Poplar Market...

I always get this crazy creative rush that ignites around market time!  I only do a couple a year but there is something so inspiring and infectious about setting up in a room full of unique artisans and being surrounded by beautiful things, beautiful people, and this pouring out of creativity that overflows into each marvelous display!

You can get a little taste of what I'm talking about from Lianna's beautiful pictures through the view of her lens here.

It was a joy for me to have my beautiful daughter's help and company through the day and here are a few of her pictures of our little spot in the creative circle.

Thank you to everyone that made the Poplar Market a great success and also to all the dear people that stopped by my booth.  I loved seeing all of you and being part of such a great day!

Megan and Scott

Every wedding feels like my favorite.  This one came with some great details and creativity from Megan that really pulled her vision together like I couldn't even imagine until I saw her absolutely gorgeous pictures!  This girl has a gentle and creative spirit and knew how to pull it all together.

Megan's Bouquet was made with White and Pink Cymbidium Orchids, Cream Dahlia's, Sweet Dolomiti Roses, White Stock, and Seeded Eucalyptus.  She brought me blue silk hydrangeas that were the same shade as the bridesmaid's dresses, to sneak in some of that exact color into her fresh flower Bride's Bouquet.  Brilliant.  

Megan wanted her Bridesmaids to carry soft pink roses to match the ones from her bouquet.    When I show you pictures from her lovely photographer Laura, of Laura-Anne Photography you will see how gorgeous they looked when Megan's vision came together.  Needless to say, I'm crazy about these Sweet Dolomiti Roses cradled in another one of my favorites...Seeded Eucalyptus.

She also brought me jars for her centerpieces that she had decorated with simple black lace ribbon and river rocks to set in the bottom....which is not only great for a fabulous look but it weights the jar adding more stability to the arrangement if the flowers are a little top heavy.

Megan's centerpieces were made with beautiful Pee Gee Hydrangeas, Sweet Dolomiti Roses, soft pink  Chrysanthemum Disbuds and Seeded Eucalyptus.

It was a joy for me to meet this young couple and their family and play a small part in their new beginning together.

I would have to say my favorite memories were helping tie a few sashes for the chair covers next to her amazing family and friends that were helping decorate for the reception when I delivered the centerpieces the day before and getting to see Megan the morning of....peaceful, calm, and gorgeous having a bite to eat at the family table before it all began.  I loved getting to meet her adorable and incredible photographer Laura and emailed her yesterday to say that I cried through the pictures!  I know....it's a shock...but....

You really must see for yourself and read her story of Megan and Scott HERE!

Brides To Be…and their Mothers

When I met Krystie and her mother Myrna for our first wedding consultation, there were a few things that stood out.  They were both vibrant, both genuine, same bright eyes and beautiful smiles…I loved both of them instantly!

Krystie pretty much knew what she wanted but in a very relaxed style.  I loved her ideas and her sentimental heart.  One of my favorite details of Krystie's flowers was when she brought me a necklace and pendant that belonged to her grandmother and asked if they could be incorporated somehow into her bouquet.  

Well, I love that sort of thing and believe it’s those small personal details that make each wedding unique, special and fun to be a part of! 

To go with the wedding cupcakes, Myrna made a small Red Velvet Cake (which I must admit is my favorite...since I also had a Red Velvet Wedding Cake) and asked me to make a small floral cake topper.

 Groom's Boutonniere

 Matching Corsage and Boutonniere for Parents of the Bride and Groom

 Another look at Krystie's Bouquet

Bridesmaid's Bouquets

So...I got to see and hug the beautiful girl in her beautiful dress on her special day.  I got to hug the beautiful Mom that seemed almost as excited as the bride herself.  And I got to see an uncle with camera in hand tear up next to me when she walked into the kitchen so lovely.   Seriously, does it get any better?!  I love my job.  

I Always Cry.....

