Styling Notes from The Suffolk Nest

Enjoy peony season before it’s too late by creating this simple yet stunning arrangement and bringing a touch of spring to your dining table   Peony season is one of my favourite times of year. For just a few weeks each spring and early summer, this beautifully fragrant bloom takes centre stage, stealing the spotlight with its densely packed petals in a range of different shades, elegant stem, and upturned verdant green leaves. Unfortunately, peony season is almost criminally short. That’s why I always try to make the most of it by showcasing this fleeting flower in a stunning seasonal tablescape design. Follow my step-by-step guide to create a simple yet effective arrangement that never fails to spark conversation. I recommend using coral charm peonies for this display as they are often the first variety to become available in supermarkets, florists, and farms from the end of April.   Create your own peony table arrangement What you’ll need: 30 x coral charm peonies 3 x flower trays Chicken wire Snips   Top tip: Make this arrangement when your peonies are fully open (I find that coral charms usually open very quickly!) This creates added impact, and you won’t need as many blooms to build something truly special.   Step 1 Start with the chicken wire. You’ll need to scrunch it so that it makes three or four layers and fits snugly inside your flower trays.  Step 2 Next, fill each tray with fresh, clean water. Aim to stop filling when you’re around 2cm below the top of each tray. Step 3 Now it’s time to prepare your peonies. Cut each stem at a sharp 45-degree angle and insert them into the flower tray, making sure you use the chicken wire for extra support. Vary the height and direction of each peony stem to ensure your arrangement has depth and interest. Top tip: While tall peonies might look incredible in the wild, they’re not ideal on a dining table. If your stems are too high, they’ll block guests’ views and stop the flow of conversation. If you’re not sure whether you’ve got the right height or not, try placing the tray on your table, take a seat, and double-check whether your eyeline would be interrupted. Step 4 Continue filling all the gaps in each tray until the chicken wire is no longer visible. Once you’ve enjoyed the arrangement as part of your spring tablescape, you can move it onto your windowsill or fireplace mantle to enjoy it for even longer!

Looking for inspiration this season? Our guide to spring wreath designs is sure to spark your creativity, whether you’re looking to create a fresh, faux, or dried flower display There are many things that signal the shift to spring: the changing weather, the lighter evenings, and the flower buds starting to re-emerge from their winter hibernation to name just a few. But one of the biggest signifiers that we’ve entered a new phase of the year for me is displaying my spring wreath on our front door. If you’ve been following The Suffolk Nest for some time, you’ll know that I like to have a wreath year-round. But there’s something extra-special about spring’s edition. It allows me to get creative with many of my favourite flowers and foliage: tulips, blossom, hellebore, olive, and rosemary are some of my seasonal picks. Summing up the season One of the many things I love about creating seasonal wreaths is that they encourage me to find inspiration in nature. I really enjoy trying to replicate the things I see from my window or outside on our family walks, whether that’s by foraging as we go or buying in fresh, faux, and dried flowers. Look in your garden or visit your local park to see what’s in season. Perhaps you’ll be drawn to ranunculus, muscari, or forsythia? Or maybe you’ll love the muted green tones of eucalyptus and pittosporum? And don’t forget spring bulbs: muscari, hyacinth, and primrose are all stars of this season. Getting started with a wreath base Personally, I like big wreaths (around 70cm in diameter) that are a little wild and wispy with an abundance of texture. That’s why I tend to use a 12-inch wreath base, whether it’s made of wire, rattan, or straw. Straw wreath bases are a great fit for dried and faux flowers while rattan and wire bases hold moss well, making them an ideal choice when you want to increase the longevity of your fresh flowers and foliage. When it comes to design, the possibilities are endless. No matter which base I choose, I try to make sure it’s as sustainable as possible and aim to re-use it throughout the season. Fresh spring wreaths If you’d like a wreath that transforms over time, I recommend trying a living wreath. Spring is the perfect time to make these pieces as there are plenty of bulbs and plants to choose from. Living wreaths are dynamic creations that use plants like hyacinth and muscari that continue to grow. They can be easily attached to a mossed wreath base using floral wire to secure them in place. Add fresh flowers like tulips for instant visual appeal, but don’t forget to include water vials as they offer the best water source for these blooms. The plants and bulbs just need a good water every few days to keep the moss and any soil damp – I do this with a water spritz. Once the freshly cut flowers have gone over in the water vials, you can easily replace them to give your wreath a new lease of life. Watch a short video here of me demonstrating how to create a living wreath or follow the process in more detail with the in-depth videos saved over on our YouTube channel. Dried spring wreaths A great alternative to a living wreath, dried and preserved flowers and foliage can create an everlasting showpiece. I designed this spring wreath a few years ago and set out to echo the appearance of a bird’s nest by using a chunky birch twig wreath base, pussy willow branches, preserved moss, and an abundance of delicate quails’ eggs. This is now a wreath that can be brought out and put back on display year after year with very little maintenance needed. Just be mindful that any wreath using dried or preserved flowers shouldn’t get wet. Faux spring wreaths Instant impact, zero maintenance, and long-lasting? That’s what you’ll get with a faux spring wreath. These are pieces you can continue to display for years to come. You can create your own quickly and effectively with a rattan base and a few stems of your favourite faux spring blossom or purchase a ready-made one. At The Suffolk Nest, we offer a range of faux seasonal wreaths as well as a DIY wreath kit. Feeling inspired to try making your own? Watch this video where I demonstrate how to create a cherry blossom faux wreath step-by-step.

This month, say hello to sunshine with brilliant new season blooms. Read on to discover 10 spring flowers that are sure to brighten your day As we say goodbye to the cooler winter months and welcome a new season, it’s the ideal time to enhance your interiors with flowers. March signals the start of spring and the perfect excuse to invest in blooms that will brighten your home. With so many varieties available - in a range of vivid colours - you’re sure to find a new favourite. 1. Tulips If you’re looking for a bloom that will instantly illuminate your space, I will always recommend tulips. These are readily available and offer a wide variety of colours to suit every taste and mood. There are many tips and tricks that people employ to help their tulips stand tall, ranging from piercing holes in their stems to popping a copper coin in the vase, but personally, I like to let them do their thing, twisting and turning as they reach for the sunlight.   2. Muscari Muscari are also known as grape hyacinths and they’re a particularly delicate spring flower. I think their tiny flower spears are uniquely charming, whether you choose a variety with white petals or blue. At this time of year, I tend to pot my muscari bulbs up in a ceramic bowl or rattan basket and wait for them to emerge. 3. Daffodils With the National Day of Wales - St David’s Day - celebrated on the 1st of March, daffodils start popping up at almost every supermarket as soon as spring starts. They’re also one of the most affordable seasonal blooms – often offered for just £1 – and offer a brilliantly bright shot of sunshine yellow that is sure to lift your mood.   4. Hyacinths Whether displayed as bulbs in a planter or freshly cut, chunky hyacinth stems are a statement spring flower. When in full bloom, they feature densely clustered star-shaped flowers that have the most incredible fragrance! While there are several colour varieties to choose from, white, pink, and purple are my favourites. 5. Blossom When I think of spring, blossom is one of the first things that comes to mind. Blackthorn, hawthorn, and cherry blossoms all start blooming in March – they appear fleetingly but are always beautiful. If you’re fortunate enough to have a tree in your garden, snip a few stems and display them indoors while you can. I love to create an arrangement of different blossom branches in a large white ceramic vase.   6. Ranunculus Ranunculus are one of my favourite spring blooms. They’re similar to peonies and provide plenty of visual intrigue thanks to their stunning layered petals, which are so delicate they look like precious origami. 7. Anemones When you’re coming out of the winter months and looking forward to a refreshing spring, reach for anemones. This spring bloom symbolises relaxation and has large round petals that are stunningly pure and pristine.   8. Hellebores Hellebores are effortlessly elegant with clustered petals in shades of green, white, pink, plum, and burgundy. I particularly love the double variety. The Hellebore plant is a great hardy pick for your garden, but once you cut its stems, it can be a little tricky to stop them from wilting. Check out my top tips here to help you keep your stems hydrated for as long as possible.  9. Forsythia Forsythia are tall woody stems that come with a generous scattering of small yellow flowers. Their vibrant colour means that you need just a few stems to make a stunning arrangement that will brighten your day. Stack a selection of stems in your favourite vase and display it somewhere where it’s sure to catch your eye.   10. Mimosa Mimosa are like a mini ray of sunshine. Their bright yellow flowers are said to symbolise sensitivity and safety, which means they are often connected with International Women’s Day, which takes place on the 8th of March. I love styling these throughout spring either en masse or as a wreath for our door.

