Photos!

  When it came to getting some photos taken of me for the new website (coming very, very soon), I knew Erin would totally understand what I was looking for. Erin specializes in wedding photography as well as capturing engagements, maternity, and cute new babies. She's so talented behind the lens and every time I work with her, she seems to bring out my style and personality in every photo. We chose to take the photos at my aunt's home and I am so thrilled with the results!
  The home is over 100 years old and was originally a caretaker's cottage. When she first moved in it was a huge undertaking. While my aunt went hunting for new things to fill her home, my job was designing the gardens and my mother maintained what had been there. My brother sanded and painted the inside, and my dad restored each room. The grounds are magical and every time I drive in, it takes me to another country entirely. It reminds me of that summer when we were covered in dirt and paint.

 

Ohhh sunny days...

 Woke up at 4am this morning to go pick up bunches of flowers for a nautical themed wedding this weekend. Lot's and lot's of hot pink hydrangeas... 

  Isn't this begonia the best? I found it a few weeks ago and I had to buy it for myself. It's called an Apple Blossom Begonia which wins me over once again. I thought sitting out on the deck with my new begonia would give me the fresh air I needed to ride this 3rd (or 4th?) wind of energy I have out and be incredibly productive. It's working, but nearing its end. Oscar swears he's going to be productive today too and put his favorite frisbee away at some point. 

Wedding Weekend!

We had a wedding over the weekend I had been waiting months for in anticipation. I was head over heels excited for the colors my bride was looking for.. Blush tones, soft greens, and ivory with a hint of gold... I love when we can add ribbon streamers to the bouquets. It adds so much romance. I instantly smile thinking about them blowing softly in the wind.

Sweet Engagement

I was recently asked to create a sweet bouquet for an engagement photo session Erin over at Erin McGinn Photography was planning. It had been raining all week, but when the day finally came, the clouds opened up and it couldn't have made for a more beautiful evening and photographs! Here is a little peek....

Neighborhoods of Newport House Tour

Yesterday I spent the day styling the Caretaker's Cottage with flowers for the Newport House Tour. I have to say, I think styling is one of my favorite things to do with flowers. When it comes to styling a home with flowers, less is better, most of the time. Except when the opportunity presents itself to you to do a lush, full arrangement in a kitchen, tucking in a few lemons :) I love warming up a space with that just picked from the garden look and bringing nature indoors. My client had this amazing silver pitcher her great grandfather won in a tennis tournament. I loved using that personal touch. I took the tour with some friends and family today and it was a lot of fun. We saw such beautiful architecture and grounds, such beautiful details, my mind is overloaded with fabulousness.

Details, Details

Found these detail shots from the last arrangement I made. Sometimes the little 'moments' happening in an arrangement are the ones I can't turn away from.

Floral Chat

   I keep going back to this article Floral Industry that was written a few weeks ago in the NY Times. It holds a shiny ray of light for what is to come in the floral industry.  Over a period of time, we started to just see the finished product of so many things such as flowers, food, clothing, etc. The source of where these things were produced was kind of forgotten about, in order to cut costs, etc., and therefore responsible practices and quality were reduced. I try to source locally and seasonally at ever chance. And realistically, I will never be able to source locally for everything, especially because of our short growing season. But, I've been pleasantly surprised even at the flower market to find vendors are using floral distributors who are making efforts towards positive change. Yes, it can be more effort on my part, but if this means I can get you cleaner, fresher flowers I'm going to do it.