Two Lakes Wreath

Two Lakes Campground in Drummond, WI was a second home to my family in the summers.  As a child, my dad spent countless hours in Boy Scouts walking the shoreline of Lake Owen, and years later it's where I spent hours watching waves come in.  My great-grandparents settled there after immigrating from Norway, in part, because the towering forests reminded them of home - a deep feeling I share with them more than 100 years later.

Everything about this design reminds me of Two Lakes and the connection I have to the Drummond area; the birch, pine, and driftwood, the mosses, and delicate forest flowers.  In an instant, it brings me back to the shoreline of Lake Owen.

A Passion for Gardening

Recently, I discovered my passion for gardening.  My husband and I have been doing more than we ever had in the gardens this year; transplanting, container gardening, tilling, weeding, putting in a retaining wall, sod, and a vegetable garden, not to mention replanting the pond area.  Every day has been the same: go to work, hurry back and change into gardening clothes, and hurry outside to get one more project finished.  This spring has hands down been the best I can remember!  There's something about digging in the garden that gives us such a sense of accomplishment. 
If you share this obsession, you know, as I discovered this year, that the gardening center is among one of the most dangerous places around - next to the antique and thrift shops, of course.  Today was no exception, although I had good reason for spending almost $200!  A client of mine requested "something different" for centerpieces, and loved the photos of vibrant flowers and plants in galvanized pails.  She's not the only ones who loved to be next to the pretty pots!

 

Pretty in Pink

Soft pinks and whites have been my colors of choice during this semester's European Floral Design class, and our last assignment was no exception!  Create a bouquet in an Oasis holder with a collar made from tulle wrapped foam core.  Pay no attention to the crumpled flowers - I dropped it just as I was leaving the classroom, and the lily bud that had a mind of its own and didn't want to follow the line formed by the tulips, grass, and Lisianthus buds.... we'll just blame that on the fall!

Copper Comfort Wreath

This wreath has been on my front door since December, and if I had my way, it would be up all year long!  Copper is my comfort color, and birch, twigs, and frosted pine cones are a just a few of my favorite things!

Vibrant Gloriosa

This week's project included three design principles: Framing - fan tail willow, Formal Linear - yellow dahlia, and Bailing - birch twigs.  Basing - green mums, roses, eryngium, and Mirroring - Gloriosa Lily were also used (goodness sakes, plenty of techniques don't you think?!).  The colors are absolutely beautiful - perfect for a sunny spring day!

Great Lakes Floral Expo 2010

Michigan Floral Association's Great Lakes Floral Expo 2010 was held this past weekend in Grand Rapids, MI. I was privileged to attend, take workshops with designers Kevin Ylvisaker, AIFD, PFCI, and Howard Silver, AIFD - both amazing designers, and take part in MFA's Student Design Competition. The competition challenge was titled "Around the World in 80 Daisies", for which designers had to represent a country of their choosing in the design. I designed for what I thought represented Greenland. The Inuit of Greenland, over 80% of the country's population, believe the Northern Lights are their ancestors dancing in the second life. I was honored to place 1st in the Student Competition! Big thank you to my instructor, Donna Theimer, AIFD, and the kind folks who make up the Michigan Floral Association.

The Northern Lights of Greenland 

Tulip Waterfall

This week's project was a Waterfall Design - the apperance of all flowers and foliage flowing from the back of the design and spilling over the front edge.  Used in the design are Hydrangea, Tulips, Protea, Carnations, Hyacinth, Monkey Tail, Galax leaf, and Eryngium.  Waterfall Designs are stunning as bridal bouquets, and are perfect for any fireplace mantle - or deck railing!