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How to create the perfect arrangement in your home with a step-by-step guide. As part of our NUDE in Bloom series, we invited floral studio Heritage Gatherings to take inspiration from our Blade collection. Following their modern, whimsical, full of movement, texture and colour designs, take a look below to create the look at home. To create a chic and timeless arrangement in your home, first gather your blooms. Focus on various colors and textures. Consider using large focal flowers such as roses, dahlias, or tulips. Add in linear flowers like delphinium, larkspur, or stock. Filler flowers can be smaller blooms used to fill in space, like ranunculus, sweet pea, berries or limonium. Finally, gather foliages and greenery, such as viburnum, ruscus or whatever you can cut from outside. Begin by creating a loose “bouquet” in your hands. Gather some of your larger blooms first in one hand, then using the other add in greenery, berries, and taller stems. Don’t use all the flowers, this bouquet will serve as your base structure to hold the rest of your flowers. After gathering a bouquet in your hand, using about 50% of your flowers, tie the stems with a rubber-band or piece of string. Cut the stems to the correct height and place in your vase of fresh, clean water. Remember to remove all leaves and petals below the waterline to leave only clean, cut stems- debris will dirty your water quickly. After placing your tied bouquet in your vase, add the rest of your stems to create the overall shape and style that you want. Your vase should ideally be no more than half the height of your arrangement, so consider adding nice, long stems of florals or branches to double the overall height. This creates visual balance. Continue adding in your focals, fillers, linears and foliages until the arrangement feels full and balanced all around. Always keep flowers out of direct sunlight and with fresh clean water to lengthen their shelf life. Enjoy your beautiful arrangement! Featured Vase - NUDE Blade Vase in Caramel

"Not too little, not too much... just right"... This month we invited London-based writer and designer, Cate St Hill, to explore the idea of “Lagom” - a Swedish phrase translating roughly to "not too little, not too much... just right". Lagom speaks to interiors, how balance and moderation can lead to visual and mental appeal, but also to a wider approach to lifestyle and contentedness. Cate, known for her pared-back interior style and a design philosophy rooted in simplicity, sustainability, and lasting design, invited us into her space to show how she curated several of our collections aligned with a Lagom-inspired approach, and her take on #simpleisbeautiful  We sat down for a conversation with Cate to gather some of her thoughts on Lagom, her creative process, and where she finds inspiration… How does the concept of Lagom resonate with you? I think we could all do with a bit more balance in our busy lives. I like the idea of taking inspiration from the Swedish way of living and finding time to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. For me, the concept of ‘not too much, not too little’, means taking a mindful approach to decorating my home and paring things back in a simple way. I want everything in my home to bring me joy and connect with me, so I’m selective with the objects I have around me. They need to be functional and beautiful. Lagom allows us to enjoy things in moderation - it’s also about not taking too many resources from the planet. It’s a reminder that we can be content with less.  Your three guiding principles with Lagom? Declutter your home and consider what you really need - objects stand out and take on more meaning when there’s less visual clutter around them  Use sustainably-sourced, natural materials that are less harmful to the planet Just because Lagom might favour a more minimal approach, it doesn’t mean a space needs to lack character or cosiness - add (just the right amount) of candlelight and fresh greenery into the home to bring it to life  Your creative process? When I’m designing a space I like to think about the material palette first – I’ll hone in on the textures before getting to the finer details later. I think it’s really important to create a space that appeals to all the senses - so as well as the overall picture, I’ll think about touch and tactility (everything from how a sofa feels to curl up on to the light switches you flick on when first entering the room). I always like to create  a mood board first – it helps set a cohesive framework for a project and stops a scheme becoming too confused later down the line. I’ll also think of three or four key words to describe a space. Then when I’m sourcing objects or worrying if this goes with that, I just have to go back to my key words and make sure it ticks those boxes.   “For me, the concept of ‘not too much, not too little’, means taking a mindful approach to decorating my home and paring things back in a simple way. I want everything in my home to bring me joy and connect with me…” - Cate St Hill Your main source of inspiration?  I think travel. I take a lot of inspiration from the places I visit, it might be the tiles in a restaurant bathroom, a piece of furniture in a hotel lobby or the colour of an old door. Stepping out of the ordinary always helps fire up creativity.  Favourite collection? I love the Mist vases; the lines are so appealing and help give the glass texture and intrigue. I love how the lines play with pattern when a flower or stem is introduced, creating a unique display every time you create an arrangement. Ribbed glass is everywhere at the moment, but with NUDE Glass you can be assured you're buying a quality product that will stand the test of time, beyond fleeting trends. I also love NUDE's lighting collection, the Smooth and Orion lamps are particularly beautiful and have such a lovely tactility to them, pairing stone with glass. 

