Progress

Every year at this time people say to me "You do so much decorating, and the shop looks so cute, your house must look amazing".  Well, ummm, that's one word for it.  Amazingly NOT DONE! The truth is, between decorating client's houses, and keeping up with things at the shop, my house tends to be pretty sadly neglected.  I feel like I haven't been home in weeks!!! No fresh flowers or greens yet, and the planters on my porch are only half finished.  I did, however, have a couple free minutes the other night, so I turned on some music, and put up some of my favorite winter decorations.  Here's how things are going so far...

Glowing mercury glass balls and mossy rocks in a nest.  Crazy, huh? It actually doesn't look quite so bizarre in person.

my birch branch and snowflake tree (with some mushrooms at the base)

my favorite feather tree (and a few more mushrooms)

As I pulled out all of my decorating goodies, I've discovered a few things about myself.  Apparently I really like mushrooms, they seem to have multiplied all over the house!  There is certainly a bit of a mushroom and owl theme going on around here, and at the shop, too.  If I didn't keep finding such stinkin' cute ones, it wouldn't be such a problem!  It's not my fault!

the top of the china cabinet

What is that, sitting up there?  Why, another owl, of course!

do you think there's something going on here??? (two of these were gifts!)

Baby is not amused (I don't think she cares much for mushrooms, owls, or crazy girls blasting the stereo and balancing on dining room chairs while she is trying to take a snooze)


 

It's looking like there really is a bit of a woodland "theme" going on around here, but that's okay, these are the things that make me happy.  It's the little things, right? I'm still working on it, and my own decorating may not be done until February, but I'm making progress, and I think there are still a few more critters at the shop that need to come home with me.  I'm thinking I need some deer... wouldn't some driftwood reindeer look fabulous near my mirror????  Maybe it's a good thing I don't have too much free time right now!

Hope you are all enjoying this last week before the holiday.  Don't go too crazy!

The shop, etc.

Just a few more pictures of the shop this week...

And a few recent holiday arrangements...

Holiday

A few pictures of the shop decorated for the season...

driftwood trees and reindeer



woodland ornaments

 

glittery owls

 

 

vintage-inspired jewelry

cutest little pinecone deer

 We have lots of fun goodies for the holiday and winter season.  Stop by and see us, we'll be open this Friday evening and Saturday (December 7th and 8th) for Malvern's Victorian Christmas.  Hope to see you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Sending a heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  Hope you all had a wonderful day!

orange

The fall season is quickly approaching, even though I'm in total denial about the end of summer.  Fall might actually be my favorite season, but really, where did this summer go???

We're starting to get flowers in more "autumnal" shades, including these yummy roses.

Personally, I like my orange with a little peach...

 

Loving these "Free Spirit" and "Clear Ocean" roses.  What is it about these names that's making me mourn the vacation I never got a chance to take this summer? Oh well, there's always January. This time I'm going, I really am!

Cairnwood wedding

Here are a few photos from our wedding this past weekend at the beautiful Cairnwood Estate in Bryn Athyn...

 

Boutonnieres

Bridesmaid's bouquets

Natural arch for the ceremony

Beautiful front of the estate

centerpieces

 

Fabulous wedding planner Kelsey, of A Little Soiree, holding the bride's bouquet

Loved these soft colors and flowers.  So romantic!

Appleford wedding

Here are  few pictures from our wedding last weekend at one of my favorite places, the Appleford Estate in Villanova...

The bride chose full, lush, romantic designs for her "garden party" reception on the terrace.
A beautiful setting and a lovely wedding.  Congratulations  Cassandre and Ray!

Weddin's

We've been quite busy the last several months, working on what my favorite little neighbor likes to call "weddin's"... as in "are all these flowers in here for the weddin' ?"  He's very thoughtful, and always asks this question before he picks out a few flowers to give to his mom.  Too adorable!  I've adopted this expression, so weddins, weddins, it's all about the weddins!

 I've been wanting to post pictures of some of the ones we've been working on lately, but I've been waiting to get some better photographs, as mine are not the greatest.  In the meantime, however, I've finally discovered how to put photos into collages!  Not rocket science, I realize, (in fact it was embarrassingly simple) but for someone as computer-challenged as myself, this was a major accomplishment.  I much prefer playing with flowers and plants to playing with computers, but I'm trying, and actually learning a few things.  I definitely think that pictures that are "not the greatest" look much better in a collage!

So, with that said, here are some practice collages, from a couple "weddin's" we've worked on recently...




Yamile and David's elegant flowers







Susan and Robert's lovely French-themed reception

Love the collage!

Still working on gathering pictures of some of the others.  More to come!


Experimenting

The truth is that I read quite a few blogs (mostly floral and decorating ones :)) and I really admire the style of several very talented floral designers out there, who are doing truly spectacular, natural arrangements.  So here I am, determined to try to stretch my design skills a bit, and try some slightly different things.  Had a few fun things in the cooler, local hydrangea, artemesia, saracena, a few ranunculus left over from a wedding,  garden roses, etc.  And a cute little pitcher a friend gave me, left over from a recent garage sale (can't believe no one bought it, I love it!)
 I plopped a frog in it, and here's my attempt at a slightly different, more natural style...

I know it's not radical change from my usual style, not really. I love seasonal flowers and foliage, and always try to use them as much as possible.  However,  I want to try to design in a way that really highlights the beauty of each individual flower. Trying to "loosen up" a little bit, to be more "free" with the flowers! Anyway, I loved the results of this little experiment.

Not the greatest pictures (from my phone), but here they are after they made their way to my dining room table for a little belated celebration of my husband's son's wedding.

flowers and cake - yum

I'm trying!  And loving a less "structured" style.  Gonna keep working on this!

Color!

A few arrangements we put together for a party last week.  Totally loving these rich summer colors!

Deep blue delphinium and gentiana, burgundy dahlias, magenta peonies, viburnum berry, green hydrangea, saracena, nigella pods, sweet peas and more.  Loved working on these!

Work

Just a few pictures of what we've been working on lately...



Centerpieces for a graduation party

peonies, roses, hydrangea, snapdragon and sweet peas in vintage blue mason jars

Centerpieces for a 90th birthday party

dahlias, snaps, amaranthus, green hydrangea, roses and herbs

So "gardeny"!

Arrangements for delivery

"Peach finesse" roses, lacecap hydrangea, nigella, lavender and bunny tails (love those bunny tails!)



"Amsterdam" roses, viburnum and purple sweet peas

We're happy to be busy at the shop right now, and enjoying all the floral "treats" this time of year has to offer!