In February I made these arrangements for a Luncheon at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. I had a modest budget, and didn’t want to do flowers in a vase. That can get so predictable. These “arrangements” looked like mounds of sherbert ice cream. yum! Each table had a different color combination. It was so fun-and they were low, so the ladies could see over them. You can take a side trip to this blog jomygoodness and see all the cool things people are making with carnations! (it’s fun to click around here too). Did you notice they are always massed?

VAFRE 4/7/09

Renewable, reusable and natural. The benefits to this new awareness are far reaching. The sky is the limit using recycled or found materials to make a creative table arrangement, and the cost will be in line with today’s fund raising budget. Here I used layers of different kinds of materials on the table to give the arrangement depth and texture. The containers are made from bamboo, and I used orchids and grass for the live material. I’d love to toss around some ideas for your next event. April 7th was the VAFRE (Virginia Association of Fund Raising Executives) annual luncheon - key note speaker: Dr. Edward Ayers.

Gerbera Daisy at Fraiche

In the real spirit of Easter, use living plants. You could take a plant as a gift, or use a collection  for your table top. (A row of colorful gerberas in this yellow container would be fun.) With the stylish new planters that are coming in at Fraiche you can have a whole new look-or refresh something you already have! 

The weather has been so nice, but now we are back to cold! This is so yuck….I am going to help the introduction of spring and offer 20% off of the orchids at Fraiche. You can take one home and have great blooms until the bulbs and plants outside start blooming. Tuckahoe Plantation will soon have some of their colorful and fragrant flowers, and we can begin to have really truly ”fresh cut flowers” in our homes.

My insparation for Valentine's Day from Floral Symphonies in England

European influenced designs are what most women like. A mixed bouquet with some style and flair. The hand tied bouquet pictured here is by designer Nichlas Vilsmark of Floral Symphonies in England. I think it is spectacular and so my designs for Valentine’s will be heavily influenced by him.

Flowers are so expensive for this holiday. I have three price points for this bouquet- $90, $60 and $30.  (The one pictured above would be $90.)

Also - for $20 the Recessionista is great for your mother and/or mother-in-law.  Stylized and a little different. Scroll down to see an example.

Call 804.840.9628 or email me (by clicking the link in the upper right hand corner) to place your order.

Valentine’s Day is a day to honor the people you love. Flowers are the first thought, and red roses usually follow. I like roses, but not arranged by the dozen in tall vases. The inspirations for my designs are European, so it follows my Valentine’s arrangements will be too. (See above post) Pictured is a hand tied bouquet I made last fall includes roses, alstroemeria, seeded eucalyptus and aspidistra leaves.

Recessionista! This is a highly stylized design in a 3.5″ vase, offered at the affordable price ($20). Even with the recession here, I still want what I want, and I imagine you do too. Recessionista! is the answer. It will be available every Friday as well as my other designs. Orders are appreciated.

pink and green tinsel wreath

Shiny and sparkly make me smile. These new wreaths are fun and come in several different color ways. They are in Fraiche now, for $125.