March blooms are more than simply beautiful flowers, they also have unique meanings that make them extra-special. Read on to discover the symbolism behind your spring flowers With 20th of March marking the official start of spring, we can see signs of the new season all around us in nature. Magnolia buds unfurl their striking large blooms, delicate white flowers blossom on the blackthorn – closely followed by beautiful pink cherry blossom – and crocuses and daffodils appear along the grass verges and in our local parks. As we witness these March blooms, we’re reminded of the enduring language of nature.  At this time of year, I tend to start spending a little more time outside, making the most of the longer days and slightly better weather! Watching the baby lambs take their stumbling first steps in the fields that surround us in the Suffolk countryside symbolises that this is a time of new beginnings and rejuvenation. I always feel inspired to get more fresh air: getting out for more walks, inviting air into the house by opening the doors and windows, and giving the lawn its first cut.   The meaning of tulips Tulips are a flower that I’m always drawn to in spring. Readily available and offered in a wide variety of colours, tulips have stunning, ruffled petals and vivid green leaves. They’re also a fantastic flower for a special occasion; tulips symbolise love and affection making them the perfect gift for birthdays or anniversaries. I love to include fresh white double tulips in our spring wreath kits. Wreaths have several meanings too and are traditionally associated with life and the cyclical rhythm of the natural world. The meaning of cherry blossom In recent years, my Instagram feed has been filled with people foraging a big branch of blossom and positioning it in a large rustic urn to create a dramatic arrangement. It’s a trend I can definitely get behind; I appreciate how blossom serves as a reminder of life’s fleeting nature and the importance of cherishing every moment. For those of us who can’t get their hands on fresh blossom, our faux branches are a realistic representation of nature’s beauty. We have Sakura branches adorned with delicate white flowers, Cherry with its scattering of larger blooms, and Plum with its small green leaves. The meaning of magnolia With its large blooms in shades of pink and white, magnolia is one of my favourite spring flowers. The contrast between the fragrant flowers and bare branches is impactful without being overpowering – and their lemon-vanilla scent is truly irresistible. Appropriately for such a stunning flower, magnolia is said to symbolise timeless beauty, endurance, and dignity. Its hardiness (some varieties are evergreen) have also led to magnolia becoming associated with strength and resilience. The meaning of daffodils The daffodil is the national flower of Wales and closely tied to St David’s Day, but it’s a joyful bloom to include in your arrangements throughout March and beyond. Daffodils are also one of the most affordable spring flowers, available for just £1 in many supermarkets. With their vibrant golden shade, daffodils embody hope and optimism. They also symbolise new beginnings and the promise of brighter days ahead, as well as bringing a smile to my daughters’ faces.

This Spring, why not create a polished yet playful centrepiece at home with a stunning artificial Easter tree? Read on for my quick and easy guide to building your own Have you ever wondered why celebration trees are confined to Christmas? The great news is – they don’t have to be! In our home, creating an Easter tree has become something of an annual spring tradition. Built with artificial floral branches and adorned with charming bunnies and eggs, this arrangement has the power to captivate the young – and the young at heart – with its infectious charm. This yearly activity is one of my seasonal highlights and something that brings me even more joy now that our girls want to get involved too. While I love the concept of an Easter tree, I can’t take credit for inventing it! This tradition actually originated in Germany, where it’s known as an “Osterstrauch.” While its exact origin story is subject to debate, it’s believed to have evolved from the tree of life, an ancient symbol that coincides perfectly with the arrival of spring, a time of rebirth and renewal. Building the branches For me, an Easter tree can serve as a seasonal statement piece, especially when it’s on the larger side. I love placing one in our entry way to greet guests and displaying another on our kitchen island so that I can enjoy it every day. If you’re feeling inspired to create your own, I’m here to help. The best place to start is with a vessel. I love choosing a large white ceramic vase that is proportionate to the branches and ensures their brown tones stand out - our Suffolk Vase would be a great choice. Now, it’s time to start adding branches. Don’t be afraid to use a mix of different varieties to create a display with visual intrigue. I usually reach for our contorted hazel branches first. I love the distinctive shapes of these pieces and they’re perfect for the base as they’re nice and sturdy and can easily support some of our heavier decorations. Alongside the hazel branches, I like to add a selection of our faux branches to add interest colour. I love the delicate white and blush blooms of our faux plum blossom, magnolia branches, and cherry blossom. Time to decorate Once your branches are in position, it’s time for the fun bit. Adding an array of Easter decorations to your arrangement brings it to life without overpowering your interior décor. Neutral colours and pieces with a crafty aesthetic tend to suit this display well: our delightful crochet bunnies, paper honeycomb eggs, felt rabbits, and crochet eggs are just a few of my favourites. Choose each piece carefully so that you start to construct a narrative throughout your Easter tree. I suggest mixing your new additions in with treasured family heirlooms to create a unique tree with a deeply personal meaning.  Start with the large decorations first. Take your time and try to space each item so that the arrangement looks natural and random. Ideally, every piece will have space to shine. Once the largest pieces are in place, start to fill in the gaps with smaller items. Keep experimenting, standing back, and looking at your tree from different angles until you’re completely happy with it. The end result will provide a joyful centrepiece for your Easter celebrations, a spectacular symbol of nature’s abundance and the promise of new beginnings to come.

