A June Wedding

It all began with a pair of purple pumps as the inspiration for these beautiful wedding flowers. Ranging in hues from lavender to purple, with delicious creams and bright greens.


At the first meeting to discuss flowers I was given samples of colors in the form of paint chips which I think was a very clever idea. When it came time to select flowers it made my job so much easier. The bride also had fabric samples and a few pictures of bouquets and flowers she liked. The rest was up to me!


After much planning and ordering, market day finally arrived. Starting out at 3am, bright eyed and bushy tailed, I reached downtown hoping all my wishes would come true. I so desperately wanted very special flowers for this occasion. I was stunned, every flower in every color was there. Wrap them up! So far so good.


Home at 6am. With help, all the flowers were prepped and resting in buckets of fresh water by noon. First up... 8 bridesmaids bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres.




I can't wait to see these bouquets with the girls dresses. Love it!

On to the brides bouquets. I've decided to make two different ones for the bride to choose from. Both beautiful, one to keep and one to throw!










I wonder which one the bride will choose?








All the personal flowers are to be delivered tonight. A hard days work and a good nights rest. Tomorrow, 0ver 40 arrangements to be designed and off to the reception by 2pm. Yikes!

Off we go, and on schedule too!

Here at the reception in this beautiful setting there were 30 tables with exquisite champagne colored silk tablecloths. A tent complete with swags of sheer fabric on the ceiling and crystal chandeliers for ambiance.














Arrangements were placed on the tables, in the home and reception area. A private collection of mercury glass and wire vases were used. This always creates a more intimate feel. Here are just a few.



The finishing touch were these flower sacks I designed especially for the wedding. Each one with a pocket to hold a photo of the bride and groom. Each flower sack was filled with fragrant purple sweet peas, hanging from one chair at each table to welcome their guests.

I wonder who will get to take them home?

And they'll live happily ever after!

Out and About

One of the favorite things about my work is being out and about. Whether it's creating a beautiful environment for a Home tour, delivering and hanging artwork a client ordered, or delivering flowers, something inspiring is bound to happen.



With the 4th of July approaching, these custom flower sacks I created for Home Tour inspired a new idea.

For a June wedding these very special flower sacks will be filled with sweet peas and a photo of the bride and groom tucked inside the pocket 35 of these will be tied with big ribbons on chairs.

Sometimes it takes just one element for the finishing touch!

Here I am in my Element delivering flowers to the Horse show for the table arrangements. There's just something so special about roses of any kind. My car was filled with the fragrance of roses on a beautiful warm day.

This Boulangerie artwork I spotted in Atlanta was just perfect for a clients kitchen. That was her lucky day. Not only did we hang her new artwork, a rug we chose and special ordered arrived as well. This red and cream woven rug really pulled the living room together.

This French inspired ottoman was the perfect piece for another clients living room. Great for extra seating, a coffee table, or just putting up your feet at the end of a long day.


It's almost time to return to Atlanta for the next show. I can't wait to be on the look out for fabulous new home and garden accessories.

This bird cage is one of my all time favorite pieces. A beautiful reproduction and functional as well. A very thoughtful husband was really thinking ahead for his wife's Birthday. She's a lucky girl!


I couldn't wait to deliver flowers the other day knowing I was in for a real treat. This beautiful Mama Robin sitting on her nest she built up in this market umbrella. Never having seen one up close, I can't even tell you how sweet an experience this was. I've heard the babies have hatched. Maybe we'll throw a baby shower!

For the Love of Gardening

This Spring my garden is amazing . As I walk around with my clippers in hand, the question I keep asking myself is ... To cut or not to cut? As beautiful as the flowers are outside I want to bring them indoors to enjoy as well.

My style has always been very casual with what I feel are very romantic flowers. As a florist and a gardener my desire for the garden was to grow not only beautiful flowers and plants , but varieties that would last well after cutting and arranging. A delicious fragrance is always a must!

Freshly cut Snowballs

Here, these sweet peas in a pot are just ready to burst. Way ahead of all the sweet peas up in the terraced garden. My secret...lot's of fish emulsion as a fertilizer.

