New Pad

Pastel b. has moved after being in the same neighborhood for eight years! It's quite a change but we are embracing the new opportunities here. Wish us luck!

Voila, first post from our new pad in 2012!! 

(pic taken at the flower show at Victoria park earlier in the month)

Beaming Flowers

The weather has been real nice and comfy the past two days, ranging from 17 to 22c. My mood has visibly kicked up a few notches, having been dampened by the rainy cold spell earlier on. Wet and cold, the worst combination ever.

Grasping the sunny day, Porky and I venture out. Perhaps it's me feeling bright and buoyant, everything around me simply look cheery and chipper. Stopping by the flower stall I make my way to vases of pale pink and green sweet peas.

Preferring muted pastels to bright primary colors I would have swooped up a bunch already but these yellow roses are simply irresistible on this gay day. Well, the yellow roses finally win. Now sitting prettily in the living room, they seem to be beaming every time I look.

Wise choice.

(The basket is from an Aveda hamper)

Burgundy Chrysanthemums

The unusually long cold spell has my senses seeking warmth with everything, steaming hot drinks and comfort food, soft flannel sheets and throws. I find these burgundy chrysanthemums warming to the eyes, the rich color giving the petals a velvety texture that's soft and plush.

The chrysanthemums come in pretty long stems which I have loosely arranged in an angular coffee jar. The shorter stems are gathered as a dome in a square votive candle holder.

I usually save sweeter fragrances for cooler weathers and STELLA is a favorite with its layered scent of roses. What a wonderful afternoon it would be to burrow under the throws with a steaming mug of Darjeeling, indulging in a good book enveloped in a cloud of roses. Divine.

Waxflower

Chamelaucium commonly known as Waxflower

The weather has been truly erratic this winter, with days alternating between 20c and 9c. The recent cold spell has lasted for days and the arrival of a rare warm and sunny day is welcomed relief to finally relax those hunched shoulders.

Porky and I grasped the chance to soak up every bit of sun at an outdoor cafe then taking a leisurely walk around. Our last stop was the flower stall and I was excited to see boxes of fresh flowers.

The lady was busy making tall floral arrangements for an opening. She said the big blooms were not for sale but I could choose amongst the smaller sprays use for adornment.

I finally picked two stems of waxflowers. The lady waved me off and said "on the house". Pruning and arranging my gift in the kitchen I was happy as a Porky (dog). The cluster of pink blossoms seemed to be smiling ear to ear back at me, too.

I crushed a few of the tiny leaves releasing their delicate aroma. Breathing in the fragrance I was awash with gratitude of a nice day lapping the sun with Porky and my vase of pink smileys.

My Baby Tree

Happy New Year! After a long hiatus, Pastel b. is back with more cards, floral designs and always something nice.

First in order is supporting WWF's My Baby Tree program. With every donation you will receive a tiny key chain canister with a living plant (cactus here). The funds go to the reforestation of the Rinjani forest in Indonesia and what's more, a tree will be named after you which could be found on Google Earth.

With proper care the teeny key chain plant will grow along with "your" very own tree. What a better way to welcome the New Year with vibrant green life and know you have made an Eco effort to make the world a better place!

Hyacinths

Hyacinths make beautiful bouquets and in this case a romantic posy. The dense cluster of florets makes an impressive presence and a minimal arrangement is all these bursting stars needed.

Hyacinths are also known for their fragrance. Too bad I cannot be in close proximity with these lovely flowers as I would start sneezing and working with them at length makes my head pound. I have asked some experienced florists if it happens to them and they almost unanimously say yes.

Fragrant flowers such as hyacinths are mostly placed at the shop front and milder ones near their work station. The practicality of the placement has an added advantage, lulling passerby to stop and browse as the fragrances greets their senses miles away.

Brilliant idea.

Potted Azalea

This pot of azalea is my first flowering plant. I have always been partial to cut flowers as opposed to potted ones for their convenience. The blossom in this little pot has lasted two full months. As the flowers begin to wilt I start reading up on the care of azaleas. After the first flowering it's recommended to plant the azalea outdoors for the next season. Since I don't have a garden it will have to stay in its pot.

The leaves have grown wild and unruly in the meantime. I am real skeptical about it blooming again but on the off chance that it would, I have kept up with the trimming to keep its original dome shape. It almost has a sorry end in the trash can one day because it is so dry and brittle. I have completely forgotten to water it.

