Blooms & Company

Ilona Smithkin on Color

2012-02-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

This cute lady continues to be an inspiration to me. I love how vibrant she is.. in more than one way and how she explains things like only and artist could.

enjoy!

For the Month of Love

2012-02-07T11:38:00.001-08:00

Today I love.. the creativity of others

2012-02-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

This afternoon has been a delight as I have strolled thru the creative work of others. Its such a great way to spur your own imagination and to help remind you that your limits are endless. How invigorating it is to see the colors and shapes and innovation of the artists of our day.

David LaChapelle's Modern Still Lives

strange and quirky and I love it...

modern mixed with old world style

See more here..

http://flavorwire.com/256632/odd-beautiful-still-lifes-by-david-lachapelle

the january's weren't full of the blues around here

2012-02-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

just full of blue hydrangea, plum colored callas and green cymbidium orchids

Congrats to Brooks and Jamie!

Funeral flowers can be pretty and they don't have to include the word "spray"! This wreath was such a treat to design. Full of yummy smelling garden roses, privet berry, hydrangea, hanging amaranthus and ranunculas

ruffly red roses are always a romantic classic

Spring is just around the corner, today I had the most gorgeous flowers to work with, garden roses, tulips, privet berries and maidenhair ferns.

Lush whites and greens are so fresh for spring

isn't this flower just delicious?!

Helleborus

how amazing are these delicate little flowers?

and last but not least we cant forget that the month of LOVE has finally arrived

loving the colors playing off each other in this arrangement

2012-01-31T16:44:00.000-08:00

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Chic Valentines Decor on Studio 5

2012-01-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to go back and visit Studio 5 with a few little Valentine's ideas. Here is the segment in case you missed it.

Chic Valentine's Day Decor

January 24th, 2012 @ 7:30am

Valentine's Day is approaching and many of you are probably craving a little Valentine's inspiration.Brynn Larsen with Blooms & Co. shares 5 ways to add a little love to your home this Valentine season.

Valentine Wreath
Search the internet for fun, vintage Valentine images, then simply print, cut and paste to a heart wreath form. I always like to add a little ribbon and glitter to finish it off!
Ombre Candles
Simply purchase candles in all different Valentine colors, from Dark red to pink. Then spray paint your candle holders to match and display them dark to light for a trendy hombre effect.

Ombre Flower Centerpiece
I used the same idea of the ombre candles, only displayed different Valentine shades of flowers, from dark to light.

Valentine Table Runner
Cover a long strip of felt with freezer paper, then place your stencil on the paper and cut out any design you choose.
Mason Jar Valentines
Mason jars are the perfect way to package a girlfriend Valentine gift.

· GET 10% OFF VALENTINE FLOWER ORDERS AT BLOOMS & CO. IF YOU ORDER BY FEBRUARY 7. JUST MENTION STUDIO 5!

Ilona Royce Smithkin.. I adore you

2012-01-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

I was so inspired by this darling woman yesterday. I want to spend a day with her and learn from her how to love life and how to be content in myself the way she is. She is my new "She-ro" as Maya Angelou would say.

"I cant buy green bananas anymore"

such an artists way of looking at the world.

Playing with the Fall

2011-10-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the

earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot

fall is in the air

“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

William Cullen Bryant

hydrangea, pink snowberries, green ranunculas, anemones,echinacea, and fall roses

gilded and glittered

Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year. ~Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, October 2010

Halloween Belt

ruffled and layered and knit

scarves to warm up a blustery fall day

Inspired

2011-10-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

everyday I look at flowers

and everyday I am amazed by their beauty

Their petals,

their color

smell

texture

big or small

alone or bunched together

they are beautiful, each and every one

here are works by other designers that inspired me today:

DJ & Ashley Schwartz Wedding

2011-09-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

DJ & ASHLEY SCHWARTZ

LOGANDALE, NV

Traveling with flowers is always an interesting challenge but this wedding was well worth it! Creating the florals for this beautiful wedding was a blast. Everything Ashley picked was fabulous and it came together so well. I was lucky enough to attend this wedding as well so I got to enjoy the stunning scenery as the sun set and the lights on the chandeliers started to twinkle. It was a perfect night under the Nevada sky.

Ashley was a STUNNING bride and her wedding party was just as fabulous. What set this wedding apart was the attention to detail. I was amazed at all the well thought out and well executed elements included in this wedding. Laura Stagg at http://forevermoreevents.com/ did an amazing job at making sure everything at this event was beautiful and that it went smoothly all night.

