I’ve always loved cake stands and seeing past their obvious use, I really enjoy finding different and unusual ways to weave them into my work. My favourite way, by far, is to stack them…...in fact, I love it so much that in the past I garnered the nickname Sandra Stack (coined by the assistant of a photographer I used to work with!)

I find that by building up Three (or even Four) tiered towers using cake stands of graduated sizing provides the perfect backdrop to showcase collections - in this case my Autumn collections.

Here you’ll see my beautiful light green milk glass stands stacked together, each collection finished by using a smaller vessel on top.

The first collection features Van Lier's newest variety; the Montmartre rose, due for public release soon as well as garden roses, dahlias and zinnias nestled amongst pears, Japanese maple leaves and acorns collected from around my home. You’ll notice for the smaller top vessel, the cherry on the top, I’ve used a small cranberry glass piece. I really love cranberry glass (which seems to have grown quite a following around the world!) Pieces are produced in smaller, craft size batches and the stunning colour actually comes from the addition of gold (either the salts or colloidal gold) when the glass is still molten.

The second collection, created a little further into the season, is a warm and deeper colour palate of umbers, violets and reds. Beautiful red rose varieties have been paired together alongside chrysanthemum, pansies and autumnal berries. I was also lucky enough to find parrot tulips, which I love for their textured petals, flushed yellow and red. I’ve added the finishing touches using Pears, acorns and pin oak leaves from around my home which lend a beautiful, rustic feel.

What have you got around your home that could be incorporated into your arrangements?

Sandra xx

Cake Stand Floral Arrangements