I think this pot is a late bloomer. Spring has come and gone and it's the height of summer. Nonetheless it's a thrill to be counting the new buds. As a debutant there is still much to learn about plants. I am looking forward to the wide circle of buds yet to bloom and happily thinking ablout choosing my second flowering plant.

Apricot Blossoms

Apricot blossoms


Close up

Spring arrives at the fruit farm with blossoms everywhere. It's amazing these apricot trees can thrive on such arid land. To a happy harvest!!

Spring Flowers

Pale pink roses, selected poems by Walt Whitman


Ranunculus blossoms


Salmon pink baby carnations

Fleurs de printemps.

Votive Candles

Ranunculus blossoms in votive candle glasses

I have a weakness for candles. As a result I have a collection of burnt out votive candles gathering dust on a shelf. I have ruled out scraping the residual wax with knives because of the possible scar marks on the glass. One day, I come across a how-to guide on Martha's blog on cleaning votive candles.

I cannot believe the solution is this simple. Pop the candle in the freezer for a few hours. The rationale being the wax will contract in the cold and it can then be removed without any scraping.

I am pretty sure the glass will crack under the cold temperature but I decide to try it out anyhow, so I put two candles inside the freezer. After four hours I take the frozen votive out. I then use a knife to tease the wax around the glass, all the while remaining highly skeptical of my little experiment. Then I hear a tiny pop sound. I realize that air has been sucked in, meaning a vacuum is created between the wax and the glass.

This is the moment of truth. I turn the glass upside down and give the bottom a few knocks. The wax plop out with a thud on the kitchen counter. The glass is clean and gleaming with no trail of wax whatsoever!! I stand rooted to the spot holding the frosted glass, until the numbing cold from my fingers wake me from my trance. It works!!

My freezer is crammed with a dozen candles now. This simple tip has taken care of a problem that has been irking me for a long time and I am looking forward to a variety of glass holders. Above are the two votive candles from the experiment and they make such perfect vases for solitaire blossoms.

What a great tip from Martha!!

Tiger Lilies

Tiger Lilies

I got a stem of tiger lilies at the supermarket checkout yesterday. It was really a spur of the moment thing as I was already juggling a big bag of grocery, my handbag plus dry clean. It was one amazing feat to get the flower home. I piled everything on one arm in order to free my other hand to hold it. With stone on one arm and feather on the other, I waddled lopsidedly home.

I was so proud the flower was intact when I dropped everything on the dining table. I already had a visual picture of the lilies with its long stem standing in a tall vase. I went in search of the vase all the while thinking how elegant the lilies would look. Hugging the vase, I went back to the kitchen.

I tried to ease the stem out of the plastic wrapping but it would not budge. They did a real good job making sure the flower stayed in place with mounds of tape. After futile attempts to push the stem out, scissors were called in for the job. Just when I was cutting around the tape, lo and behold the stem broke!! I stood rooted in the kitchen like an idiot holding the lilies I had protected all the way home with the lower stem dangling in the plastic wrapping.

Aghast at what had happened I consoled myself at least I had half the length left. I put the broken stem on the kitchen counter in search of another vase but I guess the stem was just too fragile. When I took the flower out, the stem broke again with only one fifth of its original length left. The stem was so short by now I could only put it in the tiniest vase.

Talk about all the effort to get the lilies home. It is a lesson well learnt, impulse buying is never a good idea.

Here is a shot of the tiger lilies with a treasured antique opera glass.

Valentine New Year

Valentine's Day happened to fall on Chinese New Year this year. It's supposed to occur every thirty eight years. As opposed to the usual bouquet of cut flowers, I received a big vase of orchids arranged with a mass twirl of silvery buds. It felt more celebratory than romantic, so I guess New Year's won out as the decoration theme this Valentine's.

I could not resist getting sweet peas when I chanced upon them and they had fondly become everyday flowers around the house. I thought I had seen the lots, but during the frequent, albeit brief sojourn on my desk, I still marvelled at their variations. I was thrilled the paler buds all bloomed from the two latest stems. To keep the older blossoms just a few days longer, the stems were cut to an inch leaving the freshest part in water.

