Do you love flowers?

I grew up watching my mother create beautiful flower arrangements at home.

Most of her flowers were from our garden, but she also bought special ones in the markets. The porcelain and silver flower vases were exquisite, and she had them in all shapes and sizes. 

My mother would place all the flowers on the dining room table. She had small scissors to cut leaves and a clipper to cut the stems.

Flower frogs were next to their specific flower vase, and the whole table looked like an archeological dig display. I loved seeing the table before she started her arrangements.

I became interested in flower arranging when I was fourteen, and I joined a flower arrangement class.

I learned about the importance of leaving space between flowers and that adding texture made the arrangement more unique.

My teacher told me to think of the arrangement as a story. That grabbed my attention and has stayed with me since.

Each flower vase is a story.

Ikebana and life

I joined a few Ikebana workshops when I lived in Miami, and I loved them even though my flower arrangements never looked quite as serene as my teachers’.

Ikebana helped me understand how crucial it is to leave space for the main flowers in your arrangement.

It taught me that I have to do the same in my mind. I need to leave some space for things to happen! 

If you clutter your flower vase, you cannot find the hero!

If you clutter your mind with crazy thoughts, it’s very difficult to be creative! 

There is so much more to flower design!

Flower  design with a theme

When I go to the market, I look for different shapes and colors.  I visit all the flower stalls to see what I can do, and I think of themes.  

I look for texture and decide if I want harsh textures, soft ones, or none. 

I look at the colors that are available on that day and start with three colors.

After deciding on colors I look for shapes. 

When I finish buying the flowers, I look at them and sometimes wonder what made me buy them, but I don’t return anything because when the vases are finished, I can understand what they are all about.

My flower design routine

I place all my flowers and tools on my dining table, like my mother did.

I take a long look at all the colors, and I always think of the Chácara Ypê (a special childhood place).

I separate the flowers, and then I start to put them in the vase—one by one, slowly, thinking about my story. I developed the story and let the branches help me fill in the gaps. 

My favorite olive oil can

I bought a lovely old olive oil can at the Estremoz Street market; It was my first flower vase in Portugal, so it has a special meaning to me.

The olive oil can is bright blue and has someone’s initials painted on it.  I wonder who it was!

Fall and winter

Many people stop doing flower designs for themselves during the fall and winter months. They are the best months for flower arrangements! The colors are deep, and there are fewer, so it’s more challenging to figure something out. 

Since I moved to Portugal, I have made many road trips, and I take clippers with me so that I can cut whatever I find interesting by the country roads. 

FAQ Flower arrangements

1. How do I start planning for my flower arrangement?

Figure out where you want to place your flower and then decide on the height of the arrangement.

If it’s in the living room near a corner, it can be a tall arrangement, and if it’s for the dining table, it needs to be a low flower arrangement so people can see each other.

2. How do I pick a vase for a small dining table arrangement?

Pick a small vase and a roundish vase.

Make sure to use a flower frog to keep your flower in place. Some people place transparent tape in a grid format on the top of the vase to hold the flower in place. Remember to cover the tape with flowers or some leaves!

You can also use one small and short glass and place a large flower so that it looks like a cover- it needs to be just over the opening.  This will add texture and color to your table without taking up space.

3. How can you make flowers last long in a vase?

Cut the stems before you place them in the vase- this helps them absorb more water.

Remove excess leaves.

Place the vase in a shady area in your home.

Do not fill the vase with water so that you can add clean water every few days.

Flower inspirations for you:

Inspired by Nature

Moss and Stone Flower Design on Instagram

Narcissus Flowers on Instagram

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Updated July 2024