Ribbon Embellishments

 
 Beautiful ribbon and jewel treatments for large vases.

This is not a casual look - but it is not entirely formal either. The jeweled brooches elevate the mood but the felted ribbon brings the tone down a notch or two. 

Why do I point this out?  Because it is the small details that make a difference. 

Think about how you could use this idea in your event.  The blue and yellow is so eye catching but sage green ribbon, pine cones, white hydrangea and evergreens could be substituted for fall or winter. 

Do you like this idea? Come in and brainstorm with us  



Photo and ribbon: D Stevens LLC (dstevensllc@q.com)

Tulips Funky or Fabulous?

Reposted from www.sprout-flowers.com
 and the amazing *Kathy Walsh.

Can you stand how amazing these fringed tulips are?!!!

I adore unusual varieties of flowers, especially of flowers that can be rather common place like the tulip. If I hadn't told you these were tulips, would you even have known?!

LOVE!

*Kathy passed away this past year and is sorely missed by the Floral community. 
She was one uber-gifted Florist! And an inspiration to many.

Brides - How do you choose a Florist?

 Unscientific Wedding Survey 
 reprinted from Sprout/Worcester Florist Cathy Walsh


I posted a completely unscientific wedding survey on the blog here, trying to get a feel for what's driving the calls for wedding consultations.

Every year we get swamped with calls in January for consults, and every year I can't keep up with them, so every year I try to analyse all this and try to figure out how to do it better.

I don't know that I have that all figured out yet.
But I keep trying.


Here is the survey question and responses -

Engaged Couples:  When you call a florist for a wedding appointment, you have -

A. Already decided who you want, it's just a matter of price.                               18%	8 (18%)
B. A tight schedule and need to meet with the one who can accommodate you.     9%	4 (9%)
C. Scheduled appointments with several florists and are still researching.              15%	7 (15%)
D. No idea who or what you need in a florist but you have to start somewhere.     22%	10 (22%)
E. A vision and want to brainstorm with a creative person.                                  34%	15 (34%)

I'm still not sure what to do with this information.  I thought for sure answer A was going to come out on top.  I figured that in the era of Pinterest, blogs, web sites, Facebook, etc., that most vendors were researched to death on the internet before the client meeting, that our creativity and skill had already been assessed and compared to other shops', and it was just a matter of whether our prices match the couple's budget.

(And personality fit.  Because it can make a big difference if you and the client "click" - or not.  You need to do that in person for sure.)

So imagine my surprise to find that a third of people who took the survey just want to pick our brains.  And that another 37% want to book an appointment without having a clear sense of what they want or need in a florist or flowers.

It's certainly ego boosting to think your creative brain is worth picking, but I can brainstorm until the cows come home.  Not only does that not pay the bills, too many ideas are ultimately confusing and lead to decision paralysis.  The client needs to have done some research and planning before we get to the flower brainstorming.

• Dresses need to be purchased.  I can't brainstorm on "the dresses will probably be coral".  
• Your personal style needs to be determined.  No one is rustic-chic-romantic-elegant-classic-creative-modern-vintage.  Never.  If you think that's your style, you will need to narrow it down a bit before meeting with a florist.
• An honest and realistic assessment of your flower budget.  I have never seen a cheap flower idea from Style Me Pretty or Martha Stewart.  If you are using styled photoshoots as your inspiration, then be prepared to have a magazine editor's budget.

By all means, get your girlfriends, a bottle of wine, and Pinterest together!  But after you have focused your ideas is the time to sit with your florist.  :-)

A Few Good Pumpkins

We are always on the hunt for eye catching accessories and we found these last year at Market. This fall they showed up on the cover of Gump's of San Francesco's wonderful catalog!  Fabulous velvet Pumpkins that will add  unexpected elegance where traditional gourds would be too rustic. And they are very light weight which is a bonus if you store your seasonal decorations up or down staircases.

If realism is your thing, how about these faux gourds - I'm crazy for the color and shape. These are definitely going to be added to MY home collection. 

Remember Thanksgiving is late so we have an extra week to enjoy our fall decorations.