Whether you’re planning a special family meal or an egg hunt in the garden, follow our top tips to help you elevate your décor and celebrate Easter in style. This may be a bold statement to make but, I think I prefer Easter to Christmas! While there are many things I love about the festive season, it’s non-stop for both The Suffolk Nest and our family. Easter is much more relaxed; it feels like the pressure is off and there’s no need to panic about present shopping or juggling a full social diary. I also love that Easter coincides with Spring and is often accompanied by the perfect weather for a big family tradition – our annual Easter egg hunt! When my sister and I were little, our parents would spend ages creating a treasure trail for us to follow and find the hidden eggs. As we got older, they upped the stakes by leaving very cryptic clues for us to untangle. Now that Chris and I have got our girls, as well as a niece and nephew, our eggs hunts are extra adorable. Easter dinner is another of my favourite traditions at this time of year. We always aim to gather together as a family and share a meal. I like to create a special spring tablescape for the occasion, making sure I include seasonal Easter décor. Timeless ceramics It’s fair to say that I’ve spent the past few years growing my Easter décor collection. I’m now the proud owner of quite a large selection of bunnies and eggs! I tend to keep my collection out on display through spring as they blend in seamlessly with the rest of our interior décor. I believe the key is choosing pieces that nod to tradition while also having a timeless quality. It’s also important to take your overall home style into account; a neutral room will likely be best complemented by white, grey, and earth tone pieces, for example. Our ceramic white sitting bunnies and ceramic white rabbit with egg are elegant and simply stylish. I really enjoy how they vary in height and size so that I can create a beautiful and visually intriguing display. I like to place them along the length of our dining table, interspersed with simple white tulips in bud vases, or position them on a shelf to add a shot of springtime freshness. Crochet ornaments This year, we’ve introduced a new collection that is ideal for celebrating Easter in style. Our selection of crochet Easter decorations strikes the perfect balance between handmade charm and professional polish. The collection includes hanging eggs, hanging bunnies, and standing bunnies – and all three are adorable. We’ve all been swooning over them ever since they arrived! A fun and family friendly option, these playful pieces have a soothing neutral colour palette, which means they work beautifully displayed alongside our elegant Easter ceramics. If you’d like to incorporate them into your floral arrangements, consider hanging one or two from your spring blossom branches or nestled among your spring bulbs. Easter planters Speaking of spring bulbs, you may have noticed that I’m a big fan of using bulbs in my planters at this time of year. Using a ceramic bowl or rattan planter, I like to cover these spring bulbs in chunky fresh moss to provide a refreshing vibrant flash of green. To give my spring bulb planters an Easter twist, I also like to scatter a few quail’s eggs into the moss, which echoes the eggs taking up residence in nests outside that we see throughout the season. I think quail’s eggs are an effortlessly stylish way to elevate your Easter décor; they create an especially interesting and unique piece when used to fill small decorative bowls too.

  Harness your creativity and learn how to create a simple yet stunning seasonal spring bowl arrangement with our step-by-step guide. For me, spring is all about embracing the reawakening we see happening all around us in nature and making the most of the season with beautiful fresh blooms. I love finding ways to recreate the sights I see on our family walks at home, whether it’s a cluster of daffodils and snowdrops surrounded by lush green grass or the delicate flowers rising out of the ground in a wild meadow. One of my favourite seasonal displays is a spring bowl arrangement. Not only is it quick and easy to assemble, but it also encourages creativity. Our ceramic footed bowl is wonderfully versatile; it looks just as effective on my kitchen windowsill as it does as a centrepiece on our dining table. The chicken wire base also means it’s simple to move stems into position, adjust, and play with different varieties until you’re completely satisfied. There are a whole host of spring flowers that suit this type of vessel, especially as most seasonal blooms have shorter stems. The choice is yours, but ranunculus, tulips, roses, and anemones are a few of my favourites. Ready to flex your creative muscles? Follow my step-by-step guide to create your own spectacular spring bowl arrangement (and watch me take you through a real-time demonstration over on our Instagram): The ingredients Footed bowl Chicken wire Pot tape Kenzan frog (optional)   Create a spring bowl arrangement Step 1 Start with your chicken wire this is a perfect sustainable option as it can be used over and over. Cut a generous amount and mould it into a rough cushion or dome shape with at least three to four layers. This should fit neatly inside your footed bowl and will provide the base support for your spring stems. You can watch me try this technique here. Step 2 Next, take your pot tape and use it to secure the chicken wire in place. I find that a cross shape is often the strongest and I try to overlap each side by around a centimetre and a half. Once the wire is secured, fill the bowl with tepid water until it’s three-quarters full.  Step 3 Now, it’s time for the fun bit. I like to start with some green foliage like pittosporum, which will form the foundation of my overall design. I find it easiest to work face on and in situ so I can make changes as I work. Focus on the highest point of your design first. Step 4 Once you’ve got the skeleton of your arrangement in place, you can start to add volume with flowers. I start with the biggest flowers – whether that’s roses, tulips, or another bold bloom - placing large flower heads at the base and then smaller stems at the top, while also saving some pieces to sit in the neck of the bowl and remove the boundary between flowers and bowl. Use the shape of your foliage as a guide.  Step 5 Next, place your most delicate stems. Again, start with the smallest flower heads at the top of the display and work down. For a truly naturalistic look that echoes a beautiful spring meadow, I love adding white blossom branches. I also like to vary the height of each piece and change the way the flowers are facing. Don’t be afraid to take time and experiment with different placements until you’re completely happy. With the chicken wire base, it’s easy to remove stems and try them somewhere else. Take a step back and view the arrangement at different angles; you could even take photographs to get fresh perspectives as you work to ensure you’re not missing any gaps that need to be plugged. Step 6 To keep your spring arrangement looking fabulous for as long as possible, keep it well watered with a long-spouted watering can – and enjoy! Flowers used to create our Spring bowl arrangement included: 1 bunch of pittosporum 1 bunch of olive 5 stems of white blossom 4 stems of white roses (casa blanca) 8 stems of white Ranunculus 8 stems of white double tulips 6 stems of paperwhites 10 stems of white freesia

 Looking for a gift she can cherish for more than one day? Read on to explore our lovingly crafted guide to long-lasting Mother’s Day gifts Ever since I can remember, Mother’s Day has been synonymous with flowers. I started our now annual tradition as a child, surprising my Mum with a bunch of flowers every year. Of course, in my younger years, this meant a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up a bunch of daffodils that I could place on her tray as I served her breakfast in bed. As I got older and I discovered my passion for flower arranging, I started creating my own bouquets for her, lovingly wrapped with brown paper and ribbon. Nowadays, flowers still play an integral role in my Mother’s Day. Whether it’s building a bouquet for my Mum or receiving one from my girls, florals remain an important part of our gift giving ritual. I also love using them in décor on the day, treating myself by placing a spring arrangement on my bedside table or putting together a larger arrangement on our dining table to accompany a special family breakfast or lunch. Whether you’re looking for the perfect flowers to surprise the special women in your life this Mother’s Day or searching for gift inspiration that goes beyond blooms, our Mother’s Day gift guide is here to help. Faux floral bouquet Everlasting faux flowers are a wonderful alternative to fresh blooms, bringing long-lasting joy and beauty to your Mum’s home. A standout bouquet that is sure to make your Mum smile is our Faux Spring Tulip arrangement. I truly believe you can’t go wrong with this spectacular piece. It’s the perfect balance of vibrant colour and greenery, celebrating the shades of the season with hand-painted purple and pink parrot Tulips displayed alongside our lavender Lilac and Plum blossom branches. If your Mum has a timeless sense of style, she’s sure to love the vintage elegance of our Faux Pink Dahlia and Ranunculus arrangement. A sweet pink display, it’s an ideal Mother’s Day gift. The hand-painted pink pom pom Dahlia and pink Ranunculus will add a stunning pop of colour to any sideboard or bedside table. Individual stems Looking for something a little more understated? If you’re looking to take a single flower along with you to surprise your Mum at lunch or want to encourage her love of floristry and inspire her to create her own arrangement, you could explore our selection of individual faux stems. I’m currently in love with our hand-painted pink and purple Parrot Tulips, which looks incredible on their own or teamed with a lavender Lilac branch. A pink Peony stem is a perennial favourite, while our faux Blush Magnolia and Quince Blossom branches scream spring. I think any of these beautiful stems would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Scented candles Scented candles are always a great Mother’s Day gift as they’re long-lasting and will remind your Mum of you every time they’re lit. I’m incredibly proud of our Suffolk Nest candles; they’re a fun treat for yourself as well as a fantastic gift. There’s a scent to suit everyone; our White Blossom candle captures the essence of a sunny spring day with its notes of white blossom, violet leaf, lily, amber, and vanilla, while our Rose & Freesia is fresh and floral with a delicate blend of rose, freesia, pear, cedar, and amber. Choose a large three-wick candle (presented in a beautiful textured box) or try both fragrances in their smaller single wick size. Each candle is contained in a classic clear vessel, but to take your gift to the next level, why not add a pearl edge mini dish? It’s an ideal candle holder and doubles up as a jewellery holder, butter dish, or display for decorative piece like seeds or stones. Books Many mums love being gifted a good book, whether it’s one to pack in their suitcase when they’re jetting off on holiday or something they can flick through with their morning cup of tea. If your Mum is an avid reader, a keen amateur florist, or both, my book would make a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift. House of Flowers is designed to inspire and features 30 floristry projects that can bring the magic of flowers into every room of the house. Each project has a step-by-step guide - written by me - as well as extra styling tips, a comprehensive flower directory, and ideas for everything from summer floral crowns to winter wreaths. Vases  Our vases are another long-lasting gift that your Mum can enjoy day after day. Whether containing a floral bouquet or standing solo, our wide range of styles can enhance any interior. A glass apothecary vase is a versatile and simple style that is the perfect partner for almost any floral arrangement. Our pieces are made from 100% recycled glass and feature beautiful imperfections that make each vessel as beautifully unique as your Mum. For something a little different, I recommend gifting our ceramic bobble edge bowl. This intriguing piece with its striking bobble trim can serve as a planter, especially for your spring bulbs, but also acts as a wonderful container for fruit, decorative pine cones, or our faux artichoke heads.

