Memories

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the wonderful couple who got this whole blogging thing started, my beautiful daughter, Emily and her fabulous husband, Eric. 

Without their wedding to plan for, I would never have realized how much FUN it is to create a tableau for life's significant moments. With a modest budget by today's standards and the help of family and friends, we were able to create the setting for an afternoon and evening I don't think we'll ever forget.

Looking back now, I realize that every day we have an opportunity to set the backdrop for our lives, to add a small bit of beauty here and there, as one hardened Admiral instructed his SEAL trainees, to simply "get up and MAKE the bed!" 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jflUvxQLkgs

Last night I enjoyed visiting with other artists at a group we call Creative Habits...writers, designers, film makers, musicians, dancers...so many talented people, but near the end a new friend, who runs her own business, mentioned her love of fabrics and her feeling that even smelly cloth diapers deserve to be taken care of in a practical AND visually appealing way. To this I say a hearty, AMEN!(check out loganandlenora.com if you are the fortunate mama of a wee lad or lass). 

It's amazing how these small acts of care, of faithfulness affect everyone's mood. Perhaps it's just a matter of setting things in order, or of placing something new in a pleasing surprising place, but it's a good day to take a stand for beauty, no matter what the "event" might be. 

Collaboration and Cooperation

One of the things that I've enjoyed most about joining the ranks of floral designers is the wonderful spirit of collaboration amongst other artists connected to that field. After all the flowers are delivered, we hope they'll grace the day with their beauty and be a source of joy to the family as they celebrate the start of the next generation. But unless we're part of the family circle, we don't stick around to see the setting we've helped to create when the family and friends all gather.

 

But thanks to the wonderful photographers, like those at M&E Photo Studio featured in this post, we get to see how the flowers almost magically adorn the day, adding a special sweetness and grace, never equal to the bride of course! but brimming over with loveliness, just the same.

Though the flowers have a temporary beauty, the photographs will last long into the future, capturing the delight of the couple for those who come next. Can't you imagine a grandchild telling this couple how stunning they were! Without the pictures the memories will soon fade, and the image of our best selves stepping into the future will grow dim.

The honor of being a small part of these moments looms large. Thank you Carl and Lauren for letting Morning Bird Designs fill your wedding day with les belles fleurs!

Thoughts of Beauty as Soul Food

When I was a teenager growing up across the river from the Nation's Capital, I loved nothing better than to ride my bike down to the local nature center, where I could park (no lock or helmet needed) and saunter along by the little stream as it tumbled downhill to the river. There was always a hunt for the best smooth, broad bolder, the perch from which I'd stretch out and simply sit and THINK. With all the choices before us in this fast paced world, it takes determined effort to do that sort of thing nowadays.

 BUT, this morning I was thinking that actually, all this social media choice allows me to see glimpses of similar "trails", though they may be trails of interest on instagram or pinterest, rather than a physical path by a brook. I can still take time to sit and THINK about beautiful things.

Everywhere you turn there is a new designer, coming up with lovely inspiring designs, along with gifted photographers who magnify the beauty for us (this post has photos by the delightful Abigail Hamilton Photography). Though they live across the Pond or in Brooklyn, or in San Francisco, while I sit in my Virginia kitchen awaiting the next floral delivery, I can browse their created work and get inspired!

In fact, today, this little "rabbit trail" got me ruminating on WHY these designs are so popular, why brides are looking for that touch of the artistic, thoughtful, "something more", why they long for the big garden roses, or peonies, those dear, big show offs?

Perhaps it just might be a longing for a more romantic, gentle era...a time when the flowers at weddings came from your parent's garden and not the florists, a time when family and friends were there to welcome you into the wonderful possibilities and hopefulness of a new marriage with a simple ceremony in the living room and some punch and cake?

Looking at my grandmother's wedding photos I see those small town New England ladies carrying loosely arranged bunches of flowers, and the little flower girl wearing a crown of flowers on her head. It was simple and elegant all at the same time. Full and flowing but not even close to overdone.

Images of flowers are everywhere, in every culture and they hint at what people were longing for AND creating during their moment of time. Whether opulent or simplistic, linear or loose, they offer just a bit of beauty to grace a humble table, or even a utilitarian tea towel. Taking this little mental trail, to think about the history of floral design, got the creative juices charged and flowing. I'm feeling inspired for today's work. Best get busy!

I hope you'll take a rabbit trail today to explore something beautiful. Hungry souls must have their food!

Freedom to Focus

photo courtesy Abigail Hamilton Photography

Maybe it's the fact that we multi-task so often, but spending time working with flowers seems to require my full attention, not just requesting but demanding that I stop, look and focus on all that they have to show me. Most of the time I work on my own, and I relish the time when, just like while painting, my mind is present, right exactly in the here and now, able to concentrate and really SEE.

Our little garage was transformed (thanks to the fab husband) into a floral paradise, and friends came over to see if they would get as big a charge out of playing with flowers as I kept telling them I do! Thus the first official Morning Bird Designs floral workshop got under way, with wine, laughter and a lot of simply stunning spring flowers, not to mention some rather stunning ladies.

photo courtesy Abigail Hamilton Photography

Glorious peonies, garden roses, and ranunculus were star players, though a few of the later bit the dust when attempts at wiring went a little astray. We had queen anne's lace, wax flower, along with viburnum and lilac from the farmer's market. A last second find of lovely little clover balls from the vacant lot down the street became the perfect touch of whimsy and deeper color we all wanted.

photo courtesy Abigail Hamilton Photography

I love introducing people to creating with flowers. Look at Heather concentrating so fully on getting those flowers exactly where she wants them. That gal is FOCUSED! But no wonder. There's so much to learn! Most of the participants thought Oasis was just that British 90's rockband, so working with that green soaking blob was a little scary at first. But they all got going in the end, and used that oasis quite well, thank you very much.

