Sunday, January 25, 2009

English Garden Luncheon










We were fortunate to be asked to create centerpieces for a surprise 70th birthday celebration at the Epicurean Restaurant in Phoenixville. The "birthday girl" had an English garden and a love for peonies, hydrangea, and soft colors. Since English gardens are known to often contain relics, we used pottery that looked like it was very old and moss covered. We grouped our flowers together - yellow freesia, pink tipped white tulips, pink ranunculus, and dark pink peonies in beautiful lavender/blue hydrangea - to create more of a look that would resemble a garden. Luckily we were able to find peonies in Israel as these are her favorite flower. And we added whimsical touches of bird houses, nests, and butterflies. The room looked lovely and I'm sure that a good time was had by all.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Flower Girl Flowers - So Many to Choose From

Flower girls have been known to "steal the show" at the wedding. There's not much cuter than an adorable little girl smiling as she walks down the aisle. And that's why creating special flowers for them is always such a treat for me. I've made a variety of baskets to hold petals and baskets that hold flowers. I've even created baskets with silk flowers on the outside (or inside) so that a flower girl can continue to play "wedding" even after the real one is over.


I'm always tyring to come up with a new idea for flower girls. Some new styles that I'm doing this year are wands, monogrammed buckets, pocketbooks made from flowers, and some new basket styles. I've taken a balloon making class and learned how to make a flower out of balloons. I wonder if someone will want to use one of those in their wedding? I'll post pictures through the year as my new creations come to life..








These are some examples of a few of the different flower girl arrangements we have made in the past.
A "nest" of roses makes a lovely flower girl bouquet.


A sweet pomander is always a good choice.


A dainty little bouquet for a younger flower girl.


This flower purse would be perfect for an "older" flower girl.


Both of these halos are very full - more in the style of English design. We can also make simpler halos, barrettes, and ponytail holders that match your flower girl's flowers.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Flower School - Working Large

We don't work every weekend during the winter because of the potential for bad weather. So we stick close to home and only work a few times each month at Montgomery County locations. This week was one of our weeks off and instead of not blogging, I decided that I'd share some of the projects from various classes that I've taken over the years. I'll post a different class during our "off weeks" so that you still have something interesting to look at.

This class was about working on a large scale - which I think is easier and much less time consuming than working in small containers. There is a lot less to trim! Larger flowers are used and space has been extended by using dried or fresh curly willow and birch branches. These ideas can be used for sympathy flowers, altar flowers, or for placecard tables. If you have any questions - feel free to contact me.













Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Meredith & Nick - Pretty as a Peacock

Happy New Year everyone! Whimsical Welcomes had an especially wonderful start to our 2009 weddings. Meredith was a florist's dream to work with. She chose a fantastic color palette of pink, purple, blue, and green - the colors in a peacock feather. Thus, the peacock - with touches of winter - became the "theme" for her wedding. Meredith's sister, a talented graphic artist, also incorporated peacocks into her paper goods - which looked amazing.

Meredith's bouquet was full of gorgeous, lush flowers in pink, lavender, purple, eggplant, and green. We added a wintery touch with silver brunia baubles. Her stems were wrapped in eggplant velvet ribbon. As soon as I have a picture of beautiful Meredith in her stunning wedding gown, I will substitute it for this bouquet picture.

Bridesmaids bouquets were made up of beautiful roses, carnations, ranunculus, and waxflower while peacock feathers with silver wired handles graced the groomsmen's lapels.








We added just a touch of wintery crystals to pew bows of white (for family rows) and purple (for guest rows). The church altar was still beautifully decorated for Christmas.








We used two different types of arrangements on the cocktail tables. Those in the hallway were made from hydrangea or tipped carnations on colored foam. Adorable pictures of Meredith and Nick graced those tables as well. The flowers in the lounge were done in fun bottles in Meredith's colors.














This brightly colored placecard piece was done in an elongated glass filled with layered sisal. Pink, bright green, and purple flowers mixed with ting ting and winter branches filled the vase. We hung tubes of flowers from coils of pink, green, and purple aluminum wire down the sides of the vase.



Bowls of pink, purple and green orchids sitting on "snow" and placed inside a silvery, winter wreath were the first of three types of centerpieces Meredith chose.

Tall arrangements consisted of large pink, purple, and green flowers. We mixed in silvery ting ting, hanging gren beading, white winter branches, and fabulous peacock feathers all sitting in a bed of purple acrylics.

Blue squares filled with a mix of pink, green, blue, and purple flowers mixed with wintery white birch branches - all topped off with a peacock feather - of course!