Farm Fresh Floral Arrangement Part II

Hey everyone!  So here's the second part of my farm fresh floral arrangement post.  As I mentioned earlier, I purchased some celosia along with some other beauties from Reinhardt Blooms at a local farmer's market.  Today, I'm showing you what I created with the celosia.  This flower is so amazing for fall arrangements.  I love it's shape and softness.  I also adore the purplish hue of the leaves, so I left the leaves on to allow them to show through.  Along with the celosia I added some dahlias from my sister-in-law's garden and some Japanese maple branches and sedum from my own garden.    

    

 

Farm Fresh Floral Arrangement Part I

Hey Friends!  Over Labor Day weekend I went to a local farmers' market and picked up some fabulous fresh flowers grown by the amazing Reinhardt Blooms and I also had the pleasure of meeting their floral designer, Katie.  Reinhardt Blooms is a 30 plus acre flower farm here in Michigan that has been run by five generations. Pretty amazing, right? They grow and sell flowers and also offer floral design services for weddings and events.  You must check out their site and blog to see pics.  It's absolutely dreamy.  Katie uses ingredients from their farm for her gorgeous and dramatic, garden style designs.  It's a style I'm trying to master.  I love garden style floral arrangements and the way it allows the natural beauty and shape of blooms to show through the design. 

I purchased scabiosa pods, celosia and cosmos to create two different floral arrangements.  I'm sharing this one with you today.  Stay tuned for the second one next week.  It's not as spectacular as Katie's designs, but I hope with some hard work and practice, that I'll get there.  I used three ingredients all grown at local farms in this arrangement.  The cosmos and scabiosa pods are from Reinhardt Blooms and the beautiful peach colored dahlias are from farm owned by a family friend.  I love the sunny, happy feeling of the arrangement and I hope you do too.  Have a wonderful week friends!  

      

   

Hydrangea Garland

 

Have you noticed that I've been posting more on flowers lately?  I've been reading a lot on floral arranging and practicing techniques along the way.  This blog has now become a flower journal for me too and I hope you don't mind.  One of the books I'm currently reading is by Jane Packer, and this is my version of a hydrangea garland she created.  She displayed it as a dramatic centerpiece like I did here.  Along with the main ingredient and hosta leaves from my sister-in-law's garden, I also included golden rod foraged from a field.  Some of the hydrangea blooms are past their prime, but since I was just experimenting, I wasn't worried about how perfect the flowers were.  Although, I do like the way the flowers blossom into a bright pink and then turn into a lovely shade of green and blush.   

 

          

White Dahlia Arrangement

Happy Monday morning friends!  I had some leftover blooms from the shoot I recently styled, so I played around to create this sweet little arrangement.  It's comprised of dahlias, queen anne's lace, hydrangea, hosta and morning glory.  Can you tell that I'm falling for floral design?  Here's to a productive and wonderful week!

Paper Flowers, Oranges + Moss Centerpiece

 

 

I've been inspired by citrus for some summer projects lately.  Orange, lemon and lime are perfect summer colors and flavors if you ask me and I've been noticing it around quite a bit.  Here is my idea for an orange infused centerpiece with pops of pink paper flowers on a carpet of moss.  I think it's super fun and colorful for a summer party.  What do you think?

 

First Communion Party

If you've been following along, I've been posting here and there about my daughter's first communion.  If you missed it, you can read about it here and here.  The day finally arrived at the end of April and today I'm sharing how the party turned out.  I wanted the style to be sweet and feminine, so I decided on a palette of pale pink and gray.  When my daughter chose a dress that had some lace in it, I also added some touches of lace to the decor.  

 

The trellis pattern was scattered throughout, starting with the invitations I designed.  I also made napkin rings with the same trellis pattern. 

This light fixture hangs above my kitchen table.  I like to add special touches to unexpected places.  I also like placing decor up high so that your eye moves up, like the greens I added above the dessert table or the flowering branches I hung on some pendant lights. 

 

The cake and macarons were made by the wonderful Heather of Gracie Moonpie & Co.  I really admire Heather's attention to detail.  She didn't just make the cake, she asked me the right questions to ensure that the cake fit well with the overall style of the party.  As you can see, the gray cross and trellis pattern also found its' way onto the design of the cake.  If you live in Southeast Michigan and need something sweet made check out Gracie Moonpie & Co.  Their cakes taste as good as they look and Heather is an absolute joy to work with.   

  
My mother-in-law made cross shapped cookies and my mother made various mini desserts including coconut cheesecakes topped with mango.  It's so nice to have family who are willing to lend a hand.

