From Good to Very Good!

Read a wonderful article by David Trautman recapping a lecture by Andy Crouch http://www.culture-making.com/. This line in particular stood out to me:

"Image bearing transforms the world from good to very good." 

This idea, that we, as people made in God's image, have the ability to take the raw materials of Creation, and even the creative thoughts in our own minds, and turn them from something good, to something very good fascinates me. 

Crouch adds, "the best of culture unfolds the very goodness of the world. Eggs are good, omelettes are very good; grapes are good, wine is very good." And to that I say a hearty, AMEN!

I love delivery day!

These hydrangeas look like sleeping beauty

What an excellent challenge, to take something as beautiful as the flowers of the field and turn them into something even better. God has given us so much to choose from, to play with, as I like to think, and it is delightful to experiment, to discover and to learn to arrange them with an artistic eye.

Though learning requires that mistakes are made from time to time, I still catch glimpses of that "very good" when things come together just so. I love the experience of sharing those very good things with others at events meant to be full of goodness and beauty.

An arrangement for a friend's family gathering

Mother's Day flowers from my lovely redheaded daughter

As Anne of Green Gables used to say, there is so much scope for the imagination everywhere you turn! I've enjoyed living in City settings for the last 8 years, after a good long time out in the countryside of Virginia, and now, armed with my little iphone, I snap photos of inspiring visual vignettes everywhere...poor husband must slow his pace to let me do that "work". I love seeing the ideas others come up with on Instagram, Pinterest, and numerous blogs I'm starting to follow, and really appreciate the shared wisdom and community effort in this space. 

 

Inspiration from around the neighborhood abounds.

Grateful for transitions that slow the pace of work and give time for thinking; a very important piece of the creative process. And while I am in transition I'm taking a little time to draw some of my favorites. Drawing helps me see the flowers in a new way, which might lead to something "very good". 

ah, fritillaria

Ten months later for one of my favorites

Creating floral design for weddings has a lot of perks, but one I'm particularly grateful for is the new friends I've made. Kelly and Jerry Gee were so much fun to work with, in part because they both are so vibrant and full of joy and energy. The flowers they chose fell right in line with their personalities, and carried some seriously electric visual impact.

Kelly recently sent along some of the photos from their day and I felt the excitement all over again! Her bridesmaids were legitimate worker bees, helping to put her bouquets, table arrangements and boutonnieres together.

 I really enjoyed working together with these ladies, and they looked marvelous that day.

flowers created for the church served to welcome guests at the train station

Many folks would have shied away from these bold combinations, but not this gorgeous bride. Wishing them both a joy filled future.

Kelly in her gorgeous gown

Moving and New Possibilities Ahead

A few weeks ago we moved away from our lovely home in the Fan, an area in Richmond, Virginia known for its beautiful old homes (ours was built in 1903) wonderful gardens, great food and music, and some of the sweetest people I know. 

Moving is bittersweet; sweet as it brings wonderful new adventures, which unfold as time passes, but bitter as it requires us to leave behind the familiar, those things and people we've grown to love.

Now, we are in between the leaving and the finding and the settling back in. We've started noticing the "soul sucking" environment of the outer edges of a big Metropolitan area, and how even a tiny familiar thing can bring joy. 

So I've been thinking about my lovely back garden, shaded and quiet, in tones of green and white..full of texture, value shifts and variegation, and except for one very pink azalea, only white flowering plants. A real oasis from the stimulation of City living, and the angst of transitions.

Quiet spot to dry an old friend --Day Basket from 1995

Though I probably won't plant azaleas in my new location, this one always sparked a few days of excitement when it would burst forth...so delicate and short lived, but glorious just the same. 

The front garden was a total riot of growth this year after that long hard winter. 


We lost a big tree in the city well in front of our house, and so those plants just soaked up all the light, growing more like weeds than the elegant plants they are.

My neighbor dubbed it a "Darwinian Garden" because it was totally survival of the fittest in there!

Euphorbia and peonies, yarrow and blue salvia, a variety of bulbs, and my favorite little surprise, the pineapple lily! The lovely short blooming weeping cherry tree, the crazy grasses, a pink camelia..how it all fit in there and came in bloom before I left is impressive; the new owners have their work cut out for them.