There are few things better than a beautifully styled spring table. Make the most of the new season get-togethers with my top tips for how to dress your table in style. For me, spring is a season of socialising. While Chris and I love inviting friends and family into our home year-round, there’s something about the gradually lighter evenings and warmer weather that makes me keen to pull out my diary and start planning dinner parties. This year, our spring table is designed to highlight everything I love about this time of year. The dreamy pastel colours of the blooms emerging from their winter beds, the soft morning light as the sun rises while we’re on the school run, and the glimpses of newly born rabbits that we’re sometimes lucky enough to spot on our walks. Translated into a spring tablescape, this looks like linen runners, white ceramic crockery, seasonal floral arrangements, and playful accessories. If you’re planning an Easter celebration, you can take these tips to dress your table in style to the next level by leaning in to the seasonal theming even more. Layer light linens My perfect spring table always starts with a runner. This provides a clean foundation and ties everything else together. Light linens with a rustic unfinished edge are my go-to; they add texture to the table without the weight of a traditional tablecloth or winter runner. Depending on your personal preferences, you could choose a minimalist white linen runner or a spring shade of powder pink or pastel blue. Alongside the runner, I like to layer a linen napkin on each of my place settings. I find that displaying these in the centre of each Bressingham plate is visually cleaner than placing them to the side on the table. A simple twist design can also be more effective than a more formal folded design. You can choose the same colour as your table runner linen or mix things up with a complementary shade. This year, I’ve embraced pops of pink, teaming my white linen runner with sugary soft pink linen napkins. Integrate spring bulbs and branches When it comes to spring table arrangements, there are so many fantastic options to choose from. In fact, if you’re lucky enough to have multiple surfaces in your dining room or kitchen, you could give all of these displays a try. I like to mix things up; sometimes I’ll have one large focal piece in the centre of our table, while at other times I’ll move that arrangement to our sideboard and instead showcase two or three spring bulb bowls along the table length instead. For my focal arrangement, this year I’m loving blush spring blossom branches. These stems capture the essence of the season and are the perfect transition piece to take you from winter to spring. Our ceramic glaze Suffolk Vase is a fantastic vessel for this display and provides a striking contrast to the dark wood branches. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your choice of blossoms but a few of my favourites include our faux blush quince blossom, faux blush magnolia, and faux plum blossom. For the spring bulb planters, I recommend choosing a low-level bowl to act as a vessel, showcasing the bulbs and ensuring conversation flows freely across your table. Consider using our footed or Beccles ceramic bowl as a base. Select two or three bulbs to place within the bowl and then surround them with living carpet moss for a refreshing burst of greenery. Stunning spring bulbs currently stocked at The Suffolk Nest include Muscari bulbs, Hyacinth bulbs, and my personal favourite, Bridal Crown bulbs. Add thoughtful accessories Although I often find that less is more when it comes to creating your tablescape, carefully considered accessories can inject character into your display and will often strike a chord with your guests. Start with candles; these not only add height to your table, but also help create an intimate atmosphere when lit as the daylight fades. For spring, I prefer using taupe and white tapered candles displayed in our glass Ampton candle holders. These reflect the light and airy feel of the season while ensuring guests’ views aren’t obstructed by heavy solid candlesticks. Style Easter favourites Whether you’re planning an Easter celebration or just want to add a playful touch to your spring table dressing, these seasonal motifs are perennial favourites for my family. There’s a careful balance to strike when it comes to placement; one or two standing ceramic bunnies, for example, can look a little less effective than three or four groupings of sitting bunnies, bunnies with egg, and ceramic eggs on the table and surrounding furniture. I find that Easter décor also brings personality to my place settings. Consider displaying a crochet bunny or a paper honeycomb egg in the centre of your dinner plate, nestled next to your linen napkin.

January and February can feel a little bit like we’re still in limbo, eagerly awaiting Springs arrival! After Christmas, I find myself craving a huge de-clutter and clean, and with that, I find myself enjoying things being a little more minimalist and simplistic. Here’s five ways I’m adding that spring feeling into our home this year:    Faux Greenery & Blossom It’s been proved that the colour green makes us happy, calm and creative! I think we could all benefit from an extra dose of this feeling at this time of year! My favourite uplifting greens from the new collection are, Green Viburnum, Green Hydrangea and our Italian Ruscus stems. They add a touch of vibrancy to any space whether its your downstairs loo, coffee table, or kitchen dining table. Alongside the greenery, I’m adding some beautiful faux blossoms in statement white ceramic vases. Our Sakura blossom is perfect if you don’t feel like going for a fuller blossom at this time of year. Just a few twigs add a subtle touch of that early spring feeling. Simple Furnishings Swapping out the chunky knits and faux fur blankets is one of the first things I switch up. Just having some neatly folded blankets over the arms of the sofa and some stacked pillows with a simple pattern or stripe in lighter colour tones brings a breath of fresh air. Spring Scent One thing I really miss once Christmas is over is the lovely twinkle and glow of the fairy lights. I find January and February days much more bearable by lighting a few lovely candles with an invigorating scent such as our new ‘White Blossom’ fragrance for Spring. Infused with notes of Lily, Amber and Violet leaf, it’s a beautifully delicate and uplifting spring scent to add to your home. Reconnecting with nature One of my favourite things to do to bring that spring feeling indoors is to pot up some spring bulbs in various pots, planters and vessels. I’ve even been using our left over candle vessels as planters and they’re the perfect size for bedside tables. Leave them in a warm spot with daylight and you’ll have fresh beautiful blooms with an equally beautiful fragrance! Add a wreath Of course, another favourite of mine for any new season is to make a new door wreath that reflects the season. Our Spring wreath kits will be released later next month if you fancy getting creative. For now, I’ve popped our new Spring Willow Wreath on our door and it’s the perfect transitional piece. I may add a few quail eggs and moss to it as we edge closer to Easter too! By incorporating these five elements into your home décor, you not only refresh your living spaces but also celebrate the vibrant energy and renewal that spring brings. The transition from winter to spring becomes a seamless and enjoyable experience, filling your home with the warmth and vitality of the changing season.

