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 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!  

      

   

Wedding Swings

I'm currently obsessed with the thought of using a decorated swing for an outdoor wedding.  It's the mix of youth, innocence and whimsy when I see these swings that just gets to me.  Would you use a swing in your wedding?  If anything, it's a romantic photo op for you and your sweetie.     

French Style Weddings //Blue Fox Willow
The Frosted Petticoat // Elizabeth Anne Designs //Green Wedding Shoes

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!

Dream Cruise Weekend

I live in Metro Detroit and if you haven't heard, cars are kind of a big deal  around these parts.  This weekend is the Woodward Dream Cruise.  It's an event where owners of classic cars drive down a popular stretch of road while car enthusiasts sit and watch the cars go by.  Over the years the event has morphed into a week long celebration that includes all types of cars, classic and new.  This is my ode to the almighty automobile that moves this region.  

 A Goth Shop // Vinyl Art by Allison
In or Out Media //Alice's Studio
Rock My Wedding //Rock My World, Inc.
  

Collaborating

If you follow me on Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook, you may have noticed that I've been working on a little something with the wonderful Heather over at HMN Photography and the sweet Alora of Alora Rachelle Photography.  We've been busy pinning, scouting and prepping for a vintage inspired bridal shoot.  Over the weekend we finally got together and got it done.  It was a perfectly beautiful day and it was just as I had envisioned it to be!  August is usually hot and muggy here in Michigan so, I was hopping not to melt during this outdoor shoot. The weather ended up being mild with no rain.  Hooray!

I have to admit that I was a bit nervous, but super excited about this project.  This is the first time I've had a opportunity to collaborate on a shoot like this.  I was hopping that all of us had the same vision and that we would work well together creatively and otherwise.  I was hopping that I could deliver what was expected of me.  I wanted all the details to come together naturally, organically and without force.  And thankfully, it did.  I was relaxed, comfortable and at ease with these ladies and our beautiful model Katie too.  

The reason why I read other people's blogs and the reason I blog is because I seek inspiration and I seek people who share the same interests that I do.  I have loved this process of collaborating because it allowed me to be in touch with people who find beauty and importance in the same things I do.  Honestly, I don't take the best pictures and I know that.  I needed Heather and Alora to work with.  They are amazing photographers who see images through their lenses in a different way than I ever could.  I think we're a great team and I'm hopping to work together again in the future.

That bad picture up there is one that I took at home.  That pretty dahlia made it's way into the photo shoot.  Stay tuned to see what I did with the dahlia and to see the results of the shoot! 

      

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? 

Tuck and Bonte

Art Deco Circle Cake Topper

 

I don't see the Great Gatsby trend going away anytime soon, which is perfectly fine with me.  I love the mix of glamour, clean lines and feeling of nostalgia.  Tuck and Bonte offers some fabulous Art Deco inspired wedding décor perfect to style a Great Gatsby like wedding.  I love it and want it.

 

Art Deco Table Number Cards

 

 

Art Deco Banner

 

 

Floral Crown

I'm super excited to be sharing this post with all of you today!  I obsessed with floral crowns, not only for flower girls, but also for any lady who wants to feel pretty.  I learned how to make floral crowns in the floral design course I'm taking with Chelsea.  This one that I'm wearing is made of wax flower, golden rod and baby's breath.  I'm hooked even more than I was before on floral crowns and floral design in general.  My sister mentioned something about making a smaller version of the crown and wearing it like a bracelet.  Wouldn't a floral bracelet be perfect accessory on a bride for her bridal shower?  Flowers just make everything a little more special from floral arrangements for celebrations to making a person feel special.  I think flowers are pretty stinking fabulous and I can't wait to make another floral crown. 

Hand-Tied Bouquet

It's summer - my husband and daughter are out of school and I'm kind of in school for the summer and that's the reason you've seen less of me here at the blog.  I started off at the end of May taking The Style Lab course by the lovely ladies at Confetti Pop and learned a thing or two about photo styling.  If you have a blog, business or simply want to know a little more about photo styling, I highly recommend taking the course.   

At the moment, I'm taking Floral Arranging 101 with the talented Chelsea from Frolic.  I just finished my first week and made a first hand-tied bouquet!  That's it up there!  It's a start and I can only go up from here.  I've been tapping into my creative, girly side all while playing with flowers - I couldn't be happier.  

I love that in life you are constantly absorbing new knowledge and skills.  You can take control and make the decision to take the time and put in the work to learn something new.  Part of learning process is making mistakes, which for me is difficult to accept.  I love learning each lesson and attempting to do the homework assignments, but the critique - that's rough.  I'm only human, right?  I'm taking it much better now though then I did in my younger years. 

So that's what I've been up to.  I've been jumping into new things, improving myself and embracing change. I'll keep you posted on my progress.  How about you?  Are any of you taking any classes out there?  Are any of you interested in trying something new?

