatter branch as your base piece.
4. Add another layer of slightly shorter boughs with a fuller form
5. Then create the 3rd decorative layer using your pretty foliages and herbs, pine cones, ribbons , baubles & anything you like really.
6. Bind the tops of the stems tightly with wire or string.
7. Trim the ends so that the swag is even at the top.
8. Cover the binding with gorgeous ribbon trailing or in a bow depending on what you love.
9. Attach it to your door with a nail, by hanging over the door, in whichever way you can at home.
10. Now stand back, smile, take a photo & show off your dandy festive swag to all.
AND HERE’S A PDF SO YOU CAN PRINT THE BEST SWAG INSTRUCTIONS:
SIOPA STORIES
We have just had the most gorgeous delivery of pots from our Danish friends Bergspotter - so perfect to use for your indoor plants or to bury your spring bulbs in.
And check out our dried natural Wreath selection - they are flying like festive angels out the door so do catch them if you fancy being the best dressed door on your street.
BLÁTHANNA GRÁ - a gathering of all we loved this week
IN MUSIC
Irish folk brothers Ye Vagabonds and Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers band boygenius have recorded a charity single of the traditional gathering song ‘The Parting Glass’ together. A wonderful version of this song was recorded by the late Sinéad O’Connor in 2002 and the single artwork features a portrait of her Just like all of Bridgers Christmas songs, the proceeds will be donated, this time to the Aisling Project. Chosen by the Sinéad O’Connor Estate, the Aisling Project is an after school program for children
LISTEN HERE
https://boygenius.lnk.to/ThePartingGlass
IN WORDS
Winter Papers
- Could we love the cover of Winter Papers Volume 9 anymore with the mix of burgundy, gilt & an Aran jumper print in antique cream … And inside beyond the knitting needles prints is an Irish annual anthology for the arts by our favourites Kevin Barry & Olivia Smith. This curated collection of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, interviews and in-conversation pieces on writing, film, theatre, photography and music makes for the most wonderful winter read especially as nights darken to indigo blue.
IN LIFE
Bravo to Ireland Prints for Peace who have curated a collection of photographic prints from Ireland’s best talents including Seán Breithaupt, Yvette Monahan, Dragana and many more. This print sale is an effort to raise funds for MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) & MSF (Medécins San Frontiéres)
The sale runs until the 7th of December. Prints are prices at €50 + postage and you can order by going to their Instagram page and then directly contacting your preferred artist.
IN LOVE
Gabhann Dunne – Eight Billion Mystics – Until December 22nd in The Molesworth Gallery
Each precisely petite piece astounded. Gabhann Dunne creates energy in flight, in sea, on beach as he paints almost as if each stroke is filled with filigree. Colour compounds are created by him to suggest neons, brights and contrast. Our favourites were the birds so textured that you could sense their flutter and flight in each canvas stare. Dunne explores flora and fauna with an imaginative eye & it was such a pleasure to chat to his enthusiastic self that evening we went along.
Gabhann Dunne at The Molesworth Gallery
WALKS WITH ELLA
Our beagle Ella loves a walk and noses herself around anywhere we bring her. I love the space and time as she trundles along attempting to chase squirrels to take in podcasts by brilliant folk.
Sarah Blondin -
Sarah is a storyteller, author, and meditation guide, who unceasingly ruminates on the complexities and nuances of life and the human heart. Sarah’s meditations & newsletter offer so much bright each day.
Life & Art FT Weekend – Robin Lane Fox - https://www.ft.com/content/8c2d220f-27e1-4b1c-9080-4e2548864f50
How to keep your plants happy as it gets cold…This is for everyone if you just need those practical tips from this ever inspiring gardener and writer especially as temperatures drop this week.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK FRIENDS - A THOUGHT :
Psychotherapist Helen Marie posted recently about GLIMMERS, ‘small connections in the body that help the nervous system feel calmer. Micro moments of awe that create a shift within that brings feelings of ease, calm & hope’
This time of year should be all about creating glimmers daily we think whether it’s a sunset, a starry sky, warming your face in winter morning sun, smiling at a stranger, dancing to your favourite song, staring at the sea or simply taking five minute of peace to breathe.
A simple way to create a daily sparkle. X