Today we’re introducing Denis Gor (@denisgor). As a professional bartender and mixologist, as well as a certified sommelier, it’s no surprise that Denis - based in Louisville, Kentucky - has placed highly in two of our editions of our annual Mixology Competition.  We first noticed Denis’ work through his remarkable grasp of mixology and commitment to his craft, packaged with a beautiful visual language. We thought his work would be a perfect fit with NUDE Glass, and it didn’t take long for us to start working together… Those who follow us on Instagram (@nudeglass) may already recognise his striking style, and mouth-watering cocktails. Today, we’re showcasing a range of different cocktails Denis has created, paired especially with a range of our collections: from festive-inspired drinks to a romantic Valentine’s affair.  Fair Isle Collins 60ml London dry gin 20ml Meyer lemon juice 20ml Grenadine 2 dashes Angostura bitters Soda water, to top Sage, to garnish Shake the first four ingredients together and strain into a Hepburn Collins glass filled with ice. Top with soda and garnish with fresh sage. The Fair Isle Collins has a beautiful red/green color contrast to bring in the familiar festive season colors. I wanted to use pomegranates with meyer lemons as both fruits are in season now, and the Angostura bitters added a hint of baking spice to round out the botanicals used in the gin. Evergreen Daiquiri 45ml Blanche Armagnac 15ml Rhum Agricole Blanc 20ml Kiwi syrup* 20ml Lime juice 2 dashes Spruce and Birch bitters Absinthe, to garnish from an atomizer Shake all ingredients without absinthe and strain into Hepburn coupe glass. Garnish with a pump of absinthe. *Kiwi Syrup is equal parts by weight strained kiwi juice and sugar blended together. The Evergreen Daiquiri was inspired by the festive association we have with the color green. I used several ingredients that are naturally green in color, such as limes, kiwi, and sugar cane. The spruce and birch bitters reminded me of the smell of a fresh Christmas tree, and the botanicals in absinthe added a lovely anise bouquet to perfume the cocktail. Holiday in the Sun 15ml Campari 15ml Overproof Jamaican rum 30ml Cinnamon-grapefruit cordial* 20ml Coconut syrup** 2 scoops Blood orange sorbet 60ml Brut Champagne or Cava Lime zest, to garnish Pour the sparkling wine into the Stem Zero Volcano glass. Blend remaining ingredients together with a cup of crushed ice, then pour into the glass over the sparkling wine and garnish with fresh lime zest. Serve with a straw. *Cinnamon-grapefruit cordial 250g Grapefruit juice 250g Sugar 10g Grapefruit peel 2.5g Citric acid 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks Sous vide at 135F for 2 hours, then strain out peels and leave cinnamon sticks to infuse in the fridge overnight before straining. **Coconut syrup Blend together equal parts by weight of full-fat coconut milk and simple syrup.  This cocktail was inspired by the Champagne Pina Colada served at Coupette in London. Holiday parties are often celebrated with Champagne, so I wanted to imagine what it would be like if somebody decided to go on holiday to a warmer climate rather than stay somewhere cold? The blood orange sorbet was tied together with the blend of Campari and cinnamon-grapefruit cordial. The funky rum and coconut syrup provided the tropical, warm-weather feeling, and lime zest was used on top for a little bit of aromatic brightness. Pome and Fir Old Fashioned 45ml Calvados VS 15ml Douglas Fir Eau-de-vie 10ml Quince syrup* 2.5ml Pastis Lemon twist, to garnish Stir, strain over a big piece of ice into a Wayne rocks glass. Garnish with an expressed lemon twist. *Quince syrup is 1/2 of a quince simmered in simple syrup over medium-low heat (covered) for about 20 minutes. Calvados is one of my favorite spirits to use this time of year as the apple flavors are incredibly familiar to us. I added a Douglas Fir eau-de-vie to bring in familiar Christmas tree notes, and wanted to express more of those pome fruit notes by complimenting the Calvados with a quince syrup. A little bit of pastis added a final anise note to tie the eau-de-vie together with the pome fruits, and the lemon was used to brighten up the cocktail. Bouquet Negroni Housed in our Finesse Whisky SOF Glass, Denis’ ‘Bouquet Negroni’ is a romantic take on the classic cocktail. 30ml Blanco Tequila 30ml Bianco Vermouth 20ml Italicus 10ml Campari 1 dash Rosewater Stir and strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a lemon wedge.