My favorite part of the whole evening was the final reveal, as each person got a chance to share their creation. It was a floral runway of amazingness. Each arrangement was SO

photo by Abigail Hamilton Photography
Design by Vicki, Meridyth's mama 

unique, even though we all used the same raw materials. My group of budding (whoopsy, pun alert) floral artists applied well the principles of line, color harmony, and texture. There was an added personal touch in each arrangement as we all sought to strike a balance somewhere between unity and chaos (see this great description on colormatters.com under color harmony). 

Thanks to everyone who came. Keep on bringing beauty into your homes, and Abby, thanks for all your fabulous photographs!

Abigail Hamilton Photography

Rebekah and Abby show off their creations!

Transforming Grocery Store Bouquets

Today I got to do some serious prep work for my spring workshop. The rain is coming down again, and it's getting colder by the minute..perfect time to stay indoors and play with nature!

Spent a little time last night getting inspired by some Dutch Masters paintings:flowers, fruits, stems, and that occasional bug, all loosely arranged, almost as if they were growing right out of the table! Felt very motivated this morning to see if I could create a similar feel.

Though I have a wonderful wholesale supplier (flowerwholesale.com), time didn't permit a trip around the beltway. Could I find enough to work with at the local TJ's and grocers?

Unless you have your own home garden or pots of plants to cut from, or a kind friend who will let you forage in her backyard (thank you, Beth!) you'll have to make do with the flowers you can pick up locally. They may not be in the greatest shape, and they are often bunched with groups of other flowers you might not even like, but do NOT let that stop you. 

Farmer's markets will be bringing in Spring flowers soon, and even those pre-made grocers bouquets can offer you some material worthy of your efforts. Think color, texture, shape and enough variety to get you those layers of interest.

A few of the cherry blossom branches from last week's arrangement were still in good shape and formed the initial structure.

These hellebores and jonquils from the front porch pots, along with some Viburnum, and a bit of vine, gave me plenty to work with.

Thistle, wax flower, lisianthus, mums, and Euc

This arrangement ended up with a total of 13 different plants, with the greens being mostly eucalyptus (without the seeds...TJ's option), mostly the less expensive mum, lisianthus, and wax flower, some fancy tulips (twelve) a few lilies and a few white roses.

All in all, I think the more naturally grown elements are the prettiest, taking an ordinary grocers bunch and turning it into something much more pleasing.

In May I'll hold a workshop with friends to inspire some more would be designers to play with nature.  Come join us!

Welcome Spring with an Indoor Play Day: Just Do it!

Goodbye winter, hello spring, wait.....it's snowing again????

Well this intrepid designer is NOT going to be deterred, or fret over the cold rainy start to what will eventually be a glorious spring. This morning found me getting right to work on some wedding planning in my favorite way, playing with some leftovers from a weekend birthday celebration and a session of garland planning.

Wedding planning starts with a little experimenting

Consider unusual containers

How do you like to work? I'm learning that I love the process of researching and experimenting, of discovering choices. It's simply a joy; always fresh, interesting and even exciting.

But making those final selections, committing to a plan, now that can be a bit daunting. Suddenly the decisions are made and there's no going back. The what ifs and second guessings can paralyze even the bravest soul.

So how to get over the commitment hump? Experiment! To decide you need knowledge and a chance to evaluate your choices without breaking the bank. Even if the flowers you'll use for a May wedding will be nothing like the bunch at hand, you can judge sizes, numbers and shapes fairly accurately, and feel more confident that your choices will yield enough material to create the desired effect.

So here are the results...the flowers and greens are a bit woebegone, but it felt like they were playing along with me, and I just got the pleasure of enjoying their unique contributions to the whole.

Another option for the timid designer; sketching. You can quickly create a little combination that is easier and cheaper to throw out if it's not working! I'll be doing a few more of these before I get the plan finalized later today.

So if you are finding your work on this first day of Spring is a bit of a struggle, dig in and DO something and you'll soon find the inspiration and confidence to go forward.

As one of my favorite art teachers told me, just get in there and try something... how will you know if your choice is right or wrong if you don't even TRY!

Happy Spring!

A Charge to Keep I Have

January brings that closed in time of year, the cold winds push everyone but the hardiest indoors (like that insane biker I saw zooming ahead in the freezing rain last night! Mercy!). It’s the season to sit by the fire, to knit, to chat, to read, to invest in thinking and dreaming about what will be done when the weather turns more viable for humans once again.

Today is just one of those days, with bleak rain and sleet continuing. I started off early meeting at a cozy table over coffee with my first bride of the year; ironing out plans, imagining what we can create to make the setting magical. I felt the warmth of May in my mind, while the view outside said darkest January.

The venue for this May wedding is Dumbarton Oaks, an 1800’s restored mansion in the heart of Washington, DC. Browsing the website, researching this lovely place ( doaks.org, ) left me simply enthralled by its beauty. I will visit this place often in 2015!

Purchased in 1920 by Mildred and Robert Bliss, it has a long history of a lively engagement with artists of all types, and especially landscape artists (Beatrix Farrand directed the design here almost a century ago).

I feel a whole new opportunity opening up to explore this gem, and realize that we often neglect the beautiful things right under our noses when the daily duties take over our lives. 

Instead, this year, I want to embrace the challenge of incorporating these moments and places of inspiration REGULARLY into my schedule, because I it seems creativity and inspiration are intimately entwined, AND the world readily supplies the sheer ENJOYMENT of a day spent in such a setting, with only the expense of time. The soul must have its nourishment!

Here’s to a new year and new opportunities to discover beauty in nearby places. 

"A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify"   Charles Wesley