I'm back!

Forever has gone by, and still, no blogging.  The good news is that I've been super busy getting proposals out the door, having fun with family and going through some serious transition.  I don't get personal on here very often, but I am a person.  It's good to keep that in mind....I often forget ;)

As some of you may already know, Brian (the hubs) and I were in the process of adopting a little boy from Russia.  If you've been watching the news, Russia has closed off adoptions to American parents.  We were about to get everything together and head over the water when the news came out.  While we are very heartbroken, we are thankful we didn't look a little boy in the eye and make a promise we couldn't keep.  Our hearts break for the kids who got caught in the political crossfire and lost a chance to become part of a loving family.  Adoption is a very rocky, long road and will be one we hope to go down again in a few years.  Perhaps we'll go the domestic route, perhaps foster, perhaps attempt international again.  We aren't sure.

With the closure of so many adoptions, Russian orphans, particularly the disabled, are in turmoil.  American's adopt the most orphans with disabilities from Russia and with Americans cut off from adopting them they're going to need extra care.  An organization we love is iOrphan,  http://www.iorphan.org/.  Very transparent, honest and doing amazing work on behalf of those orphaned in Russia.

This experience has made a huge impact on our family and me personally.  I've decided that starting in July 2013, all new signed contracts will receive a list of no more than 6 or 7 charities to choose from that will receive 5% of the subtotal from their wedding.  This is a great way to shed light on some amazing charities who really need our support.  I also feel like I need to take more responsibility in our local and global community, particularly as a small business owner.

If you know of a charity in the local Puget Sound area, a national, or even global charity that you think is doing amazing work, please leave a comment and I'll look into them and consider putting them on the list. 

 Here are a few photos from recent weddings that I STILL need to blog.  Someday...

The trusty antique Pepsi crate.  Perfect for delivery and looks great in photos too :) 

Glen Echo Gardens Wedding - Bellingham, WA

This was a very personal and special wedding for me.  It was my dear friend Vanessa who was the bride.  It was an honor to be both a bridesmaid and her florist, as well as a challenge.  Let me say this if you're thinking about doing your own flowers - DON'T DO IT. I tell you this as a florist and as a friend.  I'm a professional and I almost died trying to be in the wedding and be sure the flowers were exceptional.  Ok, it wasn't that bad, but y'all know I have a dramatic flair ;)  But I am not exaggerating when I say that Vanessa and RC had an insanely beautiful wedding!

My dear friend Vanessa and I clicked after first meeting and have been close ever since.  She has a wonderful eye and has studied fashion and marketing and it shows in everything she does.  She took an old lace dress and turned it into something spectacular, all the details, the venue, the food reflected her and RC's fantastic taste and fun spirit.

Not only was Vanessa's photographer, Karen, was a blast to work with - her images are AMAZING. Check out the rest of the photos here.

My beautiful friend in her perfect dress

When Vanessa and I exchanged emails about her flowers, I saw one major theme: She wanted something both romantic and unexpected.  I wanted to pair things together that normally you don't see.  Protea and David Austin roses, succulents and veronica, ferns, willow and stock.  By keeping the colors fairly neutral, I was able to work in a ton of product and it stay romantic and lovely. The first time Vanessa and I met she was telling me about her love of sticks and how she wanted to get a huge tree branch for the wall of her bedroom.  I had to put a touch of willow in for her.  It wouldn't be truly hers without it. 

I didn't have complete carte blanche, but she trusted me to do my thing.  I had to make a few adjustments as a few flowers didn't come in.  I put in a lot of flowers we didn't talk about but I felt that it helped 'make' the bouquet.  Having freedom does wonders to creativity.  Make sure you trust your florist (and any other vendor) to just do their thing. If you don't trust them, don't hire them.  If you give freedom for them to be creative, you'll probably receive their best work.  

Anderson Creek Lodge, Bellingham WA

I think here she was laughing at the stupid faces I was making at her.  I couldn't hep it.  She was supposed to be serious and I had to test her poker face. :)

We had a lot of fun waiting for RC to take his first look.  Now I know where my daughter got her nose crinkle when she laughs...

