Bohemian Bouquets

Etsy

2012-02-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

So, I make these little faux fiddleheads and sell them on etsy. They've been selling well with DIY brides and I've even just shipped a large order to a floral shop in Maine. Today I was alerted that the post was chosen in a treasury collection. Yay! I love treasury collections! Just had to share. Click on the pic to see the whole collection.

Oh, and... I make and ship custom boutonnieres too. Here's a link to an adorable pinterest board one of my bouts is featured in. One of the reasons I created the faux fiddleheads in the first place. These puppies had to travel to Mexico in the heat of the summer. Looks like they held up pretty good. Phew...

Sarah and Quinn

2012-01-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

First of all, what an awesome family! I met Sarah's mom, Debbie while delivering to a wedding a few years ago. She held onto my card and called me when Sarah and Quinn were engaged. I was very honored and flattered to hear from her. This gorgeous wedding was at the Salishan Spa and Golf Resort just south of Lincoln City on New Years Eve. Incredible venue, fabulous date! Sarah and Quinn also had one of the best wedding coordinators I've ever worked with. I really enjoyed working with Morgan from A Time 4 Memories. She was on top of everything from the beginning of planning to the very end. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, at least a day-of coordinator is the recipe for success.

I had a lot of fun with the floral color pallet of pink, orange and red, punctuated with little winter touches. I designed with roses, orchids, and splashes of Asiatic lilies and even a few amaryllis accented with evergreens and dusty miller. The single gardenia in the bridal bouquet represented Sarah's grandmother, and the single white rose was for her aunt, both of whom were with her in spirit on her wedding day. I snapped a few photos, but I'm very excited to see the pro shots soon. I'll pass them on for sure. Enjoy these for now...

My recent project ;)

2011-12-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

Most of my friends and current couples know I've been busy working on a masterpiece. ;) I had little Gianna Grace on November 5th. She's such an incredible blessing! She'll grow up in the flower shop and will probably make an appearance or two at consultations. Here's a pic I snapped while visiting my friends shop. What to do with a vintage suit case? Put a baby in it, that's what I say!

One of my favs...

2011-12-16T18:52:00.000-08:00

Since the gallery on my website is in serious need of an update, I thought I'd 're-release' one of my favorite purple weddings. Enjoy some pics...

Another great find...

2011-12-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

I've become obsessed with Pinterest. Goodness, I sit in heaps of unfinished holiday crafts and I find inspiration for even more fabulous projects. This is my 'must share' of the day. DIY seed packets. I'm a big fan of seed saving and sharing. Here's a link to download a template...

Great resource!

2011-12-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled upon a fabulous resource and thought I'd share. Wedding accessory recycling! What a great way to save $, make a little back, and keep all the pretties in circulation! Check it out...

The Cottage

2011-12-09T22:36:00.001-08:00

My good friend and fellow florist recently opened a beautiful floral/ gift shop and creative space called The Cottage in Scappoose. They offer a variety of pieces from a collaboration of local artists. Even yoga! The prices are VERY reasonable and they really do have something for everyone. I'm absolutely finishing my Christmas shopping there. Stop in and tell them Gina sent you. 53648 NE 1st street, Scappoose, OR 97056. Also visit their facebook page. Check it out...

Natasha and Jason

2011-10-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I love working with all different kinds of couples and helping bring their personality through in perhaps their most important floral collection ever. I think I could stare at this bridal bouquet all day. Natasha wanted a beautiful, romantic bridal bouquet with ivory roses and stephanotis and a touches of baby pink and an antique/ champagne hue. She was so wonderful to work with! There's nothing better than when a bride takes one look at her flowers and throws her arms around me. :) Its that connection with people that helps me 'nail' the design, and I always treasure my brides reactions to their wedding floral collection.

The bridesmaids dresses were a gorgeous deep red, and the coordinating bouquets of ivory and red roses were a stunning touch. I really, REALLY can't wait to see pro pics of this wedding. Here are a few I shot in the shop in a quick hurry to get out the door... Enjoy!

Festa Italiana 2011

2011-10-03T12:28:00.000-07:00

This was my 4th year working with the Portland Italian Festival. I always love working with the people and being involved in the set up in my small way. Naturally, I stuck with red, white and green flowers. Since the flowers are outside for 3 days in August, I'm careful with my selection and preparation to make sure they make it through. Definitely visit the Festa next year, I'll keep you posted on dates when the time is right. It's always in August at the Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon. I've never had so much fun dancing and of course, eating! Ciao...

Sara and Ben

2011-10-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sara and Ben are awesome! Sara sent me a picture of a gorgeous bouquet with silver zipper flowers and funky chains as partial inspiration for her bouquet. The end result ended up being a fusion of different inspiration she provided along the way. I made the silver zipper flowers out of... well, zippers of course. ;) I felt like this floral collection really matched the couple. They compliment each other beautifully, are classic and romantic, and have an edgy 'outside of the box' splash about them. Once again, I'll collect pro pictures at some point, I'm sure. :) The wedding was at McMinnamins Edgefield on a beautiful summer day. Pretty much as good as it gets!

Brooch bouquet

2011-09-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Check this out! I've been wanting to do a brooch bouquet forever! While I can't claim full responsibility for creating this beauty, I did take the role of 'artistic director,' if you will. One of my fav brides of the summer, Allison, had the idea of putting together a brooch bouquet for photos and as a keep sake from her wedding. All of her wedding shower guests contributed a brooch, and she collected quite a few herself. She showed up to my shop with brooches pre-wired, all construction elements and fabulous ideas. The base of the bouquet is her 'something blue,' and was the tie her father wore on her parents wedding day. The tie and photo brooch with her fathers photo held great significance for Allison, representing his presence in spirit on her wedding day. Thank you Allison for letting me a part of constructing this gorgeous and sentimental keepsake. It was so much fun working with you!

Sarah and Alex

2011-07-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome wedding! Sarah and Alex are two of my favorite people ever, and this bouquet goes down in history as one of my favorites of all time!

Such a unique and beautiful bouquet! Sarah gave me a list of really crazy things that she wanted in her bouquet. I knew it would be awesome, and it really did 'create' itself. I had every funky, non floral, produce type pretty in front of me and I just put to together by trial and error. What will hold up? What looks good together? Some of what you can see in this angle are prickly pear, jalapeno peppers, pine cones, scabiosa pods, succulents, dusty miller, alder cones, blue roses, chestnut pods and just the slightest touch of baby's breath.

Here you can see the millet and pittesporum. You can't see them from either of the above angles, but I also used brussel sprouts, which were really pretty when grouped together.

The gorgeous couple!

The wedding was at the beautiful Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. Sarah and Alex rented pipe and drape and covered the walls of the banquet room with luxurious white linens. They also rented these amazing thrones, which served as a great place for photos all evening. I rented the topiaries from Garden World, which I would recommend to anyone. With a delivery fee, they dropped off and picked up the trees, saving my back! I simply fashioned some beautiful, flowy fabric around the buckets that the trees were planted in and finished it with some sheer brown ribbon that I simply tied and cut to flow.

I took lots of pictures of the beautiful bride!

Another use for the topiaries. Stunning, if I do say so myself.

Planted succulent pieces for the bar.

All the table centerpieces were living succulent plantings as well.

Thank you Sarah and Alex! I'll treasure your wedding, and both of you forever!

Smelling the roses!

2011-07-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

I've recently been named 'caretaker' of a rose garden with well over 500 rose bushes. I lose track every time I try to count, so I gave up and resorted to estimating. Its a beautiful English style rose garden and is literally just minutes from our little farm. I stumbled upon it over 5 years ago when I was preparing for my own wedding. Since I was marrying a man with the last name Rose, my flower decision was easy. I just wanted beautiful, fragrant, garden roses. I worked up the courage to stop by and ask the owners of the garden if I could buy some roses for my bouquet. They happily let me, and a love affair with antique roses was born. I've popped in a few times a year since for a bucket of roses here and there and nurtured a budding friendship with the owners. A few years ago the husband passed away, and his aging wife has since been trying to keep up with the garden herself. This season when I popped by for a visit, she expressed her need for help, and told me that if I wanted to take over caring for the roses, they were mine. What's a girl to do in this situation? You guessed it, prune about 20 rose bushes a day. ;) Here are just a few shots of some pretties I have the pleasure and the honor of caring for...

P.S. Confession time... Although I know how to prune with the best of 'em, I'm really no expert otherwise. Advice, tips, tricks up your sleeve? I dove in head first and now I'm making some wings. Any wisdom from readers would be very well received and incredibly helpful!

My little bro gets hitched!

2011-07-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

This wedding was so much fun, so incredibly beautiful and absolutely 'Paul and Montana.' Being involved with a wedding on a personal level reminded me about what's truly important, what isn't, and that having a great time and enjoying the moment really is the goal. The wedding was at Montana's parents house just outside of Joseph, Oregon. It couldn't have been in a more picturesque setting. Mt. Joseph and the Eagle Cap wilderness framed the gorgeous ceremony and following reception. I couldn't be happier that my brother found his true love. Even from the beginning, there was never a question in my mind that Montana was my little bro's match made in heaven. I love you both! Congrats and cheers to a lifetime of love and happiness!