If you’re looking to build your floristry skills or style a standout arrangement for a special occasion, our step-by-step guide to creating a classic hand-tied spiral bouquet is here to help A classic hand-tied spiral bouquet is one of the most beautiful floral arrangements you can create and one of my go-to options for special occasions or as a gift for friends and family. The spiral method can be a little bit tricky to start, but it’s very rewarding once you’ve mastered it. I don’t mind admitting that it took me a while to perfect my technique and I spent hours rearranging the same stems and trying different methods until it became a muscle memory. Now, a hand-tied spiral bouquet always looks professional and neat in my glass vases. My biggest piece of advice when creating a spiral hand-tied bouquet is to relax, both physically and mentally. If you’re feeling stressed or uptight, it will show in your finished piece. So, I recommend putting on some relaxing music, shaking out any tension in your arms and shoulders, and simply focusing on enjoying the process of making this spectacular spiral hand-tied bouquet. The tools To build your hand-tied bouquet, you’ll need: 1 x vase 50cm of twine Sharp secateurs I like to use a glass vase as it shows off the spiralling stems. Our Medium Apothecary Vase is a great option and measures H19cm x W19cm. The flowers You may wish to adjust your list of flowers depending on your personal preferences, but my signature hand-tied spiral bouquet includes: 10 x Paperwhites 6 x Rose Casa Blanca 5 x White Stock 8 x White Ranunculus White Elegance 6 x Double White Tulips 8 x Double White Freesia 6 x White Blossom For the foliage, I use: ½ bunch x Pittosporum 1 x Olive bunch Step-by-step: creating a hand-tied bouquet Step 1 Start by preparing your stems. Aim to remove any foliage that will sit below the tie point of the bouquet, and then lay the stems out in front of you on a flat surface. One simple hack is to group them by variety so that you can quickly pick the right stems and instantly see what you have left while building your bouquet. Step 2 Next, prepare the twine. Don’t be tempted to leave this until you’ve finished forming your bouquet as it’s much more difficult to do when you only have one hand spare to tie it off. Take a length of twine long enough to wrap around the entire bouquet and knot a loop at one end. Be sure to leave enough twine free on the other side of the knot so that you can tie it later. Step 3 Now, it’s time for the fun bit! Choose your first flower and place it in your hand, resting between you thumb, index, and middle fingers. If you’re right-handed, place the stem in your left hand and vice versa. For my bouquet, I start with a Stock stem as I find it easier to choose a larger piece to kick things off. Step 4 Next, choose another flower and cross it over the first stem at a slight angle. This position ensures that the stems cross over and is integral to creating the spiral. I like to use a Pittosporum stem at this stage. Step 5 Use your dominant hand to turn the two stems a full 180 degrees before passing them back to your other hand to add the next stem. This action may feel a bit unnatural and awkward at first, but as you continue to build the bouquet, it will become a lot easier. Step 6 When adding the next stem, place it at the same angle as the first and repeat step 5. Don’t worry if it takes you some time to get this right, it’s worth pausing and trying again until you can complete each step easily. Top Tip - Keep an eye on the positioning and height of each flower head. At this point, they’ll all vary in length, but we’ll trim and neaten them up at the end. Step 7 Hold the stems loosely – if they fall, you can easily pull them back up into place later. Adding each new stem at an angle and passing it between your hands while turning is the key to creating a spiral hand-tie bouquet. Step 8 Your bouquet turns may vary as you work, so if you notice gaps, look at your remaining flowers and consider which will work best in the space. Perhaps you need a tall and thin stem, a large and round variety, or a small filler piece? As you build, you’ll find it much easier to keep adding stems and turning the bouquet and you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful spiral. Step 9 As you come to the end of your bouquet, start bringing the flowers slightly lower down so that they form a dome shape. Step 10 Once you’re happy with the design, take your twine and hook the loop over the little finger of the hand that’s holding your bouquet. Wrap the longer length around the bouquet and feed it through the loop. Pull it back on itself and go around again to meet the other length of twine, so you can tie it with a tight, secure knot. Step 11 Hold the bouquet against your chosen vase and trim the stem ends to fit. It’s always best to leave them longer and cut more later than take too much off too early. Ideally, the bottom of the bouquet should touch the rim of the vase. The stems are too long if the arrangement tilts to one side. If the bouquet will be given as a gift or is for a special occasion like a wedding, add a touch of luxury by wrapping silk ribbon around the twine. I like to make a simple knot and let the ends flow free. Top Tip - As the bouquet gets bigger, it’ll become heavier and more difficult to hold in one hand. If you struggle with this, tie the bouquet off before continuing to add more stems, safe in the knowledge that your work is secure. Feeling inspired? Head over to our YouTube channel @thesuffolknestor Instagram @the_suffolk_nest to discover even more arrangements and watch me in action as I demonstrate how to make a spiral bouquet that you can try yourself:  Click for video tutorial  

Looking to refresh your home ahead of the new season? Get set for spring with our step-by-step guide to styling spring bulbs in a glass vase   If you’re looking ahead to longer days, lighter evenings, and that energising sense of renewal that always come with the new season, a spring floral project could be just the thing to lift your mood and enhance your space.   One of my favourite small and simple spring displays to create is an arrangement of spring bulbs in a glass vase. It is, without a doubt, the easiest and quickest spring display you can make! Personally, I find that projects like this are the perfect way to ease myself back into gardening after the winter months and they never fail to make me feel excited for the upcoming warmer weather. What do I need?  All you need to get started on your spring bulb arrangement is: One glass apothecary vase One small pot of your favourite narcissus bulbs (around 5-7) Some fresh carpet moss The choice of bulb is up to you up, but I have a soft spot for Bridal Crowns as they bloom with beautiful white flowers on tall stems and offer a stunning sweet scent. Step-by-step: How to style spring bulbs Step 1: Start by watering your narcissus bulbs well and then leaving them to drain for five minutes. Step 2: Arrange the bulbs on the bottom of your glass vase ensuring they’re in line with the vase’s opening so that they have plenty of room to grow vertically. Step 3: Next, take chunks of dampened carpet moss and use this to cover the roots and soil of the bulbs. Not only does this look good aesthetically, but it also provides the bulbs with a little extra support and keeps their roots well hydrated. Step 4: Choose a spot in your home to position your display. Ideally, this should be somewhere warm but not in direct sunlight. Caring for your spring bulbs One of the best things about this spring bulbs display is that it requires very little upkeep to stay looking its best. Once in position, you can simply wait and then enjoy watching them shoot up and start to flower. If you do notice that the stems are beginning to get limp or the moss looks very dry, don’t be afraid to give the entire arrangement a generous misting with water. Where should I display my spring bulbs? While you should try to avoid a spot exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, your spring bulbs can thrive in many different places in your home. One glass vase arrangement can look especially effective styled by itself on a coffee table or small side table. However, if you’re looking for something a little more impactful – or you simply fall in love with this arrangement and want to make more than one – they can make impressive table centrepieces when grouped together. Feeling inspired? Head over to our YouTube channel to discover even more arrangements that you can try yourself as well as an alternative planter option for your spring bulbs: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G4AuaoIZL6Y 