I love the personalized saying on the marquee

More wonderful moments from the night

eclectic teapots and flowers stacked on vintage books

All the fabulous photos were provided by Jimmy Bishop at Gideon Photography

http://www.gideonphoto.com

Snowberries Are HERE!

2011-09-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

The changing of the seasons brings so many new flowers to design with.
I am loving the fresh energy that comes from a change of seasonal flowers.
Snowberries are one of my very favorites to work with.. and they are finally here.

Today I picked up rose hip and fall leaves
I cant wait to get my hands on them!

This Just in: BABY GIFTS

2011-09-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Adorable vintage highchair with handmade baby blankets
So many darling patterns and fabrics

One of my all time favorite items is the Piggy Bank
What a great gift for an expecting Mom!

THESE ARE THE BEST!
Flat Iron Covers
Great for packing a hot flat iron or curling iron.
I LOVE MINE!
also, new designs coming soon

Organize and Spruce Up Your Space with Tanika Ray

2011-09-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

While working fast and furiously on two weddings, the shop was chaotic and messy and not much more could be said for the state of my appearance, three stylish ladies walked into the shop. They were full of energy, chattering quickly and swirling around the shop. I could barely keep up. As they were ordering flowers I started to realize these ladies were special, they were from HGTV. I felt the pressure immediately and was suddenly very aware of the HUGE mess in my work space. I also realized the flowers they were ordering would be used for the reveal of a few houses for their show. It was such a fun experience to work with them and to get a small peek into their world.

Tanika Ray the host of the show was so darling and showed my little shop so much love. She visited again for jewelry and bags and then asked if she could feature the show in a segment she was doing for the Daily Dish. I was ecstatic! She also included Carmen Miranda's Antiques and Retro Rose which are great little stores right down the street from me. I love my new downtown community, so many fun places to discover. Many thanks to Tanika for featuring the shop!

Here is the link to the segment in case you missed it!

Organize and Spruce Up Your Space with Tanika Ray

Fun Features

2011-09-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

This past month brought a few fun surprises to the shop. I had the opportunity to be on Studio 5 to share some ideas on decorating with ribbon. It was a little nerve racking, exciting and fun to see the "behind the scenes" in live television. Brooke Walker could not have been more darling to work with, she is a doll! It was such a fun project to work on. I loved LOVED the chandelier and I cant wait to hang it in the shop.(I just finished one with sparkles and spiders for Halloween) Here is the link to the show and the project descriptions.

Alter Piece

The backdrop for your ceremony can be one of the most important elements of your wedding decor. There are many ways to make this beautiful and dramatic without spending a lot of money. Here I used an aspen tree trunk and stapled (or nailed) strands of cream colored ribbon into the back on the trunk, spacing the ribbon evenly. I kept the color palette neutral here but you can use any color or combination of colors. I also used these amazing wooden flowers so that I could attach them a few days before hand to save some time on the wedding day. It also looks fabulous with fresh flowers attached to the main tree trunk. This can create a great backdrop for the ceremony, pictures or to hide part of a venue that doesn't fit your overall wedding aesthetic. It would also make a great impact behind a food or cake table for a shower or party.
Rose Belt
I love the texture on this rose belt. It's the perfect way to accessorize your bridesmaids or flower girls. All it requires is a wired ribbon and a bit of hand stitching. Pull the wire on one side of the ribbon and gather as you pull it. Roll the gathered ribbon to create these little roses. Hand stitch the back to secure. Attach to a piece of felt cut or a wide ribbon in the desired shape and size. You can attach a small piece of Velcro in the back if you're using felt to fast the belt around your waist. If its on a ribbon you can simply tie it in the back.
Aspen Shepherd Hooks

I am so excited about this organic twist to traditional shepherd hooks. I used small aspen trees and secured them into pots with Plaster of Paris. They look great with different sizes and colors of ribbon hanging from the top. I attached the ribbon and kept it in place by placing a nail near the top of the branch, which can also keep other decor in place that you want to hang from the stick. They can add a great pop of color to your party or reception. They also provide a way to hang decor like lanterns, candles and picture frames.
Twine and Ribbon Wrapped Vases

Everyone loves the romance and warmth candles can add to your wedding or party. I am always looking for new ways to incorporate candles into my design. Combining ribbon and candles is a great way to get a new fresh, personalized look. Tall vases wrapped with ribbon or twine (or both) can be a fabulous centerpiece alternative to flowers. Mixing textures like twine and satin ribbon adds that extra element that makes the design rich and multi- dimensional. Sparkle ribbon and twine are a fun combo as well. On this grouping I wrapped each vase with varying widths of ribbon and twine, securing with a dab of hot glue. I also added the same wooden blooms that I used on the alter piece.
Bridesmaid Shoe Clips