Seriously, isn't she gorgeous!? Her dress was a true vintage find, purchased from an antique shop and we're thinking is circa 1930.

The colors of the wedding were shades of orange with deep purple.

Pretty Momma!

Bridal bouquet

Bridesmaid bouquet

Boutonniere of scabiosa seed pod with accents and grass wrap.

A new use for a heart shaped basket.

Mother's corsage

Gotta love the moose antler and flowers!

Montana's super talented father made this antler shed arbor just hours before the ceremony. I think it is definitely worthy of being shown off.

Sara and Andrew

2011-07-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

From the minute I received the first email from Sara, I knew it was meant to be that we work together. I love the style of this wedding! Sara wanted deep jewel tones with eggplant and teal making a spotlight appearance. She's also a fragrance specialist, so I was sure to include some antique garden roses and Spanish lavender. There were also a few wild irises, fern shoots, peonies, poppy pods, billy balls, sea holly, coral bells, horse tail fern, sedum, peacock feathers and even some pops of purple kale. One of the direct quotes from Sara that I drew inspiration from was, "If people show up and see things looking too 'traditional,' they'll think they're at the wrong wedding." I love it! The wedding was at the McMinnamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Octagonal Barn in Hillsboro, Oregon. I always look forward to my McMinnamins weddings! Enjoy a few photos I snapped. More to come! Their photographer was amazing, and very quick to get me gorgeous photos. I just need to spend some time downloading them now so I can show you all. To be continued... ;)

Bridal bouquet with a glimpse at bridesmaid pretties.

Pretty bouquets all in a row!

Corsage

Corsages ;)

Grooms boutonniere! Garlic top, fern shoot, sea holly, green blueberries and a peacock feather hiding in the background. Fit the tall, handsome groom well, if I do say so myself.

Boutonniere. Sedum leaf, fern shoot, sea holly, wrapped in purple kale.

Yet another boutonniere

All of the different boutonniere styles represented.

Pretty bridesmaid bouquets in the shop.

My wedding!

2011-06-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my fifth wedding anniversary. First of all, I can't tell you how blessed I am to be married to such an amazing man. My mom always told me to make a list and check it twice. Well, I did, and he's it. :) Our wedding was so much fun. We had our ceremony in the Methodist Church in Canby, OR. We wanted to get married in a sanctuary, but also in our neck of the woods. So I set out to look for beautiful churches and this is what I found. We both fell in love with the huge stain glass windows, the amazing multi-dimensional ceiling, and the vintage pipe organ. Oh, it was so beautiful! Our reception was a few miles away at St. Josef's winery. Getting to have our reception at St. Josef's was a dream come true! I drove by it everyday and thought that there was no way it would be available or affordable. Well, it was both! Thanks entirely to my dad, whom just heard rumor of us wanting to have the reception at St. Josef's and offered before I even asked. Thank you mom and dad! Dream come true! I could go on and on about how beautiful our reception was. Here is a little peek at the book our photographers put together for us. Jaysun Speith from The Photographer's, is probably one of the most amazingly talented people I know. Thank you for visiting my blog. Follow the link below...

http://www.thephotographers.us/albums/gina_mitchv2/

Crystal and Mike

2011-05-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be recommended to Crystal and Mike by Ashley of Stargazer Weddings. I would recommend Ashley and Melissa over and over and over again for anyone looking to hire a wedding coordinator. Which, I absolutely recommend. I wish I would have had at the very least, a day of coordinator myself. Thank you ladies for the referral to such a wonderful couple!

The main color of this wedding was 'spring' orange with pops of white and green. The ceremony was held at the Brooks Hill Historic Church off NW Skyline. I think the most perfect little wedding church I've ever been to! It is beautifully quaint and intimate. Gorgeous! The reception was at Wilfs Restaurant. This place is amazing. First of all, its attached to the Union Station. So classy and maybe even a little old school. I had a blast taking pictures, so I'll let those do the talking...

Congrats Crystal and Mike!!!

April and Alex

2011-05-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

I met April and Alex through the gorgeous Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom. What a beautiful couple! April wanted to bring their accent watermelon color in with flowers. One of the things that stuck with me after meeting with April was 'simple elegance.' Here are a few shots of the 'spring watermelon' collection April and I designed and I had the pleasure of making. I'm on pins and needles to see pro photos of this wedding! I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the doors to the ballroom. I'm never surprised that the space looks incredible, it just takes on a totally new 'persona' with every event. I feel honored every time I get to do an event there! Breathtaking space! I promise to post pictures when I get them!