This month, we’ve teamed up once again with Camille Vidal of La Maison Wellness to bring back more Mindful Cocktails goodness and inspiration. Cami’s recipes are made with Mindful Drinking in mind: a thoughtful approach to all we do and consume, without sacrificing any flavour or fun (read more about discovering Mindful Cocktails in our first blog post with Cami here). Cami’s recipes are lovingly crafted as low-abv or non-alcoholic, and this month we’ve asked her to create four new recipes inspired by some of our glassware collections. You can find the recipes on the dedicated Mindful Cocktails campaign section of our website here including shoppable links to the product she has featured. Keep on reading for an exclusive Q&A with Cami, discussing what she’s been up to and what’s up next. Hey Cami! Since last time we spoke, how’ve you been? I have been riding the waves like everyone else trying to take one day at a time and accepting the lack of control we have over things in this challenging time. I have also been enjoying the little pocket of joys such as being able to hop on the plane again for a little weekend abroad or even simply enjoying a mindful cocktail with friends at my favourite bars and restaurants. Dry January can be a passing moment for some - but we love how you approach Mindful Drinking as a lifestyle: lately, where have you found inspiration? Dry January can be a good motivation and good place to start as sometimes taking some time off drinking alcohol can really allow us to reassess our relationship but ultimately, mindful drinking is a lifestyle. It is about listening to your body and mind and figuring out the best balance for yourself. Honoring that for some people means being sober, for others it means moderation, that's your unique choice and when you make it, it’s liberating and empowering! Celebrating things - big and small - has always been a large part of your beliefs. What’ve you been celebrating lately? I’ve been celebrating being more present, appreciating what fills my cup, from the slow mornings, to the little moments of sunshine, sitting down at aperitif hours and enjoying conversation, to the joy of cooking a good meal. Food and drink have a beautiful way of bringing joy in our life especially when becoming mindful of what we drink and what we eat. That's what living well is about. Food and drink have a beautiful way of bringing joy in our life especially when becoming mindful of what we drink and what we eat. That's what living well is about. With things gradually beginning to open up across the world, some people are feeling overwhelmed by social activities and all the things it comes along with. Any words of advice for maintaining a balance? Absolutely, I think we can all find ourselves overwhelmed at times. I think it’s about changing our mentality and instead of thinking about going back to normal, let’s view this moment as a new beginning where we get to decide how we want to do things, how much or how little we want to socialize, the pace of the life we want and give ourselves the space to be ok with the change. Life doesn’t have to go back to what it was if we want it to be different and that’s ok too. Whilst there’s no shortage of guides to get started in mixology, how can fans start creating their own delicious Mindful drinks? I always say making cocktails is like cooking, it’s about playing with flavours to create something delicious so play around, have fun and figure out what you like. I share a weekly Mindful Cocktail either alcohol free or Low alcohol, always using more mindful ingredients so a good place to start is on lamaisonwellness.com. And then at home, you want to have your essentials; a selection of beautiful glassware like those NUDE sell, as that really elevate the experience, some good ice, some fresh ingredients especially citruses, some good quality mixers, some better options sweetener like raw honey or maple syrup, and a small selection of your favorite spirits alcohol free and not. I always say making cocktails is like cooking, it’s about playing with flavours to create something delicious so play around, have fun and figure out what you like. Summer drink of choice?  A Spritz! But to be fair I’m a spritz kinda of girl all year round! We can’t help but ask… Now you’ve spent some time with our glassware, which is your favourite!  I’m a big fan of the Savage range and I love the Big Top highball as well as your Stem Zero wine glass collection, it’s so fine and so elegant.

