Monday, June 30, 2008

Old Houseware Items Turned Modern Vases

Better Homes and Gardens has some suggestions for creative flower arrangements. Some of them use items that could be found while looking around antique shops and markets, garage sales, and anywhere else! Or think about other uses for items before you toss them.

Colored Glass Cups

Mercury Glass Containers

colored cups

mercury glass

Old Watering Can

Rustic Kitchen Containers

watering can

bread

Silver Cordial Glasses

cordial

Click here for some more ideas.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Simple Rose Arrangement

We often have great specials on rose bouquets.  Take home a dozen or two and make this super simple arrangement.  All you need are the flowers and a short square vase.  Just make sure you have enough roses to fill your vase.  Click here for the instructions by Jill Slater. 

rosesSquared

Thursday, June 26, 2008

One more below the rim

below rim ms

Simple, elegant. The container makes the arrangement. Just float a few big blooms in a beautiful china bowl and you have a classic center piece! [via Martha Stewart]

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Wedding Cakes with Fresh Flowers

I chose a simple wedding cake with fresh flowers as decorations.  It came out beautifully! Using fresh flowers to decorate your cake is, often times, a good cost saving option.  Here are some beautiful cakes featuring fresh flowers!

cakes group

[photos from left to right, top to bottom: Wedding Channel, Better Homes and Gardens(BHG), Wedding Channel; second row:  Knot, Knot, BHG; third row: Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel]

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Just Below the Rim

For quick and simple flower arrangements, think about big vases and floating flowers. Click on the pictures for details on how to design each flower arrangement.

blooms

cluster

single tall

Monday, June 23, 2008

Sunny Yellow

Love this very simple arrangement! Look at what a big bunch of daisies can do in a bright bucket vase!

yellow bucket and daisies

[via Real Simple]

Friday, June 20, 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Wooden Box Tip

I just love this arrangement. The secret to pulling it off though is using smaller containers inside the box to hold the water and the flowers.

tips

via Better Homes and Gardens

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Garden Shower

garden shower

This picture from the Wedding Style Guide, a new wedding inspiration resource from Australia, is just so adorable.  I love the green boots, fresh flowers, brown paper wrapped around the bunches, big mason jars, and brown twine.  Wouldn't it be cute to throw a flower arranging shower in your backyard.  I know bridesmaids are always looking for fun activities to do at bridal showers.  This would be a great way to get the guests involved and it would give them a little favor to take home with them.  Buying a few bunches of flowers would be less expensive than a few center pieces too!  To take it a step further, talk to your local florist and see if you can schedule one of their designers to come and give a short little lesson.  This could be used for more than just wedding showers too - think local garden club meeting, girls night out, new neighbor welcome, any number of events.

Check out the Wedding Style Guide blog too!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Succulent Wreath

Succulents are so unique and interesting.  Instead of just putting them in a pot or box, you can make a cool wreath out of them. Click here is a beautiful example.  Use them for an event, such as a wedding or make one for a housewarming gift!  Check out this video on how to make a succulent wreath - Instructions from Martha Stewart.

succulent wreath

Hat Tip

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

fathers day 

[/via]

Enjoy the day celebrating your father!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Congrats to LaDonna and Darnell

LaDonna and Darnell, an Atlanta couple, won the Today Show's Race to the Altar!  They will get married in two weeks with Today Throws a Wedding.  All next week you can vote with other Today Show viewers to help make the decisions for the details of the wedding.

For more wedding articles from the Today Show, click here.  I am sure they will update their site with all the wedding choices too. 

Screen on the Green

If you haven't caught a Screen on the Green showing at Centennial Olympic Park yet, this week's movie, Chicago, would be a good start!

Screen on the Green starts at sunset in Centennial Olympic Park. and is free.  If you can't make it tonight, you have two more shots - E.T. (June 19th) and Footloose (June 26th).

