First Come Flowers

Even You Can Spruce Up A Room With Flowers

Look at any designer room online or in a magazine or book. What do the pictures have in common? Flowers! 

Elle Decor

 

But not just any flowers. Simple flowers. 

The flowers are rarely in fancy flower arrangements put together by floral designers. Well okay, maybe they are. But they're simple flower arrangements you can make yourself.

 

Here's How To Get The Look:

1) Buy one type of flower in only one color. A bunch of green spider mums. Three stems of orange lilies. A handful of white carnations. Get the idea? The attention goes to the flowers. The texture, color and shape of this simple flower arrangement stands out.

 

Elle Decor

2) Buy one kind of flower in different colors. Three colors works well, but buy as many colors as you like.  Just stick to one type of flower. 

3) Place your flowers in a simple yet interesting vase. It doesn't have to be expensive. You can get three of the same vases and line them up in a row. Or use a jar if you like.

 

Kathryn Wiens

4) Cut the flowers to the right length. Depending on the flower, I like to cut them so that the blooms sit just above the neck of the vase. Why?

• Shorter flowers generally last longer, because the water doesn't have to travel up a long stem.  
• Flowers cut short make the arrangement look more lush.

 

How does having a simple flower arrangement around make you feel?

Mimi

How to Create A Casual Yet Elegant Table Setting

 

 

I learned the importance of setting a nice table from my 10 year old son.

I used to work in a senior management position in a  not-for-profit. My husband worked nights. So I'd get  home late after picking up the kids and frantically throw together a quick dinner. I'd slosh it onto the plates with my suit still on and scream for my sons to come to dinner.

Importance of Setting A Nice Table

I'll never forget the night my 10 year old son said, "Can we just sit down and eat like a normal family? I'll set the table."  His words stopped me dead in my tracks.

Since then, I've grown to appreciate the need to stop and smell the roses. To take the time to set a casually elegant table for my family or even myself. Don't get me wrong.  I don't do it every day or even every week, but when the spirit moves me I make it special.

Image:   Real Simple

 

How to Create A Casually Elegant Table Setting

• Put a nice tablecloth on your table. I suggest cloth. I have some beauties from local thrift shops.
• Select one or two items you love and build your color scheme around them. It could be a small vase with a rose or a beautiful bowl of shells. Could be something your kid created out of clay.
• Buy some beautiful paper napkins from Home Goods or IKEA. You can fold them in some fancy way.
• Break out the special glasses. What are you saving them for? You can get plastic ones for the kids if you like.
• Add a few candles and you have yourself a special table setting. 

What I learned from my son that day is simple. That it really doesn't take much longer to set a casually elegant table than it does it's fast food cousin. But the impact lasts a lifetime.

What unusual object do you like to add to your table settings? If often use books to elevate vases of flowers or candles.

Mimi

Image:  Carolyne Roehm

 

Linking to:

2805

At The Picket Fence

Beyond The Picket Fence

Chic On A Shoestring

Common Ground

Finding Fabulous

French Country Cottage

Home Is Where My Story Begins

Laurie Anna's

My Romantic Home

No Minimalist Here

Primp

Simply Sweet Home

Stuff and Nonsense

The Charm of Home

The Not So Functional Housewife

What True Flower Lovers Wear In The Cold

 Keep Warm!

Image:   The Flower Appreciation Society 

What's your favorite tip for keeping warm during the winter?

Mimi 

 

Time For Flowers On The Dressing Table

 

Image:   This is Glamorous

 

I still have my aunt's dressing table. I don't recall it ever having flowers on it though. When I saw this image on Roseline's blog, This Is Glamorous, it brought back great memories.

 

Image:   Market Publique 

 

As a child, I loved going into her walk-in closet. There was an amazing assortment of handbags. And beautiful cardboard hatboxes lined the shelves. She had pretty fancy stuff. 

I was named after my Aunt Muriel. I guess I'm a little fancy too. Because when I started taking French in junior high, I began spelling my name  M-ur-i-e-l-l-e.

My older cousins couldn't pronounce Muriel. So they just called her Aunt Mimi. I got her name and the nickname.

I loved going into her closet. The mirrored tray with all her fancy bottles of perfume. The ornate hairbrush and comb. I guess that's why I love vintage ladies stuff so much.