This month, we partnered with our friends JuneShine, the hard kombucha specialists, who’ve created several one-of-a-kind 6% ABV drinks from all-natural, organic ingredients. Started by a team of adventurers, artists and creatives who share a passion (and the desire to leave a positive impact on the environment), JuneShine’s mission is to brew the highest quality, healthiest jun kombucha - with love. Unlike many of the pre-made drinks out there, JuneShine pride themselves on using no artificial coloring, GMOs, pesticides, or processed corn or rice syrup: making their drinks less taxing on both the body and the environment. Like traditional kombucha, JuneShine contains probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, and - they promise - a good time. We invited the team to pair up several of their hard kombuchas with our glassware, give you an introduction to what they’re all about, as well as to the world of hard kombucha! What is JuneShine and how did the brand come about? It all started as we were wandering the aisles of our local grocery store. We noticed there was a sustainable, transparent option in nearly every consumer category–except alcohol. This led us to ask: why do we know so much about the food we eat, but so little about the alcohol we drink? With no solid answers in sight, we grew frustrated by the lack of honest transparent alcohol brands catering to our healthy, active lifestyle. And so, we decided to start our own. What’s unique about JuneShine? JuneShine is the most delicious, refreshing, honest hard kombucha around. Our flavors span the spectrum—from tropical to hoppy, bright to bold. Everything we produce is brewed through a two-step organic fermentation process similar to craft beer brewing. We use only 100% organic ingredients—green tea, honey, SCOBY, organic cane sugar, brewers yeast, organic fruit juice and spices. Our brewers come from some of the best craft breweries in the country. And after a myriad of trials, tastings and test batches, we found the perfect recipe to elevate the alcohol content. We use only organic honey and organic cane sugar in our fermentation and the residual sugar in our final product comes from organic fruit. Once complete, we add organic juices and spices to taste, creating unique and refreshingly smooth flavors without the junk found in other mass produced alcoholic beverages. What is kombucha/hard kombucha? Traditional kombucha is made by combining black or green tea with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (aka. SCOBY) and which causes the beverage to ferment. In the fermentation process, the SCOBY converts the sugar into CO2 and alcohol, in turn creating a bright, bubbly beverage. Traditional kombucha can clock in around 3 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), but anything listed as non-alcoholic will usually be less than 0.5 percent ABV. Making Hard Kombucha takes that process further—intentionally fermented to be an alcoholic beverage. Its ABV is similar to that of beer. After the first fermentation, additional sugar and yeast in a secondary fermentation process that converts that sugar into more alcohol. The specific formula varies significantly from brand to brand. Does glassware factor into what you create – and if so – how? Absolutely! We take great pride in thoughtfully brewing and sharing our hard kombucha. There’s so much delight to be had with the details in every step of the process. Having gorgeous glassware - like NUDE’s - to enjoy the fruits of our labor is like placing the perfect punctuation at the end of a beautiful sentence. Great glassware is just as functional as it is fun. It’s a way to add even more personality to our final product—from the way it helps accentuate the sensory experience to the way it looks and feels in hand. There’s just something so satisfying about seeing something you’ve worked so hard on poured perfectly into a picturesque vessel. Any advice for those looking to make more conscious choices when it comes to the drinks they choose? Ask questions! We know so much about where the food we eat comes from and how/where the clothes we wear are made, but when it comes to alcohol there have always been so many more question marks. But that’s changing. We’ve set out to change the perception of what a beverage can be. Honest. Transparent. Sustainable. We encourage everyone to seek out brands that are transparent and thoughtful in their processes from start to finish.   Featured: NUDE Wayne SOF glass