Ribbon can even add to the small details of your wedding. This shoe clip is a fabulous way to add an element of matching bridesmaid attire without being too "match-y". Everyone could wear their own shoes and just add these clips. They are also great for everyday wear.
These clips were made with Dupioni silk ribbon. I took six 2" pieces of ribbon and stacked them on top of each other. With scissors I clipped from each end towards the center into ¼"strips without clipping all the way to the center. I then wrapped them tightly with thread in the center and secured the thread with a needle. This makes a little bundle. I stacked two bundles on top of each other in an "X" so that there would not be a break in the design. At this point press and fan the ribbon out so that the strips are evenly distributed into a circular design. A pretty jeweled earring with the clip-on back removed was glued onto the ribbon. This can be attached to a clip or to a piece of ribbon wrapped around the toe of a shoe and secured with a needle and thread. Attach to any shoe of your choice.
Ribbon Chandelier

So elegant and so simple. These simple chandeliers can take on so many different looks, from elegant and romantic to whimsical and playful. I was inspired by a wire wreath frame that I had in the shop. I started hanging different widths of ribbon from the frame until it was packed full of ribbon. Then I gather the ribbon part way down, tied it with fishing line and pulled it up inside to create the draping effect. I embellished with sparkly berries and silver sparkly fern branches. To hide the metal frame I attached a satin ribbon around the top with hot glue. Get creative and add any little extras you would like to create your desired look. You can hang as is or hang a light inside for a little something extra. These chandeliers are great to hang from trees for an outdoor wedding, over food or cake tables or in your home where you would like to add a fun detail.

WHATS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO DECORATE WITH RIBBON???

ID LOVE TO KNOW!

Inspired

2011-08-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

“Every artist was first an amateur.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a wonderful thought. We all have to start somewhere and we cant compare our early abilities at our art to a masters work.

WHATS HOLDING YOU BACK???

Get creative, start creating
dont hold yourself back

be inspired

inspire others

do art
for art's sake

Brooke's Bouquet

2011-08-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

I forgot to include some pics of Brooke's Bridal Bouquet and a few of the wedding in the last post. Here are a few until I get the real pictures in

Large Arrangement for the Bar

Maidenhair fern, garden roses, jasmine, callas, billy balls, hydrandea, star of bethlehem, ranunculus and veronica
with grey satin ribbon and pearls to personalize the bouquet.
Brooke's signature accessory - Pearls.

Centerpiece in place at Millcreek Inn

Me and my darling intern Hannah hang the aspen branch, ribbons and fresh flowers for the ring ceremony
Hannah was a HUGE help that day. I don't know how I would have managed without her.

Store Happenings

2011-08-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

The last week or two have brought hustling and bustling around the shop. I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful brides (including my cute sister) Congrats to Brooke, Molly and Anna. I cant wait to share photos soon. While the shop was a mess of flowers and leaves and broken stems on the floor a few designers from HGTV come into the shop to order flowers for a segment on their show. I hope they let me know when it will air! I was excited that they somehow found their way to my little shop in the city, even if they did see us mid-hot mess-wedding-production.

Anna had a bouquet of lush greens and whites and small buds to represent the new start of marriage

ferns, veronica, ranunculus, hypericum berry and rosemary

As the summer season is coming to an end I am loving adding fall elements to the daily designs in the shop

These photos don't do this fabulous local made jewelry justice!

I am so thrilled to have jewelry by Michelle Frampton in the store. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't walk past a pair of earrings or an asymmetrical necklace and think I NEED THOSE FOR MYSELF!

HGTV host Tanika Ray bought this necklace for herself when she visited.

Brand new RIDICULOUSLY adorable piggy banks

wall art, paper weights and journals

glass and metal roses

chalkboard tag and bird wall clip

light weight scarf perfect for fall

hand wall hook. one of my faves.

new shop friend and necklace model

Blooms & Co. Open for Business

2011-07-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Every summer is a busy time for a florist, this summer has been busy and hectic in new and exciting ways. After a short apprenticeship in New York City at a very high end florist I decided it was time for me to take the leap and start building my own business. After looking and looking for a space to set up shop the perfect little retail space opened up downtown. My heart did a cartwheel in my chest when I first saw a picture of it. I knew this was the place for my little shop. After a month of construction, painting and many late nights the place finally started to look like a real store. Seeing my dream become a reality has been wonderful, energizing, fabulous and a lot bit scary. Once everything was in place I put my apron on and got my arms into buckets of flowers and I finally felt like "I was home".