As we start looking beyond winter months, the first signs of spring promise brighter days ahead. But can you get the look indoors now? Read on to find out how you can style your home ahead of the new season Looking ahead to spring Once the Christmas decorations are stored away and we start the new year, I can’t help but start getting excited about the coming spring. While it might still be chilly outside, looking out for the first signs of spring – and planning how I can bring that new season feeling into our home – is one of the best solutions to the winter blues that I’ve found so far. There are so many things I love about the lead up to spring. With each day that passes, the light lingers a little more and signals that longer days are on their way. Birds start singing in the morning again and, if you look closely, you might spot the vibrant green shoots of snowdrops and crocus bulbs making an entrance in the low winter sun. And that’s not all; spring also brings with it new scents, socialising, and blue skies. It’s the time of year when we start spending more time outside again to make the most of that beautifully cool and crisp sunshine, when my diary starts filling up with family lunches and coffee catch ups with friends, when I add cotton and linen pieces back into my wardrobe, and when we’re surrounded by the fresh fragrances of honeysuckle, rose, and lilac.  Planting in preparation In anticipation of spring’s arrival, I like to get set for the season by potting up fresh bulbs in various planters – I think a ceramic bowl can be especially effective for this type of arrangement, but you can use a range of different containers including our new indoor rattan planters. You could also reuse your spent candle vessels to serve as a truly unique planter. White seasonal bulbs like hyacinths, muscari, and bridal crown narcissus are visually arresting and look stunning when topped with chunky green moss. Add intrigue by weaving in contorted hazel branches to serve as a backdrop and help prevent your flowers from falling over as they grow. Caring for your bulbs indoors couldn’t be easier. As soon as they arrive in the post, remove the bulbs from their packaging and give them a good water. Next, whether you’ve chosen a ceramic vase, upcycled candle holder, or rattan planter, make sure you position your vessel in a warm, sunny spot that gets plenty of natural daylight. The key is not to over water and only reach for your watering can when the compost is dry - you’ll have fresh spring flowers blooming in next to no time. Once in full bloom, you can sit back and enjoy their brilliant white flowers and stunning sweet fragrance. After the season ends, stop watering your plant completely and let the foliage die back. You’ll know it’s time to transplant when the foliage looks dried and brown; ideally, it should pull away from the bulb easily and if it doesn’t, wait a little longer. Next, remove the bulbs, dust off any excess compost, and lay them out to dry on a piece of paper. You can then either replant them again or keep them in a cool, dry, and dark place to enjoy next year.

  This season, our Spring Collection takes cues from wild blossom in versatile faux stems that perfectly capture nature’s beauty while being able to withstand the elements. The start of blossom season For me, nothing signals the start of spring like seeing the blossom buds emerge on the trees outside. It’s one of my favourite sights; the delicate white and pale pink flowers transform the bare branches and never fail to put on a spectacular show. However, as much as I love real blossom and have been lucky enough to forage stunning varieties like Hawthorn near our home in the past, this fragile flower can have a short shelf-life. The central heating that we rely on to stay warm while the days are still cool creates challenging conditions for fresh blossom arrangements. That’s why, this year, I was inspired to create faux blossom stems that capture nature’s beauty and can be enjoyed for seasons to come. Styling faux blossom stems When it comes to choosing my favourite blossom stems, I’m spoilt for choice! In fact, I’m always looking for new places in our home that can be adorned with these beautiful blooms. Our spring collection of faux flowers includes several varieties to suit any space including Plum, Sakura, Cherry, Quince, and Apple. No matter the stems you choose, I believe our faux blossoms looks their best when styled en masse. That doesn’t mean you need to invest in dozens of stems, you can create a striking display with just three or four faux Sakura blossom stems and six faux Cherry blossom stems can produce a creative cluster thanks to their distinct flower shape. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different branch pairings. All our faux blossom stems style perfectly with our Magnolia and Blush Magnolia branches. I love combining Blush Magnolia with our Blush Quince blossom stems to create an elegant arrangement with a soft pop of pink. Display alongside our powder pink table linens for an idyllic spring set up. Choosing the perfect vase With their brilliant blend of deep brown and black stems, white flowers, and small shoots of green, our faux blossom branches look especially effective displayed in a white ceramic vase. With its bold proportions and sleek matte white finish, our Hemingstone vase is a timeless choice for a side table while the textured lines of the Flowton vase would make an incredible dining table centrepiece. Building a spring scene with faux blossom stems Once you’ve selected a vase and your preferred mix of faux blossom stems, you can take your spring styling one step further with our new homeware pieces. I’m so proud of how everything in our spring collection comes together and blurs the lines between outdoors and in. There are several ways that you can bring a playful nod to the season into your home décor. Why not add a single faux Plum blossom stem alongside your napkins to add rustic charm to a lunch with friends, or lay two or three faux Cherry blossom stems on a central table runner? Or perhaps you could hang a selection of our brown and white honeycomb hanging paper eggs or felt hanging bunnies to the branches of our blossoms in time for Easter? The possibilities are truly endless.

  2023 has been a year of change with new collections, new homes, and new adventures. Read on to discover some of the highlights of this transformative year. An energetic start to the year 2023 quickly proved that it would be just as fast-moving and fun for The Suffolk Nest as 2022 as we kick-started the month with a quick trip to our European suppliers. It was a whistlestop tour and we were there and back in a day (home in time for the girls’ bedtime), but a fantastic opportunity to source new blooms for the year-ahead. The rest of the month was equally busy as we prepped for our Spring launch, shooting a stunning selection of stems including our stunning white viburnum and white lilac. Our Spring Collection launched in February, alongside a range celebrating Easter. We also managed to squeeze in some more supplier trips in the UK and Europe, and we were excited to be invited to design and create faux flower planters for a large office complex in Suffolk. This month also saw the successful launch of our first wreath kit of the year. New collections and new places Hot on the heels of our Spring Collection, in April, we made our first warehouse move of the year. Chris spent weeks preparing for the move, sourcing equipment, racking, flooring, and forklifts as well as working out all the logistics of transferring our existing racks and commercial fridges. It was a serious undertaking – and one that we went through all over again in December!  Happily, our new warehouse is fantastic – we couldn’t have asked for better. We’d been planning to make a move since July and were let down by a previous location in 2022, but finding this new space proves that everything really does happen for a reason. We now have so much more room to hold stock, ensuring we can continue to grow and keep delivering a range of fantastic products to you, our incredible loyal customers. This Spring, we also made our first visit to our suppliers outside of Europe. It was great to finally meet them face-to-face, make new connections, and collaborate on some very exciting future ideas. Creative highlights I also branched out into two new fields this year: publishing and product design. In March, my book, House of Flowers, was published. It was a real labour of love, and you can read more about the writing process here. I’m so proud of the finished product. The book went on to be an Amazon bestseller, but even more importantly, it’s something I can pass down to my girls. As well as writing the book, I started working on designs for a new line of vases, exclusive to The Suffolk Nest, in late 2022. The Lavenham, The Suffolk, and the Footed Bowl all launched in the summer, closely followed by The Hemingstone, The Bildeston, and a selection of Christmas-themed ceramics. Seeing these pieces come to life has been so rewarding and I can’t wait to expand the collection in the coming months and years. Finally, May was the month we launched our summer wreath kit and Summer Collection. This was the first range we’ve produced that features UV protected trees designed to be displayed outdoors. A time of transition Autumn is always a good time to take stack and this year was no exception. At the end of August, we made the decision to end our weekly Instagram live floristry tutorials, Flowers for the Weekend, after 100 episodes, freeing up time for us to pursue new ways to inspire and connect with our customers. This bittersweet ending heralded the start of a very busy September. Our daughter Orla started reception and we’re happy to share that she loves school and is absolutely thriving. Our youngest, Florence, also loves learning and has just started pre-school. I know most parents feel this way, but our little girls bring us so much happiness and it’s incredibly rewarding to see them grow and develop each week. The old adage is true; the days are long, but the years are short. September was also the month when we launched our autumn wreath kit and our Christmas garlands and wreaths. We then went on our first location shoot away from home as we journeyed to the Cotswolds to shoot our Christmas collection in the dream festive setting. October was another month of change as we rebranded The Suffolk Nest. It was important for us to showcase our ethos of minimalist simplicity and adopt a fresh, modern look. We were also shaking things up at home as we started preparing our own move. People viewing our house must have wondered at our love of Christmas decorations when they saw that our tree was already up well before Halloween (in our defence, it was for a photoshoot!) We were also very pleased to start Stem Solutions in October. This new series is all about finding answers to the trickiest flower conundrums. Think of me as your Agony Aunt for all things floral. No matter whether you have an unusual vase, a strict budget, or an awkward space to fill, I’m here to help. Memorable moments We’ve hit some amazing milestones this year that Chris and I could never have imagined when we first started The Suffolk Nest. We’re proud to share that we’ve gained over 3,500 5* reviews and we’re very thankful for everyone who has taken the time to leave feedback. We read every single one. We were also able to give thousands of pounds worth of competition giveaways this year and make donations to several charities close to our hearts. 2023 has also been a year of awards: we’re grateful to have been recognised as the eCommerce Development Agency 2023 for Suffolk, Home Décor Retailer of the Year, Faux Floristry Studio of the Year – East Anglia, and the Floristry Service of the Year, while I was named as the Creator/Influencer Businesswoman of the Year. Endings and beginnings It’s fair to say that 2023 is ending as it started, as hectic and exciting as ever. The last week of November was easily one of the busiest weeks of our lives as we moved house, threw a birthday party for Orla, launched our wreath kits, and dealt with the organised chaos of Black Friday! I’m pleased to say that we’re very settled already and excited to share more; after all, it was our first home renovation that led to the launch of The Suffolk Nest. As the year comes to an end, December still promises new projects as we’ve been tasked with designing garlands for the shop fronts of Mint Velvet’s UK stores. Looking ahead, we can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store. Your support allows us to grow and means we can reinvest into bigger and better things. We’re committed to providing a better service, better systems, better products, and better stock levels! We have so many plans for The Suffolk Nest, and, despite our packed schedule, we feel (and hope) that we’re still only getting started. Thank you all for being part of our story so far. Wishing you all a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year! x