The free flowing sweet peas were the Midas touch, adding sweetness and romance to the otherwise austere Valentine orchids.

Sweet Peas

Champagne color Sweet Peas


A perennial favorite
Sweet peas have an air of nonchalance with their crinkled petals and rowdy blossoms. Why conform when there are so many possibilities? Exactly what nature intended.

Chrysanthemums and Azaleas

Variegated Chrysanthemums


White Azaleas

This is a pot a white azaleas I got before X'mas. The buds are too numerous to count and the circle of flowers just gets wider by the day. Finding a new blossom is a joy in itself. At times when I want to empty my mind, I'd sit by the window to gaze at it.

The chrysanthemums are actually two stems of cut flowers. I like the wayward arrangement of the bouquet and the irregular form of the petals. They look like wild flowers picked up on a country side walk.

Thanksgiving

Rust color Chrysanthemums and Velvet variegated Carnations

Happy Thanksgiving!! These are two mini vases of Chrysanthemums and Carnations I have arranged today. The vases look filled to the brim, but each one has only two stems of flowers. I have cut them really short to fill the 3" and 4" glass containers.

I have chosen 2 matching dark brown glass vases of different heights to complement the wintry hues of rust and velvety purple. The colors of the flowers have such a presence about them, I think this simple arrangement befits them most.

Although a wreath would be nice, I think this frugal arrangement also has its appeal. Happy thanksgiving!!

Flower Shoot

Red Roses Dome Posy


White and Pale Green and Sweet Peas Posy


Petit Sweet Pea Posy for Flower Girls


Mid-size Red Rose Posy for bridesmaids


Red and Green make a nice contrast

During the last week of October, we had a flower shoot done by Terry Bear. We were worried about the weather because the whole week had been cloudy and murky. We wanted the flowers shot under natural light and we were so thankful on the day of the shoot, the weather was fine and there was abundant lighting.

After a couple of test shots, Terry decided against the commercial style shooting, where the bouquets were upright and shot rigid as a statue. I was thrilled with the resulting photos. The lighting highlighted the layers and textures of the posies. The greatest part was the composition of the photos. They were artful, but at the same time Terry created a laid back, non structured ambience.

I hope in the coming days, more flowers and posies will be featured here.
(All Photos by Terry Bear, a very big thank you to YY)

With new eyes

The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ~ Marcel Proust


Sprig of flower by Terry Bear

Ivy by Terry Bear

Heart by Terry Bear

Mandarin duck by Terry Bear

Silhouette by Terry Bear

I never would have guessed these photos were taken in the local park I used to frequent years ago. Terry is a moderator at a listed company and photography is a hobby. I used to work with his girlfriend in the same company and when she knew I was looking for a photographer to take photos for my portfolio, she offered to help.

After looking at the Terry's work, I know my portfolio will be really nice. We have scheduled to do a trial shoot for two posies next week. I have a feeling I will find "the" photo at the trial.

(All photos my Terry Bear)

Jasmine surprise

A friend dropped by and gave me a really nice gift. Wrapped in light ivory paper were two bouquets of jasmine. The fragrance was heavenly, light and fresh. She said the flowers were not much, but I think it's the thought that counted.

Too bad jasmines were such delicate flowers that could last only two to three days max, but I guess the fragility just made them more precious.

White and Green

White Lily Posy with generous greens for adornment

Finally there is a posy with my favorite color scheme, white and green. The white lilies were adorned with 3 kinds of greens. First, we had to gather the lilies into a flat-topped circle, then we had to make a loop with the ophiopogon leaves, which incidentally looked a little like spring onions. The tips were left as sprays.

Lastly the posy was enveloped by big hosta leaves. We used another deeper green leaf, the aspidistra, to wrap around the stems of the lilies to hide the flower tape and anchor it with a pearl pin. Voila, this is the White and Green lily posy!

Roses

Champagne roses with red berries


Sheathed in matching organza adds a softness to the posy


Red roses and African berries make a lovely wintry bouquet

Big blossoms add fullness to the posy

Even though I am not a big fan of roses, I must admit that the posies we made in class the past two weeks were my favorites in this course. Both posies shown above were hand tied, with no wires.

Hand tied posies adds spontaneity to the bouquet as the flowers arranged this way are less rigid in structure.

Two more classes left, I'll definitely miss it!!