heath journal
Heath + Flowers: A Natural Pairing
Whether you’re hosting guests or simply adding a pop of color to your space, fresh flowers can make all the difference in the world. Heath vases have always provided a perfect home for your floral favorites; now, with an expanded roster of shapes and glazes, the options for exploration are richer than ever.
Need some inspiration for your next creation? We sat down with three of our favorite floral designers to talk about process, tips, and what’s going into their arrangements this season.
Read on for the interviews, then check out the new glaze collection and see what catches your eye.
Need some inspiration for your next creation? We sat down with three of our favorite floral designers to talk about process, tips, and what’s going into their arrangements this season.
Read on for the interviews, then check out the new glaze collection and see what catches your eye.
With a career spanning over a decade, Amber Lu splits her time between San Francisco and Los Angeles, affording her a wealth of options for one of her go-to techniques: foraging.
Favorite summer flowers: California buckwheat, Matilija poppy, dahlias, passion vine flowers, and garlic scapes.
What’s a day in the life of a floral designer look like?
Sometimes, I’ll make a list of flowers I have in mind to use, but most of the time I like to see what’s available at the market and go from there. It also depends on the client, as I like to create something special for each of them. If I have extra free time, I usually make an arrangement for myself. I’ll usually forage around my neighborhood or use any leftovers/scraps. It helps me decompress.
Favorite summer flowers: California buckwheat, Matilija poppy, dahlias, passion vine flowers, and garlic scapes.
What’s a day in the life of a floral designer look like?
Sometimes, I’ll make a list of flowers I have in mind to use, but most of the time I like to see what’s available at the market and go from there. It also depends on the client, as I like to create something special for each of them. If I have extra free time, I usually make an arrangement for myself. I’ll usually forage around my neighborhood or use any leftovers/scraps. It helps me decompress.
What inspired you to use Heath vessels?
I'm drawn to Heath’s pieces not just for their aesthetic appeal, but also the history and craftsmanship behind them. The story of Edith Heath, and her experimentation with various clay types to achieve different aesthetic qualities in her pottery is fascinating. Her dedication to understanding the materials she worked with—and how they influenced the final product—speaks to a deep passion for her craft.
Best piece of advice for beginners?
Just keep having fun with it. You have to be willing to take time to learn the whole process of it all—and enjoy learning from other florists! Everybody has different ways of arranging, methods on mechanics, etc. Absorb as much information as you can—it’ll really help in the long run. Also, just keep playing/arranging with flowers. Learn their names, how long certain types last, and really just find your style. Don’t be too hard on yourself, either!
Find Amber Lu online and on Instagram.
I'm drawn to Heath’s pieces not just for their aesthetic appeal, but also the history and craftsmanship behind them. The story of Edith Heath, and her experimentation with various clay types to achieve different aesthetic qualities in her pottery is fascinating. Her dedication to understanding the materials she worked with—and how they influenced the final product—speaks to a deep passion for her craft.
Best piece of advice for beginners?
Just keep having fun with it. You have to be willing to take time to learn the whole process of it all—and enjoy learning from other florists! Everybody has different ways of arranging, methods on mechanics, etc. Absorb as much information as you can—it’ll really help in the long run. Also, just keep playing/arranging with flowers. Learn their names, how long certain types last, and really just find your style. Don’t be too hard on yourself, either!
Find Amber Lu online and on Instagram.
With a background in Landscape Architecture, Sammy Go of San Francisco’s Lambert Floral Studio brings a uniquely sophisticated eye to the wonderfully unpredictable world of flowers.
Favorite summer flowers: foxglove, echinacea, and honeysuckle.
What do you love about working with flowers?
In a lot of ways, I think the process of floral design is simply learning how to best respond to what already exists. Something I think is noteworthy about floral design is that we work with found, gathered materials. Their beauty is inherent, and our job is to highlight it. Before adding a stem to an arrangement, you need to observe its form, texture, etc., and respond accordingly. I feel like that removes the pressure from having to create something out of nothing—instead, it’s about sharing with others beauty that has moved me.
Favorite Heath pieces to work with?
I love the timeless, considered silhouettes and proportions of Heath vases. I have absolutely no background in ceramics, but I can understand the thoughtfulness of the designer through the vase forms. I have also taken a liking to designing arrangements in Heath serving bowls; I think they are perfectly scaled for a table centerpiece, with satisfying proportions to design in, and a wonderfully petite footprint for a tablescape.
Favorite summer flowers: foxglove, echinacea, and honeysuckle.
