Flower arranging tips and Mother’s Day gifts with the white company 

March 1, 2018

The White Company Mothers Day Gifts, Skincare, Blanc Perfume, make up case (1)Image: Design Soda


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Spring is on its way, I mean if you’re prepared to look past the cold snap we’re currently having (excuse me, did somebody say -4 overnight in London, that seems a little cruel for March!). There are signs in the garden (even a few ranunculus shot up whilst the snow was settled this week) and in the longer daylight hours that Spring is coming, hallelujah to that. And if Spring is coming then Mother’s Day must be coming up too.

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Image: Design Soda
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Mother’s Day falls on 11th March this year and I was invited to an evening of flower arranging by The White Company last week with top London florists Phillipa Craddock, in celebration of the upcoming date. The White Company are one of my staple faves for understated well made pieces, I buy clothes for Ted, candles, perfume and the odd item of clothing and textiles, so I couldn’t imagine a more pleasant way to spend an evening than faffing with beautiful white blooms and foliage in the environs of their gorgeous Marylebone store. I picked up a few tips on how to make a professional looking arrangement which I will be sharing with you below. We were also given some lovely treats and I have been delighted to also choose my own edit of favourites that I think would make a fabulous Mother’s Day Present (which also means if my husband is reading, he’s off the hook for present selection this year!).

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The White Company Mothers Day Gifts, Skincare, Blanc Perfume, make up case (1)
Image: Design Soda
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There is a great selection of gift ideas on The White Company website for anyone looking to treat their mum. They have always been one of my favourite company’s for gifting and I have spent many a Christmas at the Sloane Square store queuing to have my choices expertly wrapped with their gorgeous trim. 

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The White Company Mothers Day Gifts, Orange Grove Candle (1)
Image: Design Soda
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Top of my list, is a perfume I’ve been wearing for the last four years, Blanc is a crisp and fresh scent that combines geranium, juniper and patchouli. This scent has been one of my secret addresses for scent (secret no more!). I have no qualms about wearing the same clothes or having the same Aldi light as every interiors blogger in the country, but scent is something so unique, the last thing I can imagine wanting from it would be to smell my perfume on others on the tube so for the last decade I’ve steered clear of all big brand perfumers. This scent, alongside my other staple from Carthusia, is an all time fave and I never let it run out without replenishing it. Hard to convey through word but people ask me all the time what it is, including male friends who I wouldn’t usually expect to ask. If you are looking for a Mother’s Day treat for someone in your life this is definitely my run away fave, and it’s only £35 so a very reasonably priced present too.

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The White Company Mothers Day Gifts, Skincare, Blanc Perfume, make up case (1)
Image: Design Soda
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The White Company make fabulous small luxuries and the next two items on my list are an understated grey make-up case that is perfectly stylish and tactile and the Orange Grove candle which is so joyful to light in Spring as it’s full of greenery and hazy sunshine heralding the approach of summer. An item we were given on the night in our goody bag was a skincare set, which I read rave reviews of when it launched last winter. I have absolutely loved using each piece over the last week, they are really light but also pretty powerful and they smell absolutely gorgeous. It had some stiff competition to follow as I have been using a very expensive face cream that I was gifted which is literally the dream, but this has been great on my 37 year old combination skin and I can see myself buying more when it runs out.

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Image: Design Soda

And so to flowers, after all Mother’s Day really isn’t fulfilling its obligation if you don’t at least receive a bunch of daffodils scrunched up in your child’s paws come Sunday morning. Happily the arrangements we made were much classier than daffs (which still have their place!). As we were at The White Company the blooms we were given were all white, combined with the green foliage. White and green are one of my very favourite colour combinations in the nature, in our own garden I have tried to keep all planting within the white, green and blue spectrum with the exception of our mimosa tree. There’s something so fresh about white and green together. 

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White Company Flower Arranging philippa Craddock Mothers Day (5)

Image: Design Soda


I really love floral arrangements that look a little casual and wild, but all of that relaxed wildness it deceptively tricky and I find them quite challenging to put together myself. It was enlightening to hear the rules that guide these arrangements and I found the following rules picked up from the experts at Phillipa Craddock super helpful.

 White Company Flower Arranging philippa Craddock Mothers Day (5)
Image: Design Soda
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Top 5 Tips for Arranging Flowers in a Vase
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Proportion
When thinking about cutting your stems you need to consider how they will sit in your chosen vase and how the height ratio should sit. Your arrangement should be about half as high as your vase.
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White Company Flower Arranging philippa Craddock Mothers Day (1)
Image: Design Soda
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Choose Fragrant Foliage
I loved the fragrant combination of this bouquet, the herbs adding not only scent but also enough movement to really loosen up the arrangement. I have used rosemary and eucalyptus (obligatory blogger qualification) before but it has never occurred to me to add other kinds. From olive and bay to thyme, adding in herbs makes an arrangement feel a little rustic and with so many flowers lacking scent in our overproduced cut flower industry they add a gorgeous aroma to the room.
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White Company Flower Arranging philippa Craddock Mothers Day (1)
Image: Design Soda
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Start with foliage before florals 
The foliage is the structural anchor of your bouquet which more delicate blooms can be placed against to protect their stems from breaking against your vase.
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 White Company Flower Arranging philippa Craddock Mothers Day (5)

Image: Design Soda
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No leaves in Vase
I knew that one should remove any leaves that will be submerged in water from stems to stop a murky pool of decomposing leaves from happening. But actually the same principle applies to all parts of the stem within the vase, as these leaves can drop and cause bacteria to bread in the water. Also, if you’re using a clear vase like this Luddington Vase from The White Company, the arrangement is substantially more attractive with bare stems below the lip of the vase.
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White Company Flower Arranging philippa Craddock Mothers Day (1)
Image: Design Soda
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Caring for your flowers:
Of course we all know that you should change the water regularly, daily in fact, to rid the water of bacteria which can grow and harm your blooms. But did you also know that using a little bleach can help flowers like roses to thrive? It’s even inside quite a few of the plant food sachets you get with shop bought bouquets. So clean, clean, clean your vase and make sure you change the water up all the time if you want your flowers to last.
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The White Company Mothers Day Gifts, Orange Grove Candle (1)
The White Company Mothers Day Gifts, Orange Grove Candle (1)

This post is a collaboration with The White Company.

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6 thoughts on “Flower arranging tips and Mother’s Day gifts with the white company 

  1. Anne Marie

    Beautiful flower arrangement, I have never thought about using herbs, I’ll definitely add them next time 🙂 Also I didn’t know White Company do beauty products. My skin is very demanding so I like to try new creams in a search fro my perfect one (have not found it yet) so I will definitely give White Company a try 🙂

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