Jose

What is there to say?
The man is insanely talented.
He is a good person.
He has passion for his work.
I love how he makes my flowers look...hehe.











This Jose Villa Workshop was featured on SMP this week.
Jill LaFleur and I worked on styling this together...a seriously fun, creative and inspiring endeavor. Wedding bells! Rope and Lace, and Poppies with Jasmine! I will post some of my favorites here later in the week. Too much goodness to pass up.

Photography - Jose Villa
Coordination and styling - Jill LaFleur
Flowers and Design - Me!
Hair and Make-up - Mar of TEAM hair and makeup
Cake - Erica O'Brien

growing pains

Things are getting NUTTY here. The UPS guys hates me...I'm pretty sure of it. The other day he literally unloaded his whole truck onto our doorstep. All the other UPS men in the neighborhood were honking and teasing him as the drove by.
A definite sign of a busy season to come.(note to all my 2011 brides - we are gonna knock these weddings out of the park into outerspace with flower gorgeousness!) It's scary and exciting. I have been looking forward to these months of creating for most of the winter. I have also been spending tons of time with my littlest and most enthusiastic mini-accomplice - Alice.
She just enrolled herself at preschool...seriously her idea. But it does look REALLY fun. They have chickens, a garden, easels outside, musical instruments galore, scooters, basically heaven on earth for 3 year olds. She told me, "Don't worry mom, you can come pick me up when I'm done. I still love you, even when I'm at pre-school."

shucks.

i love you little a-scicle! My big girl.

Once wed and Intern?

I guess that despite how many times I promise myself I will be a good little blogger and write something to you all a couple times a week - I always fall off the wagon, before I even get going. If only they had a way to do hands free blogging!!! I'm sure there's an app for that. Or they're working on it somewhere.

I will purchase toute suite as soon as it becomes available. Then we can get crackin' around here. OR I could hire an INTERN!!! Anyone interested? Let me know.
You will see flowers on a daily basis. There will be coffee, there will be flowers, and more flowers, and hopefully more blog posts.
you get in touch if this sounds good.

So back to the real reason for this note. We are on Once Wed today!!! Check out this lovely little outdoor wedding inspiration. I friggin' LOVE the the bold juicy bouquet...and the little birds, so sweet!











Images by Jose Villa (I don't know if this couple was just gorgeous, or if Jose makes everyone look heavenly. Such a talented guy.)

Hair and Makeup by Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup

Flowers by Flowerwild - me

Dress by Saja

workshoppin'

Our workshop in feb was. a. dream.

And it rained, it poured, it was so soggy wet...but still my girls made insane flowers.
I am real proud!

But I can't share it all yet. Just a smidgen.
enjoy. Image by my dear friend Jose Villa.

belated

seems I'm always late at doing something. Like wishing someone special happy birthday (my bro...anthony. I love you!), spring cleaning, preschool planning (don't fret little A you are gonna go come Sept. I promise!!!), and a myriad of other things like this blog post. I have to admit that other than being kinda busy these last three weeks with various events and happenings, I was kind of not feeling like busying myself with blogging, tweeting, or any other virtual activity after seeing the sad sad devastation in Japan. It made me wonder how much what I am doing, and what I have to say really matters. And it made me feel far away.

One conversation I had with Alice went like this:
me: "It is so sad what is happening in Japan...all those families. The big wave..."
alice:" kids were there too?"
me:"yes."
alice" we should go there to help."
me: "Japan is really far away honey. And it's cold. They are sending professionals there. Like fireman and policemen to help all the people."
alice: "that's ok mom. I can get a jacket. And then we can go there and help. We should help them not be sad. Cause they are probably sad right now."
me: "yeah...you're right we should do our best."



But the truth is I don't know what to do...but bringing a smile, a lightness of being, a levity, a sense of sweetness, a recognition of new love helps a little...if only a little.

so, be kind, be loving, share, laugh, and build happiness in your home.
every little bit of warmth and love you can spread helps.

oh...and just a thought. But maybe we could all write a letter, or a note, or a line to someone we love, on PAPER with a pen or pencil, the old fashioned way. A hand written note -to keep under the pillow, or bed or in a box wrapped with ribbon. or wherever you chose to keep things that make a heart go "pitter patter."

These amazingly peaceful and serene images were created by my friend Jose Villa and Joy Thigpen for href="http://www.oncewed.com">Once Wed. They remind me of nature's beauty, fragility, intricacy, even though I know how harsh and cruel she can be. I hope you like them.
















kate

tidbit.

This is a sweet little something from Ingrid and Howard's wedding this summer. They are as sweet as they look. Full post after it is featured elsewhere!

San Ysidro ranch...can I please have permanent residence there by flower default? I don't need much just one of the little cottages will do, preferably with fruit trees, and lots of lavender and salvia for the hummingbirds.
Lucky me...I will be there for at least 3 fabulous weddings this season.









Images by Jose Villa

Where are you spring?

Good things are happening here...planning and plotting the feb. workshop. Sending big big voodoo vibes out to mother nature to bring me some hugely fat beautiful skunky frittilaria by the 24th. It could happen.
I would also like some
jasmine vine
lilac
muscari
begonia leaves of all kinds
hellebores
columbine
and alice would like a skateboard. (courtesy of Yo gabba gabba)
ok. got it?
good.

these are images from samples I did for the loveliest bride back in Oct. The beige roses make me want to cry and smile at the same time.








xokate

My little flower

This is my little flower- Alice...she is feeling so much better after coughing and being generally low energy this last week. That little smile of hers just kills me every time. After 3 days of feeling crumbly she asked me, "Mom, when can I have my job back?"
me: "what job sweetie, what do you mean?"
Alice: "you know...my friends, bernadette and chloe, and ballet, and nastics (gymnastics)?"
me: "oh THAT job...pretty soon girlie. All you gotta do is eat healthy and rest and you'll have your job back real soon."
She should be clocking in tomorrow!


These are some images of her favorite computer pastime. Hamming it up for the photo booth on my laptop. I actually had no idea she had figured out how to do this, and discovered literally hundreds of pictures of alice in there. "serious" alice, "mad" alice, "silly" alice, alice's toes, alice's feet, alice's stuff...

and that's all.
she is the prettiest flower of all.