The support of friends and especially family has been overwhelming. It has left me overwhelmed with graditute. I am a lucky girl to have such a fabulous support network to help me get thru time of stress and worry as I freefall into my new venture. Many of those people came to help us celebrate the Grand Opening of the new store. It was such a fun night and I was so excited to have friends and family here to be a part of such a great evening. Thank you to everyone that came and to all that helped behind the scenes. I have a million photos to upload that I have been snapping during the whole process.

I was lucky enough to have David Habben redesign my logo. He did a FABULOUS job and I could not be happier with what he designed for me. Check him out at www.habbenink.com. He will also be featured at an upcoming gallery stroll at the shop, which I am SO excited for.

The new logo looks great on my front desk!

A few shots from the store

Flowers from the Grand Opening

I forgot to take pictures the night of the opening due to the frantic state of stress I was in before the party started so I snapped a few after the fact.

KIM BAKE, A FEAST FOR THE EYES

2010-06-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

Every florist loves to hear the words "I trust you do what you think would be best" Its such a treat and it makes the best environment for creativity to take place. I had such a wonderful time working on these unique flowers for the most amazing bride in the world. Her style and creativity always leave me wanting more. She embodies the notion of staying true to one's self. People told her she had fall colors in the spring time but those colors were most representative of her. It came together wonderfully and it still fits the season. Always remember when planning your wedding to include your own style, your own flair and make it a reflection of who you are as a couple. Don't be afraid to try something new, to break a rule or two.

A special thanks to Becky at Ravenberg Photography for these amazing photos!

2010-03-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

today im CRAVING spring time

its barely poking its proof that its close thru the ground..

im ready for peonies

birds nests

and pussy willow

bring on the spring.

BLOOMS GOES LIVE!

2010-03-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

THE WEBSITE IS FINALLY HERE AFTER MUCH ANTICIPATION!

Please have a look and enjoy!

www.bloomsandco.com

its time to FLOURISH!

IN NEED OF WEEKLY FLOWERS?

2010-03-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

Blooms & Co. offers fresh weekly flowers to add beauty to your office surroundings! Contact me for more information and to start receiving fresh deliveries EVERY week. Its a great way to create a lovely, warm first impression for your clients.

Client gifts are also available for order,which help develop lasting relationships and help them know that you appreciate their business.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the NEW WEBSITE!

2010-03-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

Finally after much anticipation (and confusion) on my part the new BLOOMSANDCO.COM will be up in running shortly! I can't wait until it finally goes LIVE! In the meantime here are some fresh blooms to enjoy on this snowy Friday afternoon.

Vibrant Calla Bouquet from Brook Bodell Smith's Wedding

Im so thankful she shared her pictures with me!

A FEW BEHIND THE SCENES SHOTS

....enjoying the creative process....

fueled by diet coke

Chase and Ashley Centerpieces in the beginning stages

Finished Product

I love working with garden roses

A pastel yellow cake with delicate white flowers to summon the SPRING

Hoping for Sparkly Winter to be in the past!

Until then enjoy the snow but keep the fresh spring flowers coming!

Chase and Ashley's Peachy Wedding Day!

2009-12-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

FINALLY pictures of the best wedding yet, my brothers! He and his cute wife Ashley tied the knot two weeks before my sister left on her mission so it was a very busy, fun, exciting times for many reasons. We had so many reasons to celebrate. We gained a family member and sent one out on loan for a year and half. There are so many delightful pictures to share, so here are a few to start. Watch for more posts as there are more pictures to come!

Ashley picked beautiful colors and flowers for me to work. It was a treat to smell garden roses the whole time I designed! Its easy to work when you have a fabulous color palette to work with. The best part about her flowers is she picked flowers that COMPLIMENT HER SKIN TONE which makes each photo so beautiful. Its always smart to think about the tones of the flowers you pick and how they will look against your skin. It makes a huge difference! I hope you enjoy them as much as I DO!

They are wonderful photos taken by Lindsey Stewart at GREEN APPLE PHOTOGRAPHY

she was so cute and fun to work with. Be Sure to check her out!

Pomander Balls lined the walkway to the reception.

David Austin Garden Rose Bridal Bouquet

CONGRATS YOU TWO

I HOPE YOUR LIFE TOGETHER IS WONDERFUL

Trend Spotting: Are "Balloon" and "Babys Breath" still a wedding no-no?

2009-12-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

Its true that trends fade fast and die hard but they always tend to come back with a new twist. Although they are blacklisted for a time they resurface with a vibrant new energy that creates a frenzied buzz that starts to appear in almost every wedding as people too scurry to try to be the first with a new idea. Or, in this case, an old idea revisited. The trick to bringing back what used to be a trend faux pas is to update the idea or trend with a fresh new take, tweeking it to fit modern times and to not use too many and once. Add a fun trend or two among other classics to ballance your overall wedding look.

