Robin & Craig : Autumn Jewel tones

 My beautiful cousin, Robin married Craig last October and I was so honored to be able to design the flowers for their special day. Robin is an Edmonton- based wedding photographer  (view her work here), so she has seen her fair share of weddings! I love that she chose jewel tones for her fall affair, the deep colours are a welcome departure from the more popular soft tones.

While Robin and I came up with the concept for the flowers, Green Petal's lovely manager Sarah, executed them so beautifully (as my sweet babe was only two weeks old at this wedding!)

PS: Doesn't Fernie offer such an amazing photo backdrop in the fall? Photo Credit:  Kirsten Buyer .

- Carmen

Warming up to PB...

Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.
John Harrigan

 

 

 My shipment of Permanent Botanicals (fancy florist speak for artificial flowers) arrived today. Now those of you who know me, know I have pretty strong feelings towards these... mostly negative. I love fresh cut flowers- there really is no replacing them in my eyes. They are living (sometimes even still growing), smell amazing and so varied. Each stem is just a bit different than the next, none of these cookie cutter stems you get with "permanent botanicals" ( I like to say that with a snobby voice). And no, fresh cut  don't last forever and I think that is part of the beauty of them- or at least that accentuates and perhaps helps one appreciate their beauty.

: )  All that to say... these past couple weeks I received two requests for PB arrangements, so I  brought them in and I made them up today here we are...


A woman had received an arrangement from us in memory of her husband, she really loved it and asked if I could recreate it in PB.  The picture below is the PB version and you can see the picture of the original in there too!

This second one is for a woman who really wanted something to put on an antique chair she bought for her porch. She brought in a card, with a painting of an arrangement on a chair that she really liked. I did my best to replicate it!

I was pleasantly surprised with how they turned out. I know PB aren't THAT awful, and they definitely have there place. I'm slowly warming up to the PB... we will see : )

I'll leave you with a couple fresh arrangements from this last week... since you had to listen to my ranting : )

This first was for a wedding anniversary this past weekend. Dahlias, eryngium, tulips, magnolia tips, and yellow Asiatic Lilies.

And finally this little cutie was made up for the cooler.  Burgundy Cymbidium Orchids & white spray roses.

Happiness in a Vase.

"I'd rather have roses on my table

than diamonds on my neck."

  ~Emma Goldman

 

I know, it sounds cliche and cheesy but I can honestly say I agree with this quote. I also realize that I'm fairly bias, being a flower shop owner. That being said, I can remember every time I was given flowers as a gift and it always brought a smile to my face. And whenever I deliver flowers, no matter the occasion, it always brightens the persons day. 

Who knows why flowers have such an effect? I think it may be that they bring life and color to a situation (and maybe also that they are just so happy!).  As you may have guessed, I also love to give flowers and these two arrangements were birthday gifts from me to my grandma and to a friend this week. So fun!

Scabiosa pods, Poppy pods, Peony, Dahlias, Roses, willow eucalyptus, mokara orchids, seeded euchalyptus

Oncidium orchids, Pitt, scabiosa pods

Happy Birthday Grandma & Cadie!

Take Two: Fernie Photo Shoot

This week I had a photo shoot with Fernie born & raised photographer Robin Hellewell (who also happens to be my cousin). We convinced a couple of photogenic friends to  play models for us. I came up with three fall designs ideas for a casual wedding in the Elk Valley. Enjoy!

Thanks to Jesse Aarsen & Faye Neufeld for being good sports!