"IDOJOUR" Simply shabby, Chic that is, photo shoot!!

IDOJOUR is an online bridal resource site for wedding gowns, bridesmaid's dresses, accessories , trends, ideas and tips and advises .  A brain child of Rosanna Casper, and Vanessa Maffia with youngest sister Alessandra Perez Rubio, helping out with art direction and public relations.Together the Perez Rubio sisters have taken a bite on the ever increasing online Bridal industry with this fun, must stop and browse bridal site.

To launch their monthly online magazine, they had a photo shoot featuring Bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl head gears and ideas for a cozy, easy DIY backyard ceremony and reception in which I had the privilege of being a part of amongst the very talented vendors as follows:

Victori Toda -Hair and make up

Christie Perego- Vanilla Moon

Brittany Boyd - Urban Organics

Sergio Mena - Scovir Photogrpahy

 

Cyclamen Bouquet wrapped in a vintage lace.

Guys , You  CAN wear pink

As I had predicted two yuears ago, Baby's breathe is all the buzz now..

BELOW ARE SHOTS BY SCORVIL PHOTOGRAPHY

 CYCLAMEN - a delicate flower that is gaining popularity as a bridal flower. I predict will soon become a bride to be's more favored bloom.

Yummy and pinkilicious cupcakes by "VANILLA MOON" displayed on a 50's container cushioned with bunches of another vintage flower "gypsophila"- Million Star

 An easy way to fill up a dining table with julep cups filled with bay's breather, Ikea's vases with simple placement of rununculous.

Colorful organic Sangria by Brittany Boyd of "Urban Organics"

BOUQUETS TO ARTS 2012

I have been doing Bouquets to Arts for 15 years this year. (wow) But to this day I still get nervous and anxious while waiting for the assignment of art I am to interpret in floral design.You see it's a two phase process, The first one happens during the first week of January, selection day, when we walk around the museum and we are asked to choose 5, yes 5 works of art from which one will be ultimately be assigned to us. From that time, it will be a whole torturous month before we get an assignment then another month to come up with a museum worthy interpretation for a week of exhibition.

This year I was given my first choice. Berkeley by Richard Diebenkorn an abstract painting with hues of orange, mauve, pale blues, whites and yellow orange.. But how does one interpret a flat modernist abstract painting.??!!!! I have done literal interpretation in the past and for a while there I was lost, for weeks I had nothing. Till finally It came to me. I decided to re create the feel of the painting in my containers by painting them and had one shape from the painting in a pave of flowers in its colors, with the whimsical addition of painted kiwi branches to repeat the lines in the painting. It all came together the night before installation.... sigh...

with the very gracious Ms. Barbara Harbinson, long time chair and instrumental to the success of Bouquet's to Arts.

with Alexandria Christakos and good friend, Donnel Vicente

THE WONDER THAT IS BABY'S BREATH

"The fruit does not fall far from the tree", couldn't be more true with Kim and her endearing parents, Eva and Ken, who, during the course of the planning, I have gotten to know very well and like so much as they are as kind and thoughtful as our beautiful bride.

January of 2011 was the month and year Kim and her mother, Eva signed me up for her florals a year and 2 months prior to the event. Since then, while our colors remained the same, our design and flowers have evolved into my current obsession, Gypsophila - Baby's Breath- "Million Star" to be specific. We were on the same wavelength. YES! The challenge was to make this unassuming flora to shine giving a  modern, soft and romantic feel. It did not disappoint..

Foyer silver urn with an overflow of hydrangeas, Ecuadorian roses

stock, spray roses broccoli hydrangeas and of course Million stars that overflow ever so ligthly.

Delicate bunches of gypsophila adorned the mantle

I love...bunches of Gypsophila (baby's breath) a top a cylindrical vase with

laser cut paper appliques

Silver compote of hydrangeas, roses, anemones, freesias and spray roses

Bridal Bouquet of garden roses, freesias, calla lily, sweet peas, Ecuadorian roses

A towering yet delicate cake with exquisitely embellished with white

sugar candies by "Branching Out Cakes"

ROSES Part one

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."