Fliptography

2011-04-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a cup of tea with Michael from Fliptography. What an awesome concept! They take a 7 second video clip and turn it into a flip book. Forget boring favors, wouldn't this be a great way for your guests to remember your event? You can customize the cover and your guests customize their own visual 'message.' Ditch the monogrammed votive holders and the gross easter egg looking candies and give your guests a true memento with both your event 'stamp' and their personality. Michael is absolutely hilarious, down to earth and incredibly professional! So start thinking about how you're going to 'pose' during your 7 seconds of fame, and give Michael Reed a call right away. Happy flipping...

Tribute arrangements

2011-03-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of tribute arrangements I've done in the past. There are no 'fillers' in my world...

Mardi Gras!

2011-03-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

I know, I'm a few days late with a Mardi Gras post. I had a friend tell me that this arrangement reminded her of being in the French Quarter in the middle of Mardi Gras. Here's hoping everyone had a fabulous time on Tuesday... Cheers!

Saturated color!

2011-02-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

I was talking with a bride today about saturated color. THIS is what I mean by saturated color... Deep, bright, contrasting and complimentary all at the same time!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T11:34:00.001-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are a few shots of red arrangements. I hope everyone has a wonderful day full of lots of love! Maybe even a few proposals... :)

Baby pink

2011-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Last spring I was honored to do flowers for a little girl baby shower. The colors were pink and white, and the mommy provided these adorable containers. She wasn't sure what flowers she wanted, but she did know she liked lilies and pink. Here are a few shots of what I came up with...

Superbowl Sunday

2011-02-06T22:38:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official, the cheeseheads are the champions. Aaron Rodgers gets his championship 'belt' after all. What a great game! I have to admit that our household was a little salty that our Patriots weren't at the big dance. Those darn New York teams keep catchin' us snoozing when it really counts... Anyway, somehow I promise to bring this post back around to flowers. Maybe. ;) Okay, in honor of the Packers taking it all, I suppose I'll post some pics of pretty green flowers. Good job Packers! I was totally rooting for you in between my naps and snacks...

This bouquet sported 'Green goddess' roses, green cymbidium orchids, Bells of Ireland, green hermit mums, even a few hosta blooms and a living stock and lotus bamboo.
Nothing like a big poof of green hydrangea!

I call this boutonniere 'just how funky fresh can I get with it?'

Crisp!

Looking forward to Spring!

2011-02-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

I made this collection last year about this time for a bridal show. The blue sky and sunshine today inspired me to show it to you. It was a springy mix of spray roses, daffodils, calla lilies, gerbera daisies, orchids, stock and lily grass. Is it spring yet?

Street of Dreams centerpiece

2011-01-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

I promised months ago that I would post pics of the Street of Dreams arrangements in the house. Here they finally are. I had the honor to design pieces for The Graduate, Renaissance Homes 2010 award winning home. The interior design was headed up by my college bestie, Darby Sargent. Thank you Darb for the awesome opportunity! The Graduate won best of show, best interior design, best kitchen, best curb appeal, best home furnishing and best landscaping. I'm not surprised in the least. Congrats Darby and Renaissance Homes! Thanks again!

Etsy launch

2011-01-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting for years to make fun wedding accessories. These are my first 'products' to ever launch. So far I have examples of 3 different looks of pillows and wands and a few ideas for non perishable boutonnieres. Everything is 'upcycled' from fabrics/ beads/ buttons I've picked up along the way. Right now I'm working with fabric left over from making things for my shop, fabric I bought at a flea market in Paris years ago, vintage fabric I bought in abundance at a garage sale and lots of fun vintage costume accessories and buttons. From the different materials, I've hand made all of the flowers and 'poofs.' Obviously each of these looks would suit only one in a million couples. If you see anything and would like it recreated in your fabric/colors, or would like me to design something just for you, drop me a line. I'm happy to take custom orders. Also check out my etsy site for full descriptions on each item.

Wreaths

2011-01-22T01:18:00.000-08:00

I made very few wreaths this year. The top wreath pictured was actually just a freshen up job on a cherry wood wreath I made last year. I gave it a day at the spa with an all natural, herbal based insecticide/ fungicide and made a fresh bough of fir, cedar, heavily berried juniper, pine cones and of course a new bow. The bottom photo is of a wreath I ended up loving so much that it still decorates my front entry. Everything on it is from our property. Fir, cedar, blue spruce, and the branches are actually Japanese Maple. I know most would cringe at cutting Japanese Maple, but mine needs a serious haircut, so it's okay. ;) Of course I decorated it a bit more before hanging it, but I liked it just like this too. What do you think?

