Oh So Pretty Flowers!

I first came across Saipua's floral designs on the blog Sunday Supper, which sometimes features beautiful tablescapes along with amazing recipes. I have no association with them, they're not paying me to do this post, but I am so much a fan of their flowers I feel compelled to share them with you! Saipua is based in Brooklyn and started out selling handmade soap(still available) but began doing flowers in 2004. They do some of the most beautiful bouquets and arraignments I've ever seen. Their style is completely unlike that of chain florists, selecting a mix of traditional and non-traditional plants for a look that is wilderness tamed. Designs feature such blooms as dahlias, English heritage roses, and (my favorite) ranunculus. You'll not find the tired and overused carnations & baby's breath here. A bridal bouquet by Saipua looks as thought it was just freshly gathered from the prairie or from a Victorian English garden. They feel like they were plucked out of an impressionist painting. They are simply dreamy!

What I'm Working on Now

Today, among other things, I'm finishing up a memory quilt which was commissioned by a local mom who found it too tough to part with here son's out-grown baby clothes. All the adorable little onesies and t-shirts which hold special memories have been cut in to squares to make the quilt top. We have a blue/green/tan color pallet, and since blue really dominates, I've chosen a light pistachio flannel for the backing. It will be finished off with blue binding and hand-tied with a blue yarn. It's a fun project to work on in between all the wedding stuff.

I want to go to there!

If you had unlimited money for your honeymoon, where would you go? In MN I'm about as far from the ocean as you can get so I'm always dreaming of the beach. But I'd also like to go somewhere a little more exotic. An ocean side spa sounds about the right pace for me. The photos below are from the Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa. It's located on Arossim Beach in South Goa, India. Looks about perfect!

Rainy Day Wedding

It's drizzling outside in Minneapolis today which got me thinking about rainy day weddings. My own wedding reception was supposed to be outdoors at our family cabin but a week of rain prior made the roads too muddy to pass. We, of course, still had a fantastic wedding day but waking up to the rain that morning, we may have been the worlds grumpiest bride & groom! If you're having an out door wedding, you've probably got an "in case of rain" plan. Even if you're doing everything indoors, no one really wants rain on their wedding day. But before you break out your Alanis Morissette CD to wail away your misery, think about breaking out a cute umbrella or parasol for some outdoor photos that will have your singing in the rain like Gene Kelly!

Even the gloomiest of days can make for a beautiful photo if your smiles are shining like the sun.



Paper parasols are inexpensive, available in almost any color or pattern, & can be purchased in bulk. DIY it & hand paint one with a beautiful monogram or calligraphy. You can buy them here.



Of course the Creme de la Creme of fancy umbrellas come from Bella Umbrellas. Their pagoda style umbrellas are to die for & you can even rent out umbrellas for the whole wedding party. Image from Green Wedding Shoes



Even in the sunshine, a lace or paper parasol is a fabulous addition to a beach wedding.



But if the rain is really pouring down you can still kick of your satin slippers for a pair of cute rubber rain boots & go puddle jumping.

What I'm Working on Now

Well it was a marvelous 3-day weekend but now it's time to get back to work! Here's what I'm working on now; a wedding dress from a vintage Vogue dress pattern. We chose silk charmeuse fabric which drapes wonderfully.

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you are having a wonderful 3-day weekend! Ours has been very busy, getting together with family and friends. We are helping a friend move this morning then later this afternoon we are hosting a good old-fashioned picnic with several friends at one of the city's lakes. In that spirit here's a storyboard for doing a picnic wedding and reception! Enjoy!