Valentine’s Day 2012 2012-02-05

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner (Tuesday, February 14th) and in addition to our gorgeous willow & bloom offerings, for 2012 we are proud to announce that we teamed up with our friends at glassybaby and have created a modern and stylish signature arrangement in an assortment of colors sure to please your loved one.  Inspired by the candy hearts of our first childhood crush, each arrangement is sure to take the conversation further.

"All Mine" - red blooms in a soft pink glassybaby

"First Kiss" - pink blooms in a white glassybaby

"Love Bug" - white blooms in a lavender glassybaby

http://www.glassybaby.com  “A glassybaby is an artfully crafted, colorful, hand-blown glass vessel that can be used as a votive or vase. Made by hand in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle using a multi-layered glassblowing process, each glassybaby is unique with a thick, clear base and a distinctive yet simple, rounded form.”  Listed on Oprah’s Favorite Things, what could be better for Valentine’s Day than beautiful flowers presented in a stunning glassybaby that your sweetheart can enjoy for years to come?

Please remember that all of our containers and vases are limited in quantity, therefore we highly suggest that you get your Valentine’s Day orders placed before Friday, 2/10 for delivery on Monday, 2/13 or Tuesday, 2/14.  No custom orders can be taken on Valentine’s Day and each year we sell out  well ahead of the big day, but you can also find jewelry, chocolates, or loose wrap flowers by stopping into our retail shop, Petals on Fremont.

holiday centerpiece ideas 2011-12-12

It’s that wonderful time of year again where we anticipate fun gatherings with family and friends and the making of magical memories for all that grace our homes.

As a floral designer, of course I think that flowers help add polish and enhance the ambiance of  any room or event but it seems especially appropriate during holiday entertaining to turn it up a notch.

Below are some ideas that are anywhere from do-it-yourself pieces to more stylized presentations that willow & bloom would be more than happy to create for you!

Christmas ornament and leaf centerpiece

This is an easy way to create a colorful centerpiece – festive colored ornaments surrounded by either fresh lemon leaves, silk leaves and accented with eucalyptus or hypericum berries.

Apothecary bottle centerpiece

This is a wonderful set of apothecary bottles set in distressed wood that have been very popular at willow & bloom.  You can easily design this with a variety of flower blooms, fresh herbs and leaves to create a fun and original centerpiece with little effort.  We sell these at our boutique for $28 not including the flowers.

Champagne flute centerpiece

This clean and modern interpretation of a centerpiece is so easy to do with contemporary-styled champagne flutes with individual pieces of pine or rosemary which also adds a nice fragrance to the table.   You could consider adding fresh cranberries to the bottom of the glass for added color as well.

Festive pomander balls

We have created these types of colorful centerpieces for everything from holiday celebrations to birthday parties and weddings.  You can either use carnations or roses, both of which come in a huge variety of colors.  These fun pomanders can be placed in a number of containers from contemporary to antique.

willow & bloom holiday centerpiece

We recently designed a stunning tablescape for a client’s holiday party using three of these centerpieces placed down the center of the table.  The mercury-like glass vase reflects candlelight and the hydrangea, roses and orchids created festive and beautiful color.  The price range is $75 to $150 for this centerpiece arrangement.

Happy holidays!

archival design 2011-10-26

It’s almost November, the time of year when nostalgia seems to linger around your sweater with every cool rush of air. Coffee aroma wafting out of cafe doors and the subtle chafe of wool… what’s not to love? This season’s sentiment brings a couple favorites to mind. An all-time favorite is artist J. Morgan Puett; pictured below are two scenes from different installations of hers.

J. Morgan Puett archived her whole career as a fashion designer, from dresses and patterns to shipping receipts, in natural beeswax (pictured below). Click here to view and read about the entire installation.

Below is a set of photos from Inventory Magazine, out of Vancouver BC. Inventory describes themselves as “a curation of ideas in product, craft and culture.” Their aesthetic is clean and crisp and a great source for inspiration; there are always alluring photographic stories to be found (below).

pacific standard time 2011-10-13

Beginning this fall, Southern California is celebrating the birth and livelihood of mid-century modern design in a six month long, multi-decade art exposition known as Pacific Standard Time. The expansive collection of exhibitions illustrate the – arguably overlooked – influence California had in the mid-century design period. One of the most iconic exhibits has to be California Design, 1930-1965 : “Living in a Modern Way” which features a comprehensive recreation of the Eames House living room, designed in 1949 by husband and wife design team, Charles and Ray Eames.

California Design also includes Barbie’s Scandinavian Dream House (look at LA Curbed to see photos!)

Installation by LA artist, John Outterbridge, featured in Pacific Standard Time. This installation, his most expansive ever, is meant to illuminate beauty and social, cultural and economic complexity.

verdant + industrial 2011-09-25

We recently worked with a team of exceptional designers and artists to create this magical wedding for Ashley and Chad. Georgian and Northwest design influences + industrial fervor suited our stylish bride and groom oh so well. These gorgeous photos were taken by Laurel McConnell Photography, and flowers are by willow & bloom. Take a look at Laurel McConnell’s website for more stunning photos!

groom’s boutonniere & bride’s bouquet

The clean and elegant design is arresting when juxtaposed with the backdrop of the industrial venue, Sodo Park in Seattle.

The groom’s cake is so fantastical, and looks great in front of the seafoam window! you rock my… universe?

The Wedding Team

(drum roll, please…)

Wedding planner : Sweet Pea Events

Venue & catering : Herban Feast at Sodo Park

Photographer: Laurel McConnell Photography

Documentary videographer: Brett Renville

Hair and makeup: Erin Skipley of Bellatrix Studio

Bride : Gown by Enzoani from Luly Yang, Shoes by Kate Spade, Veil by Preston & Olivia

Groom : Tux by John Varvatos, Shoes by Alden, Cufflinks by Jan Leslie

Rings : Phoenix Roze

Officiant : Reverend Brendan Coleman

Cake : The People’s Cake

Floral : willow & Bloom

Italian/Bistro/Globe lights : Blue Danube Productions, via Sodo Park

Stationary Design : Kerri Efendi

Photobooth : 321 Foto

Photobooth props : Heathoriginal

DJ : Emerald City Productions

Cocktail band : Jason Parker Quartet

Transport : British Motor Coach

Mixologist : Jason Rowan, Embury Cocktails