Make your Christmas memorable with our inspirational top tips on how to style a festive tablescape Is there any better time of year than Christmas? It’s always been special for our family, but it’s taken on even more meaning as our girls have gotten older and been able to join in with the celebrations. For me, the festive season is all about spending time with friends and family. I love hosting casual get-togethers with mulled wine and mince pieces and, of course, welcoming everyone for the main event: Christmas Day dinner. When it comes to festive entertaining, a beautifully styled table is essential. In this blog, I’ll walk you through some of my favourite styling ideas as well as more practical tips to inspire your Christmas tablescape. For reference, our table measures 240cm x 90cm and can comfortably seat eight people.  Let’s get started! Start with the basics A table runner is an effortless way to elevate your dining set up for the festive season. Not only does it provide the perfect backdrop for your tablescape, but it’s also practical, protecting your table from any accidental gravy spills or melted candle wax. A crisp white table runner is a classic choice and can be reused year-round. I recommend opting for a washable linen that’s easy to clean. Create a floral centrepiece Festive florals and foliage can be used to create a captivating centrepiece. There are a few rules to keep in mind, but the most important is to not obstruct the view of any of your diners. Ideally, your display should look amazing from every angle, but also provide clear sightlines so that your guests can easily carry on a conversation. I think our white ceramic trays are ideally suited to a low-level centrepiece. I like to use three on our Christmas table, each showcasing a range of seasonal stems including eucalyptus, pine, berries, and asparagus fern. It can be harder to spend time outside in the winter months, so adding these naturally beautiful blooms to your festive décor is a great way to bring the outdoors in. I also think they look particularly striking set against the bright white ceramic.  Add candles and ornaments While choosing low level florals can help keep conversation flowing, including a variety of different heights into the overall display can add interest and a touch of festive charm. I like to play with proportions by adding a mixture of candles, candlesticks, and small ornaments onto my table. Our ceramic trees are a popular option, offering a nod to the season without distracting from your overall décor. It’s often these small details that make the biggest impact and can transform your Christmas tablescape. Pay attention to place settings Creating bespoke place settings are a great way to make your guests feel extra-special. In my opinion, they’re just as important to creating an effective tablescape as the centrepiece. This year, I’ll be using a selection of our faux wreaths as napkin holders; they’re effortlessly elegant and inherently festive. To take things up a notch, consider adding a faux hanging wreath to the back of each dining chair and tie them in place with ribbons that match your colour scheme. Choosing one or two signature colours to feature throughout your decorations ensures that your Christmas interiors look cohesive and complement your everyday décor. I do get asked a lot about where all the food actually goes! We are fortunate with a kitchen island, so all the food is served on there. With these handy tips and your own creativity, you can create a stunning festive tablescape that will leave a lasting impression. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season - happy styling!

A charming, customisable, Christmas staple, garlands are one of my favourite pieces of festive décor. Read on to learn how you can perfect the art of crafting DIY garlands, whether you start from scratch or bring your own style to an existing piece Festive garlands In my opinion, garlands are the unsung heroes of the festive season. The tradition originates from the winter solstice, a reaction to the darkest day of the year with the foliage serving as a visual reminder that nature will reawaken when spring arrives. I love the flexibility that garlands offer as well as the opportunities they present to reflect your personal style or Christmas theme through customisation. When it comes to placement in your home, don’t be afraid to get creative. Garlands can adorn mantlepieces, staircase bannisters, doorways, window frames, or even your dining table as an alternative runner. Personalise your garland  If you’d rather not start from scratch, you can transform a plain foliage garland with your own decorative flourishes. We have several different varieties of garland available in our Christmas collection ranging from a classic faux cedar and cool faux blue spruce to a faux pine with natural cones. You could even intertwine two different varieties for added texture and visual intrigue. Once you’ve chosen your garland, it’s time for the fun bit. Personally, I find that less is more. One of my go-to techniques is to tie a decorative velvet stocking and string of burnished gold cowbells with a complementary velvet ribbon onto one or two spots along the length of the garland. The possibilities are endless; you could choose to weave in a set of white fairy lights, hang small baubles from a few of the stems, or adorn your garland with pinecones, dried orange slices, or cinnamon sticks (which also offer a delightful seasonal scent!) How to craft a DIY garland Crafting a DIY garland from scratch could be easier than you might think. In fact, if you’d like a simple and minimalist variation, hanging faux eucalyptus stems is also an option. I love the variety of tones available, from blush pink and muted green to deep burgundy. For a classic DIY Christmas garland, you’ll need to gather some string or jute rope or paper covered wire to act as your frame, twine or bind wire to secure, a mix of foliage, and a pair of secateurs. Start by cutting your paper covered wire or rope to your desired length, ideally a little longer than your mantle or banister so that it maintains that lovely natural curve. Next, gather your foliage and trim each stem to a suitable size. Gather small bundles of the foliage and place along the paper covered wire and always work in the same direction. (ie, the stems always face the same way) Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, added texture simply makes your garland appear more natural, and you can of course always go back and add/manipulate later. Overlap each bundle of foliage ensuring you hide the previous bundles stems Carry on with this technique until you reach the end of your paper covered wire.