In one of my very first blogs I began to bring my garden back to life by pruning my roses back hard and adding alfalfa and compost into the soil. They did not disappoint. Just beginning to bloom, here are a few of my favorites.

Climbing Colette Rose

Golden Celebration Rose

Fair Bianca Rose

In the process of rejuvenating my garden I realized we all need something to nurture, and love. Something that reaches our soul and brings us to a place of happiness. This is what gardening does for me. I can't wait to go outdoors every morning when I wake and see what's blooming next. That is of course after huge amount of coffee!

Foxglove

My husband Brian gets all the credit for taking all these beautiful photos of our continued work in progress. Who, by the way is also a fabulous gardener and always full of love and support.

This rose is Love and Peace. My wish to you all!

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A Day for delighting the Senses

A Day for delighting the Senses


Looking for some new inspiration for a photo shoot, Brian and I headed out to the Santa Monica Farmers Market. This is truly a delight to the senses. You want to see, touch, and smell and taste everything there. You knew fresh herbs were ahead of you just by the fragrance filling the air.


There were the beautiful young leeks and garlic I could not resist. Not to mention the berries and broccoli. Delicious, juicy oranges we peeled and ate on the way home. Everywhere, so many fruits and veggies I'd never seen before.


Is that me eating a chocolate croissant by the flowers? It doesn't get any better than this!


Oh wait are those French magazines? A nice ending to our trip. Might I add it takes a good sense of humor and a lot of confidence to To Take an Old Bag Shopping!

Market bags featured are available on Personal style at Shopbotanicals.com

April showers bring May flowers!

This May is a very exciting month for Botanicals. I have the opportunity once again to be a florist at the 7/8 PTA La Canada Spring Home Tour. This will be my 10th home. Everything about this home is incredible. Sworn to secrecy of it’s location, I can tell you it’s very French, lots of stonework and beautiful grounds and gardens. You truly feel as though you are in the French countryside!
April will be a month of creativity and planning for not only the Home Tour which will include a Botanicals Boutique, there is a May Day Boutique in the works as well. So it’s time to put on a French Beret and start thinking!

As you enter...

The gardens...

For more details and tickets select this link: Home Tour

A Botanical Easter!

Here's the "How To " for these beautiful botanical imprinted Easter eggs. Tuck them into centerpieces , Easter grass, planted baskets or pots for a very naturally elegant look.

Here are the supplies you'll need to start.

• Large pot of boiling water

• A big bowl full of onion skins from the grocery store. Call ahead and have them saved for you.

• A pair of panty hose cut into squares large enough to pull tightly around the eggs.

• Kitchen twine or tiny rubber bands. Scissors.

• Freshly cut leaves from your garden. Fern, rose, strawberry and columbine work well.

• Vinegar
  

• As many pre hard boiled eggs that you'll be decorating. Free of any cracks after boiling.

Begin by slowly adding onion skins to boiling water, pushing them down into the water as you go. The onion skins will act as a cushion for the eggs while they are dying. The skins will need to steep on low for at least 30 minutes to reach the rich terra cotta color. At this point add a dash of vinegar to the water.

Place the leaf face down on the egg.

Gently place the nylon square over the top of the leaf and pull all four corners around until you have totally covered the egg and bind with twine or a rubber band. This must be very tight and secure.


Once all the eggs are ready to go , gently place them in the onion skins and water. Keeping the dye on a low temperature, simmer the eggs for approx. 20 minutes. Lift out with a spoon and check for a rich terra cotta color.



Set on paper towels, snip off the binding and remove the nylon stocking. Yes, the eggs will be very hot!


After the eggs have cooled, polish them with a drop of olive oil and a soft cloth. Beautiful, don't you think!

• Tip: No need to refrigerate the eggs after this process.
  

Join us for a Botanical Dyed Eggs Workshop and Planted Basket "How To". Visit
shopbotanicals.com for details. Click on "Good things to come".