BLEAKHOUSE FLOWERS: Q&A
photo credit: Tobby Wu
5 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
TOBBY WU, BLEAKHOUSE FLOWERS
Tobby is taking over the Simple Shape Studio for an afternoon Spring Flower Bouquet workshop. Fascinated by the strange and curious and inspired by buildings and films Tobby’s style is absolutely unique.
Charlie from Studio Luxmore asked Tobby 5 questions recently, these are her answers. Bleakhouse is a space to watch, for sure!
Q 1. Tell us about your journey to becoming a florist
I was really into plants and was thinking of taking on a horticulture course, however, its a very long way to become a horticulturist/gardener. And then I found a florist course with a very affordable price and length of time, so I thought why not? and then of course I thought…ummm this is great fun! But I actually finished a horticulture course last year.
Q 2. How did you settle upon your floral aesthetic?
Thank you! I’m not sure if it’s settled, it’s a very visual type of work and I think I want myself to explore more, to adapt more even. I like strange things, I collect strange things. These things fascinate me and I’m definitely not a minimalist. I guess I always look for the strange and curious parts in things, anything, in flowers and plants , in composition or in combinations.
photo: Tobby Wu
Q 3. What’s the story behind your name Bleak House?
My husband was reading Bleak House every night before we go to bed, it was the time while I was taking the floristry course, I daydreamed about having my own business and thought this could be a great (gothic) name. I don’t really remember the story, I remember Mr. Guppy.
Q 4. Where do you draw inspiration?
V&A museum, Matisse paintings. Surrealism, Old photographs and buildings, stories, films and a good garden.
Q 5. What’s next for Bleak House?
Hoping to work on diverse projects and collaborate with all sorts of creatives. And, grow lots more flowers.
photo: Tobby Wu
A straightforward tumbler that tucks neatly into your hands. A double espresso and a little frothy milk and the day will start just right, (mine would anyway!)
The terracotta and white glaze combination - it’s simple but SO good looking! We have a terracotta collection of things for your table from carafes, mugs, tumblers, to small bowls and tapas bowls. These are everyday basics and they make great gifts too.
Colour: Terracotta and white glaze.
Size: height 7.5 cm x diameter 8 cm.
Notes: wash by hand
The terracotta and white glaze combination - so simple but so good looking! This lovely carafe is great for water or wine, you choose. We have a terracotta collection of things for your table from water jugs, carafes and milk jugs, to tapas bowls and pinch pots. These are everyday basics and they make great gifts too.
Colour: Terracotta and white glaze.
Size: height 17 cm x diameter 9 cm. Capacity 600 ml
Notes: wash carefully by hand
This is a curvaceous take on the classic terracotta plant pot. Simple and perfect for cuttings, succulents and new little house plants. Also doubles as an excellent pen pot for your desk or tooth mug for your bathroom. Its a versatile little thing!
Colour: Terracotta
Size: height 7.5 cm x diameter 8.5 cm.
A simply great jug. Good for milk. Good for flowers. Treat yourself. Each one is carefully handmade in the North of England in local speckled stoneware and glazed (almost but not entirely) in a simple tin-white glaze. A little ring of stoneware is left visibly unglazed on each jug and the makers mark is stamped into the base. Each jug will be ever-so-slightly different, but that’s what we want, it’s the beauty of the hand made! [also available in ‘Nori’ colour]
Colour: White
Size: height 17cm x diameter 13cm. Capacity 1060ml
Notes: Hand washing will extend the life of your handmade ceramics.
A simply great jug. Good for milk. Good for flowers. Treat yourself. Each one is carefully handmade in the North of England in local speckled stoneware and glazed (almost but not entirely) in a ‘Nori’ glaze. A little ring of stoneware is left visibly unglazed on each jug and the makers mark is stamped into the base. Each jug will be ever-so-slightly different, but that’s what we want, it’s the beauty of the hand made! [also available in white]
Colour: Nori (seaweed colour)
Size: height 17cm x diameter 13cm. Capacity 1060ml
Notes: Hand washing will extend the life of your handmade ceramics.
A simple cylindrical hand-thrown vase in a gentle mottled glaze reminiscent of sea mist in the morning. What a simply beautiful way to display a hedgerow handful. Available in two sizes.
Size: height 19cm x diameter 9.5cm
Notes: hand wash with soapy water
Keep you your little house plants happy with this simple no-fuss contemporary cork planter, plant perfection for you green fingered homemakers.
Notes: water WILL mark the planter giving it a lovely patina (it will not damage the cork). However, if you don’t want the water marks, lift your little plants out and water them in the sink, allowing excess water to drain away before returning it.
Size Exterior: height 9 cm x diameter 11 cm / Interior : height 8 cm x diameter 9 cm
This is a versatile little design made in fine grain sustainable cork, so of course, it is super lightweight. It has neatly angled sides and a stepped-in foot which gives it a contemporary edge. Little house plants look cute as will your pens and pencils. Use it as you choose.
Notes: water WILL mark the planter giving it a lovely patina (it will not damage the cork). However, if you don’t want the water marks, lift your little plants out and water them in the sink, allowing excess water to drain away before returning it.
Size Exterior: height 10 cm x diameter 9.5 cm / Interior : height 8 cm x diameter 8.5 cm
Our Charcoal Grey galvanised steel jugs are made in the West Midlands in a workshop that has 130 years of British engineering experience. They don’t rust so can be used inside or out. Fill them with flowers or use as an indestructible water jug in the garden.
Colour: Charcoal Grey
Size: 3-pint capacity. h 23cm approx
Notes:
The Duck Egg Blue galvanised steel jugs are made in the West Midlands in a workshop that has 130 years of British engineering experience. They don’t rust so can be used inside or out. Fill them with flowers or use as an indestructible water jug in the garden.
Colour: Duck Egg Blue
Size: 3-pint capacity. h 23cm approx
Notes:
This mug is a GOOD one. It is a great size, excellent proportions and it looks so good too. Simple: so hard to get right, so satisfying when it is.
The terracotta and white glaze combination - so simple but SO good looking! We have a terracotta collection of things for your table from carafes, mugs, tumblers, to small bowls and tapas bowls. These are everyday basics and they make great gifts too.
Colour: Terracotta and white glaze.
Size: height 7.5 cm x diameter 8 cm.
Notes: wash carefully by hand
The terracotta and white glaze combination - so simple and oh so good looking! This handleless milk jug is perfect for a table for two. We have a collection of terracotta things for your table from water jugs, carafes and milk jugs, to tapas bowls and pinch pots. These are everyday basics and great gifts too.
Colour: Terracotta and white glaze.
Size: height 12 cm x diameter 8 cm. Capacity 400 ml
Notes: wash carefully by hand
A simple cylindrical hand-thrown vase in a gentle mottled glaze reminiscent of sea mist in the morning. What a simply beautiful way to display a hedgerow handful. Available in two sizes.
Size: height 14cm x diameter 9.5cm
Notes: hand wash with soapy water
These versatile water jugs are simple, of course, but definitely not plain. Available in 'sherbet lemon' and 'candy floss pink' they add a sweetness to your kitchen table. And of course, flowers look great in them too.
Colour: Stoneware jug in 'candy floss' pink.
Size: height 17.8cm x diameter 11.3cm. Capacity 1.3 litres
Notes: wash carefully by hand.