                               William Shakespeare


So true, but since I have started a career in floral design, there had been probably a dozen rose trends and breeds that have come and go. It's become quite a challenge just keeping up with names and colors. For some time "Black Magic: was the star, before that there was the "Sterling" a fragrant lavender rose and the "Fire and Ice" which is a two tone red and yellow-range rose. After fire and ice came "Ambiance" then "Circus" both breeds in a similar shade of "fire and Ice" These days a Rose doesn't seem to have the time to shine until a new rose comes out to overshadow it's uniqueness, color and novelty.

So if you are a rose lover and planning a wedding, guess what, you are in luck, because no matter what shade a bridesmaids dress you choose, most likely, there will be a rose that will compliment or  "close enough" shade to match your color selection. A rose is the one type of flower that has the widest variety of shade and hues

Flowers and plants follow fashion trends. Remember the "Green" (color) trend, I believe gave birth to "Super Green"  and "Green Tea" roses. Purple is very hot right now, I predict we will see a new breed
of rose that will be darker than all the shades of lavender avilable now.


HERE ARE  ARE FEW OF MY FAVORITE ROSES AND THEIR NAMES:

\

QUICKSAND 

My new obsession so delicately beige ( color of sand really!!) You can gaze at it for hours.

MILVA

A WARM HUE OF ORANGE

(THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF MILVA - A DARKER ONE AND SLIGHTLY LIGHTER SHADE OF ORANGE

PIAGET

(A garden rose variety, this is more vibrant in person )

BEAUTIFUL HOT PINK GARDEN ROSE

FREE SPIRIT

EXQUISITELY HYPNOTIC TWO TONE ROSE. FROM GOLDEN WARM YELLOW TO

ORANGE- AND OPENS INTO A BIG BLOOM

TWO ROSES HERE

BABE- A DEEP ORANGE SPRAY ROSE

AND

MALANGA- A BRIGHT TRUE ORANGE ROSE

IGNACE

vibrant two tone spray rose in wild orange and sizzling pink

takes my breathe away!!

CHERRY BRANDY

Turmeric and dark pink

                                                                           FREEDOM
                                                             The new queen of Red roses
                                                            To me a perfect shade of Red

WEDDING FAIRE- SANTA CLARA 2012

The last time I had participated in a Wedding Faire was way back 1995-6, I believe, if my memory is serving me right, whenever it was. IT WAS a long... long time ago. But when the poised, very elegant and sophisticatedly calm, Renee Monroe of Wedding Faire - Santa Clara, contacted me to ask if I were interested to do a showcase for 2012 Faire to include and featrure  Mr. Preston Bailey, among other high profile bridal industry professionals,  I couldn't resist.

I knew then I would be working with Sue Leggett of Classic Party Rentals who happens to be half a mile down the road from the studio. Still in a Holiday celebratory mood. I opted with creams, whites and silver for a clean and rich look. Sue and I , as we have done many times before met and came up with a mis -match of china and glassware that worked so well together. Then, it was my turn to compliment this ensemble with my florals.

As I am still in my geometric and  "bling " phase, I opted to re-create what I had done for my sister Carmen's home for her 25th year partnership (business) with husband Romeo Rojas, that was featured in a coffee table book 'Decorating with Flowers" by Roberto Caballero, Liz Reyes and Luca Tettoni.

Flower wise, I embraced the most unfavored flowers of the last decade, which actually are doing a big comeback. Carnations, and Daisy pompom. and of course my favorites, spray roses and my new love "quicksand"  a sand colored, Ecuadorian rose. Paved them into rounds , squares and rectangles added some bling and we have my own verison of Floral Lamps!!

With the help of the latest Pico's Angels recruit, Susan Lee Kelly, of "Three Sisters" and Jennie Shim of "7th Dimension" at Town and Country, it made it very easy and fun to put all these together. Thank you again Angels!!!

The first day of showing was quite exciting as Susan Kelly, with camera in hand, and I literally harassed, well approached in a respectful manner,  Mr Preston Bailey himself. I was very impressed with his humble and pleasant demeanor. Not only is he talented he seems to be a very good human being.

So here are snapshots of that adventure..