It had been on my mind for a while to do ‘covid’ masks – I altered the masks that I bought at the Mill End Store to get the right shape and had a lot of fun designing these. Two masks have a woodland theme – ziptying the piece of bark or wood to the frame did the trick. The pale yellow mask did not follow the criteria for a covid mask, but it was a fun shape to develop and you get to see Isis’s beautiful smile!

Thank you Ted Mishima for the great pictures.

And thank you Isis Morton for modeling the masks!

(more…)

Two years ago my photographer friend Theresa Bear suggested to do a photo shoot with Rojo The Llama. She had discovered a llama farm, Mtn Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas, where Rojo and the other llamas and alpacas had been trained to be therapy animals; she approached the owner who enthusiastically agreed to do a photo shoot at the time – it was a fantastic experience.

In the last 2 years Theresa and I have done many botanical couture photo shoots. Earlier this year she came up with the idea to flower these therapy animals. Together with Gwen, who made some of the designs and styled all the shoots , we went to the farm to do 3 different photo shoots!

We soon will have the prints for sale through “BuyOlympia” and via “PaperandInkStudio”

So here we go!

(more…)

A couple of months ago I was invited  to be an educator for the Fleursociety Design Summit 2020!

I am over the moon excited to be teaching alongside such a powerful line up that includes so many florists that I really enjoy learning from.
We are going to be sharing some FUN and amazing knowledge over 6 DAYS!

We will be covering design topics involving foam-free mechanics, open form installations, elevated designs, suspended installations, tablescapes, romantic bouquets, and so much more. Basically, all the current knowledge and skills that are trending so that we can attract and book those dreamy clients!

GET YOUR TICKET NOW!

For the first time ever, this Summit is offered FREE.

(more…)

Earlier this week I wrote a post on how to design a fascinator with pipe cleaners. I wanted to elaborate on a method that allows to keep any design – with no water source, such as flower crowns, corsages, boutonniers, masks, headpieces, etc…- hydrated for 5 days or even longer.

Two years ago I attended a workshop taught by the magical German designer Gregor Lersch. We learned how to create a hydration chamber for designs that had no water source.

(more…)

Small fascinators are fun alternatives to flower crowns. There are many different ways that they can be designed. Recently I explored how to make the base with pipe cleaners.

(more…)

One of the local growers at the Portland Flower Market is a fantastic hybridizer for phalaenopsis orchids. Orchidaceae is located in Walla Walla, WA and we are so lucky that they sell a large selection of their gorgeous orchid plants here. Every year in the summer they have an excess of blooming plants; we benefit from being able to buy bunches of their magnificent orchids. I took advantage of this opportunity to design this orchid headpiece, fascinator and earrings.

It was another fabulous collaboration with photographer Theresa Bear, stylist Gwen Severson and model Sarah Jane Dillon.

(more…)

Spring flowers are such favorites! Love using the flowers and textures from the local growers. Here are some samples!

I made these during the confinement weeks – so we could not get models to wear them. I would drop them off at Theresa Bear ‘s  porch and we would visit, while social distancing. After I left, she photographed them in her beautiful studio.

Thank you  my friend for these exquisite pictures!

(more…)

A few weeks ago we did a photo shoot in my garden with photographer Ted Mishima and model Azelle Chang. It was the first time in many months that we got together to collaborate and it was such a treat to be working together again.

A couple of years ago I had seen a picture of a beautiful delicate fascinator that was designed by a talented jeweler. I was intrigued by the shape and figured out how to create the base and then decorated it with delicate birds nest ferns, pansies, violas, blossoms of allium christophii, blueberries and ripsalis.

It was delightful to wrap the long scarf,made with midollino sticks and bind wire and decorated with delicate botanicals, in so many different ways. We loved all the different options!

The mask/headpiece was decorated with gorgeous clematis, pansies  columbines and many seasonal textures.

(more…)

It all started with an idea to decorate a wine bottle; the base was kinesio tape; many small textures and a few flowers were glued onto it. It was easy to pull the tape off the bottle and adhere it first to a shoe and then to a piece of fruit. And of course, the options are endless!

(more…)

Thank you Ted Mishima for the beautiful pictures and Azelle Chang for being a fabulous model!

(more…)