In a vase on Monday: Tools of the trade

Since it's Labor Day in the U.S. I thought I would look at the work of putting a flower arrangement together and write about the tools I use to do that. I'm guessing many of you have the same weapons in your arsenal, but perhaps you'll find a new idea or product here.

In addition to vases, I also have a selection of attractive containers to use when I just want to disguise a plastic pot. Wondering about those bits of white paper towels that you can see? I always put something between containers so I don't chip the edges when I stack them up and rudely shove them into this fully stuffed cupboard. (This cupboard is in the basement and still boasts its 1960s paint colors).

A few pieces from my massive stash of containers. These are all ceramic. One was made by my best friend from college, one came from my favorite antique shop before it closed, one belonged to my grandmother but most are by Midwestern potter friends. 

For cutting flowers in the garden or while arranging them indoors, nothing beats Japanese Koshiji pruners. The pair I use in the garden have pink plastic wrapped around the handle so I can find them again when I set them down. The small clippers are by Fiskars. I have a number of Japanese flower holders (Kenzans), including this shaped one in the center of the tray.

There's a spiral flower holder that can also hold a candle in the center that was made in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in the 1950s. It's in its original box which is slowly falling apart. That odd green shape on the left is meant to hold a candle in an arrangement when you are using floral foam. It's upside down here; the sharp point gets stuck in the foam and the fat cup holds the candle.

I have a jar of smooth pebbles that I got at a nursery as well as two small boxes of black Mihama pebbles from Japan. I use them to hold stems in place in a vase or just scatter them across a table around a vase. There's a roll of fine green wire which I have rarely used as well as a box of tubes with rubber caps with a slit in them. They sometimes come on flowers that are delivered and I save them anytime I came across them. I use them to hide a flower in a quirky location where I can't fit a vase. I have dried moss and birds' eggs — anything that might come in handy to create an effect. But if you've been following my Monday vases, you may have noticed that I don't take advantage of all these nice tools and objects nearly as much as I might!

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

The Kenzans is interesting shape. Seeing your neat and tidy cupboard makes me think I should get out there and organize my shelves. Hmmmm no, maybe not until it is cooler. I will put that on my 'to do' list.

[Susie]

Interesting take on IAVOM Linda, a very enjoyable read. Tried to guess which vase belonged to your grandmother?

[Linda from Each Little World]

Lisa — ​Your eyes must be deceiving you because it is not neat and tidy. Things are squished and shoved into there in a pretty sloppy way!

[Linda from Each Little World]

Susie — It's the big brown and white pitcher on the bottom shelf. It has a crack in it so there is a plastic container inside so I can use it without getting water everywhere!

[Cathy]

It definitely LOOKS tidy, Linda, whatever you say! I really enjoyed this take on the meme, and perhaps I will do a similar post sometime as we sometimes just gloss over the tools of the trade when we are posting our vases and yet there is still so much we can learn from each other. My tools are now in an old wardrobe in the spare bedroom instead of under the bed so they are easier to access now! Thanks for sharing today

[Eliza Waters]

I'm drooling over your ceramic collection! As you may have noted, I'm a bit of a collector. I can't help myself when I see something that catches my heart. ;)

[Linda from Each Little World]

Cathy — ​Too funny that you kept your tools under the bed. Of course there's always something stored under my beds as well.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Eliza — I think we always start collecting in any area that interests us and gardening offers lots of opportunities. I do watering cans as well and recently posted about them.

[Loree / danger garden]

I always love to see how other people store things, thanks for the "behind the scenes" post!

[Kris P]

I love your ceramics! You have more tools in your arsenal than I do and I'm impressed by their orderly arrangement. (I need a basement! But those are uncommon here in earthquake territory.) I smiled at the rubber-capped flower tubes - I do have a collection of those and even used some earlier this year for IaVoM.

[Jason]

That's a very impressive collection.

[Amelia Grant]

Love the container/vase collection. I think I have the same green wire (for 20 or 30 years)

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Great idea for a post! Your vase collection is fascinating. Most of mine are hiding in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. ;-)

[Linda from Each Little World]

​Beth — I probably shouldn't admit it but those are only a fraction of the vases I own!​

[Linda from Each Little World]

Amelia — ​Hmmm... I may have had my wire almost that long. What does it mean?