This is one of my favorite arrangements for Easter and spring!  It is so-o-o easy to create and lasts quite awhile for you.  I filled the bubble bowl only 1/4 full of water so the spray rose heads float lower than the tulip heads that are wrapped around inside the bowl.  Just make sure that the ends of the tulip stems are in water so they can drink.  Reeds can be added to this bowl too, to add interest to the very bottom of the bowl or around the upper part of the bowl.  The idea is to have your fresh flower heads at different levels….the roses on one level and the tulips in the center – at a different level.  The tulips can be all the same color – like pictured here, or all different colors.  Acrylic stones or jewels would be awesome on the very bottom of this bowl too.  You try this design and experiment with it and share some pictures with me! I’d love to see what you come up with.  Happy Easter!

A great idea for a wedding reception table is a collection of meaningful items displayed in an artful manner.  This is a picture of one such design created by Kristen Briggs, (The Bride of the Day),  and copied by my team at Meadow Woods Manor in Randolph, NJ.  Patti Conner joined us to recreate the tablescapes designed by our Bride, Kristen.  Each table was different and it was a cool look for her special day.  Thank you Kristen, for letting us take part in your day and MUCH happiness in the years ahead with Adam! 

Another easy arrangement to make yourself for Valentine’s Day is this one! Take  one of the colored glass jars that are on the market today and add 3 roses, some babies breath and greens.  Then add two vases of different heights or shapes with 3 roses in each and you have yourself a component design!  These designs are popular for weddings and showers right now.  Add some votives to finish off the look and try this for your Valentine Tablescape!  YIKES! only 8 days left to plan a fresh flower design…get to it!

I had a great time yesterday speaking to The Porch Club of Riverton and sharing some fun Valentine arrangement ideas!  What a fun group of ladies!  Thank you again Aggie Kennedy for inviting me : )

The other evening I had the opportunity to share some fresh flower designs with a nice group at Bernard’s Township Library in Basking Ridge, NJ.  Eloise Branden, www.everylittledetailconcierge.com,  offered to take some photos for me of the designs I made!  I don’t often get pics of the designs at the Library Demonstrations because they are raffled off quite fast and put in the hands of the winners, and thus wisked out the door!  So this was a treat – Thank you again Eloise.  This particular design started off with a bubble bowl, then fresh curly willow branches were added and wrapped around the inside of the bowl. Then- these multiple head tulips were added, along with alstromieria and some yellow roses. Then pieces of curly willow  were added out the top of the design for height and interest.  A faux moss garland was then placed around the rim of the bowl – at the base of the fresh flowers to finish it off.  An easy, breezy design for any spring occasion : )

Here’s an example of a glued corsage.  Smithers-Oasis company makes this glue that can be used wet or dry with fresh flowers. It glues well to ribbons; satins and sheer.  Start off with a bow in your ribbon of choice and then glue flower heads in-between the ribbon loops.  Notice the little twirled petals? Those are a single rose petal rolled and then glued in-between the loops.  I learned that trick from a very talented designer, Wendy, at Dahlia a Florist in Greenville, South Carolina when I worked there.  A cool way to fill space in a corsage and add interest. Notice the pearl pin inserted into the mini pink carnations. also see the eucalyptus pieces and the orange Jagora Orchid.  Glueing corsages allow more freedom to add smaller blooms of interest that couldn’t otherwise be added with wired techniques , and also allow for angles to be used that wiring would prohibit.  These are not your mommas corsages! There are also beads hanging off the one side (not pictured here).  A fun accent to your next occasion. A touch of tradition mixed with modern trends!

               This is how it all happened : ) 1)  A container was donated to me. It was opalescent – green- blue in color and short with a cute ruffled rim. 2) A bride was interested in gorgeous mango callas for a future wedding.  The green spider just caught my eye and matched the future bride’s colors. 3) The green marbles were also opalescent green in color and have been in my stones/rocks drawer forever! (Doesn’t everyone have a ‘stones’ drawer?) 4) A friend needed encouraging.  So as I was putting away supplies, and recutting my fresh flowers, it all came together! I placed the marbles in the bottom layer of the container. Then water was added, (only fill 1/3 of the way).  Then I cut the mangos shorter and gently wrapped them inside the container with only their bloom sticking out. This way the stems are drinking water.  Then I cut the lime green spider quite short and added it to the middle, floating it  actually.  5) Write an enclosure card with a message and then GIVE !

A very easy arrangement to do yourself is pictured here.  These are some of the roses from my valentine’s gift, (8 days ago!)  Start with a vase you love, cut a hydrangea stem so the head of the flower sits right on top of your vase opening.  Then place each rose through the hydrangea head into the water.  Make sure your roses are cut to a length that slightly nestles into the hydrangea bloom.  The hydrangea acts as a grid for the roses to stay where they are placed so designing is simplified!  No greens or filler needed… you could add a bow or a butterfly if you’d like,  but I kept mine crisp looking with just the beautiful flowers and the stems magnified through the clean glass. This could be used for a bridal shower tablescape, an anniversary celebration, birthday, Christmas, etc!!!  I just LOVE this design.  Dare to design it yourself!

Here is a VERY simple composite design to try.  I used three of the same containers, ( the jars from scented candles that were used up),  and I placed a small cluster of alstroemeria lily in each one. You need to cut their stems very short to fit in the small jar well.  These flowers were from a mixed pack of alstroemieria that’s sold at Sam’s Club now.  This flower is so popular for designing with because  it lasts quite long, therefore giving us all more time to enjoy the design.  Add reeds or grasses in a heart shape above your design to target in on a Valentine’s Day theme. You could also tint the water with food coloring…have fun playing!

Did you ever receive a gift that was so amazing looking that you didn’t want to open it?  Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to give that someone special this kind of wrapped gift.  Wrap it from the earth for someone who LOVES the outdoors, loves nature, or just loves YOU!  The example shown here is a hat box totally wrapped in fresh moss. The top is designed with 2 very blown light pink roses,  berries,  2 faux love birds, and all of that sitting on top of a dyed green spanish moss cluster.  Then- the whole design is encased in that terrific angel vine to resemble a nest.  I finished off this organically wrapped gift with a soft pink sheer ribbon tied around the larger part of the box.  I made this for my daughter’s wedding shower gift and she loved it.  If this big size intimidates you… try a jewelry box size, (I hope my husband reads this : ), that’s a box that’s sure to be opened.  Just think, fresh flowers… jewelry…and all that handed to you by someone you love… it doesn’t get much better than that!

A friend asked me for a fun idea for a bridal shower tablescape. She wanted fall colors but not a typical fall look.  I suggested this pave’ design with a simple wheat armature rising above. She wanted the green hypericum berries from South America and red, orange, and yellow flowers too. She was fine with a mix of expensive and not so expensive blooms so I used roses, mini carnations, yellow daisies, green button mums, and variegated pittosporum along with the berries. I LOVE this look!  OH!  I forgot to mention the Bride is going to Paris on her honeymoon and other travel, and these decorative boxes have traveling stamps and a couple eiffel towers here and there! There’s nothing like theming it and have it all come together!  Try a NEW look in fresh flowers for your next gathering! Dare to Design! … or just ask me to do it for you : )