Jessica and Jeff

2011-01-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

This was one of my favorite weddings of 2010! I can't say enough great things about working with Jessica. First of all, she's one of the most creative and detail oriented people I've ever met. The wedding was featured in a brilliant blog post by Bridalhood, a must read. I'll let them cover all the fantastic details for you. Jessica and Jeff's flowers were a combination of dahlias, anemonies, seed pods, mini persimmons, eucalyptus and lots and lots of baby's breath. Jessica told me her overall style and vision and some flower ideas, and from there gave me freedom to create. I drew inspiration from thier incredible venue, her gorgeous dress and all the details that Jessica shared with me along the way. She had been collecting aqua glass for centerpiece flowers and candles, so I set up shop the morning of the wedding right outside of the Octagonal barn and went to work designing the reception tables. I can't think of a better way to spend a gorgeous early fall day. The moment I saw Jessica in her dress I had goosebumps. There's something really special about her. She's so genuine and caring, and her character really shone through on her wedding day. I could tell she was happy and most importantly, about to marry the love of her life. Thank you Jessica and Jeff for trusting your flowers to me!

Through this wedding I found one of my favorite photographers of all time. Scott McNamara is a photographic genius. I really hope to work with him over and over again in the future. The best way to explain the magic of the day is to watch this...

Jessica + Jeff from Scott McNamara on Vimeo.

Succulent Bouquet

2011-01-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

This is a living succulent bouquet that I worked up for a bridal show at the Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom. The great thing about succulents is that they can easily be replanted. With a little love, proper lighting and good soil, they'll thrive again in no time. For this particular bouquet I gave it a collar of dusty miller, which helped the heavier succulents stay put.

Wellspring- Breast Cancer Awareness

2011-01-14T16:43:00.000-08:00

I'm so impressed with the Wellspring Medical Center. They do an annual Breast Cancer Awareness event, and I was honored to be asked to participate. The idea behind the centerpieces was to have each arrangement represent the individuality of women and then the stage pieces beautifully incorporate all of the flowers. Each piece was simple and elegant. Attending the event was eye opening for me. Apparently Oregon is #2 in the nation for breast cancer occurances, right behind Washington. The most important info that I gleaned from their panel of medical experts is this; exercise, eat healthy, don't smoke and make sure to stay current on exams!

Portland Bridal Show

2011-01-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

Since I'm talking about the Portland Catering Company, here are a few shots of arrangements I made for their booth at this past Portland Bridal Show. They catered the VIP booth and offered me the awesome opportunity to represent with some fluers. :) Notice the culinary shout out with blooming rosemary and fig leaves.

I love the Portland Catering Company!

2011-01-14T15:41:00.000-08:00

I am honored to work with the Portland Catering Company. Their food is amazing, and thier people are so fun to work with. They definitely get a five star rating from me. ;) Here are a few pics of living succulent centerpieces I did for thier last tasting. If you're in the market for a good caterer, contact Katie and get in on one of these fabulous tastings. Yum!

Warm feet

2010-12-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

At a certain point today the most important thing in the world became getting my feet warm! As I sit surrounded in Christmas intentions and lots of pretty greenery to fix for events, I'm thankful for an excuse to sit down and tackle my cyber life a little. Here are a few things I think my friends and supporters should know about:

12/8 Inaugural Buy Local Event
Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom
6-8pm

12/10 Holiday centerpiece ordering becomes available online for local delivery.

12/18 Ordering closes at 7pm.

12/20- 12/22 Local deliveries

1/8/11 NW Wedding Scoop
Grand Ballroom and Historic Grand Theater
Follow the NW Wedding Scoop link for ticket information.
Excellent ideas and valuable tips from the pros!

Thank you all who read and follow! I'm rather enjoying this warm feet thing, maybe I'll get more done. Pics posted, articles written... Possibly. :) Happy day to all!

Classic beauty

2010-10-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

If you like roses, this is how I roll. The bridal bouquet was even more gorgeous in person, if I do say so myself. ;) Micaela, a very fabulous and beautiful bride, wanted a bridal bouquet of red roses and for it to have some dimension. She wanted her wedding to look like it could be in the 1920's or modern day. These locally grown roses came together beautifully. The bridesmaids wore red dresses and carried white rose bouquets. I've finally figured out which white roses to use, and I will never ever go back. Again, locally grown, these have the size and 'stamina' I've been looking for in a local beauty for some time. I always have fun with different touches for boutonnieres and corsages. The boutonnieres are accented with lily grass and lambs ear.

P.S. This gorgeous bouquet is responsible for the demise of my computer and my consequent drop off the face of the earth for a time. Note to self; no more bouquets next to computers! Vase water doesn't seem to get along with keyboards. :/

Jennifer and Rob

2010-09-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jennifer had a beautiful vision. She wanted white blooms with artistic greenery. I really enjoyed working with her. Rumor has it the wedding was gorgeous. ;)

Emily and Tyler

2010-08-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

This wedding was gorgeous! I didn't get many pictures because... well... I forgot how long it took to wire hundreds of orchids.