With the clocks going back and the temperatures dropping, now’s the perfect time to transform your home with some of our favourite winter faux stem combinations Get creative One of my favourite things about faux stems is their versatility. There are so many incredible varieties available year-round, and I’m continually inspired by the naturalistic stems that Chris and I find on our travels. In winter, faux stems are also the practical choice as they’re able to withstand the fluctuating temperatures and darker days and need very little upkeep to stay looking their best. Architectural stems can also be a refreshing alternative to faux florals when the seasons change. At this time of year, you can choose to lean into tradition by creating winter combinations with pine and cedar branches or mix things up with more unusual faux stems like our stunning plum Cimicifuga Racemosa Leaf with its rich amethyst leaves or our beautifully unrefined Waxflower stems. Play with shapes All the faux stems we offer at The Suffolk Nest can easily be moulded and either bent or trimmed with wire cutters to fit your desired shape and size. I love the textural arrangements that it’s possible to create with just three or four stems, but I also enjoy incorporating a wide variety of different faux stems into a display with a mix of heights and shapes. The striking geometric form of a faux allium spray, for example, means these stems can be especially effective when displayed in a group of three in a simple stone vase. In contrast, faux dried achillea stems echo the stems we see surrounding fields at this time of year and can provide intrigue when combined with the feather-like texture of our faux brown plume grass. Warm neutrals and earth tones  For me, winter is all about getting cosy and enjoying time at home with our family. I prepare for the colder months by creating a warm, inviting space, adorned with scented candles, soft furnishings, and faux stems. Neutral shades and earth tones capture this feeling perfectly, whether they appear in stoneware and ceramic vases or in the faux stems themselves. A winter faux stem combination that meets these criteria could mean displaying the rich brown of our faux cone spray or plume grass alongside the deep burgundy of our faux eucalyptus or hydrangea mulberry and the warm cream of our dried achillea. Reflect the great outdoors Seasonal stem arrangements can bridge the gap between inside and out, even when it’s too cold to brave the outdoors world! It also helps your home look and feel different without needing to redecorate. Our faux Talinum spray – also known as Long John – resembles many of the stems I see on my winter walks with its long stem and small, delicate bud clusters. Adding a faux green willow branch can bring height to your display while our faux white Snowberry could have been taken straight from a wild hedgerow. Festive faux stem arrangements Christmas is the ideal opportunity to lean into tradition and create winter faux stem combinations that will give you that festive feeling. Seasonal stems all combine well, whether you choose to display pine and fir together or faux cedar and juniper branches with blue grey berries. You could even consider hanging baubles from your stems or adding a few tied red ribbons. If you prefer to try something a little different, I recommend pairing the subtle silvery green of a eucalyptus stem with our faux white Snowberry or Hellebore.

  To prepare for the most magical time of the year, we headed to the Cotswolds for our first-ever shoot out of home. Find out more about our Christmas shoot with Ashlee’s behind-the-scenes insights. Christmas in the countryside To create a dream Christmas in the heart of the countryside, we chose to travel across the country to the Cotswolds, one of my favorite parts of the UK. We spent two nights at the incredible Bibury Farm Barns – and we couldn’t have chosen a better setting for our first-ever out-of-home shoot! The barns are located on a family-owned working farm, and nature is at the heart of everything they do. This was our second visit to Bibury Farm; we were lucky enough to visit with our whole family in the winter a couple of years ago, and it was an experience that proved to be unforgettable. I love the natural Cotswold stone of the barns and can’t imagine anything better than spending the festive season here, taking walks through the frost-covered fields before cozying up in the evenings with a roaring fire. Shooting on location Hosting a Christmas shoot away from home for the first time was incredibly exciting, but also a little daunting! Bibury Farm is located just outside Cirencester, which is around three and a half hours from us, so we were very aware while packing up that leaving anything behind could cost us a lot of time if we had to retrace our steps. Planning and preparation saved the day; we packed absolutely everything we thought we might need – even our Christmas tree – into Chris' van. Inevitably, we still forgot one thing – our white dried flax wreath! Luckily, our team was able to act fast and send one out to us straight away, and thankfully, it arrived just in time. Careful planning and a sprinkle of chaos Before we switched the cameras on, we spent time creating a very long list of everything that we wanted to get shot and filmed each day. This made all the difference when it came to making sure we covered everything we wanted to shoot and meant we could make the most of our time in the barn. We worked non-stop both days and ended up taking over 500 photos and 50 videos! But that's not to say it was all smooth sailing; our beautiful barn looked a little bit like a horse had been let loose inside by the time we wrapped. My goodness we made a mess! We had stock, packaging, fresh flowers, clothes, and even a coating of fake snow everywhere. I must admit that, despite the chaos (and the cleaning up), I love shoot days – it's my favorite part of running The Suffolk Nest. Chris made sure we were all fed and watered, providing so many snacks that it felt a little like a mini holiday at times. So, while the overall experience was exhausting, I enjoyed every minute of it – and I hope you love everything we created just as much as we do. Exciting Additions: 49 New Items and Brand New Candles We also had the thrill of introducing 49 new items to our shooting list, including the much-anticipated brand new candles. The candles were an exciting highlight of this shoot, and we couldn't wait to showcase them in our Christmas collection. They bring an extra touch of warmth and elegance to your holiday ambiance, and we're sure you'll love them as much as we do.

When the weather turns and autumn sets in, make your gatherings extra-special with a stylish seasonal tablescape. Follow my top tips to create a cosy and charming setting for any autumnal event. Choose seasonal colours Despite the darker evenings and grey days, autumn is one of the most colourful seasons. I love the shades that appear at this time of year: golden brown, fiery red, burnt orange, and rich amethyst are just a few of my favourites. When hosting an autumn gathering, I try to break down the barriers between indoors and out by reflecting these colours in my tablescape. Consider adding the intense amber of a preserved autumn beech or faux oak leaf stem, a mulberry-toned dried hydrangea, or a brown dried allium spray to your centrepiece, accompanied by rustic cream crockery and earth-toned textiles. Add texture In my opinion, the best autumn gatherings are those that feel cosy and comfortable like relaxed dinner parties with friends and families that go on for hours unexpectedly. To help set the mood for these informal autumn get togethers, I recommend adding texture to your tablescapes. Rustic materials and muted colours work especially well; woven rattan trays, stoneware serving sets, vintage-inspired brass candlesticks, and wooden chopping boards used as sharing platters all contribute to creating a timeless autumn tablescape. You might even want to provide thick woollen blankets that your guests can wrap themselves up in as you continue to chat into the night.  Consider candles As the nights draw in, we start reaching for the light switch earlier and earlier, but when hosting an autumn gathering, I try to avoid harsh lighting for as long as possible. While bright overhead lights have their place, they can feel overly harsh when you want to create a relaxed, warm, and inviting atmosphere for your visitors. Instead, opt for candlelight. Not only can candles help to set the mood, but they can also add a fresh visual dimension to your autumn tablescape. Personally, I avoid scented candles on my tables as I don’t want the aroma to detract from the food, but I love using candle holders to display tapered candles in a neutral shade and using pillar candles and tealights to add pockets of light around our dining room.   Embrace autumn theming Autumn is synonymous with a range of events, from Halloween and Fireworks’ Night to harvest and Diwali. Depending on your interior décor and your family traditions, you might want to go all out with your autumn theming, but personally, I like to nod to the season in a playful way without sacrificing our overall home aesthetic. When creating your autumn tablescape, you could embrace these seasonal themes by adding small ceramic pumpkins, acorns, and gourds, concrete fruit ornaments, or foraged items such as dried seeds, berries, or pinecones. Mix fresh and faux florals To create a standout autumn centrepiece for your table, there are several different faux and fresh florals you can use to capture the essence of the season. Don’t be afraid to mix things up by adding grasses, branches, and berry stems to your arrangements rather than just focusing on florals. Blush eucalyptus, allium spray, and dried bunny tails offset more delicate stems such as dried limonium, talinum spray, and show-stopping dried hydrangeas. Choose similarly toned colours but a variety of different textures to add depth and intrigue.