Take Marta and make sure you follow the park rules: "Moviegoers are welcome to bring picnic baskets and food. No high-back chairs, glass, alcohol, grills or pets of any kind are permitted at the event." Click here for more details.

*We make up picnic baskets of all sorts of goodies that could help make your date extra special.  You could even add some fresh flowers.*

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Flower Cones for the Aisle

Better Homes and Gardens has a tutorial for making floral cones to hang on the chairs lining the aisle. Making your own allows you to personalize them to suit your theme and color! Click here for instructions.

flower cones

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is right around the corner - June 15th.  Don't forget to check out our website for some Father's Day Gift Ideas - Sphere of Tranquility Terrarium, Cactus Gardens, Poker Night gift basket, Chocolate Lovers Basket, and many more!

terr poker night

Monday, June 9, 2008

Year of Flowers

When Abbey, of the wonderful blog Abbey Goes Design Scouting, turned 29 this year, her husband gave her a very creative and thoughtful gift.  He made up 52 envelopes each filled with a note and a bit of cash to spend on fresh flowers from their neighborhood flower stands - a new note and bunch of flowers each week!  It is a gift that lasts the whole year.  I think he is going to have a hard time topping that one next year! What a wonderful idea! 

Abbey has been documenting her purchases each week on her blog and flickr account.  I always look forward to seeing what she comes home with.  Here are some of her latest choices:

year of flowers

 year of flower 2

Check out her blog for more each week and for some great interior design ideas too!  She also has two Etsy stores - stationery products and vintage decorative items. Take some time to poke around!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Beautiful Simple Arrangements

I tagged these photos back around Mother's Day, so I better post them before Father's Day! Better Homes and Gardens has some wonderful suggestions for unique and simple arrangements. Ranunculus are such fun flowers - I love how they paired them with this special rustic country container.  Could be a good item to look for at antique shops, flea markets, or garage sales!

ranunculus

This seashell arrangement could be used for a beach wedding.  Or just to bring the beach home.  Place a little floral foam inside the shell, and then stick in a few stems of your favorite flowers - parrot tulips were used here.

shell

Click on the pictures to go to the originals.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Centerpieces Using Hydrangea

As promised here are some pictures of centerpieces that use hydrangea.  Hydrangeas look great all on their own or combined with any number of flowers - roses, lilies, peonies, and hanging amaranthus, just to name a few.

centerpieces group

[photos from, left to right, top to bottom, Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel, Knot, Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel, Knot, MS Weddings]

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Hydrangeas for Your Wedding

bouquet group

I have seen some AWESOME hydrangea blooms lately.  The big balls of little, delicate flowers just make me smile. And, as they are great flowers to use in your wedding, I thought I would post some wedding hydrangeas :) Above are some beautiful bouquets featuring hydrangea.  Hydrangea come in a variety of colors - as you can see!  I love the mini-hydrangea in the last photo. [photo credits, from left to right: MS Weddings, Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel].

Here are some pics of hydrangea decorating the aisle and chairs for the ceremony [photo credits, from left to right:Wedding Channel, Wedding Channel, Knot].

aisle group

You can even use hydrangea for the men of the bridal party - check out these hydrangea boutonnières [photo credits, from left to right: Knot, Knot, Knot].

 bout group

Last but not least, some details - entrance decor, cakes, wreaths [photo credits, from left to right, top to bottom:. MS  Weddings, MS Weddings, MS Weddings, MS Weddings].

 other group

Stay tuned for some centerpieces using hydrangea, coming tomorrow!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Everything Guide to Flowers

The New York Magazine published a bunch of articles on flowers this weekend. With an obvious spin toward the NYC flower scene, the articles covered making your own arrangement, caring for the flowers, and using unique vases, among others.

One of the articles featured a sample of the different arrangements you might receive for $100 when asking for the freshest flowers - here is what arrived from florists in NYC:

pink peonies daffodils yellow freesia purple

Click here for descriptions and more arrangements.