I met some new "friends" in the plant world, as most of my gardens have been vegetables or cutting gardens, with a large dose of perennials, but all the greens and bulbs and lilies (the spider one was very impressive, too), will be missed. 

I'm looking forward to the new space, garden, possibilites ahead, but I'm grateful for the plants I learned to love during our time in Richmond. 

Boxwood and Peonies -- a perfect pair!

Rain can't stop love!

This past weekend I had the joy of continuing a tradition started by my daughter-in-law, Jenny; getting the bride and her friends together to assemble the bulk of the wedding flowers. As one bride who will remain un-named said, "bring on the slaves".

Having worked with some of the girls before, I knew we had a pretty capable crew. But with rain scheduled to hit on the wedding day, and even possibly prep day, we got started early and scurried around like ants to get things put together before the floods ensued.

Didn't they do a wonderful job!

We used hydrangea, huckleberry greens, queen anne's lace and white freesia, along with white and coral ranunculus for a few smaller arrangements. Everyone did a great job working together after just a smidge of "on the job" training.

Here's one of the two arrangements made by me and my "apprentice".

It turns out hydrangeas love cool, wet weather and they were in full glory for the ceremony and reception, as was the bride and all of her attendants! 

 WHO cares that you couldn't hear the vows for the torrential downpour slamming the porch roof...the wedding went on, and so did the celebrating! 

 

 

 The best thing about a wedding is that happy moment when it all comes together and the bride walks in...the whole place is transformed and a new family begins!

Here comes the Bride!

 Joey and Erin, we wish you many many years of happiness!!

Spring Wedding Preview

The first bride I'll be working with this year has a lovely sense of her own style and enjoys a limited and clean look. Since I tend to be a bit "messy" in my designs, this took considerable restraint on my part to keep my style "in line".

Her bouquets will be simple white hydrangea's with grey satin ribbon, but the tins of flowers to line the aisle and the table decor will be a bit more developed, though still with just a green and white palette.

 Sometimes I do like to give some alternative options, just to allow the bride to consider other possibilities.

This arrangement has some added color, but it's mostly the textural elements that offer some interest.

This arrangement ended up on my table when a snow day canceled an event I was scheduled to work. Now that's a bonus I really can't complain about.

 

Winter quiet soon to be broken

 Winter seems to be the gift that keeps on giving this year. But a little tour of my neighborhood is reminding me that before too long, there will be life bursting forth once again.

Anticipating the seasons changing makes me want to be like the people in those Home Depot commercials who get up and DO something to get it going.

Yet quietly, without me lifting a finger, these little buds form, and plants are preparing to burst out in glorious life. Yes, God is quietly creating while I hide by the fireside!

I

Hellebores prepare 

and though before long the riot of color, scents and busyness of birds will be nearly overwhelming, for now, winter keeps its hold and spring peacefully prepares.

While summer brides are still a bit dreamy, spring brides are getting those final details in a row.

Look for a few postings featuring a recent bridal preview.

Rest a bit more and get ready for the busy season!

Remembering

My favorite part of these blisteringly cold days is how delightful it is to hibernate indoors with a good book, snuggled by a warm fire, with a fresh cup of tea or a nice rioja. Resting, thinking, giving room for fresh ideas to filter in after all the creating that starts at Thanksgiving and ends at 3 Kings day at our house.

Now that few remants of all that work remain in the house, it seemed a good time to look back at some of them. Did a few arrangements for a friend's Thanksgiving table, trying out some of the ideas sparked while in NYC.

 

Enjoyed continuing the tradition of wreath making with several dear friends. We all have developed our unique style, and this year we seemed to be especially creative....maybe the snow outside inspired us.

My experimental square wreath was my favorite. Lichen and moss were a new element that worked well. This wreath is still hanging by my bedside after nearly 2 months..intact!

I wanted to do things differently this year for some reason I can't identify. What southerner doesn't enjoy a Magnolia, but adding the winterberry and experimenting with the gold wrapped wire was an outside of the box idea. Creating alongside encouraging friends gives one courage!

It does seem that sometimes doing something old in a brand new way is the element which brings a sense of life to a traditional form.

This one turned an interesting grey color after the winter sun beating on it for a month, so it was the first to go. I always feel a little sad when that happens.

Fruit and dried artichokes, another new twist

Spring brides will soon be having their previews, but on a cold snowy day like today, it seems a good time to reflect on the beauty of Christmastime.