What do you love about working with flowers?
In a lot of ways, I think the process of floral design is simply learning how to best respond to what already exists. Something I think is noteworthy about floral design is that we work with found, gathered materials. Their beauty is inherent, and our job is to highlight it. Before adding a stem to an arrangement, you need to observe its form, texture, etc., and respond accordingly. I feel like that removes the pressure from having to create something out of nothing—instead, it’s about sharing with others beauty that has moved me.
Favorite Heath pieces to work with?
I love the timeless, considered silhouettes and proportions of Heath vases. I have absolutely no background in ceramics, but I can understand the thoughtfulness of the designer through the vase forms. I have also taken a liking to designing arrangements in Heath serving bowls; I think they are perfectly scaled for a table centerpiece, with satisfying proportions to design in, and a wonderfully petite footprint for a tablescape.
Any tips for making beautiful arrangements?
Get out of your head! I used to feel stuck while arranging and then started taking a few steps back from my workstation to see the arrangement from a different vantage point. You’d be surprised what changes in your perception of your work when you view it from a different perspective.
Find Sammy’s work with Lambert Floral Studio online and on Instagram.
Get out of your head! I used to feel stuck while arranging and then started taking a few steps back from my workstation to see the arrangement from a different vantage point. You’d be surprised what changes in your perception of your work when you view it from a different perspective.
Find Sammy’s work with Lambert Floral Studio online and on Instagram.
Equal parts elegant and whimsical, the work of Lidia Sadoun will likely be familiar to long-time Heath fans; she’s the owner of San Francisco’s La Fleuriste—a favorite of Cathy and Robin’s since 2004—and you can find her arrangements for sale at the Heath Newsstand.
Favorite summer flower: chocolate cosmos.
What does your process look like?
I buy a bunch of pretty things and hope it works out! If you start with beautiful elements, the rest is easy.
Also, flowers need a lot of love after being cut—they need to be hydrated, their stems cleaned, excess foliage removed... Some stems need to be hammered, some need to be scraped. I often spend more time cleaning and preparing the flowers than I do actually arranging them! But it’s important if you want a design that will last and thrive.
Any advice for budding arrangers?
Be open about what your final design looks like. Take cues from the flowers themselves and let them lean how—and where—they want to. It’s a lot easier than forcing them into position. The end result will be an arrangement that feels more natural and organic. And also, have fun! For me, the process is as rewarding as the outcome.
Favorite summer flower: chocolate cosmos.
What does your process look like?
I buy a bunch of pretty things and hope it works out! If you start with beautiful elements, the rest is easy.
Also, flowers need a lot of love after being cut—they need to be hydrated, their stems cleaned, excess foliage removed... Some stems need to be hammered, some need to be scraped. I often spend more time cleaning and preparing the flowers than I do actually arranging them! But it’s important if you want a design that will last and thrive.
Any advice for budding arrangers?
Be open about what your final design looks like. Take cues from the flowers themselves and let them lean how—and where—they want to. It’s a lot easier than forcing them into position. The end result will be an arrangement that feels more natural and organic. And also, have fun! For me, the process is as rewarding as the outcome.
What draws you to Heath vases?
Their simplicity. Their elegance. I’m drawn to anything Heath, really, and enjoy working with many different vessels—not just the vases. I love the basic shapes and clean lines; they complement the texture of flowers and nature so perfectly.
The different glazes excite me, too. I never knew colors could be so inspiring; so pretty. My current crush is Tomatillo.
Find Lidia’s work with La Fleuriste online and on Instagram.
We want to extend our thanks to Amber, Sammy, and Lidia for their help in showcasing the new lineup. We hope their work—and their words—inspire you to experiment with Heath’s shapes and glazes to build some breathtaking arrangements of your own. Like Lidia says: “if you start with beautiful elements, the rest is easy.”
Their simplicity. Their elegance. I’m drawn to anything Heath, really, and enjoy working with many different vessels—not just the vases. I love the basic shapes and clean lines; they complement the texture of flowers and nature so perfectly.
The different glazes excite me, too. I never knew colors could be so inspiring; so pretty. My current crush is Tomatillo.
Find Lidia’s work with La Fleuriste online and on Instagram.
We want to extend our thanks to Amber, Sammy, and Lidia for their help in showcasing the new lineup. We hope their work—and their words—inspire you to experiment with Heath’s shapes and glazes to build some breathtaking arrangements of your own. Like Lidia says: “if you start with beautiful elements, the rest is easy.”