Purple

2010-08-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

I think after this wedding season, purple is one of my new favorite colors. I also have a theory about people who love purple. It seems if you like purple, you love it. I've never run across a purple lover who wasn't warm and passionate about life, enthusiastic and loving. These corsages sport the purple dahlia 'dot com,' with purple garlic tops, lavender, white calla lilies and pittesporum.

Festa Italiana 2010

2010-08-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

I love the Italian Festival! I'm so glad they like me too. ;) Here are a few pics of this years flowers. Salute!

Laura and Ryan

2010-08-23T10:59:00.002-07:00

Laura and Ryan's colors were raspberry, light orange and citron green. We walked the dahlia fields together, and I went back once more to make sure the colors were perfect! The colors ended up coming together like a beautiful sunset. I had so much fun with this wedding. Laura mentioned a few times that she wanted something a little unexpected in the flowers. So throughout the collection you can find a few chestnut pods, onion tops, green blackberries, green holly berries, seed pods from andromeda and of course some fern shoots. Enjoy a few pictures!

Street of Dreams

2010-08-03T06:50:00.001-07:00

Anyone in town must go see the 2010 Street of Dreams! The Renaissance home is amazing! I want to live there. :) For now I'll be happy that my flowers are displayed throughout. Here is a sneak peek at the dining room centerpiece. Today I'll snap a pic of it in the space.

Living bamboo

2010-08-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a new version of the famous green bouquet with living bamboo. I love the splashes of purple and the gardenia. Anything with gardenia has my vote! This bouquet has three living stocks of bamboo tucked in. It also has green roses, freesia, and bells of Ireland.

Erin and Ben

2010-07-15T09:37:00.001-07:00

Erin is one of my favorite brides of all time! Ben must be pretty cool too because he got to marry Erin. ;) I had custom pottery made by local potter Karl Knudson and planted succulents purchased from an Oregon farm for the centerpieces. It turned out gorgeous! The flowers were a loosely gathered combination of scabiosa, itea, lisianthus, fressia, larkspur and maidenhair fern, all purchased from local farms. The bouquets sported a few succulents and the boutonnieres were mostly non floral, using lots of different succulents. I can't wait to see the professional photos of this wedding! Here are a few I snapped... Enjoy!

4th of July flowers

2010-07-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Somewhere inside me is a rodeo queen trying to get out. Someday I'll show you pics of my Granny and Mom as rodeo royalty. I think they're holding flowers, so it could be somewhat relative. :) I had a fabulous wedding (blog up next) on Independence Day this year, so I did red white and blue quite early. I need my 4th fix, and of course I had to do that with flowers. And yes, I am catching up on my blogging. Please forgive my long periods of silence followed by a bombardment of blogs.

Heidi and Jake

2010-07-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

The one thing that I kept hearing from Heidi was that she wanted something that wasn't 'your average bridal bouquet.' She knew what flowers she wanted, and she didn't want to be typical. She loved asiatic lilies, calla lilies, orchids and stephanotis, so we worked with those. I called her from the flower market to get the go ahead on a giant purple alium and scabiosa. It all came together very beautifully. Congrats Heidi and Jake!

Everything's coming up roses!

2010-07-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Katie and Reid! This was a beautiful rose wedding. I couldn't stop myself, I lost count at 72 roses in the bridal bouquet. Yeah, yeah, I tend to overdo a bit. Katie and Reid both liked the ribbon grass wrap detail that I do, and Katie is very particular about symmetry. So Reid's boutonniere sported a heart shaped (not to obvious, but definitely there), symmetrical design that somewhat caged in the red rose. I thought it was gorgeous. Of course I did. ;)

Farmer's Market

2010-06-08T12:17:00.001-07:00

I'm a farmer. :) I did have to supplement what I grow with some other locally grown beauties this time. I probably will for the next month or so. Here are a few shots of market bouquets. The irises, peonies and grasses are all mine. If you're in the area, check out the Wellspring Saturday Market from 10-2pm every Saturday.

Happy Birthday Michelle!

2010-06-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Michelle, at the Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom had a birthday and her doting husband ordered an 'awesome' bouquet for her. Her favorites are lavender roses. She loved this!

Heather and John

2010-05-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

I wish I had more time to take more pictures of these pretties. I can't wait to see the professional shots. Heather was such a fun bride to work with. More pics to come...

Corsages

2010-05-17T18:33:00.001-07:00

Orchid corsages are always pretty. Here are a few from mother's day.

