Specimen Vases

Yesterday we worked on a beautiful wedding at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Caleb worked in detail with the bride, who provided her own little specimen vases and here are a few detail shots. Also, we will be part of Fleurotica on March 26th at the conservatory! Our dress is a tribute to late fashion designer Alexander McQueen and is gorgeous!!

And want to see a photo of me and read about what kind of animal I think I am? It's a great way to procrastinate today! Check out Greatest Expectations Blog. You can win a $100 arrangement in a vintage milk glass vase, too.

Carnival glass.

This is one of my favorite weddings. The bride and I collected vintage glass and carnival glass for her centerpieces. So it combines too of my favorite things, junkin' and flowers. The reception was the Chicago Cultural Center and Kevin Weinstein took the photos.

Florist Gothic

Caleb and I so often end up dressing alike, it's ridiculous. So we took a photo of our matching outfits the other day. I like the reflection at the bottom of our feet.., we've got some Kafka-esque metamorphosis stuff going on. Here are some shop treats, too. The arrangement with the garnet peonies has little sting of pearl succulents added in, which can be rooted. Succulent plants are a weakness for me. Next week is our first full wedding of the year! Yay!!!

Oh, and please check us out at Greatest Expectation's blog and Honeybee Weddings Blog for some extra goodness. In the next couple of days there is an interview with me at one of them and you can win a $100 arrangement in a vintage milk glass vase! But you have to read both to find out which one it is!

Cuties

A few treats in the shop. These are some of my favorite things. The mustachio card from eggpress, the doe planter which I AM IN LOVE WITH! (It is so hard for me to part with.., one of the sweetest finds from last weekend), orchids, and other shop tidbits. Oh, and one of Bootleg and Tippie at home. That is what my life is like. They rule.

summer lament

I can't stop thinking about warmth. Maybe tomorrow I will eat tacos and listen to mariachi and pretend I am on the beach. I've done that before, and it works. Here is a summer wedding at the Chicago History Museum.., it was a hot and humid afternoon and Christine and Tony braved the heat waves for their beautiful in -the-round ceremony outdoors. Kevin Weinstein was the photographer, Greatest Expectations were the planners (who just interviewed me for their blog, which will be out on February 28th.., and who I will also be working with in March at the same museum.., which prompted me to share these photos!).

Winter hikin' and junkin'

Friday morning Dave and I decided to take a trip out to Starved Rock. We like to take the county roads because
a. It's prettier
b. There are lots of antique and junk stores to shop at along the way.

Friday was spent ALL day buying Hull's Pottery, milk glass, Fenton vases, vintage aprons and a couple of other things here and there. Soon, all of my fantastic finds are going to be available at Fleur, and each one comes with a little story of how I came across it (but only if you want to hear.., I can ramble!). In the next day or two after I unpack all this ceramic joy, I'll post some photos.

But here are some of the hiking photos from us at Starved Rock, especially by French Canyon (My favorite waterfall in the park). After checking out the beauty around us, we stopped at Skoog's Pub and Grill where I S W E A R it's the BEST fried chicken I have ever eaten.., only we were there for their lunch menu, so I didn't get to eat any (just on the dinner menu.., go there 4:30pm or after!). I'm not kidding, I think I'm going back within the next two weeks because I am craving it. Whoops. I wrote "Crazing" instead of "craving as a slip.., I guess it's cuz I'm so crazy about it (wokka wokka!).

Hey guys! I am taking a little break, and shipping out to Starved Rock with Davey. We're gonna snap some photos, I hop you have a great few days, and please think of me while I am on "VA-CA!!" xo

Natalie and Ben!

Last night I ate some *delicious* Korean BBQ at Sun Wah BBQ to celebrate with Natalie and friends, on her 40th birthday. She's quite a fox, considering 40!! :) It reminded me of her and Ben's beautiful wedding some time back so I thought I would revisit the photos. As I work on all the proposals for 2010, I'm so excited for wedding season to begin!!

Another day o' love all gone and behind us. What a whirl and swirl of color and organized maddness!. We tried to take photos of our arrangements, but honestly, it was a revolving door around here so we only managed to snap a few. There are a few of the before and after, an adorable shot of Laura behind the hydrangea, me with a poppy in my hair, a lil' stuffed animal that was left in our planters Valentine's morning and our best delivery driver EVER hired, my Dad (Caleb, I wanted to post that one of you, but you wouldn't allow me to). ;)

And guess what? I received a floral delivery too! First time in about 12 years, and it had two of my favorites, peonies and ranunculus. Oh, and a love letter, too. <3 He's good. :)

Blossom on the Tree. You know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day!

Now.., back to the legions of flower-less men!! (and women!)

Did you know that we have the most amazing, raddest coolest and fun customers ever!!? Yeah. Totally. xoxoxo!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

It's Lloyd Miller, Delight and Beauty here!

Roses are red, tweedia is blue...

In honor of valentine's day approaching, I thought I would search through some of my old photos for some red bouquets. But instead of just the ol' bouquet, I decided to share one of the most fun and out of the box (pun intended) weddings we've worked on! Christina and Cary were married in April of 2009. She and I collaborated thoughts (alongside superhero wedding planner Heather Vickery from Greatest Expectations) and designed a truly gorgeous event! Christina hand strung all the beads on the carnation "chandelier" centerpieces (each had 500 carnations attached!). The bridal bouquet was soft and fluffy, combining sweet pea and tweedia, filled out with hydrangea for a little volume. The bridesmaids carried garnet red peonies and burgundy dahlias which held a lush and romantically dramatic demeanor! Their gowns we're pretty hot, too.., I certainly wouldn't mind one for myself! All the photos here are from the astute eye of Amanda Hein Photography.

Coming soon: All the floral delights that are arriving for Valentine's Day!! A few items to sensory salvate about:
Peach Amaryllis, Chocolate Cosmos, Plum Ranunculus, Salmon Sweetpea, Two-Toned Jonquils, Peach Parrot Tulips, Blossoming Cherry Branches.., Whether you are a lover or a hater, this stuff is g o r g e o u s ! ! ! !