Glen Echo Gardens is pristine.  The most beautiful garden I've ever seen.  Such an amazing venue! 

The centerpieces were fairly simple, 3 jars and/or bottles filled with hydrangea, stock, dahlias, lavender, willow, ferns - really whatever.  I wasn't able to stay behind and do all the centerpieces myself, I had to get to the lodge to get ready. I was already 2 hours behind and was a hot mess when I got there!  But the little worker bees did a great job.  Thanks guys!

The bridesmaids bouquets we kept lush and romantic with hydrangea, dahlias, veronica, stock and succulents.

Don't you love her ring?  When she first tried it on I knew it was the one for her! 

Each boutonniere was custom and had a different succulent and foliage and was wrapped in twine.  They were so fun to make.  Each had its own personality.  

My sweet lady and I enjoying the party.  The blurry face in the foreground is my wonderful husband. Love ya babe :)

 My sweet Zoë Raine.  Isn't she the cutest?  I might be a little partial though...

Congrats Vanessa and RC! 

Why I've been MIA

Hi everyone! I'm sorry I've been so absent with blogging! Here's what's been going on!

I moved! My studio and my family have changed locations! Has anyone ever moved with a toddler? Phew! That is work! The good news is we're settling in but are still without Internet access (the HORROR!!) I'm having fun decorating a new house - fun chevron prints, bright yellow and pops of red and green all over the house. A very glam bedroom in neutral colors. But...we have inherited a bathroom as ugly as the day is long. The only hope it has is to be completely gutted. Mauve toilet and tub, terrible 90s vanity and light fixtures. Oy. It's bad, very bad!

Another thing we are up to is adoption! My husband and I have been praying and thinking about adopting for a while and have decided to move forward! We have a separate blog for that, but I'm so excited I had to put it on here as well! Hooray!

I have more weddings to post, but until then, this floral inspiration will have to do!

Wedding at Court in the Square, Seattle April 14th

Here are some amazing photos of Larissa and Zach's April wedding from Nathan Coltrane Photography.

They were married at Court in the Square which is a beautiful venue in Pioneer Square.  Larissa wanted the impressive arches of the venue mirrored in her bouquet.  So we looped bear grass over  hydrangea, spider mums, freesia, orchids and hypericum berries.  

And how frickin' A-MA-ZING does Larissa look?  Wowza!

 STUNNING....

I love the pool that is in Court in the Square.  I would love to make some floral rafts for it sometime!  Or float some big honkin' Dahlias. :) 

So sweet

Congrats Zach and Larissa!       

Pink!

Yay!  Finally continuing the Roy G. Biv series where we are talking about color.  Ok, ok, so there's no "p" in Roy G Biv, but it's such an important color I couldn't leave it out.  Let's just lump it in there with red and call it good.

Pink can take on many different feelings and moods.  A hot pink is full of excitement and fun!  It's perfect for a hot August wedding or the fall when nature shows off its dramatic colors.  My favorite way to do hot pink is with a vivid orange and a touch of chartreuse green.  The colors certainly get your attention.

 Let's take a look at some amazing hot pink flowers, shall we?

This hot number was from our Mother's Day collection 

Glorious gloriosa lilies via My Wedding Flower Ideas

My heart skipped a beat with these coral peonies.  They're in season too! :)

LOVE the vase turned into a stand for the amazing milk glass urn .  Not to mention those garden roses :)

Let's cool off and relax a bit with a softer pink. Softer pinks are graceful and demure, associated with feminine grace.  It's perfect for the sweet, blushing bride.  It's unabashedly feminine and I love it!  Now, for some softer tones...bring on the girly!

Why hello gorgeous ranunculus  (via Ashley Fox Designs)

There are those peonies again! (via Studio 3 Floral Design)

...and again.  Can you tell I've got peonies on my mind?  Another arrangement from our Mother's Day collection. 

Next up....orange!  Here's to blogging on a regular basis. :)