My great grandmother

2010-05-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

I did this casket piece for my great grandmother's funeral. I managed her care and cared for her myself for the last four of her 101 years. She was an amazing woman with so many stories to tell. I'll miss her forever, but I'm happy knowing that she is home now. Once I had the flowers in front of me, it all came together very differently than I had planned it. This is how I know it was right, it wasn't me, it was just me interpreting her life in flowers.

Style Unveiled

2010-05-02T10:42:00.001-07:00

How cool it is to be messing around on a really popular wedding blog and discover that I'm in it?! This was one of the most fun weddings I've ever had the pleasure of doing flowers for. Terra will go down in history as one of my absolute most favorite brides! She had such creative and unique ideas for her wedding. It was lots of fun carrying out her vision with flowers. Check out Style Unveiled's blog on Terra and Paul's wedding here. If anyone should be looking for a photographer, I highly recommend You Look Nice Today. A glance through the photos of this wedding will tell you why.

Jewelry by Amy Jeannine

2010-04-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Introducing jewelry by Amy Jeannine! Wow, what an amazingly talented designer! I've been wanting to collaborate with talented artists to create a line of handmade, but very professional products for a while. Each piece is one of a kind, never to be recreated! I am very impressed by her style. We'll launch her first pieces for sale on my website this coming Monday, April 26th. Here's a sneak peak at the beauty...

Earth Day 2010!

2010-04-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

I am very honored to me a member of the Green Bride Guide. I had to prove to them that I operate my business in a sustainable manor to earn my membership. They have a wonderful website with a wealth of information on planning an eco-conscious wedding. It's easy being green! ;)

Get ready for Mother's Day

2010-04-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

I've been asked by quite a few people if I would consider delivering bouquets for Mother's day this year. So, for the first time, I'll be launching a special order bouquet service. I'm working on the online ordering system, and hope to have it all figured out in the next day or so. These are bouquets that I made last year, and since I can't seem to do the same thing twice, just use them as an example of what is possible.

Color therapy

2010-04-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Color therapy, or chromo therapy, has been used for thousands of years in holistic healing. In design school, I studied how colors can help to calm, inspire and even invoke passion in a person. My favorite color of all time is green. I chose it when I was 3 because it was 'the color of trees.' Green can be both calming and inspiring, depending on the shade. Is this why we feel so good with a beautiful bunch of flowers around us? Are the colors actually doing something to our physique? I'll go on a limb and say yes, I'm sure the infusion of color is always helpful. Right now I'm loving purple, which is linked to deep joy, inspiration and creativity. Go figure. ;) Check out a fun article I found on divavillage.com about color therapy. When you're ordering your next bouquet, think about the feeling you would like to invoke with it, and choose your color palette accordingly.

April tasting with the Portland Catering Company

2010-04-14T08:25:00.001-07:00

Dandy lions!

2010-04-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

My place looks like a dandelion farm right now. Instead of getting frustrated and pouring poison into the soil, I'm just going to embrace it. My daughter and I went out today armed with butter knifes and a cardboard box and popped quite a few of them out of the ground. Tonight I am making dandelion tea and I'm thinking about trying out a bath tea. Dandelions have excellent health benefits, mostly associated with purification. In fact, in early America both dandelions and clover were desirable in lawns. Read more here, here, and here about how beneficial these pesky little 'gifts' are. As always, please don't pour poison into the soil. I understand not wanting a yard spotted with yellow flowers, so check this out for safe alternatives to 'weed' control.

Meet Yoshi

2010-04-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Meet the reason I've been slacking on the blog. My family is having so much fun having an animal that can talk to us. My favorite is when she dances and deat boxes with my husband. Of course, its always a kick when she meows at the cat and barks at the dog.

The Oregon Garden

2010-04-02T22:34:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! I checked out The Oregon Garden with an awesome couple today. I'm ashamed to admit, I had no idea such an amazing garden/ venue was right in my 'backyard.' Of course, when we were trying to check out the grounds it was hailing sideways. I cannot wait to visit again on a nice day, and when flowers are in bloom. From what I did see, I can just imagine all the awesome photos that are possible there. Thank you Alex and Sarah for working with me on your wedding! I can't even wait!

Wedding of Teri and Jermaine Athernon

2010-03-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

I think these are my favorite bouquets of all time! I can't wait to get the pics back from the photographer. Enjoy a few pics that I was able to get...

Baby Shower

2010-03-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

What better occasion to stick tons of baby's breath in arrangements than a baby shower?

Bright and cheery

2010-03-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Love this bright and cheery collection! Gerbera daisies, yellow roses, daffodils, orchids, stock and a few irises with loops of ribbon grass. Wrapped in a burnt orange ribbon.

