Introducing the Birch Chuppah .... Congrats Carly and Nick Ann Arbor UMMA wedding

SO SO excited to announce the debut of our very own Birch Chuppah or arbor available to rent now!!
Its first appearance was this weekend at UMMA (The University of Michigan Museum of Art) for Carly and Nick's wedding.  Pictured above right and on the left is a colorful escort card table design composed of garden roses, deep purple hydrangea, mini green hydrangea and stock flowers.

The aisle was lined with terrace hangers filled with bright orange protea, ranunculus, rose and stock flowers accented with scented geranium foliage.

The museum is such a stunning venue the art and flowers go so well together

Carly and Nick requested half low and half tall centerpieces the tall centerpieces were designed in a 24" clear glass cylinder filled with blooming cherry branches and topped with abundant mounds of hot pink peony, garden roses, bright orange pin cushion protea, orange parrot tulips, ranunculus, and deep purple stock flowers... the low centerpieces included succulents and were designed in compotes

I love UMMA for photography because besides all of the art in the background you can shoot from the mezzanine and get some really great aerial shots... Also so in love with how the gold chivari chairs complement the ornate gold frames on all of the paintings.   Must recommend to future UMMA clients 

After the ceremony we flipped the room for the reception at which time the gorgeous cake by Zingerman's Bakehouse was placed below the chuppah. 

The Museum is logistically difficult to deliver to because the art has to be climate controlled etc..  but all the work was worth it a very worthy venue for our the birch chuppah (my baby :) 

~Sweet Pea

Designing at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) Part II

So thrilled with this photo of the design I did today at the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA).  It was taken in the dark lobby of the detroit film theatre so when i lightened it up in editing it came out looking like a painting don't you think?  How perfect for an art museum design to look like a painting :)

It is just so fun to carry the design around the museum and photograph it with all the gorgeous architecture, stone work and gilded frames in the background.  Big thanks to Jody Costello of Fleur Detroit for helping me pick out the poppy pods which were the perfect accent!

This design also includes succulents, kiwi vine, vanda orchids, garden roses, clematis, and monstera leaves.  I'm so happy with the whole thing but probably love the kiwi vine the most I will be buying that again (all flowers are from Mayesh)

Floral Designs at the DIA (Detroit Institute of Art)

Today was my first attempt at leading the weekly designs for Prentis Court at the DIA  

It was equal parts fun and terrifying.. I'm not used to designing outside of my studio but there was lots of friendly help and I soon forgot how freaked out I was and got lost in the flowers.  

These designs include, Jasmine vine, sterling range, hawaiian orchids, classic duet coral roses, jumbo green hydrangea, succulents, pink riceflower, pink parrot tulips, privet berries, and quince branches... there are some awesome pink astilbe hiding behind but you can really see them in these photos much.

Can't wait to design at the museum again on the 30th! Such a delightful community new flower freinds!

Snow drops for Easter dinner

Chapel Designers Day 3 with Ariella Chezar

It is taking me a long time to process ALL of my thoughts on our New York trip this year. It was unreal, like gives you chills, arm hairs on end, stirs your soul to remember it unreal. These videos by Vicki Grafton and Megan Soh have done it a lot of justice though.

Friendly faces and flowers everywhere, completely surrounded by other independent artful florists who know all the little cuts and scrapes that come with this not for sissies job we share.  Lots of moments of feeling understood, surrounded by sisters letting your guard down as tears of gratitude well up and a few slip over the edge.

Balancing family life with a wedding profession is like juggling fine china in public with no training.  We need to be able to talk about how hard this is, the exhaustion and guilt offset by the thrill of creating inspired designs and being part of the most important day in our clients lives.

I don't think Holly Heider Chapple knew the magnitude of what she had started when she founded the Chapel Designers  as it says on her site:  Created "most importantly to collaborate and share new inspiration with each other. These relationships have become invaluable to each of the Chapel Designers as both strong industry relationships and close friendships have been born."

Here are some photos that I took on the trip... This first one is of a bouquet I made day 2 at David Beahm's Studio in Brooklyn. The instruction and inspiration for the european style bouquet created in a foam holder were from Francoise Weeks.  Francoise is so generous with her talent she teaches design classes all year in Portland.

The below is Holly and us all at the flower market at early oclock (notice all the coffees gripped tightly in our exhasted hands this was day 3 and we have been partying for 50 hours straight :)

Here is Susan of Passionflower events with the passionflower vine at G. Page our favorite wholesaler an Susan with Gato the friendlies flower cat quite fat which I imagine is part of what makes him so friendly (treats please :)... and Susan with the leggiest Papyrus I've ever seen

Drumroll please...... Below is a stunning design by Ariella Chezar (top left) right next to a little design by me and Susan because we got to make a companion piece to go next to Ariella's on the tablescape!!!  And all of this happened on a sunny afternoon at the RareView roof top bar  a top the hilton that we stayed at on 26th in the fashion district..... I mean COME ON you can't even tell about this trip without sounding like a bratty brag face :)

*sigh* ~Holly

Taking Manhattan with the NYC Chapel Designers

In this video from yesterday, our second day in New York at the Chapel Designers conference you can actually watch my mind being blown while I learned from these teachers.

Francoise Weeks http://francoiseweeks.com/francoise-weeks/

Karen Tran http://blog.karentran.com/

and David Beahm http://www.davidbeahm.com/about/our-team/

I'll tell you more about it when I get back this weekend and share tons of photos from the flower market and all our design classes including the one I am about to attend with Ariella Chezar on the rooftop bar at the Hilton Fashion District (pinch me)

Pop Up Flower and Sweets shop in Ann Arbor

Tomorrow we will be downtown all day at Rock Paper Scissors on Main Street with loads of gorgeous flowers to sell all in the name of LOVE! Read more below and hope to see you there!

The Double Sweet Valentines Day Pop Up Shop that I am in the throws of planning for.   Here is a preview of some of the flowers ..... I am bringing my A game people read more below

at Rock Paper Scissors on Main street from 11am-8pm  I will be offering single stems of garden roses and small and medium vase arrangements ranging in price from $20 to $75.  Larger designs will be available by pre order (call me or email)  

Forget the days where Red Roses communicated passionate love, if you passionately love your valentine give them something more original and outspoken.  Grace their desk with an arrangement that will make the co-workers all stop and investigate...."What is that? and I've never seen such beautiful flowers.

My goal is to have each of the designs be a twist on the Valentines Day tradition: not overly red or overtly roses.  I'm aiming to bring as many seasonal, unusual & epically beautiful flowers as possible to keep all the designs interesting, bright and delightful.  

AND DONT FORGET!! Sweet Heather Anne will be there so it is the perfect one stop shop for Valentines cards and candles from Rock Paper Scissors,  Treats and sweets from Sweet Heather Anne and the all important flowers.  

Drop your dearest at the door park the car and swing by for a single garden rose on your way to dinner SURPRISE!