Image:   At Home With The Farmer's Wife

My mom had some of this stuff too, but since Aunt Mimi didn't have 4 daughters she could keep it all out on display.

I recall the wonderful scent in that closet.The beautiful old suitcases.

She had a little stool at her dressing table. But I didn't want that. Just the table.

Our table has elegantly carved wooden legs. It's been painted many times since I loaned it to my daughter. She thinks it's hers now. But not yet.

We used to re-decorate her bedroom every 6 months. But now, at the ripe old age of nearly 17, she has returned the table to its original splendor.

 

Image:  Urban Nest

Gone are the neon picture frames, stenciled graphics and multi-colored pencils. Mirrored trays and dainty dishes of earrings have replaced them. Colognes, pearls, and vintage-style jewelry now take center stage on this family heirloom. It's come full circle.

Every once in a while, I place a small cluster of pale pink carnations (her favorite) in a little vintage vase on the dressing table to surprise her. I smuggle them in from the flower shop.

Soon that dressing table will officially be mine again. And there will be a constant parade of the biggest, palest and most beautiful pink and white roses you've ever seen gracing it.

But for now, pink carnations will do.

Mimi

 

Image:  this is glamorous

 

How To Make Stem Glass Flower Arrangements

Looking for an elegant and economical way to decorate for a party?  

How about small flower arrangements in stem glasses?

 

Image:via Waterford Event Rentals

To Make Stem Glass Flower Arrangements You'll Need:

• Stem glasses (same or mixed in varying sizes)
• Fresh or fake flowers (of your choice)
• Hardy flowers (carnations, orchids, mums if placing under glass)
• Water
• Candles (optional)
• Glass marbles (optional)

 

Tulip Arrangement (Above)

• Cut a bunch of tulips all the same length.
• Bind them gently with a loose rubber band. then cover it with  raffia near the bottom of the stems.
• Place them in a goblet  of water.
• Place cymbidium orchids at the base of glasses  (optional).

 

Image:   Annie Selke

Upside Down Stem Glass Flower Arrangement 

• Get a group of heavy stem glasses of varying sizes and shapes.
• Cut the blossoms off of several hardy flowers and cover with an inverted stem glass.
• Place a medium-sized pillar candle on the base of the glass. The base must have sufficient space to hold the candle especially if you plan to light it.
• Place these arrangements along the table.

 

Image:  BHG

Mixed Flowers Under Glass

• Same directions as above minus the candles.
• Use different glass shapes to bring more visual interest to this flower arrangement.
• Use a single color or mix them up.
• Place them on a tray. A silver tray would be pretty with vintage style glasses.

 

Image:    Wildflower Weddings

Huge Arrangement in Martini Glass 

• This flower arrangement probably has a small saucer or dish sitting on the rim of the glass hodling a small piece of wet floral floam.
• If you were making a smaller flower arrangement you could just stick the stems into the water.
• Cut the flower stems short and place them into the floral foam or water. Think carefully before you place each flower if using floral foam. The foam will begin to crumble if pierced with flower stems too much.
• Optional:  Place a few glass marbles at base of glass then fill with water if using foam.

 

Image:   J Peterson Garden Design

Upside Down Champagne Glass Flower Arrangement

• Same as the other upside glass floral arrangements except the champagne glasses have a wider bowl which can hold larger flowers such as chrysanthemums.
• A pillar candle or  small floating one  can be placed in small dish on the base of the stem glass.

 

These are just a few ideas of how these stem glass flower arrangements can be incorporated into your next tablescape for entertaining.

What would you do with stem glasses and flowers to create yet another look?

Mimi

 

Linking to:

2805

Commond Ground

My Romantic Home

Stuff and Nonsense

At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

The Charm of Home

Chic On A Shoestring

The Not so Functional Housewife

No Minimalist Here

Primp

Simply Sweet Home

 

Top 5 January Wedding Bouquets

I selected white bridal bouquets for January, because I was thinking of snow.

Top 5 Designer Bridal Bouquets for January Weddings.

1) Image:  Jane Packer 

Love this one for the stunning use of the two-toned foliage. Quite unusual for a white bridal bouquet.

 

2) Image:     Preston Bailey

A great mix of white blooms in this glamorous bouquet. Perfect for a Hollywood glam theme.

 

3) Image:   Jennifer Bergman 

 Each flower really sings in this elegant and large bouquet. The rhinestone buckle is a lovely touch.

 

4) Image:    Preston Bailey

This bouquet above was made with individual rose petals to form one gigantic flower.

 

5) Image:   JL Designs 

Love the lacy handle and the green border around this amazing white bridal bouquet.

Which one of these snow white beauties is your favorite?

Mimi

 

How To Build Faith in Yourself

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Martin Luther King Jr.  

 

Faith - a strong or unshakeable belief in something, especially without proof or evidence  (World English Dictionary)

 

It's so much easier to think about doing something if you know it will be successful. But is that really faith?

To me, faith is knowing you don't know how to do something then going out and trying anyway.

Though I did event decor for friends and colleagues for 10 years, I never arranged a fresh flower in my life until we started Fly Me To The Moon Florists.

I truly am a self-taught floral designer. I read every book I could find and jumped right in.

You get to decide where you are on the risk monitor. But I think you know in your heart when you've got a skill or a talent. You don't have to start big. Just take the first step.

You don't have to be crazy like me. Take a course on the subject. Read all about it. Then when you're ready, go ahead and take that first step. You never know where it might take you.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see."      NIV

 

Have you ever decided to step out on faith and do something? Tell me about it.

Mimi

Image:  Fly Me To The Moon Florists

5 Tips For Displaying Decorative Birdcages

You've seen these decorative birdcages everywhere. If you're like me, you probably own a few. But once you buy them, what are you supposed to do with them?

Here are 5 tips  for displaying those decorative birdcages:

Ruffled

1) Hang them from a tree like a chandelier. Hang many of them. They can transform a hum drum tree into a work of art in seconds.

Well probably not seconds. There is the attaching of the wire or cord to the birdcages so they hang straight, getting of the ladder, and getting someone to climb the ladder or at least hold it...

 

Ruffled

2)  Fill it with flowers and use it as a centerpiece for a special event or wedding.  Use a great contrasting color for the flowers so they don't blend in with the birdcage.

 

Miss Gracie's House

3) Get one or two exquisite blooms and place them in a simple vase or jar in your home.  Large headed roses, peonies, chrysanthemums or a small bouquet of your favorite flowers would add a nice touch to any room.

 

via Weddings on the French Riviera

4)  Place a wide-mouthed vase of water in the birdcage and just stick flowers into it.  After you place each flower step back and see where the next flower should go.  That way you won't end up with a giant blob sticking out of a cage. 

 

Wedding Bee

5) If the cage is MADE OF METAL you can put lighted candles in it.  Do not try this if the birdcage is made of wood. It might look nice, but not for long. Battery-operated candles would work well in any type of birdcage.

What ideas do you have for decorating these birdcages?  

Mimi

 

Linking to:

Simply Sweet Home

Common Ground

My Romantic Home

Stuff and Nonsense

At The Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

The Not So Functional Housewife

No Minalist Here

Have You Counted Your Blessings Today?

Why is it that we spend more time thinking about what's going wrong rather right in our lives?

Between Christmas and New Year's I know of 5 people who died. All within my circle of friends and loved ones. Three truly hit home.

One was a friend who was terminally ill. The second, the daughter of a dear friend. The third was my cousin's stepson. These last two were quick and totally unexpected.

So, besides traveling for the holidays, I spent time trying to meet the needs of those left behind.

The funerals of my friend Laura, who was terminally ill and Hassan were sad yet joyous. Celebrations of lives well-lived. Lives committed to helping others unconditionally. 

As I write, one of my best friend's mom is undergoing surgery for colon cancer. 

In the midst of it all, I'm tempted to feel sad and think that life is so unfair.

But instead, I'm reminded how grateful I need to be.

Grateful for the incredible husband, family and friends I have.

Grateful to spend my days with flowers.

Grateful for food to eat and a roof over my head.

Grateful to spend time doing the things I like to do in a country where all this is possible.

So rather than curl up into a ball and weep. I count my blessings.

I hope you do too!

Mimi

 

Image:   Fly Me To The Moon Florists