A Year of Bouquets

I put together this little montage of my favorite bouquets this year. What a year! It has been 12 months since I left my desk job, kicked myself in gear and starting living the dream (sounds corny but it's so true). I want to burst into tears when I think about all who have cheered me on and supported my efforts. To all my gorgeous brides and grooms who trusted in me to create your flowers - Thank You! To my awesome babysitting mom who never complained when having to circle the block forever to find parking in my neighborhood. A huge virtual hug to all that have left comments on this little ole' blog. I am so grateful to the new friends I have made. What a talented and thoughtful bunch. I find you all so inspiring. To the awesome crew of floral assistance who have helped me schlep, shear and shape all year. To Christine for driving us all around and talking me down a cliff more than once and to Ashley for being there from the beginning. And last but not least, a BIG loving thank you to my champ of a husband, for putting up with my early morning flower visits, my after hours client meetings but mostly for listening to me talk for so long about trying to make it happen. Thank you my love. None of this would be possible with you.

I am wishing everyone a peaceful and joyous new year. Go out there in the world and kick ass.

Here is to 2010. The adventure continues...

The "Anti - Wedding Fair"

I'm excited about being apart of Brooklyn Based first Wedding Fair, coming up soon. I have a few ideas on what to put together. If you know any recently engaged couples send them down. Great line up of folks...

Getting hitched? Come to Brooklyn Based’s inaugural wedding fair on January 9, 2010 at the Bell House and meet the exceptional designers, caterers, photographers, bands and DJs who will make your day.

We’ve handpicked 30+ original, Brooklyn-centric vendors to help you plan your wedding locally, or take a piece of Brooklyn with you wherever you tie the knot. Top caterers including Naturally Delicious, The Cleaver Company, Red Table Catering, AVEnts and Frankies Spuntino will be passing delicious hors d’oeuvres. One Girl Cookies and Nine Cakes will display and serve confections and cake. Brooklyn Brewery will be pouring its Belgian-style ales, Local 1 and 2. Wedding bands Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra, The Lascivious Biddies and The Engagements will perform along with DJ Small Change, popshop! DJs and DJ Lady J.

Other wedding vendors on the guest list include floral designers Root Stock & Quade, Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design and Denise Fasanello, jewelry designer Blanca Monrós Gómez, Bario-Neal Jewelry, Sesame Letterpress, Lion in the Sun custom invitations, calligrapher Paperfinger, Mélangerie Inc. custom paperie and gifts, ShootboothHello Super 8 and Seth David Cohen videographers and photographers Daniel Krieger, Radhika Chalasani and 3 Photographers, Jesse Hendrich, M.Div., Small World Terrariums, Heights Chateau Fine Wines & Spirits, Added Value Farm, Real Honeymoons and Gap Adventures.

Amidst the vendors, models will showcase the work of headpiece and dress designers like The White Gown. You’ll also get advice from experts on topics like DIY Ceremonies and Incredible Honeymoons, which the winner of our Honeymoon Gift Package will put to good use. One lucky bride will take home a $250 J.Crew gift card and private shopping party for her and her bridesmaids, a $500 travel voucher at Gap Adventures, a free TabletPlus membership at TabletHotels.com, and a gift subscription to Budget Travel magazine.

Tickets (on sale now) are $40 for the entire day, or $20 in advance for each three-hour session. In that window of time, guests will meet over 30 one-of-a-kind vendors and speakers who will propose wonderful things for their day. Flutes of sparkling wine with entrance, and the first 50 guests at each session receive free “To Have and to Hold” gift-filled bags and free entry in the Honeymoon Gift Package. Details follow.

Wedding Crashers
Saturday January 9, 2010, 10:30 am- 5 pm
The Bell House
718-643-6510; 149 7th St., Brooklyn, NY

Session One (10:30-1:30)*
10:45 am: DIY Ceremonies with Officiant Jesse Hendrich, M.Div.
11:15 am: Signed, Sealed + Delivered: Every Invite Question Answered with Melinda Morris of Lion in the Sun
noon: Best. Honeymoon. Ever. with Nina Willdorf, Editor in Chief of Budget Travel magazine, Dorothy McGivney, Editor of jauntsetter.com, and Gap Adventures
12:45 pm: Catering on a Budget with Ally Lipton at AVEnts and Vine Wine
Caterers: Naturally Delicious, Red Table Catering, and AVEnts

Session Two (2-5pm)
2:15 pm: Picking Original, Seasonal Decor with Kerry Quade of Root Stock & Quade
3 pm: 10 Things to Look for In a Wedding Photographer with Daniel Krieger
3:45 pm: How to Avoid a Cookie-Cutter Wedding with Vané Broussard of Brooklyn Bride and Anne Chertoff of From I Will to I Do and Editor of AisleDash.com
4:30 pm: Pairing Food and Wine with Matthew LaSorsa of Heights Chateau and Loren Michelle of Naturally Delicious.
Caterers: Frankies Spuntino, The Cleaver Company, and Red Table Catering

Winter Paintings

The week between Christmas and New Years. Lazy, Laaazy days. We are eating too much, playing with new toys and napping as much as possible. In between I am looking at American Impressionist landscape paintings. It's because NYC during the cold winter is basically a bummer. No pretty winter landscape to enjoy just black snow piles dotted with litter. There is something about winter landscapes that allow me slow down and think peacefully. And as for surviving a NYC winter...a good remedy is to simply look up. Remember to look up at the sky often.
Artists from the top; Walter Laurnt Palmer, John Henry Twachtman, Ernest Lawson. All images found here.

with love

Pom Pom Snowflake Garland

Wow! I am so charmed by this sweet holiday garland. I just might try and whip it together tomorrow. Probably won't but I can try. See tutorial over at Dottie Angel

my ballerina

the only saved image!

Holiday Window

Some quick shots of the window all decked out. Having terrible camera issues. Just lost most of my photos of Littlest Pheasant's first ballet recital! So sad. Too much running around. Few more errands and then it's Christmas Eve. My family celebrates with a big seafood dinner and then "breaks the fast" with sausage and peppers at midnight (?!). Are you cooking?

Winter Birds

Today was brunch with friends and some sledding in the park then grocery shopping. We always get out of town in the summertime but this year I am yearning to leave in the dead of winter. Besides, summertime is quickly booking up with weddings so we just might have to change plans from now on. Here are some more winter images for you to enjoy from Rocky Top Studio

Happy Winter Weekend

I hope it snows. I hope it snows. I hope it snows!
photo: Larry Nicosia

Felted Color

I am loving these felted cushions, ottomans and bolsters by Marfa Interiors! The color combos are delicious. They are all handmade using using felted wool mohair and alpaca by Texan textile artisan Gina Leiss of Jackrabbit Textiles. Love to give a shout out to independent women artists, a community-based textile workshop, and one of the last yarn companies in the USA.

Anthro

Everyone drools over Anthropologie and I am no exception. Great styling. But I have a gripe; every piece of clothing I buy there ends up falling apart on me. Anyone else? This time I got my eye on the house wears section instead. I have a super crush on this felt tulip lamp shade. And this little creamer is too sweet for words...on sale to boot!

Paperwhites and Burlap

This delivery weighed a ton! But smelled so good - the slightly oniony scent from the paperwhites mixing with the mentholated aroma of the seeded eucalyptus pods. Sounds gross when I write it out but trust me it was goooood.

Christmas Party Flowers

Sorry I have not posted in awhile. Here are some holiday orders from this week. More festive stuff to come. Looking forward to a craft session with friends this afternoon. We just need it to be a touch warmer out there. Burr.....

Snow Topped Birch Decor

So I had grand ambitions for Holiday crafting this year. I was going to make a slew of these little snow topped birch stumps to sell. But alas, running a floral business and caring for a 3 year old proved to be too much for me. But now I have a few pieces to decorate my own home. Which makes me very happy! I simply took some birch stumps and branches, covered them with pieces of artificial snow blanket, glittered up some twigs and glued on a little faux nest and bird. Nestled among some pine cones and greenery on a mantel and it would look fab. Too bad I don't have a mantle. Simply placed in the center of my table and I'm done.

Mirrored Wall Sconces

west elm

Graham and Green

Pottery Barn

William - Wayne & Co.

Not sure why I have become obsessed with mirrored wall scones lately. Other than I think they are so pretty. Might be something fun (yet challenging) to make...

Deck the Halls

Cute holiday decor ideas in Country Living. Some tradition, some playful. What if anything are you planning? I love a natural look but I can never resist a little bit of sparkle.

"ring-ding-dingle-aling-loo"

the holiday craft shopping begins!

Ink Wells

In collage I took a painting class with this teacher who made us learn calligraphy. I was always too impatient to get it right. Therefore I am in awe of others who excel at it - like the talented Leigh Wells. I love these ideas for seating place cards and table numbers. Perfect. I found her work through Small Stump.

Wheat Wreaths and Paper Birds

I am in love with the this wedding over at 100 Layer Cake. Everything is gorgeous and looks so effortless. Such talented people all round. But what I am really lusting over are these amazing wheat wreaths and paper birds decorating the restaurant's ceiling. Next time we visit the in laws in San Francisco I am bee-lining it to Suppenkuche.

The Golden Pheasant

Two orders for tomorrow. Tree peony, 2 kinds of amaryllis, princess pine, pussy willow branch, tie leaf, bay and vanda orchid. Enjoy your Thanksgiving. I have much to be thankful for this year. xo

Cut Paper Tree Book

So as I wander around (clicking around rather) seeking inspiration and motivation I stumble upon the amazing work of British artist Su Blackwell off this great blog Slim Paley. She has work included in Slash: Paper Under the Knife, an exhibition currently up at the Museum of Art and Design in NYC. That's what I need, a museum visit! You have until April 2010 to catch it. I'm so there.