Month: December 2010

The stark, bare branches with just a few leaves (Nandina) that change color before falling signify the inevitable change which is an integral part of life. This bewitching ensemble fills one with optimism and sets the tone for the events to follow.

Happy New Year!

In my world, New Year’s celebrations scream for white.  After all the chaos and bright colors (I do love red!) of December, white is a welcome relief before the red returns with Valentine’s Day. (Yes, it is just around the corner!)  If you are like me, you will love the simplicity of white, carnations and geometrics.  This is the décor for my New Year’s Eve party – copy it if you like.  There is nothing better than stark white to start the New Year in style!

Sometimes a bloom is so exquisite that it needs proper reverence and respect. The Asiatic lily is just such a flower.  So dramatic, so glorious, it stands tall and beautiful requiring minimal accent. A simple glass cube with a bamboo armature supports the stems without being conspicuous.  As the lilies mature and fade away, simply add a fresh stem to the structure and enjoy this Christmas the simple pleasures that life has to offer.

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin’ on the reins.
Bells are ringin’, children singin’,
All is merry and bright.
So hang your stockings and say your prayers,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Sing it with me!  I love the Christmas Season and I love the Christmas songs.  Of course I still set out cookies and milk for Santa. Today, I also add a Santa arrangement to the décor – a whimsical touch to keep the fantasy alive. Just what will Santa bring me this year?

I love to gift flowers this season.  They’re always the right size.  They can be big and glorious to keep up with the expectations this festive season.  Everyone loves to receive flowers.  To make the gift extra special, I chose the perfect vase to personalize the gift.  This vase filled with a dozen miniature callas is sure to be loved.  And long after the callas have lived, the vase remains as a pleasant memento of thoughtful gifting.

From the rules of etiquette that restricted lovers from the Victorian era to express their passion, emerged the language of flowers. As this mysteriously ciphered language emerged, particular messages were assigned to specific flowers. So, protected deep within the blooming petals was a message meant only for the beloved to see.

The red carnation expressed the unspoken ache of heart in the absence of the loved one. It is then a little wonder that this particular bloom, the birth flower of a Capricorn, was chosen as a deep expression of long distance love. The responsible, reliable Capricorn could be easily visualized as the one who would not flout society’s rules even when in agony without his loved one.

Besides, Capricorn’s other birth flowers represent different traits of his personality too: vivid orange blossoms symbolize ambition veiled by self-discipline; sweet baby’s breath portrays the honesty he seeks in every interaction and magnificent magnolia shows his regal taste.

Touching the very core of the Capricorn personality, arrangements comprising these flowers make an ideal birthday present for him. At the same time, they impersonate the Capricorn personality well enough to impress admirers of the sure-footed sea-goat.

Go on– embellish your Capricorn’s home or office space with his favourite flowers– red carnations, baby’s breath, orange blossoms and magnolia.

The shopping is done and the presents are wrapped.  The tree is decorated and the house is ready for guests.  It is time to relax and enjoy the accomplishment of navigating through the holiday season.  Provide an elegant gift for yourself.  A reward for all the hard work you have accomplished.  Yes, it is time and you deserve it!  Besides that, a lovely floral arrangement is just what the house needs to be ready for greeting all the holiday guests.

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me,
I’ve been an awful good girl.
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight!

The holidays are always so busy.  The stores are teaming with people and their bustle.  Oh my!  Do not get me started!  I love the holidays but…always a but…there are times I need to retreat into a quiet oasis of calm.  My studio is decorated in a minimal style that provides just such an escape.  This year, the Christmas décor is focused on the natural treasures provided by Mother Nature.  The conical trees are moss covered and freckled with tiny golden balls.  This personal oasis is waiting for me as I sneak away for a moment of meditation and reflection on the natural beauty to be found on the earth.

This design incorporates two of my favorite floral design tricks: components & elevation.

Arrangements are more fun when done in components. I think this clearly goes back to my childhood.  Everyone knows two or three (or more) is better than one.  If you can’t decide – take them all! Plus, a triplet can be clustered together or spaced about the room as the interior allows.

Elevation adds glamour. Add height to anything and it become so much more important. This self-deception probably has its roots in childhood when celebrities were always so much taller than us. As a girl, this calls for higher heels.  Think of these footed vessels as high heels for flowers.