NY Magazine Cover- Winter 2010

Here are some highlights of current press which we have been remiss at posting. Above are three bouquets featured in NY Magazine Weddings Winter 2010 issue.

Tulips and Pansies Headdress Affair 2009

For this year's Village Cares of New York benefit "Tulip and Pansies a Headdress Affair" we decided to create a fiery reptilian queen goddess in saturated reds, oranges and fuchsias. We designed and styled all aspects of this look and our own gorgeous superstar Liza Bagerman modeled it down the runway. This is always an amazing happening to be a part of in NYC and a great way to say we care too VCNY!

Our Side of Paradise

This year the Horticultural Society of New York held their yearly fundraiser at 583 Park Avenue. The table top displays were translations on a theme: "This Side of Paradise", which ranged from underwater coral and shell fantasy motifs to the Garden of Eden. We chose to play on the earthly version - a drug induced paradise - and created giant fabric poppies dancing overhead in a floating airy revelry from the guests perspective. Smaller fabric flower lanterns illuminated the swirling tangles of stems which were planted in a giant glass flower pot exploding with fresh poppies and ranunculus. The table cloth and chair covers sang "orange electric" made of transparent hand died gauze. We titled our table "The Opiate Affair" and guests name cards included Jean Cocteau and Florence Nightingale, both opium addicts. The Opium translation may have been lost to some but most would agree that our fantasy paradise was one conceived and executed for only the greatest of flower lovers!!!!!!!!!

"Creme and Lilac Wedding" Elements and Storyboard

Woodsy Fantasy

Here is a woodsy inspiration board I pulled together with inspiration from a little vintage plate, an antique print of a fern leaf, old copper leaf pendants and a museum artifact of a gold and turquoise snake necklace. The Agate coasters would also make great pillar candle holders and the small votive(lower right) is wrapped in copper painted galax leaves. I think the arbor would make a great starting point for the design of a naturalistic chuppa with grapevines and the flower shown are a combination of Blue Thistle, Blush Ranunculus, Dinner Plate Dahlias and Helioborus.

Chanin for Changing Times

While working on the conception of an orphan quilt project (future post) with my lifetime friend Doris Athineos, editor of antiques for Traditional Home Magazine, she mentioned that I take a look at the original craft work of Natalie “Alabama” Chanin, of Florence, Alabama, whom I immediately fell in love with! She uses a combination of new, organic and recycled materials to create the most evocative textiles which whisper, "I have a secret story to tell". The work featured on her site is undisputedly gorgeous but what is even more inspirational are her methods of employing artisans who work and live in nearby communities and make everything by hand. Here is an image from her website of a dress any pixie would dream of running off in to exchange vows so tender with her soul mate that the moment would elicit compassion and true love for decades to come.

Feathers of a Protea

Once upon a time I was working on the flowers for a corporate job with my fellow friend and flower nerd goddess Cornelia McNamarra and we had decided to create floating arrangements making all sorts of submerged floaters(future post). We deconstructed artichokes and sunflowers and queen proteas to construct these "rafts" to float small arrangements. Suddenly I looked over her way to the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and never thought of doing! Cornelia was making these little feather florets from the protea petals! It was as I like to say, lightning in a bottle. Hence was born the protea petal "feather"!

Here are some samples of later day appropriations for her genius idea!