BOUQUETS TO ARTS 2013

Well, here we are again. it's that time of year when my creativity is once again put to the test. Bouquets to Arts, is a yearly fund raiser for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. It is a week long exhibit where floral pieces inspired by works of arts are featured for the public to enjoy.

This year I was given my first choice, "5 PLATES" by Brice Marden, 1973. I was really attracted to these prints, simple lines with blocks of light and shadow. I thought, during selection day,  "Oh yeah,  some painting plus white flowers and I'm done, easy"  YEAH SURE !!! But, as my fellow designers would attest to, the ideas that come to your head during selection day oftentimes turn out to be not the best when it comes to mechanics and execution. The popular line amongst designers is " what was I thinking ?" hahaha. BUT (again) it does work out in the end. No matter how many  changes you go through in your  mind and the many trials and errors. There is no denying, one must come up with a museum worthy piece.

After custom ordering a custom made lucite container, where I thought I would hang an all white pave'd arrangement, I realized too late that the hanging piece would prove to be too heavy!! A total waste. So I decided to use my existing trays and asked my assistant,  to add panels on all sides to give an illusion of a frame. I decided to recreate the prints (intaglio print on paper) by replicating blocks of Blacks (with black painted dogwood branches) and white flowers with  lisianthus, rununculous, spray roses, Akito roses, bottom pom pom, freesias and carnations giving it textures, depth and movement .

and the final product  TADAA!!

MATERIALS USED: 

CARNATIONS, DOGWOOD BRANCHES, ANEMONE, FREESIAS, RANUNCULUS, BOTTOM POMPOM, LISIANTHUS , ROSES, AND SPRAY ROSES, HEDERA BERRIES 

LE ROUGE

On what  day can be more romantic to celebrate your anniversary than on Valentine's day? This was what Kendra, a statuesque, poised lady, had in mind when she came to me a year early to discuss her wedding florals, February 14 2013. From the very beginning we were talking RED, well of course. Doing an all red roses on valentine's day would prove very costly. As you may well know roses go up by 100 percent as far as cost are concern. No matter what,  pricing is always a concern, and I always try to stay true to my client's vision as close as I can with the budget I am given as long as it in the realm of reason. In this case, on an normal day,  would have been more spot on, but on Valentine's day, I had to do some creative interpretation to get the volume, I know Kendra had in mind.  I suggested we added white, white hydrangeas so as to make the pieces large and to give more impact and presence specially at Kohl mansion with it's high ceilings and wooden walls.(white would make red pop more)

A GOOD ADVICE FOR BRIDES TO BE...

 A friend posted this link of Facebook and I thought it was "spot on". Brides to be planning their wedding need to read and this so as to avoid disapointments when meeting up with your chosen floral designer.

A good must read..

http://www.weddingaces.com/2013/02/magazine-worthy-wedding-flowers-the-pricing-you-should-expect/

CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS OPEN HOUSE 2013 Pier 48 San Francisco

Every two years Classic Party Rentals hosts an open house that showcases their latest inventory, ideas, and current predictions to what is hot in the wedding industry. Together with floral designers , caterers, beverages and lighting companies, they put together quite a lavish event to enjoy with friends and partners in the industry.

This year has been the biggest I have ever been a part of. Imagine filling up Pier 48. I was invited to do a table with a "Come sail away" theme I was given these to work with.

and here is what I came up with.

MY CURRENT RUSTIC OBSESSIONS

Been spending lots of time driving around with good friend and landscape artist, Donnel Vicente. He loves to drive to off the beaten path country roads and discovering places to hike. We have have visited Mendocino, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Davenport etc etc.... Each town and city offered varying rustic and country charm that in time has planted a bigger seed into my country/rustic design proclivity.

So big it has influenced This year's Donato Enoteca Holiday Decor as well as the mantle in the living room.

Donato Enoteca Holiday Decor

PURPLE CHRISTMAS

I met Marnell 5 years ago when I did her bridal florals. Since then we have worked together in juicing up the Holiday Bash of the company she works for. Proteus Medical.

Through the years, we have gone from the Peninsula to San Francisco and this year we did the San Francisco Design Center.

Three weeks ago Marnell came in with a linen sample ( purple and subtle gold, Teri of La Boca Fina and she had agreed upon. so Purple it is.. Then I go well purple =silver yeah? but then the gold on the linen. Well it is Christmas after all.GOLD SILVER do go well together, contrary to some belief that they clash. they do blend so well.

Here are some images from the event: