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The photo shoot forKBM was taken at the beautiful Olde Stone in Alvaton, Kentucky. The facilities are amazing and require very little dressing to create a memorable wedding. This centerpiece was one of my favorite because of it’s simplicty in combination with the elegant table settings, furniture and decor of the facility.
This traditional silver julep cup is filled with an untraditional blue Hydrangea. This is a ‘Popcorn’ variety that has slightly curled blooms. The leaves were removed from the stems and wired seperately so they could be placed in the container at just the right angle. When these hydrangeas arrived they were a very light shade of blue. Design Master was used to mist a slightly darker shade of blue for a more dramatic look.
Photography by
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Finally! I get to show off the blumebox arrangement for the Ten Trendy Table Toppers article for KBM. When I contacted Whitney from blumebox about the magazine she was so gracious to send me a box of fun stuff to play with. After trying a few different color combinations I finally settled on this trendy pink, black and white combo. This is a short pretty n’ pink blumebox embelished with black and white cardstock and stamped with a traditional monogram. And my favorite part is the white feather boa!
French White tulips were surrounded by antique green hydrangea in a simple style. I love how a few of the tulips are gently falling.
I also displayed this centerpiece on Mid Day Live on WBKO 13. You can view a clip from my interview with Whitney here.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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I love the element of surprise. And even more than that I enjoy watching someone taking a second look at one of my pieces of fresh art because they just aren’t quite sure what it is. And this is one of these pieces. This pretty package was created by placing a moist fresh foam brick on a piece of glass. Green spray mums were individually placed into the foam. It was wrapped in a white and pink bow and finished with accent mums and a corsage pin.
After the photo shoot I delivered this arrangement to one of my best friend’s Mary. She has been one of my biggest supporters and chearleaders. Mary and her mom came over and spent most of a Saturday with me to help me get ready for the shoot. She also helped me come up with exciting names for each of the arrangements. We have a friendship that was definately assigned by God. What would we do without good friends! Thank you Mary!
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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Of the ten centerpieces I created for this KBM project this design represents my own personal style the most. I love the color combination and variety of flowers. The candlelight adds that special touch. But most of all I am drawn to the clean, neat lines that the organization of flowers creates in this piece. As I made my top 10 list I quickly filled 8 slots with must have flowers, containers and designs. This was one of the two I couldn’t make a final decision on. I ordered two of the plastic based wreath rings knowing that I would use one for my raised white piece and the other one in some way.
The sage green candle became my inspiration for a soft, tropical color combination. The pale yellow roses, green cymbidium orchids and pink lisianthus were a perfect compliment. Green hypericum berries were added to create some texture and interest.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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Fresh fruit has become a trend in itself. Lemons, limes, oranges, kumquats, and several other exotic forms of these fruits have become widely used to fill containers and as part of the arrangemnet itself. I think that it is the look of freshness it creates that makes it so popular. This photograph demonstrates how accents can change the entire look of your reception tables. These (candlestick) napkin folds were used to mimick the height of the citrus arrangement. Learn how to make this fold here.
The cylinder glass container is filled with halved lemons and limes. Kumquats are used to fill in the spaces so that there are no holes in the container. A fresh foam ball was used to create the floral top and could be removed for easier transit. Green Cymbidium Orchids, Pale Yellow Roses, Green Hypericum Berries, and Italian Ruscus were used to complete the arrangement.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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I ordered these amazing containers fromDecorative Traditions, Inc. Their service, shipping and prices are great. In keeping with our Tiffany Blue/Espresso color scheme we painted the containers a darker brown with a slight sheen. The flower selection includes Cream Lisianthus, Fresh Blue Hydrangea, Cream Lilies, Chocolate Geranium Leaves, Green Hypericum Berries and my all time favorite Fern Curls. With the popularity of brown’sFern Curls are the perfect accent for centerpieces, bouquets and especially boutonniere’s.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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What else is more beautiful than an arrangement that reflects the elements of nature. There is nothing more inspiring than a branch loaded with fruit dangling softly or a vine that has wandered from one plant to another. As a landscaper I learned that when plants are in close proximity they tend to entertwine and grow together, eventually becoming one plant with a variety of flowers, fruit and foliage.
Ariella Chezar’s is one of my favorite designers that has mastered the art of nature and style. This natural combination of Kumquats, Antique Green Hydrangea, Peach Lisianthus, and Green Viburnum is nature at it’s finest.
A special thanks to Kathi Milam who let me borrow this beautiful white dish. She was the inspiration on several of my pieces.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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There are two things I am loving right now. Orchids & Coffee. Orchids are the new rose~just pick up any floral design magazine or book and you will see what I mean. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. The are easy to use in bouquets, centerpieces, boutonierres and of course the traditional leis. And they stay fresh even in harsh circumstances, such as sweating men in black tuxedos standing on the pavement in 90 degrees smoking a cigar! If you are a wedding florist you know exactly what I am talking about. This particular variety is a large burgandy cymbidium. I also love green, light pink,gold/bronze, and white.
The second thing I am really loving now is coffee. When the kids get settled down for their nap I make me a cup of coffee~really good coffee. It’s my time during the day when I can relax and read or work on the computer. And the caffeine helps me get through the rest of the afternoon. Coffee beans were used as inspiration for this centerpiece. A thin slice of floral foam was put in the middle of therectangle glass vase. Coffee beans were poured in around the foam and I must say that they smelled heavenly! The orchids were placed one by one into the foam. Another element that really worked in this photo is the napkins in the glasses. Here is an excellent napkin folding source complete with videos. This is a centerpiece the groom will love too.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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This chandelier inspired candlestick holder was inspiration in itself. Wanting to incorporate a “ball of flowers” I used a 4.5″ round floral foam ball surrounded in red carnations. Carnations were the perfect choice for this centerpiece because they are very easy to work with and hold up well. The bottom three flower arrangements were made with a bouquet holder that I cut the handle from. Then I cut the center section out and they slipped right over the chandlesticks. They were decorated with Miniature Red Carnations, Red Hypericum Berries, and Italian Ruscus. I can’t wait to work with the bride that requests this style for her wedding!
Photography by Clinton Lewis
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This is the first of ten centerpieces I created for Kentucky Bridal Magazine. The title was appropriately titled 10 Trendy Centerpieces. I purchased the Base, Pillar, and Container from Afloral. The flowers include White Lisianthus and Lilies. The foliage include Belle of Ireland, Green Antique Hydrangea, Green Viburnum, Green Hypericum Berries and Italian Ruscus. I think it’s interesting that even thought this arrangement has more green than white it is still considered a whitearrangement. I love how the pillars raise the centerpiece above eye level allowing guests to have eye contact with one another. These arrangements could also be alternated with lower centerpieces to save on cost.
Check back tomorrow for another centerpiece!
An Introduction
I would like to make an introduction today on my blog. Papertrey Ink. meetBlumebox, Blumebox meet Papertrey Ink. In an effort to simplify my life I have decided to sell all of my wood block stamps and pigment ink pads. They were just taking up way too much space. Of course, I can’t give up stamping which leads me to my introduction of Papertrey Ink co-founded by my friend Nichole Heady. Her stamps, inks and accessories are amazing and very versatile. And because they are acryllic and stored in CD cases her entire line fits into one small container.
This is my first project combining the blumebox with Nichole’s stamps. This background paper is made using her Faux Ribbon stamps. And the large and small strawberry is included in the Green Thumb set. The inks are Palette L’Amour Red, Noir Black and Chartreuse Green.
Check back to see more floral art featuring Blumebox, Papertrey Ink. and other great finds. I’m off to eat some fresh strawberries!
Sarah + David
A special thanks to Clay Jackson for sharing these photos with me so I can share them with you.
I had the pleasure of designing the floral designs for Sarah’s wedding. My favorite design for her wedding was her bridal bouquet. A combination of white stock, hydrangea, stephanotis, gardenias and a touch of blue delphinium accented the details on her dress perfectly. The stems of her bouquet were wrapped in lace from her mothers dress.
The church was beautiful and the guys and girls looked perfect in their attire. The alter piece was an enormous glass vase filled with green amaranthus, pink lilies, viburnum, phlox and curly willow.
We created many different designs for the historic home of the parents that hosted the reception. I will post more photos soon but here is one of my favorite fireplace in the home.
Wedding at Iron Bride Farms
Ashley and Matt were married at his parents house in Bowling Green this past weekend. It was absolutely amazing. Her colors were Espresso Brown, Fresh Green and Cream. We used over 375 cream roses, 80 green hydrangeas, 15 cream hydrangeas, 90 cream callas and tons of assorted greenery. Nathan took the pictures and did a fabulous job. I think he needs to consider wedding photography!
The centerpieces were four green hydrangea and a large bunch of cattails in a square glass vase, the alter was decorated with sprays of hydrangea, roses and greenery. A mocha blumebox filled with a hydrangea and rose bouquet was placed on the guestbook table and doubled as her throw away. 50 roses were sacrificed to create the initial L in the grassway. Posies of cream roses were placed on the ground at each row in the aisleway. Hydrangea, garden roses and greenery decorated the unity candle table and chairbacks for the mothers of the bride and groom. A cream cattail, green hypericum and brown satin ribbon were wore by the men in the wedding party and the girls carried cream roses, callas and green hypericum. The bride carried a bouquet of cream callas and roses wrapped in cream double faced satin.
Flower Confidential
Wanted to send a huge Thank You out to Amy Stewart for her kind words and great write up about Floribunda Designs on her blog. I have been a long time follower of her great blog, Dirt. I recently received her excellent bookFlower Confidential and can hardly put it down! Her writing style is fresh, interesting and very informative.
Here is what Powell’s Books had to say about it: Amy Stewart takes us inside the flower trade — from the hybridizers, who create new varieties in the laboratory, to the growers, who produce flowers by the millions (often in a factory-like setting), to the Dutch auctioneers, who set the bar (and the price), and ultimately to the neighborhood florists orchestrating the mind-boggling demands of Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. There’s the breeder intent on developing the first blue rose; an eccentric horticultural legend who created the world’s most popular lily; a grower of gerberas of every color imaginable; and the equivalent of a Tiffany diamond: the “Forever Young” rose. Stewart explores the relevance of flowers in our lives and in our history, and in the process she reveals all that has been gained — and lost — by tinkering with nature.
This book didn’t turn me away from the fresh cut market, but it did open my eyes to the world of the fresh cut market. She has also been influential in my decision to pursue environmentally friendly business practices like organic, veriflora and local products.
Farm Fresh Lilies
These are farm fresh lilies grown at Sullivan Farms here in Kentucky (my husband surprised me with them tonight). A trade of course. They are in a tall glass vase that has been lined with dried ornamental grass. The paper art was created with Apricot Appeal cardstock Sweet Shop Ribbon and Stickers by SU!
There are so many Farmers and Horticulturists growing fresh cut flowers in every state. For a complete list you can go HERE. If you don’t see your favorite grower please leave a comment and let everyone know about them. There is nothing like arranging fresh flowers that have been grown on local soil. Even better, your own soil. Can’t wait until my little babies start producing beauties like this.
I used this opportunity to use the free features atPicnik. If you have checked it out yet you should. During their beta trial you can use all of the features free.
Mid-Day Live
Thank you to all of my friends and family who watched my spot on WBKO’s Mid Day Live. I had a great time working with all of the flowers Organic Bouquet sent my way. Caroline, the editor of Kentucky Bridal Magazine did a great job introducing the magazine. And Whitney has a way of bringing things to life. Here are a few of the floral arrangements I made for the interview.
This centerpiece makes me smile. It’s such a cheerful, summery mix of bright colors. Miniature Sunflowers, Fresh Blue Hydrangea, and Orange Miniature Spray Roses. The centerpiece was made with one of my favorite plastic backed floral foam rings.
These fun pink striped roses from Organic Bouquet are beautiful. I filled the glass cylinder vase with ornamental grass and placed a square piece of floral foam securely on top. The roses were then placed into the foam one by one in a circular pattern.
This traditional fresh blue hydrangea bouquet is wrapped with double faced satin ribbon. The stem treatment is further embelished with a silver accent. I demonstrated using this bouquet in a silver julep cup as a centerpiece at your reception. This is a great idea for decorations on the bridal table, cake table, or entranceway.
be Fresh be Simple 