It is officially autumn and the two vases I’ve made this week reflect the crossover of the seasons.
The first is a slot-necked pocket vase that was handmade by artisans in Ecuador using a wax-resist technique that results in textured glazing. After seeing Cathy at Words and Herbs sunflower vase a few weeks ago, I remembered this one and wanted to feature it.
Slot-necks are tricky to use because the stems tend to flop left and right with few left in the middle. I fixed the problem by using dried hydrangea blossoms (H. ‘Annabelle’) to hold in place the yellow and salmon zinnia stems (Z. ‘Profusion’). Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) provides a nice harvest accent. The rusty tea towel and orange-tinged seashell compliment the arrangement.
The second vase is a solid, glass-crystal block that a dear friend from Colorado sent me last week as a surprise gift and I couldn’t wait to try it out.
I picked dried seed heads of daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) and yarrow (Achillea millifolium) tucked in with more hydrangea. Experimenting with contrasting live green material, I used the fern-like leaves of cecily (Myrrhis odorata) and a small sprig of goldenrod (Solidago sp.). The hand-carved wooden cat was given to me many years ago by my son.
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase what is blooming in our gardens by creating arrangements to enjoy inside our homes.
Her suggested theme this week is Simplicity or Abundance. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week. Feel free to join in, sharing your own weekly vase with a link to Cathy’s blog.
Eliza Waters 
The design of the first one is wonderful! I like the second as well. It is great fun to bring in seedheads and dried leaves.
Thank you, Melissa. Pretty soon dried and bare branches will be it for us! 😉
Sigh* Temps have really dropped here, all of a sudden. I’m thinking it is time to put storm windows on already!
(sigh) here, too!
More inspiration! I’ll soon be bringing in seedheads and pods. I wonder how zinnias would do in a pot. Do they need full sun?
Zinnias need really strong sun (think Mexico), but everything is worth a try, I suppose. Look for any pests (give a strong spray with the hose) to avoid bringing any bad guys into the house. Unfortunately, by December our sunlight is pretty pitiful!
Oh, sigh! I had that funny feeling. Six hours of sun probably wouldn’t cut it for zinnias.
I don’t want to discourage you! Pot up one or two and see what happens! 🙂
Both lovely, Eliza, but that first vase is absolutely wonderful. 🙂
Thank you, Judy. 🙂
Fabulous sunflower vase…quite lovely and the flowers you chose are perfect for it…I love its shape. The seedpods are perfect for fall.
Thank you, Donna!
Fabulous as always Eliza!
Thank you, Gillian!
Simple but very effective:)
Thank you!
I can’t imagine a more perfect pairing of vase and flowers than your first arrangement, Eliza!
Thank you so much, Kris!
They are both beautiful, as always. 🙂
Thank you, Robin!
Ooh, what lovely colours! I do like those Zinnia shades and your vase is gorgeous – yes, I see the resemblance to my sunflower vase (thanks for the mention again 😉 ) The second vase is a work of art Eliza – it makes you stop and look more closely and appreciate what is in it and the thought that went in to it too.
Thank you so much for your inspiration and kind praise, Cathy!
Beautiful.
Thanks, Gigi!
Beautiful vase as always 🙂
Thank you, Ann. 🙂
Your first arrangement is absolutely stunning! That second one reminds me of a Japanese influence: a mountaintop. I love the clear cube
Thank you, Maureen! Clever you to pick up on the ikebana-esque feel I was trying to achieve with the cubic vase. 🙂
The slotted vase is so lovely, Eliza, I can appreciate all the technique that went into the design, since I have done pottery. It looks great with your zinnias, and I like the Hydrangeas and grasses for the fillers and proppers. The small glass vase is the spirit of Autumn, with the spent seed heads and browns, greens, and yellow of the goldenrods.
Thank you very much for your kind comments, Hannah. The artisans at Artesa, S.A. do a great job with their ceramics. My spouse was a US rep for them many years ago and we have several beautiful pieces that are really works of art.
I’m learning something new each Monday! And that glazed vase is an attention grabber. The beautiful clear one also demands lovely stems…
Thanks, Lisa. That clear vase is challenging to get right. I need to try it a few more times to figure out how to show it in the best light.
Ah, photographing the flowers is another thing entirely, something I have not mastered. The clear vase arrangement was lovely, but that second element on view adds something else to the calculations.
Wow. wow. wow. These are amazing. You truly have a gift.
Thank you so much, Debra. I’m blushing! 😉
Wonderful autumn colours!
Thank you, Fi!
I really like the dried flowers – it gives it a very fall feeling for me.
My personal favorite are empty milkweed pods once the seeds have flown.The interiors are satiny gold. Lovely!
Gorgeous flowers, gorgeous vases 🙂
Many thanks! 🙂
How bright and beautiful. What a good idea to use the hydrangea to hold things in place. It looks like a lacey collar.
Thank you!
The colors blend so nicely and are so harmonious. I’ve not experienced the autumn season fully. When I was younger I went to NJ and it was gorgeous, but I was not into flowers then. I know New England is is one of the nicest, and most colourful areas!
Thanks, Maria. I’m hoping that our foliage is nice again this year. Rain and wind can have a dulling effect. So fingers crossed!
My, not only do you have a beautiful collection of flora and fauna, but quite a stunning collection of portals! Love!
Thanks so much, Kathy! 🙂
so lovely Eliza! I adore the glass vase – what a lovely gift. I am looking forward to adding more foliage and seed heads to my vases as the season progresses …
Thanks, Ann. Yes, it is that time of year!
Beautiful arrangements Eliza! You are giving me inspiration to bring some Colorado woodland clippings into my new house.
Thank you – absolutely, bring ’em on in!
Beautiful colors & vase! Your extensive knowledge on colors and arrangements and things is amazing!! Your crystal block vase is gorgeous and that is sweet of your friend to send you a surprise! I think I said this before but that is a great idea that this lady, Cathy, has to come up with different concepts and showcase all of your arrangements each week! 😀 It brings more beauty and joy into the world! ❤ And I'm a Fall fanatic and love this Fall theme!!
Thank you, Kim. It has been fun sharing a weekly vase with others. 🙂
Oh, so so pretty, Eliza!
Thank you, Mary!
The vase is stunning and the flower arrangement is perfect. I wonder what the yellow flowers are? I have similar flowers in my yard.
The first vase has Zinnia ‘Yellow Profusion’ (a GREAT garden performer) and the second has a sprig of goldenrod.
Your arrangements are simply amazing! I am always inspired by your use of materials that I would never even think of putting in an arrangement. What a creative mind you have:)
Wow, thank you for that wonderful compliment! 🙂