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

Advent, Expectation and Waiting Well

I love this season of the year, the quiet, darkening time before Christmas. Advent...that time of expectation, of waiting, and hoping that HE will come.

 You may not find it quiet in your house, with children running about, scurrying to Nutcracker rehearsals, clamoring for ginger bread houses, and pondering presents galore to come. But even during the days when my house was full of all that and more, I always relished the quiet time around the table, lighting the advent candle for that week, and thinking for a moment about the One who was and is and is to come.

A big part of preparing for the glory of Christmas, is the quiet work done alone at home, or with the family when others are running out to shop, or waiting for the Amazon truck to arrive. For me, decorating the house has always been a joy, a reminder that waiting, anticipating is a GOOD thing! This year, after years of doing this with dear friends, I started what I hope will continue as a lovely tradition for others, taking time to create and visit and laugh with new friends and old. The four Morning Bird Designs wreath workshops were a highlight of this time of preparation. And everyone took home something memorable and beautiful! For more see @morningbirddesigns on Instagram...they are spectacular!

The photos speak for themselves, so I'll let them.

Jessica's lovely wreath on that perfect blue door!

Kim had order and freedom in this stunner!

Enjoy this quiet season reflecting on the love of God, that sent a little babe to a lowly manger to prepare for the awe-filled sacrifice that brings light, life, redemption and good news to all.

What's in a Name?

This past weekend I launched the first event of my now official floral design work under its new name, Morning Bird Designs. www.morningbirddesigns.com

Eleven women gathered in a friend's ample kitchen and turned boxwood, olive, dusty miller, sage, pepper berry and china berry, rose hips, bittersweet and other foraged accoutrements into fanciful and unique wreaths to celebrate the turning seasons. We had a blast! It was a great start to what I hope will be many more such evenings spent creating with friends. Find us on instagram @morningbirddesigns.

About a year ago, I decided that it was time to give my work a name, to help me get serious about creating with flowers and greens. I first shared the idea at a similar wreath making event that I've enjoyed with dear friends for decades now. They gave me merciful feedback, and no one hated it! I learned a song by Forest Sun called "Morningbird" and was smitten (check it out on youtube). Could this be it?

When time did little to change my mind, I gathered up my courage (it was mine to decide after all!) and made my choice. Here's why:

Birds....I love the little magical creatures. They appear in an instant, and flit off to who knows where...they surprise and delight...their songs bring cheer, and their bright little eyes say do something, go somewhere, make something good, NOW! The Lord himself was fond of them, and cares for them still.

I love drawing birds and their simple forms

Since I'm a rather smallish person a bird seemed like an appropriate symbol, and though I desperately need a cup of joe to face the mornings these days, I love the quiet misty start of the day with the birds first greetings. 

When I think of birds working away with energy, eagerness, purpose and peace, this new name sounds like my voice!

So, I hope the work done under this banner brings the goodness of the created world into many homes and lives, giving opportunities to wonder at and thank God, the creator of all these good things for us to enjoy.

Exciting changes ahead

For the past five months my life has been in transition. Moving out, living the nomad life for a bit, moving in to what once was the old Jail in Old Town, and working to figure out how to navigate getting my little flower business back up to speed in a new yet familiar setting.

There is much creativity here in my new neighborhood, and so many sources of inspiration. I've been slowly working on developing my brand, and am starting to see it take shape. EXCITING!

Been fascinated by lights, brights and darks

Soon to come, the new logo and name, and some opportunities to join in the fun of creating alongside friends and new folks who enjoy playing with the good things of nature.

I hope you'll consider joining me!

drawn from a lovely arrangement by Carrie Moe

Lovely blues!

The glory of small things

Fall always brings opportunities to get outside for those few last balmy days, before the sunshine provides too little warmth, and sweaters, scarves, coats and hats must be brought from their summer hiding places. 

For the past few years this weekend has had some glorious weather, creating a spectacular backdrop for the weddings I've worked. No wonder the fall is so popular with brides, especially here in Virginia.

But soon, tea will be brewed, books will be read, evenings will lengthen as the days compress. 

There is a sense that things are closing in, getting smaller day by day, in a cozy, happy way. As I catch a whiff of wood fires and drying leaves I'm reminded how grateful I am for the glory of small things. 


What is it about those small details? They either jar, or delight, and reveal whether something is shoddily done, or truly beautiful and made with care. The smallest bit can draw you in, causing you to focus, to stop, to truly see.









Beauty has the power to arrest us, to get our attention, with a quick breath drawn, and a satisfied sigh on the after-side. 

Weddings are beautiful because of the small things....so many details, lovingly brought together, to bring joy to the beloved person, and all the family and friends. Weddings celebrate the small details of family life, those bits of personality and taste that each person contributes.

So don't go overboard, but enjoy those little details that make your wedding yours!