Winter Florals: Seasonal Elegance at Marie Blanche
It’s a joy to celebrate the opening of Marie Blanche, a new jewellery boutique in the heart of Berkhamsted, created by the talented Annabelle Marie-Blanche. Offering timeless jewellery pieces inspired by love, nature, and elegance, her boutique is a reflection of craftsmanship, personal storytelling, and impeccable taste.
Housed in a stunning Georgian terrace, the boutique’s entrance—marked by an imposing front door at the top of a few small steps—opens into a hand-painted hall which leads into a spacious room with a marble fireplace, high panelled ceilings, and an airy bay window that frames a perfect view of the historic St. Peter’s Church. The atmosphere is serene and elegant, a fitting backdrop for her exquisite collection.
A Legacy of Creativity
The name Marie Blanche honours Annabelle’s French great-grandmother, an artisan whose influence helped shape the boutique’s ethos. The carefully curated display of jewellery rests on vintage wooden haberdashery cabinets and shelving; each piece is arranged thoughtfully to evoke the charm of timeless craftsmanship.
The Art of Gifting
Annabelle’s attention to detail shines in her signature packaging. Each jewellery item is wrapped in a bespoke handmade box, tied with a luxurious ribbon, stamped with a wax seal, and often adorned with pressed flowers. This thoughtful touch transforms a purchase into a cherished keepsake, adding layers of meaning to wedding gifts, birthday presents, or tokens of love.
Shared Inspirations
Annabelle and I share a deep connection to our grandmothers, whose love for growing flowers and creative living has influenced both of our journeys. Our shared passion for craftsmanship, beauty, and personal service has led us to collaborate on a winter floral installation for her boutique, marking this key moment. We hope to continue this collaboration throughout the year with seasonal floral displays.
Celebrating Winter with Seasonal Florals
I created a broken floral arch to frame the boutique's January launch entrance. While my heart lies with homegrown flowers, winter’s scarcity of English flowers prompted a design focused on the season's textured evergreens and muted hues.
British-grown glossy dark green laurel and camellia leaves contrast with the brighter green pittosporum and the blue-grey tones of eucalyptus, all supplied from @BJRichards. Delicate pink and white blossoms of early-flowering Skimmia and Viburnum add soft notes of colour. Foraged Ivy berries, saved dried Teasels, and hazel catkins lend intricate detail, creating a balanced, natural composition.
One indulgence I couldn’t resist is Waxflower—a fragrant, delicate flower with waxy white petals and pearl-like pink buds. Its scent, reminiscent of Thai lemongrass, adds an enchanting aroma when cut. Though challenging to grow in the UK, its beauty and fragrance make it irresistible for me at this time of year.
Sustainability at Heart
Sustainability is central to this collaboration. I’ve used reusable chicken wire and containers and a modular branch stand for the installation, which was built and supplied by Nathan @floralfabrications. Usually, there is worry about water sources and stems accessing water to prevent them from wilting or drying out. In January, the concern was about sub-degree temperatures causing freezing and frost! We will be covering with frost cloth overnight to protect the delicate flowers.
With this in mind, potted early flowering shrubs that are cold weather tolerant have been incorporated into the design. These will be transplanted into my perennial patch or Annabelle’s garden, ensuring they grow and flower again for future arrangements.
I hope you find time to visit in person or online - I am honoured to collaborate with Marie Blanche, where we have come together to celebrate beauty, artistry, and the seasons. Thank you for supporting our small local businesses and our shared love of thoughtful creations.
