February Love
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all reds and pinks. It was so cold outside as I was creating this arrangement, that I couldn’t help but embrace the cool silvers and ethereal dusty miller. The savory smell of the local Mon Cherie roses and the asymmetry of the single large rose succuluent invite romance without being too sugary.

Christmas Pizazz
Every year I am asked to design Christmas arrangments for all of my mother’s close friends and relatives. I agree, only on condition that my mother and sisters come over to work on the arrangements with me. That way I force feed them some design technique and get some help with the grunt work all at once. In the past, we have had fun with slightly more traditional greens and reds (while still punching the style up a notch with bright limes and unexpected elements), but this year I opted for fluorescent pinks, purples, and blues. Flocking the evergreens gave the foresty-green background a snow-kissed look and really made the colors pop.
I am not sure if my more traditional mother really jived with the whole thing, but that’s the beauty of having the creative control…

Don’t Overthink It…
Although I often love super-embellished, frankly fancy designs, sometimes floral arrangements can be overdone and just plain fugly. Case in point:

Follow the lead of many a professional or do-it-yourself florist and just plunk some flowers into a pitcher – much more chic and much less fussy!

Megan & Oscar – September 19th, 2009 – St. Patrick’s Catholic Church & Kell’s Irish Pub
Megan was defintiely one of the happiest, most conscientious brides I have ever worked with. She had a very Irish wedding – from the save-the-date cards being sent out on St. Patrick’s day, to the ceremony site (St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in NW), and even the reception venue (Kell’s Irish Pub in downtown). The flowers followed this lead – all green and whites – including Bells of Ireland, lisianthus, fern curls, asparagus fern, super green roses, green zinnias, and white gooseneck.

Oregon Bride!
I had the pleasure this May to contribute a bouquet for a spread in the Fall/Winter ‘09 Oregon Bride magazine. The peacock-themed bouquet was really a labor of love and included mini green cymbidium orchids, turquoise, blue, and green hydrangea, delphinium, kangaroo paw, green gladiola blooms, mahogany pods, lotus pods, manzanita branches, peacock sword feathers and peacock eye feathers paved down the stems. Love it!

Carolyn & Bryce – September 5th, 2008 – Persimmon Country Club
I just bought a new camera that I had heaps of fun playing around with after setting up for Carolyn & Bryce’s reception. While I will still post the amazing pictures that are sure to be produced by their photographers (Reversed Lens), here’s a sneak peak: French-inspired theme with colors of red, ivory, pink champagne, and chocolate. Flowers: roses, callas, dahlias, and hydrangea. 
Autumn Weekly – Happy Labor Day!
These last couple of days of blustery mists have reminded me that Autumn is definitely my favorite of the seasons! Here is a cheery, zinnia-rich fall weekly I made recently. Zinnias’ curly petals just warm my heart.




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