Friday, March 27, 2009

Athletic Flower Footwear

There are lots of sports banquets coming up in the Spring. My son was on several sports teams when he was in high school, so I know all about them. We have provided a variety of flower arrangements for several of them at different local high schools. One or our most popular "centerpieces" were our sneaker vases. The sneaker in the picture is ceramic but the "look" is the same when we used real sneakers. We collected old sneakers that were in decent condition and ran them through the washing machine with bleach and then into the dryer. We didn't care if they fit anyone anymore because no one was going to wear them. We secured a plastic pot inside the sneaker and filled it with floral foam. Then we arranged mixed flowers in the foam and they came out looking just like this. It was reported to us that they were a big hit and not one was left behind. It's an easy, cute project for someone to try.


Sunday, March 22, 2009

Fun with Flowers


Have you ever wondered what to do with those garish mums or daisies or carnations that are dyed crazy colors? You know the ones that are blue, bright green, purple, and hot pink. How about trying this idea? Using brand new Crayolas, cover a small box with the crayons. Secure them with some ribbon. You'll have to have an insert with some floral foam inside and then - have fun! Create a bright floral arrangement for a child that is ill or even for the children's table at a wedding. And when the flowers are wilted, just take apart the crayons, supply a coloring book, and voila! Re-purposing at its finest.


Sunday, March 15, 2009

Marnie & David - Winter White Wedding

Marnie and David are from Alexandria, Virginia. Since their many friends and relatives are scattered all over the country, they wanted somewhere that was centrally located to their loved ones, not far from an airport, and easily accessible. The lovely Blue Bell Country Club fit the bill, and had the added bonus of the Normandy Farms hotel right across the street. You might say that Blue Bell, PA was the site of their destination wedding. Marnie and David added so many wonderful details to their winter white and gold wedding. In the foyer, they set up golden framed pictures of many generations of their families all beautifully labelled with the couples' names. We added mercury glass candles and hydrangea to the credenza. It was a lovely, romantic welcome to all of their guests.


Ivory roses, each with a pearl inside of it, and white mini calla lilies made up the beautiful, elegant bridal bouquet. David wore a matching calla lily as his boutonniere. Marnie's attendant carried a bouquet of ivory roses and brown hypericum berries. The groomsman also wore ivory roses. The rabbi, a friend of Marnie and David's, performed the ceremony.

The ceremony took place underneath our chuppah. We filled the bases with lots of white flowers and seeded eucalyptus. Marnie supplied the beautiful crocheted chuppah cover.

The placecard arrangement consisted of all white flowers, brown eucalyptus, and brown curly willow. Gold marbles filled the base.



White hydrangea with gold beading in gold mercury glass were placed on cocktail tables.


Candle based centerpieces on gold charges with decorative pine cones, leaves, and marbles were placed on beautiful patterned runners that Marnie purchased. These alternated with cylindrical centerpieces filled with clear "icy" acrylics . The all white flowers surrounded a sparkley, gold pillar candle and sat on gold overlays on black tablecloths. The overall look of the two centerpieces was really beautiful. And Marnie and David did an amazing job with their table names and pictures of Washington DC landmarks.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Melissa & Brandon - Penn State Blue & White

Melissa and Brandon both work and live at Penn State, Main Campus. They wanted the colors of their wedding to reflect their pride in their school. Bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages were all made up of blue and white flowers. Melissa's bouquet included blue hydrangea with white stephanotis accented by blue pins in their centers. Bridesmaids carried dainty bouquets of white roses and blue delphinium.





And a bowl of blue and white flowers proudly greeted their guests as they entered the lobby of Columbia Station.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Stephanie & Matt - Hollywood Glam at Columbia Station

Stephanie wanted to bring back the glamour of Old Hollywood for her wedding. She added so many great details, that I'm sure her guests felt transported back in time. Her bouquet was made up of light blue delphinium, white double lisianthus, and white tulips surrounded by feathers. Rhinestone sprays were spread throughout the flowers. Single crystals decorated her white satin stem wrap. I'm sure that her bouquet looked amazing with her mermaid style gown. Matt's lisianthus/delphinium bouquet matched Steph's flowers.

Bridesmaids, dressed in black cocktail dresses with a blue sash, carried rounded bouquets of white alstromeria and two shades of blue delphinium. Stems were wrapped in white ribbon secured with blue pins.

Stephanie and Matt sat at a sweetheart table decorated with candlelight. We floated a gorgeous gardenia in an old-fashioned cut crystal pedastal bowl so that they could enjoy its wonderful scent.


An inside ceremony was held at Columbia Station. We used two topiary arrangements on pedastals to mark the area where Stephanie and Matt said their vows. Beautiful silver and white bows, some with delphinium, lined the aisles.

We decorated the placecard table with a silver trumpet vase of white tulips and blue ting ting. The adorable placecards/favors are dressed up in formal wear in keeping with the glamour theme.



Martini glasses of blue acrylics and white fugi mums decorated each cocktail table. Columbia Station also displays a large ice sculpture of a railroad car. For this wedding it was decorated with blue acrylics and blue flowers. I wish I had taken a picture of it.




Tables were named after old movies. We used three different centerpieces. The first made up of mirror balls surrounded by feather boas in large martini glasses. The second was a mix of blue and white flowers and silver sparkle ting ting in small silver champagne buckets. The third were tall centerpieces of ostrich feathers, silver ting ting, and blue delphinium.







Last, but not least, we decorated the cake with pretty blue and white flowers. The top layer was crowned with a rhinestone trimmed monogram purchased by Stephanie.