   

  

 

 





It's Her Business: Ceramica Botanica

Ceramic Serving Tray Indigo Triangles

 

I'm always on the hunt for unique pieces I can use when entertaining.  I stumbled upon Susan Rodriguez's shop Ceramica Botanica and loved all the unique patterns and colors she creates on her wares.

 

I love the raindrop shape of these appetizer plates.

 

Turmeric Gold Vase 

Susan hand builds her work from earthenware clay and uses intricate paper stencils that are hand cut and meticulously placed on each piece. Layers of colored slip are applied and then the stencil is peeled away to create her fabulous bowls, mugs, vases and more. 

 

 Ceramic Serving Bowl

 Small Bowl

 

If you too want to add a splash of color and fun to your table, be check out all of Susan's work at her shop. 

 





Balloon Party Decor

 

 

When I think of balloons, I think of a child's party with cartoon character shaped balloons from the big box party supply store - cheesy, but the kids love it.  I also know that the ordinary balloon can transform the atmoshpere of an event too.  Balloons always seem to say, "Hey, look up here!", which is a good thing because sometimes we forget to take notice of the sky and what's above us.  Check out these not so ordinary ideas to decorate your next party with the classic and affordable balloon. 


1. Martha Stewart Weddings 2.Pretty My Party 3.My Big Balloon
4.Love and Lavender 5.Green Wedding Shoes

 

Spring Party Palette: Mint + Yellow

Spring may officially begin tomorrow, but last Saturday I woke up to a snow covered lawn.  I'm sick of snow and I'm totally in need of some color and for spring to arrive.  This color palette of mint and yellow is makes me think of spring and happiness.  Come on spring!  I know you're just around the corner.  If you could get here sooner than later I would really appreciate it.   

Anthropolgie//Laura Trevey//I Felt Fuzzy
Pratt Creek Art//Zeldabelle

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day?  I'll be honest, I normally just celebrate by eating a little corned beef and cabbage and by wearing a hint of green.  I know, not very exciting at all.  If you're still looking for a few ways to add a little more fun to your St. Patty's Day, I put together this round up from around the blogging world.  A pretty DIY barrette, pot of gold pinata, an Irish peppermint shake, a styled tabletop and a clover shaped cookie are included.  Happy St. Patty's Day!  Stay green peeps!  xx

 

 

 

1. Lovely Indeed 2. Oh Happy Day! 3.Sugar & Cloth

4. Coordiantely Yours 5.The Proper Pinwheel

Winter Tabletop Part 1

 

I was flipping through an issue of Midwest Living and stumbled across an idea for a tabletop inspired by the tundra.  The centerpiece included a bowl of rocks and artifical snow and I wanted to try it out.  I would describe midwest style as traditional and approachable, which the idea is. 

Well, I'm obessed with all things French and lately I've been drawn to some designs where the outline of natural elements or everyday objects are modernized and simplified and then presented in a playful manner.  So, I married these two concepts from Midwest Living and French design and this is how it turned out.  I placed light colored rocks on a flat glass plate and sprinkled on some artifical snow and placed some cold climate creatures around the plate.  Going with a palette of white and gray, I made the mountains in simple triangle shapes for both the centerpiece and napkin rings out of scrapbook paper and card stock.  I finished the napkin rings off with natural looking twine.  What do you think?  Come back later to check out part 2 of this post.

 

 

 

DIY Heart + Ribbon Chair Swag

 

Are you and your sweetheart staying in for Valentine's Day?  Don't forget to add some special little details to your dinner table like this DIY swag for your chairs.  At the moment I'm loving the color combo of blush and mint, so that's what I went with, but make yours with whatever colors you fancy.  I made the hearts out of paint chips from the home improvement store and pretty ribbon from the craft store.   

 

 

 

DIY Valentine's Day Napkin

Here's a fun way to make a plain white napkin more festive for Valentine's Day.  I created a simple and clean design with the word "love" in a pretty little font and a couple arrows.  I then printed the design on transfer paper and ironed it on 3/4 of a way down the napkin.   

{Inspired By} Twigs + Branches

Follow my blog with BloglovinLike many others, I'm inspired by my environment.  Right now, I look out my window and drive down the street and see bare trees.  To me, the trees take on a sculptural quality, which is just beautiful.  I get to see the bones of the tree, the tree without its' dressing, stripped, simple and yet complicated in form.   

1. Terrain 2.Sylwia Glass Art 3.West Elm 
4.LEIF 5.Terrain