Fall Accent Boxes

 Being creative by nature, Floral Designers are constantly looking for new ideas to repurpose "stuff " I came across this idea on the Design Master web site.  What a great look and super easy to do.. Since I work in the "Giant Kraft Box" (as my sister calls it) I don't worry about having left over supplies. I assure you that the spray paints, used in this project, will become your favorite Go To tools for lots of touch ups around the house.

Since the colors are translucent they can be used to freshen old baskets, give painted objects an antique look or spray on silk or dried flowers for a shabby chic fall look.

Give them a try!

Decor Boxes

Prep bare wood by sanding. Clean surface with tack cloth. 

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Design Master Sprays - Home Décor Stain HONEY, CHESTNUT, HICKORY (one color per box) - Clear Finish GLOSS - TACK 2000 Spray Adhesive Unfinished Wood Boxes - Fine Sandpaper - Tack Cloth - Disposable Gloves - Soft Cloth or Paper Towel - Masking Tape - Silver Paint Pen - Silver Pearl Studs - Hammer - Silver Skeletal Leaves - Drawer Knobs - Permanent Bonding Glue

  

1. Spray Home Décor Stain close to the box surface until wet and glossy. 
2.  Quickly wipe the stain into the wood grain with cloth, removing the excess. Let dry (3-5 minutes).
3. Now spraying approx. 12" from surface evenly apply an additional light coat of stain. Let dry.
4. Create a pattern by masking areas with tape, making sure edges are pressed firmly. Apply more coats of stain on the exposed wood as in Step 3 until the desired contrast is achieved. Allow stain to dry between coats. The more coats applied, the deeper the color - you choose the color intensity.
5. Repeat Step 2 on box lid. Then apply additional coats of stain as in Step 3 until desired color is achieved.
6. Evenly spray several coats of Clear Finish GLOSS on box lid (we applied 4 coats). Let dry between coats.
7. Add trims to decorate. (Option 1) Hammer silver studs into wood. Use a soft cloth over studs to protect from scratching. (Option 2) Spray TACK 2000 on backside of skeletal leaves and adhere to box. Paint lid sides with silver paint pen, using a circular pattern to fill in.
8. Glue knobs on lid.

Summer Flower Bouquets

Gorgeous Summer Offerings

Pacific Hybrid Delphinium in glorious shades of blue skies and billowy white Mop Head Hydrangea in a  white vase with accents of graceful grasses. The delphinium are cut daily and quickly trucked a short distance from Ontario Canada. Buy an arrangement of many stems or just a few.

 But don't miss them while they are fresh and local. 

Summer Skies

Scent of Summer

Fresh Herbs

Lush and fragrant herbs and roses in a ceramic crock. 

Earthy and organic - a gathering of yarrow, flowering oregano, scented geranium, sage and mint exude a wonderful scent and provide texture while the fresh Skyline roses and Allium add long lasting beauty.

We are offering scented herbs and foliage in all our Summer 2013 selections of bouquets and cut flowers.

Strawberry Arrangements

I have wild strawberries growing in my garden. My mother, then my sister and now I have tended this garden. We are vigilant weeders yet each of us has allowed this spreading plant a home amongst the the hosta and azaleas. I have my reasons. The tiny unripe berries never fulfilled their sweet promise  because the rotten chipmunks never left me more than one or two. So, at the beginning, I weeded them out. But I quickly missed the dainty white blossoms - those cheerful harbingers of summer to come.

This year the chipmunks have disappeared. All three hundred of them. But now there is a plague of cats. However kitties don't eat strawberries, so I am taking advantage of this bonus year.
 

All that is required to make this tiny arrangement is an abundance of strawberry plants and fresh mint. Any small container will work and a demitasse cup is perfect. I don't suggest using Oasis as the mint does not take up water from the foam very well. And without the stability of foam, this bouquet could not be delivered. But it is an easy DIY and would be irresistible on a brunch or luncheon table.

June is strawberry month. And this year it has new meaning for me as my wonderful Husband has built me a raised garden for strawberries and blueberries. Next year I will be sharing pictures of my own berries.

If the chipmunks make a come back perhaps the story will be different...

Enjoy the luscious photos and go pick some strawberries this weekend!