So...I can't seem to deliver a wedding without shedding a tear or two.  I don't know what it is, I hand out the flowers and then I lose all sense of professional boundaries and want to hug and kiss the bride.  It's fine if I know her but when I'm simply the florist...that sort of behavior can cause...well...awkwardness.  I generally feel the same about pregnant mamas and sweet little old ladies but I have learned a little, in my older years to try and refrain myself if need be!  So, no need to worry if I'm doing your upcoming wedding and hugging the florist makes you feel just a little...uncomfortable:)

In fact, I did refrain today when I delivered flowers to a most beautiful bride.  Not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't want to cry all over her beautiful dress!  I love the anticipation in the air before the ceremony and I love seeing the glowing face of a bride adorned and ready to speak sacred vows to the love of her life.  I love pinning on boutonnieres and seeing the family gathered and dear friends circling close.

 I love the small part that I play in that day.  I love the flowers.  I marvel at their colors and details, when shades and textures are blended like tapestry.  I love how they look placed into the wedding like props for Broadway.   I took a few pictures today before carting them down to the little white church.  They're lovely....but they are nothing compared to the bride.  They were only a compliment to her and her ladies.  Hopefully,  when the professional photos are done you'll get to see for yourself.

Congratulations Bernie and Sarah....today was a beautiful day for a wedding.

To Be Honest.....

Being young at heart can make me afraid of stupid little things sometimes.  It can also make me feel brave and daring...on the rare occasion.  It's no secret that I'm not really the daredevil type but I'll stand up to the truth that I'm not entirely a chicken either.  So when I say that making this blog has stretched me somewhat in the fear factor zone, I'm not exaggerating.  In fact, I wouldn't be working on it now if it weren't for Lily and Rachel, the sweet, talented and lovely girls of Birch and Bird Vintage Home Interiors  and the fabulous opportunity to be a part of their seriously sweet vintage markets...including the next one, Scout Handmade and Vintage Market coming up in May.

They've linked me to this lonely space that I have called a blog and forced my hand to make it a place that feels a little more homey...a little less intimidating (for me:) and a place where you can get to know me a little better and see what I love and what I do.

To be honest, I guess I've been a little embarrassed to hang out here.  It's kind of like buying a fixer upper and living in it too long with out doing a lot of fixing!

So here's the start.  I've spent hours trying to make it pretty....pulled out some of my hair...because I like trying to figure it out myself...and being tired of fiddling with it now and reverting back to a very impersonal template for the time being, have decided to just invite you in for a cup of tea regardless.

My neighbor told me when we first moved on to the street that you have to make memories in a house before it feels like a home...so memories we will make and the housekeeping and decorating will come!

History of a Flower Child....

If there’s anyone to blame for this girl loving blooms...it would have to be my Dad.  He’s been putting little bouquets of flowers into my hands for as long as I can remember.  Even now, it’s a rare week that goes by that he doesn’t stoop low to pluck a bloom off of some fresh growing beauty in his yard and offer it with a smile to his oldest girl.

So it’s no surprise that my first part-time job at 15, landed me in a cute little flower shop sweeping floors and cutting stems.

Originally, from North Carolina and immigrating to Canada in the teenage years, I grew up in the beautiful Pemberton Valley just north of Whistler.  I apprenticed as a floral designer through high school and university and for 10 years had the fabulous opportunity to work and train with designers from all over the world as they came to work with us in beautiful Whistler Village.

I loved it.  Working with flowers is a beautiful thing and working with people in their most significant moments in life can be even more beautiful but when the love of my life and I started a family and my babies came along...they were to die for, and all I wanted was every moment.  

So I stayed home with them for 15 years, and that has been one of the sweetest gifts to me ever.

Then eight years ago my husband and I moved our little family from Sea to Sky Country to the Fraser Valley and made Abbotsford our home.

When I realized last year, that it was time for me to go back to work and the doors for a new venture began to open...I found myself here.  Happily supporting local flower growers as much as I can with a unique and personal approach to floral design and operating out of the fabulously adorable Creekside Country Home Decor in Downtown Abbotsford.

I love using what I know and love, to play a small part in the significant moments of others and that is very special to me...weddings, of course, birthdays, babies and even relationships with corporate clients can be a lot of fun.  However, Sweetnothings Floral Design is probably most famous for the cutest flower cupcakes ever.  And besides the fact that they’re adorable....they represent everything that I believe in.  They’re sweet, they’re pretty and they’re affordable for the everyday woman!  Which makes them the perfect little “Girlfriend” treat.  So I love it!  

They are truly a ‘Sweet nothing’.