Balloons...

seem to be once again "on the rise" but they are bigger, brighter and cleaner this time around. NO balloon archways made from multicolor, pattern printed, irridescent balloons. Just big round, simple but dramatic balloons.

THIS

NOT

THIS

NOT

THIS

and PLEASE never

THIS

EVER!!!

Baby's Breath...

is another term that was a once naughty word when it came to my flower vocabulary. Now I am wondering if it is time to reconsider my snobbish stance on the use of babys breath. I think these bouquets are simple, sweet and very pretty. What a great way to create a romantic, vintage feel. I like the simple, airy feeling of these pretty arrangements. I think they key here is using Baby's Breath alone to create the airy, soft look. Using it with other flowers such a roses creates an old school- out of style-outdated look that brings chills to my spine. chills equivelent to the kind I get when I see a bridal bouquet made of silk baby blue, yellow and brown flowers or wedding guests in jeans. Here are a few ideas of the new way to use the once out-lawed Baby's Breath

but please dont revisit the infamous updo+Baby's Breath combo

lets leave that to photoalbumns from the late 80's and early 90's

more sampling of trendy eye candy

OC Tanner Grand Opening

2009-11-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

Much has taken place since the last time I blogged. Life has finally slowed enough that I have a moment to catch up on the events of the last month or so. I recently had an amazing oppotunity to do the flowers for the Grand Opening of O.C. Tanner. The building they renovated is amazing and I was thrilled and terrified to take on such an important job. The theme was Vivaldi's Four Seasons which gave me the freedom to work with many colors and flowers. Each floor of the old Hansen Planetarium became a different season and the outdoor space behind the building became a winter wonderland.

New O.C. Tanner Building

First Floor: FALL

Second floor: Summer

The Wall Blooms in the Historic Lobby

This project was so fun to see come to life. After planning for months and coming up with different ideas on how to make it come together we finally were able to put our ideas to the test. The guys worked very hard carting very heavy water logged floral foam up two floors. We built the structure and waterproofed the best we could as to not damage the HAND EMBROIDERED carpet. We held everything together with chicken wire and then we began filling in with flowers. It was very hard work and I couldn't have done any of it without my AMAZING team of helpers. They were an incredible help and they kept me sane and calm. They were so great during many stressful time crunches, long hours and very demanding physical labor.

Beginning to fill in with flowers and moss. The wall is supported by a custom built container that was painted and silver leafed to compliment the colors of the building.

Finished product.. hundreds of flowers later

Third Floor: Spring

WINTER on the Patio

These are just some of the amazing photos that I received from the event. Laci from Laci Davis Photography was nice enough to fit me in on short notice. She took incredible photos and she was a delight to work with. I was very thankful that she was able to use her talent to capture the flowers in a way that I would never be able to do. She has amazing photos and christmas card ideas on her website lacidavisphotography.com. Check her out she is wonderful!

When this job was over I have never been so exhausted. It felt so good to haveFINALLY completed such hard work, on a time crunch, with little rest. Thank you to my awesome team that helped me pull this off. I could have never accomplished this without your help. Mike,Teresa, Jen, Margarita, Ben, Paul, Chase, Ashley, Alyson and Heather thank you for putting aside all that you had going on to spend time processing roses, carrying heavy containers, and going without breaks and sleep for many days. You guys are incredible!

Playing Catch-up

2009-09-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have so much catching up to do. The creative mess in my head is sometimes hard for me to keep up with. My ideas and to-do lists form while I wait to fall asleep, wash my hair or during my communte to work. Starting a blog has been one of those ideas for quite sometime. Finally I can check it off my list. Now my list says "uapdate blog" still, a good start. So here are are some photos from past events that took place long before the start of my little blog. I hope, in the future, to update each event as they happen. Thank you all for letting me be a part of your big day.

Chase and Ashley's Wedding dinner

Chase and Ashley

Head table

Jessica and Adam

Jamie and Dustin

Red Butte

A Time to Flourish

2009-09-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

I have always believed that there is a time and a season for everything. When the timing is right most things seem to fall into place with the perfect fit. So it must be the time for flowers and business to come together because everything has been falling into place quite nicely lately. I decided that it must also be the time to start a blog for my little business. I will have to play catch up and post pictures of past events, probably terribly out of order, but its a good start.

almond branches, fern curls, hydrangea, dahlias, callas, roses, callas and garden roses

fit for a farewell garden party