   

Picnic Inspiration

 

 I had every intention to post this picnic inspiration board on the Friday before Memorial Day, but just before I was about to sit down to finish it, the power went out for a few hours.  I'm not complaining, just explaining.  Then I thought I can still publish this post because picnics are an all spring and summer thing right? 

 

I found this lady like fabric that inspired me to think about a lady's picnic filled with floral details.  Put down a special blanket.  This one that I found is obviously made for a couple, but you get the idea.  By the way, that blanket would make a great wedding gift.  Don't you think?  I'm in love with this vintage tea set and basket.  Sip something cool from these little printed straws.  And don't forget to dress yourself up too.  I found these gingham printed earrings.  

Cloth 2 U
PBxH//Maggie Mae Vintage
Terrain//Lennon's Lovelies

Sent Well

Are you one of those people who is rushing out at the last minute to buy a birthday card because you forgot or are simply short on time?  The company Sent Well is the perfect solution for you.  You simply choose from their selection of wonderful cards and they will write a note in for you and send it off.  How easy is that?!  You can even queue up all your cards with their card list so that you won't be behind again.  Check out Sent Well and send out some love.

 1. Congrats on Your New Baby 2.CONGRATS to you both on tying the "knot"

3. Go Hog Wild! Happy Birthday 4. Sending a Big Thanks Your Way 5. You're Killer

 

 

It's Her Business: Everly Lane Design

Neon Gold Punch 5 Fancy Frill Fans Tissue Garland

I found out about Everly Lane Design through a post by Brett over at I Am The Lab and I just had to share.  Her creations fit in perfectly with what I like to do, which is style parties of course.  Jess Jamison, owner of Everly Lane Design creates party wares that will add some sparkle and shine to your next shindig.  Check her out!  She's pretty darn fabulous. 

I really digging this color combo for spring and summer of this Pink, Lemon & Apricot Amazingness Tissue Tassel Tower.

 

"Sparkle & Shine".  Enough said.

Globes of Glimmer Pinks & Peach Honeycomb Tissue Garland

 

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

 

{Sweet of the Week} Unfrosted Cakes

 

 

I've been noticing these "unfinished" cakes around lately and I adore them.  You can see the construction of the cake and the "glue" that holds it together because it's free of frosting.  I found this cake on 100 Layer Cake, made by The Cake Collection.  You know how I love the unexpected and yes, we always expect to see a finished cake that's perfectly frosted.  Can I tell you a little secret?  One of my pet peeves is too much sugary frosting and I end up scraping off most of the frosting off cakes and cupcakes before I eat them.  I think this might be the perfect cake for me.      

It's Her Business: Handmade by Sara Kim

 Love Bouquet
 

Today's creative business is Handmade by Sara Kim.  I'm a girly girl. I like glitter and the color pink, so when I came across Sara Kim's shop I ooohed and ahhed at the sight of all the girly goodness.  Sara and her sister Claire have teamed together to bring to life some lovely creations for weddings and additional items to make your everyday a little more sparkly.

 

I'm loving this White Snow Bangle.

 

 

Dandelion Necklace

 

Sara also makes these super cute paper flowers perfect for a bridal or baby shower or any event that needs the extra little touch of handmade sweetness.

Love Garden

So, are you crushing over Sara's designs like I am?  Stay connected with Handmade by Sara through her blog, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

 



Celebrating This Weekend - Love + Friendship

My family is soooo excited for this weekend.  We're celebrating a very good friend's wedding.  My daughters are the flower girls and my husband is doing a reading and we're thrilled for the festivities to begin.  So this weekend I will have a white wedding to help me break through the mid winter blues.  I'll get to dress up, dance the night away and enjoy the company of great friends.  What are you up to this weekend?

{Sweet of the Week} Dala Horse Cake

One of my favorite weddings sites is Green Wedding Shoes.  There's so much lovely goodness there.  While browsing I came across a bright, beautifully detailed Swedish inspired wedding shoot.  Included in the details that you can't miss are the bright pops of red and the dala horses.  I have to admit I'm a bit obsessed right now with dala horses.  This amazing cake was created by Hey there, Cupcake.  I think I want one.  No, I know I want one.

{This Weekend} Celebrations

This weekend we will be celebrating Dara's boyfriend, Paul, who now is an official full time officer of the law.  We're so happy for him as he has worked hard and has gone through many obstacles to get to this point in his life.  Dara and Paul are also going to attend yet another wedding, this time locally.  So it is yet another weekend full of celebrations.  As always, we hope you have a splendid weekend too.

{Party Palette} Wine + Petal Pink

Call it burgundy, maroon or wine.  It's a hot color this season.  What about combining this rich color with the soft hue of petal pink? 

BL Soaps//via 79 Ideas, Photography by Alicia Busczak
 HWTM//Topshop//Ever Ours
Samantha Green Designs