Petite floral arrangements make everyone smile Ask anyone who knows me: I absolutely adore anything that is teeny-tiny, minute, miniature and microscopic. Perhaps it's simply a fascination with detail, as I'm always amazed by the intricacies of the design and architecture of anything created in miniature – whether by humans or Mother Nature. So when one of my favourite photographers,  Paul Chmielowiec (who I've worked with to shoot projects and interiors over the past decade for Canadian Living), sent me some of his artful images of miniature floral arrangements by floral designer Sarah Wu of  Petite Studio in Toronto, of course I was inspired! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="491"] A contemporary English-garden arrangement featuring Ontario-grown dahlias, lisianthus, Queen Anne's lace and seeded eucalyptus by floral designer Sarah Wu, the owner of Petite Studio. Photo by Paul Chmielowiec.[/caption]   Above: One of  Sarah Wu's stunning arrangements – available at her floral studio,  Petite Studio in Toronto – showcases her uniquely organic and fluid style. Sarah is certified as a professional floral designer by the  Canadian Institute of Floral Design and is a part-time faculty member at the school. She also holds a bachelor of design from York University and Sheridan College, and an honours bachelor of science from Queen’s University. I love Sarah's work, but it was the images (below) that Paul sent me of her petite vintage-bottle arrangements that first caught my eye. Using 80 vintage apothecary bottles that were brought in by a client for a wedding table centrepiece, Sarah casually dropped a single blooming stem into each diminutive 5- to 6-inch bottle,  creating a very personalized and charming centrepiece. These little treasures instantly took on an air of prominence and drama when captured separately through Paul's lens and enhanced with his keen creative eye and digital skills. His vintage-style muted-yellow backdrop adds a nostalgic look to Sarah's vintage-bottle bud vase arrangements, making them appear as though they were from another time. Here are some of Paul's images of Sarah's arrangements, followed by some of my own images of the fabulous bottles I've found in abundance at flea markets and thrift shops on my travels. Paul and Sarah's vintage bud vases [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="317"] A single stem of freesia in a green-tinted medicine bottle. Photo by Paul Chmielowiec.[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="317"] A fragrant, soft pink "stock" flower in a green-tinted bottle. Photo by Paul Chmielowiec.[/caption]