Creating a cocktail isn’t just about flavour, but about creating a great experience. This month, we invited Murray Anderson (better known as @thewestmount) to curate an edit of cocktails for #NUDEFridayCocktails, showcasing a range of simple, delicious drinks with our glassware. Murray is no stranger to NUDE, having partnered with us multiple times, and consistently bringing an infectious energy and brilliant creations – all the way from sunny Scotland. As a dear friend of ours, we interviewed Murray to let him share more of his story with you, the NUDE community. Read more below, and find a selection of Murray’s June recipes as we head straight into summer. A one on one with Murray Where are you based? Currently, I am living in a small village just outside of Glasgow, Scotland. What led you to mixology – and content creation? Wow, where to start... To cut a long story short, I fell in love with the science of flavour and began to capture some of the cocktails I made with my iPhone. I then began to fall in love with not just the creativity in mixology, but the creativity involved in photography and content creation! Where do you find most inspiration for your work? I love trying to evoke memories in my cocktails and photography, so I tend touse fond memories of my childhood and past experiences. Which ingredient do you find yourself using most – and why? If I could narrow it down to one type of ingredients, it would be fresh herbs. I love using natural ingredients in cocktails and finding ways to get the most out of them too. Does glassware factor into what you create – and if so – how? 100%... I would say it’s a pretty underrated factor in creating a great cocktail. Creating a cocktail isn’t just about flavour, but about creating a great experience. I love keeping cocktails elegant and simple... One of the best ways to elevate a simple drink is through elegant glassware that matches the mood/overall feel of the drink. What does mixology mean to you? Honestly, it’s just about having fun with it. I used to take it all so seriously but I then realised it’s more about creating amazing drinks that people can recreate if they want to. Over the past year, I think we can all agree our bartending skills have massively improved and it’s now so apparent that great cocktails can be made in the comfort of your own home with good friends or family. Most fulfilling part of what you do? Teaching people. Over the past few years, I have learned a few tips here and there and I love passing that information on. Words of advice for those looking to start their mixology journey? Don’t ever be afraid to let your creativity take over. Murray's June recipes for NUDE Thyme Flies Sunshine is calling for a banging rum cocktail, and Murray created this amazing cocktail called Thyme Flier in our NUDE Big Top whiskey glass. Ingredients: 40ml Jamaican Pot Still Rum 10ml Velvet Falernum 5ml blood orange oleo 20ml fresh lime juice 10ml demerara syrup Fresh thyme Watermelon & Lime Negroni  Created as a tribute for World Gin Day, the Watermelon & Lime Negroni cocktail is a great way to celebrate the weekend with friends. Presented in the NUDE Hepburn Lowball glass and created with the Hepburn Mixing glass. Ingredients: Cucielo Rosso Vermouth Campari Watermelon & lime rind infused Gin Garnish with a watermelon wedge and a mint sprig Mulled Port Old Fashioned Created to mark Father's Day 2021, Murray’s Mulled Port Old Fashioned in our NUDE Alba Whisky DOF glass is a simple whisky-based recipe that anyone can make at home - to help celebrate those closest to you that have made an impact on your life.  Ingredients: 50ml Port Cask Malt Whisky 5ml honey syrup 5ml bitter mulled port reduction orange zest Apple & Elderflower Gin Mojito Murray shares his take on the all-time classic Mojito - substituting the traditional rum base in favour of a contemporary gin twist using our NUDE Savage High Ball Glass. Ingredients: 50ml London Dry Gin 15ml elderflower syrup 25ml fresh lime juice 10 mint leaves Top with apple pressé Sannox Bay Murray chose to pair his latest recipe, a simple yet effective whisky-based affair, Sannox Bay in our NUDE Malt Whisky Glass - including a smoked process for extra depth and flair.  Ingredients: 50ml Arran Whisky 10yr 5ml salted apricot syrup 3 dashes of aromatic bitters charred apricot garnish

The world is in bloom, enjoy it with a NUDE spring inspired cocktail. This month, we invited mixologist and friend Morten Krag of The Cocktail Blog to create and share a selection of bespoke cocktails for our #NUDEFridayCocktails series. Based in Viborg, Denmark, Morten’s background in mixology stems from an early age and began with distinct memories of many different smells, senses, and colours that arose from his father’s botanically-infused aquavit recipes. For Morten, mixology is not just a career, but a passion in exploring, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of what the norm is – as an act of expression. What followed from curiosity has turned into a passion spanning all things mixology, including an authoritative Instagram brand and mixology blog sharing new (and old) recipes alike. We invited Morten to share some of his thoughts on his inspirations, favourite ingredient, glassware choices, and more… A one on one with Morten Where are you based? Viborg, Denmark Where do you find most inspiration for your work? Through experimenting in my Home-Bar, from other Mixologists, from the "Gram", from the Classics. Which ingredient do you find yourself using most – and why? I must say Gin - It's incredibly versatile, flexible, crisp, allowing other ingredients to shine as well, and can be enjoyed on its own as well. Does glassware factor into what you create – and if so – how? Glassware (and Ice) plays a vital and important role in my creations. To me a Cocktail is and should be more than ‘just’ the ingredients. A Cocktail should tell a tale, give an expression, offer emotions and tingle one's senses. The glassware plays an important part in doing so. It should complement the Cocktail ingredients, play its part, and be ‘one’ with the Cocktail itself. Starting simple and practicing is your advice for aspiring mixologists – do you have any other words of advice? Don't be afraid to be creative - both inside the glass and outside the glass. You might just find your own style and preferences.  Morten's Spring Recipes for NUDE NUDE Spritz First up this month is Morten’s NUDE Spritz in our Stem Zero Full Bodied White Wine Glass: a homage incorporating the pale pink we’ve come to be known for.  Ingredients: 5cl Rosé Wine 3cl Dry Gin 2.5cl Ruby Grapefruit purée 1.5cl Freshly squeezed lemon juice 1cl Simple Syrup Method: Shake with plenty of ice Strain Top with soda Garnish with pink grapefruit   Land of NUDES This NUDEFridayCocktails is for the gin lovers: using gin as a base alongside Aquavit and Curacao to create a simple recipe with complex flavours in our Big Top Whisky DOF Glass. Ingredients: 4.5cl Dry Gin 1cl Aquavit  1.5cl Dry Curacao 0.5cl homemade Simple Syrup  1 dash Orange Bitters Pinch of sea salt Method: Stir with plenty of ice Strain over a large block of ice Express a lemon zest over the drink and garnish   Echoes of Summer This NUDEFridayCocktails is so pretty you wouldn’t want to drink it, until you have a taste... ‘Nude Savage’ in our Savage Coupetini Glass by Morten of @thecocktail.blog is one we’ll be saving. Ingredients: NUDE Savage 4.5cl Gin  1.5cl Pastis 1 bsp. Grenadine Method: Stir with plenty of ice Strain Express and discard lemon zest Garnish with a Japanese Cherry Tree Flower Pastel Dreams Morten's Bordiga Nuderitivo is an easy making (and drinking) weekend affair, shown in our Mirage Long Drink Glass - and perfect to enjoy in the sunshine. Ingredients: Bordiga Nuderitivo 4cl Gin 2cl Aperitivo  10-12cl Tonic Method: Stir carefully over plenty of ice  Garnish with pink grapefruit  

For the third and final installation of NUDE in Bloom, the team at Grace & Thorn share their thoughts on how to recreate the signature style of floral arrangement that they've become renowned for in London and beyond. Have a look at our Instagram for more inspiration. "Here at Grace & Thorn, we pride ourselves on our wild, offbeat approach to flower arranging. We are all about embracing the nature of the materials we use, celebrating every big bloom, every delicate flowers, and all the flowing foliage. Once you have selected and conditioned your mix of foliage of flowers (see our other articles to learn more about this!), take each piece and observe the shapes, lines, colours and textures individually as you start to build a picture of how they will all come together. Now - for the creative part!" Step 1. Use foliage at different angle to create your skeleton, with the tallest bit being the top of your arrangement.   Step 2. Start adding your focal flowers. Don’t just place these straight down into the jar, place them at an angle and start to create a natural grid on to which all the other flowers and foliage can sit. Step 3. Add your filler. You want to layer the filler and all the smaller interesting bits weaving throughout the focal flowers and foliage, again placing the stems in at different heights and angles. Step 4. Keep adding and building up your arrangement by grouping flowers. Step 5. Step back and make sure you are happy with it all - look at it from difficult angles to see if there are any gaps you might have missed, and pull up any flowers that have gone into hiding. Step 6. Add that extra bit of something different - a tall statement stem to cut through the middle, or some sweeping foliage to accentuate one of the sides - this is what will really make your arrangement stand out.   Grace & Thorn for NUDE NUDE In Bloom

