New Blog: Northern Bloom

A bridal bouquet I made for a styled shoot I did with

Heather of HMN Photography and Alora of Alora Rachelle Photography. 

Hi friends!  I'm super excited to tell you about my brand new blog today!  I've been feeling like Cupcakes & Confetti has been needing a change for quite a while now.  This little blog has changed so much since I started over a year ago.  My sister isn't part of the blog, so it has become my space and I'm sure you've noticed that I've been posting more and more about floral design.  Don't get me wrong I still love a great party.  The reality is that I don't plan a party every week that I can post, but with flowers I can create a design every week that I can post.  I like being able to create my own original content and it has become a natural but unexpected transition into flowers that I've walked into.  So this is where the road has led me, I'll now be blogging over at my new blog - Northern Bloom, where I'll be talking about flowers of course along with an occasional celebration here and there.  I hope you continue to follow me and my journey over at Northern Bloom.

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!

Bridal Bouquet

OK friends, this is my last assignment from my floral class - a bridal bouquet!  I love the color combo of pink, white and touches of peach.  It's just my style - feminine and sweet.  I also like the loose style of this bouquet.  Now that this class is over, I need another creative class to take.  Any suggestions?  Perhaps another floral class? 

Coffee In Bed

Canoe and Paddles

 

I'm falling for Coffee In Bed's linocut prints made by artist Mike Dale.  They totally remind me of summer.  Light, happy, sun filled days that you will hope will never end. 

Beer and Bike

 

Forest Fern

 

 

Outdoor Party Inspiration

My husband uncovered some of our patio furniture and I'm aching to have a meal outside.  Whether fancy or casual, I love the thought of taking a party or event outdoors.  At least when the weather cooperates.  Here's some inspiration I found.  I'm totally swooning over the table under the magnolia tree.  I'm a Midwest girl who happens to love anything Southern.  Little decor is needed because mother nature has done most of the decorating for you, although I like seeing indoor furniture taken outdoors.  Now all you need are great friends and great food.

HWTM//Style Unveiled
Style Me Pretty Living //Inspired By This

Mother's Day Gifts for the Garden Lover

I'm most definitely a garden lover.  I find watering my plants and flowers and weeding therapeutic.  So, these are some things that are on my Mother's Day wish list.  I'm totally into the vintage feel of this "queen bee" pot and the spoon garden markers.  How about growing some mushrooms in a box?  I'd give it a go.  The veggie tea towel would for sure find it's way into my kitchen.  What's not to love about the eco friendly seeded greeting cards?  What's on your Mother's Day wish list or what are you giving your Mom? 

Onion Skin Design//Back to the Roots Garden
The High Fiber Co. //Ruffle House Art //Daisy Chestnut

In Bloom: Spring Flowers

Spring is coming and going here in Michigan.  One moment I go can out with a light spring coat and the next minute I have to haul out my winter jacket again.  I'm dreaming of spring with days full of sunshine, bike rides, and flowers.  To fulfill my need for flowers I'm starting a series called In Bloom.  We all know how flowers can add life to a party and everyday, so as I come across pretty little blooms from across the web I'll share them with you.  I'm trying to be a little adventurous and put together some of my own floral arrangements.  If they're not too embarrassing, I might share them here on the blog too.    

Here's an adorable idea from Midwest Living.  Chalk board paint on some white ceramic vessels were used to spell out "spring" and a variety of different flowers are placed in each vessel like tulips and forsythia.  Tulips are among my favorite flowers and I have some orange tulips sitting on my kitchen table right now.  Bright yellow forsythia bushes remind me of my childhood and my parents' house.  My parents had the bold buds growing both in their front and backyards as I was growing up.  Do you have a favorite spring time flower?  Which type and why? 

      

Hello, March!

Well hello there, March!  Seeing March makes me think that winter is nearly over.  We've had another snow fall this past week and I'm ready for spring.  I'm ready for all things green.  Yes, green because St. Patrick's Day, but I'm also dreaming of green grass, green leaves and buds of green peaking through the dirt.  I love the possiblity of spring in March.  What do you love about March?  

 

{Party Palette} Lavender + Lace

Today's post is inspired by a little trip I took to a local lavender festival.  Lavender is such a magical little flower that touches all the senses.  The delicate little buds are not only beautiful to look at and have the most intoxicating fragrance, they also have the power to soothe and relax.  You can also cook with it.  It truly is a magical flower.  I have one lavender plant in my garden that has exploded this year and I would like to have an entire row of lavender in my garden one day, but until then I will dream about lavender. 

I adore the idea of a feminine theme like lavender and lace for a bridal shower, wedding or even a ladies luncheon.  We have pictured below some lavender white chocolate chip cookies from our blogger friend Chelsea over at Chelsea's Culinary Indulgence.  She also have a great summer recipe for strawberry lavender ice cream.  Please also be sure to check out the Michigan made Little Flower Soap Co. too.

Sources
Elizabeth Anne Designs
Fire & Lavender Dinnerware, The Picket Fence
Lace Invitation, Martha Stewart Weddings
Blossom Runner, Hayneedle
Lavender and Lemongrass Soap, Little Flower Soap Co.
Lace Wrapped Favors, Martha Stewart Weddings

Our Weekend

Our weekend will be filled with flowers, family, friends and fun.  Our agenda includes a lavender festival, garden walk, a bridal shower and two graduation parties. Whew!  Exhausting, but fun filled days will be ahead of us.  What will you be doing this weekend?

Gardening + Planters

We love outdoor entertaining.  Do you?  It's always casual and relaxed and the outdoors becomes your decor.  Our eyes have been drawn toward planters lately.  We thought about putting some ice in a planter as a different way to hold cold drinks.  What do you think?  Would you try it?

Row 1: Hayneedle, Twisted Metals
Row 2: Wayfair, Smith & Hawken, Clean Air Gardening