Christmas Party at Portland Art Museum

Most people don't think of tropical flowers for a Christmas party, IDI Distributors in Portland wanted something less traditional for their holiday party. Melissa Bryan from Lush Parties and Events came up with the colors and together we collaborated on the design and feel for this party.

Up lighting can make a big difference to a large space.

Rich browns, reds and burgundy made for a rich color pallet. Along with the warm uplighting, this event was one to remember.

We used ginger, anthiriums, orchids, tropical leaves, roses and Christmas ornaments for a touch of the holidays.

This is a touch of floral design meets museum piece. In this arrangement we framed a hand painted image of an urn then added fresh flowers to make a unique display that was the focal point above the bar as well as another one that was displayed in the entryway.

How to trim your tree

The tree is freshly cut and securely in the tree stand. Be sure to give the tree water everyday to make sure it stays fresh.

Once your tree is stable and in place it is time for the lights! This is where many people get frustrated and lose interest in decorating the tree. Here are some tips for a more simple light experience. The first thing is that you need more then one strand of lights for the tree. This tree is only 6 1/2 feet tall and we used 1,200 lights on it. The goal is to not be able to track the light trail. Start at the top with the female end of the lights and twist the lights around the top branch and then bunch up the light cord and push it into the tree in clumps. You can spread them around and even out the lights once you have the general placement of the strands. Continue around the tree placing sections of about 2 feet at a time into the tree and to the outer branches. Once you have gone all around the tree, it is time to even out the lights. Because you have sections of lights to work with, you can fill holes and gaps more easily due to the clumps of light strand you left to work with. Having lights in toward the center of the tree helps illuminate the ornaments as well as the tree.

The second layer for the tree is the ribbon or garland. You can loosely wind the ribbon around the tree or you can take 5 or 6 lengths of ribbon about 1.5 times the height of your tree, gather them together and make a knot at one end. Nestle that end at the top of the tree hiding the knot down into the branches. Wind and trail the ribbon making it look natural twisting and tucking as you go.

Now the fun really begins. On this tree we used crystal garland to add sparkle, texture and interest. We also bought sparkly leaves and branches at the craft store to tuck into the tree. It always takes more supplies then you think so buy extra and take back what you don't use. My general rule of thumb is that I don't buy less then 12 of anything for the tree and usually I work towards 24 as my magic number to purchase. There are many things that you can use and find at the craft stores. Don't limit yourself to the Christmas aisles. Go to the floral section and see what is pretty to you. I look for glittered things and things that will catch the light.

Once you have the under structure done, it is time to add the color and more interesting ornaments. We used dark red feathers on a stick that we found at the craft store, dark red feather balls with a hanging crystal, dark red matte finished balls as well as crystalized red balls. We finished off with white and silver balls, and glass icicles. This tree took us about 2 hours to complete.

Seattle Pacific "Sounds of Christmas" concert at Benaroya Hall

This is one side of the stage at Benaroya Hall. This was for a Seattle Pacific University concert. They put on a concert called "The Sounds of Christmas" to ring in the holiday season. It is an amazing experience to be there to get in the holiday spirit.

Don Yanik from SPU and myself working to help all to be in the holiday spirit. Don and I have worked together for 9 years on this event as well as commencement in June. We have a great time working together as you can see.

This was a Bouquet created for the Fellows reception on the Founders tier at Benaroya Hall. The reception is held before the concert. This bouquet uses, "Charlie Brown" orchids, quicksand roses, dark red anthiriums, agonis and assorted colors of Christmas balls.

This was an accent piece for the cocktail tables. Same flowers as the larger arrangement but more petite for the tables.

July 4, 2010

This was not your typical 4th of July red, white and blue event. Young Yea planned her wedding on one of our nation's most important and memorable days, but she didn't feel it necessary to use our nation's colors for her nuptials. She chose a sleek steel gray, white along with an accent of goldenrod. Her wedding was at Januik winery in Woodinville Washington. Many of the walls at the winery are concrete which brought in the gray of her wedding so nicely. Young's wedding was lush and modern using yellow pin cushion proteas, crespedia, peonies, calla lilies, hydrangeas, oncidium orchids and succulents.

Pretty in Pink

This is for a birthday celebration at Canlis restaurant in Seattle. This was a special event filled with candlelight, rich brown linens and soft delicate pinks. We used pink peonies, roses, stock with accents of green viburnum. The coordinator was Shelly Tolo from Tolo Events. http://www.toloevents.com . Shelly's specialty is larger corporate events but had time in her schedule to put this event together.

Pacific Medical event at Cedarbrook

This was a simple event using white spider mums, immature green hydrangeas, white roses, and green cymbidium orchids. This is a nice combination for corporate events, keeping the colors simple and neutral allows the flowers to take center stage and yet appeal to professionals without being too "frilly".

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog! I am excited to share with you different floral ideas and wedding photos that may inspire you to try a unique color combination or think of flowers in a new way. I have been blessed to be able to make a career doing something I love.

Flowers are more readily available these days, so the variety and options are almost endless. We receive flowers from South America, New Zealand, Singapore and of course Holland. Shipping has become so efficient that the flowers can be hours out of the field and yet be sitting at my front door. I have some "local" favorites down in Oregon for hydrangeas, peonies and calla lilies but I am like a kid in a candy store when it comes to shopping for flowers.

Stay tuned for new posts and pictures.