How to condition your flowers for arranging at home If you have ever attended a flower arranging class, or watched a florist at work, then you may have come across a process called ‘conditioning’. This describes the steps that are taken to ensure your flowers not only look their absolute best, but ensure that they will last as long as possible. Depending on the flower, it will involve different processes, but there are some general steps that you can take for all flowers and foliage you will use. Let your flowers rest. Once you get them home, place them directly into room temperature water, out of direct sunlight for a few hours. This will help them to recover after their journey back to your home. Once rested, tidy up your stems. Remove any leaves from the stem that will sit below the water line. This will not only make it easier to arrange your flowers later on, it will also stop any plant matter rotting into the water and causing your flowers to go over prematurely.  Whilst doing this process, you can also break up stems that have multiple branches. This will make your flowers go much further and allow you to create a much more delicate and textured flower arrangement. Recut the end of your stem. This will refresh the part of the flower that drinks up the water (the xylem if you want the scientific term for it). Cut around 1cm off using a sharp, clean pair of scissors or a knife, and cut at a 45 degree angle to increase the drinking surface area. For woody stems, like hydrangea, you can also cut up into the stem to help them drink up even more. Place into fresh, cool (but not freezing) water and keep out of direct sunlight. We recommend recutting your stems every couple of days once you’ve put your arrangement together. Keep your water fresh! If you’re not creating your arrangement straight away, be sure to change your water at least once a day, and once you have put it together top up the water regularly, and change it completely if it changes colour or goes cloudy. Every single stem you buy from a florist will have undergone these processes (and in some case even more!) but it never hurts to go over your stems again. Grace & Thorn for NUDE NUDE In Bloom

As part of NUDE in Bloom, we've invited our collaborator and friends, Grace & Thorn, to share their expertise within all things floral. Forming the first of a three-part series, the team discuss the relationship between vase selection and the type of flowers that work well in harmony. Take a look below...  "When buying flowers, it’s always good to have an idea of what vase they will be going in. A vase can not only elevate the beauty of the flowers, they can be a key part of the arrangement itself. To create a harmonious arrangement, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.  One of the key things is height. As a general rule, you want your arrangement to be one-and-a-half times the size of your vase. This will ensure your flowers and vase don’t overpower one another, but also helps keep things steady - too low and it can look unfinished, too high and it could topple over." "If you have a tall vase, be sure to include at least a few more linear stems. At Grace & Thorn we love to use sweeping tall branches of foliage, or towering stems of delphinium, leucadendron and snapdragons to achieve this. For a more subtle effect, delicate grasses will also draw the eye upwards. As well as the height of the vase, you will also want to consider the opening. If the neck is too wide you may find it difficult to achieve the desired shape of the arrangement. Too narrow an opening and it could constrain your design or damage the stems. For wider vases, opt for lovely full pieces of foliage to help get an initial filling that will support the rest of your stems. At Grace & Thorn, we love to forage for seasonal greenery which allows us to choose the fullest, leafiest branches. Once you’ve got a good base of greenery in, you can start to add taller stems and blooms to your vase." "If you have a very small opening, then use your vase as a bud vase. Choose single elegant, architectural pieces. Dried flowers like pampas grass, cotton stems or branches of rosehip work beautifully in a single tall bud vase, or individual big, bolshy blooms will create a high impact for shorter bud vases, especially when grouped together." "As well as shape, use the colours and textures of your vase for inspiration. If your vase features a key colour, think how your stems might complement or create contrast with your vase. We loved pairing the neutral matte tones with the gorgeous shine of the Layers Gold vase. If your vase features textured glass, think about the refractions and reflections that will be created by the stems placed within it. Subtle details like this are really what will give your arrangements that extra edge and elevate your flower design to the next level."   "The beauty of a bouquet should go beyond the flowers themselves, and thinking about your vase whilst choosing them will help you create a cohesive and eye catching arrangement."  Grace & Thorn for NUDE NUDE In Bloom

Pink Gin Affair, by Camille Vidal of La Maison Wellness. We're pleased to share the recipe for Pink Gin Affair, by Camille Vidal of La Maison Wellness: a pink gin-based cocktail with fresh and abundant flavours of strawberry and basil. This fruity and herbaceous blend forms another wonderful low-alcohol creation for our Mindful Cocktails series. Recipe Ingredients 25ml Mermaid Pink Gin 3 muddled strawberry and basil 20ml lemon 5ml agave Strawberry kombucha Technique Shake GlassNUDE's Stem Zero full bodied white wine glass GarnishHalf a strawberry & basil