Another year, another wedding season - which is starting rather early! My house smelled like a florist shop this weekend...hydrangeas (flown in from New Zealand as this is definitely NOT hydrangea season...why do brides always pick flowers that aren't in season?), beautiful roses and assorted greens - they made for some pretty sweet arrangements...eleven centerpieces, one bouquet, 3 boutonnieres - my kitchen went from one extreme to the other in a very fast 3 hours!
The MOG (Mother of the Groom) came to help - and we had a great time, except for the rose thorns, everything went swimmingly.
The roses, in the above arrangement, are not fully opened...but they were come "show" time. We picked up the roses from the wholesaler on Wednesday, where they are kept in 45 degree coolers. Once we got them home we cut their stems, put them in water and then they just hung out in my garage until Friday morning when they were put into the arrangements. By Saturday morning they were perfect - open, flowy, flowery...just the way they're supposed to be - it takes three days. Most roses get "worked" too soon, before they're open and then the day after the event they are gorgeous. Just in case you ever need to work with roses - give them three days!
The MOG has a great eye for detail - she had me add these beautiful ribbons and jewels to each vase...it's all about the details! (I think she got the little jewels at Michaels, they came in a package of 4 - and they're plastic! They were inexpensive but they sure don't look it!)
Into the car - off to the event - which was held at The Seattle Tennis Club. It was so lovely - even though it was a typical rainy, cloudy, stinkin' cold day! Inside it was...
Elegant...the centerpieces were sent on top of a cloud of tulle which was sprinkled with rose petals and little mirrors that captured the light and made everything sparkle. Like I said, the MOG has an eye for detail! What you can't see out the window is a white-capped Lake Washington - the Tennis Club sits on the shore and in the summer it's beautful...I mean, on July 5th, because we really only have one day of summer up here! Everything turned out great - DeRue, give yourself a pat on the back - you did a great job! See how the roses are open?!? Three days!
After the reception, I came home to finish the owls...
Sunday I had to teach a lesson on homemaking to 13, 14 and 15 year old girls. I made an owl for each girl and told them owls are great homemakers...they have excellent vision, excellent hearing, they can hunt, feed their young, enhance their nests and fly silently...I told them it was good to be an owl/homemaker...yes, it was a stretch and basically just a load of crappola, but they seemed to buy it! And then I fed them frosted double chocolate truffle brownies and they were happy and it was all good. And then I came home and collapsed. Long weekend. I was actually happy to have Monday roll around!
On Valentine's Day I went to Gathering Fabric in Woodinville, WA - it's a very, very wonderful quilt shop - and they were having a Valentine Tea (more about that in tomorrow's post - their sandwiches were fabulous!) The Aussie and I spied these little owls and when we asked about them we were handed a free pattern...unfortunately the name of the person who drew the pattern is not on it! So I can't tell you who did it and I can't thank them - Lynn from Mandie and Me Designs made the pattern and you need to pop on over to her blog to see how stinkin' cute hers are!! Thanks Lynn! (If you want the pattern email me and I'll send it to you.)
Get yourself over to Gathering Fabric - tell Susan, the owner, that I sent you! You will love how warm and wonderful her shop is - plus she has great fabric! Happy Monday!