Antique meets modern

2010-03-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

A few pictures of one of my favorite collections. Antique and baby pink roses with a rosette succulent, fern shoots, eucalyptus, stock and ginosa. The bouquet also had a beautiful antique locket with pink and brown crystals. You can't see it in the picture, but I also put little pink and brown swarovski crystals tucked just below the roses. As the bouquet swept past in the bride's hands, it was a beautiful yet subtle effect. The broach on the boutonniere was from a necklace that I had purchased in Spain. The necklace had fallen apart years ago, but this was a beautiful way to reuse it.

Portland Catering Company

2010-02-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

We were honored to be asked to do a few centerpieces for a Portland Catering Company tasting. Their food is amazing and they are very easy and professional to work with. They have a tasting once a month, so if you'd like to be included, let them know!

The Thyme Garden

2010-01-21T13:22:00.000-08:00

I LOVE The Thyme Garden! They grow herbs, mushrooms, hops and tons more. They also host beautiful weddings and events on their land. Last year I purchased some of the most amazing blooming herb and berry seeds from them. This year I plan to purchase more seeds, mushroom plugs, hop rhizomes (hops are way underused in floral design), and beneficial insects. They have all kinds of awesome events coming up. Check them out at www.thymegarden.com.

One of my favs...

2010-01-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

This was one of the bouquets for our 2009 bridal show. I wish I would have gotten a good picture before the rose started to go, but it was a beautiful bouquet. Very non traditional. Very Bohemian!

Healthy indoor plants!

2010-01-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has known me for a while might find it funny that I would write a blog about indoor plants. It has only been in the past few years that I can even claim to have kept one alive. I have, however, through some study and some trial and error, had some great success! I'm propagating some succulents, orchids and 'clean air' plants right now. The 'clean air' plants are the 19 mentioned in NASA's report. These plants naturally remove toxic gases like carbon monoxide, benzene and formaldehyde from your air. I posted a pic of the spider plant, which is one of my favorites! Once I started bringing spider plants into my home, I immediately realized their purification powers. I love mine! Everyone should have at least one!

What does 'bohemian' mean?

2010-01-07T05:35:00.001-08:00

What exactly is 'bohemian?' We get that a lot. The definition has changed some over the years. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the Bohemian movement loosely meant; anywhere one could live or work cheaply, and behave unconventionally. It brought together a community of free spirits beyond the pale of respectable society. An example of an area that was associated with bohemianism in the States was the infamous Greenwich Village of the 60's in New York City. After doing a bit more research on the movement and times, I now understand why my grandmother tilted her head and lifted her eyebrow when I told her our business name. More recently, the term bohemian is associated with style, in contrast to it's origin, reflecting lifestyle. Inspired by the movement, the style is artistic and unconventional. So unconventional that we find many different interpretations in the art of floral design can fit beautifully under the term 'bohemian.' Last year I was very excited to run across the (relatively) new Boho mag. This publication is redefining the modern bohemian culture, and we embrace their direction. Eco conscious and stylish too, I've fallen for this fun and informative mag!

Willamette Valley Wedding Professionals

2010-01-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

I am VERY impressed with the vendors that come together to form Willamette Valley Wedding Professionals. Through our association with this group, we have witnessed first hand the true dedication to the wedding industry and the commitment by every vendor to go the extra mile for their couples. Johanna Respini is the coordinator of this dynamic group of vendors. She is a first class wedding officiant and owner of An Event to Remember. In the sea of vendors available, it can be hard to discern who to work with. Anyone searching for vendors in the Willamette Valley would be well served to start here. Thank you Johanna for believing in us enough to invite us into the group. We look forward to an excellent year of networking with top notch professionals!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a year 2009 was! We were as busy as we wanted to be during peak wedding season, and had some excellent seasonal weddings as well. We are looking forward to the awesome weddings we have on the books for 2010. In May 2009, we started tracking our web site statistics and WOW!!! We have had 293,000+ hits in just over 6 months! We feel blessed, and ready to share this awesome business with the world! The wedding/ floral industry is ready for what we represent. What exactly is that? In a short answer, we are a 'green' business. We grow our own flowers, buy from local farms and then look elsewhere if we need to. Our business practices are in line with our personal beliefs... tread lightly and give back! We thank God for the awesome opportunity and responsibility to define just exactly what a Bohemian Bouquet is! Enjoy a few pics to kick off our blogging adventure. The first photo is a close up of a bridal bouquet. The bride's grandmother makes faberge eggs professionally. So grandma and I worked up a little surprise for the bouquet. She loved it! The second photo is a wire boutonniere made with Lily of the Valley.