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Ornamental Cabbage

Almost pretty enough to eat!  Technically edible (but not quite as tender or tasty as their regular cabbage cousins),  flowering cabbage is characterized by rosy, purplish or white ornamental foliage.  They are fabulous in arrangements as they provide boldness in both size and color.  

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Cymbidium

Cymbidium, otherwise known as 'boat orchids', are flowering stems of the orchid family.  They come in a variety of colors and are popular in arrangements, bouquets and as houseplants.  Not only are they beautiful but they're sturdy enough to withstand cold temperatures (even down to 28 degrees F!).  They are fun to work with and add just the right pop of color.  One more fun fact: Some species are edible!  Cymbidium Hookerianum is considered a local delicacy in Bhutan and is often used in stews and curries.  We haven't tried that yet but we have been enjoying them in some of our arrangements!

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Leucadendron Facts

Over 80 species make up the Leucadendron family and we've been enjoying the unique characteristics of the different kinds in our weekly arrangements.  Some have a silvery fuzz, some are smooth and dramatic, and some are slender stemmed and bushy.  Originating from South Africa, Leucadendrons are composed of stiff, beautifully colored leaves that surround cone-like flowers.

Some common cut flower varieties include Inca Gold (shown above), Silvan Red, Safari Sunset, Katie's Blush and Pisa.  Don't you love the names?  Here are a couple more pictures of some that we've used in recent arrangements.  

Gold Strike 

Silvan Red

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Season for citrus!

Citrus fruits are at their brightest during the cold winter months so we couldn't help but use some kumquats in our arrangements to add a little pop of color.  Enjoy!

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greetings to our new intern...

We are so super excited here at form & flora!  We now have an intern and a fantastic one at that. Diane Uy started a couple of weeks ago and quickly fit in well here at the studio.  She'll be learning about the floral design trade as well as assisting on other design tasks.  You may hear her voice on the blog or on our Facebook page.  Here's a little bit about Diane...

Born in the Phillipines, but raised in Bellingham, Washington, she's no stranger to the Northwest. She moved to Portland after getting her degree in studio art from Santa Clara University, and Diane recently returned here after spending a year in Indonesia.  Diane enjoys cooking, drawing, wrapping presents, yoga, listening to radio lab, and reading biographies. Oh yes, she also loves tiny things... with the exception of spiders which she hates... along with dancing.    

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Fall Favorites

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Lucy & Bill's Bright Winter Wedding

Lucy & Bill got married at Meriwether's in late February. The bright oranges and greens that Lucy chose really provided a strong punch in the garden at that time of year. It was great fun working with this bride. She had a lovely, laid-back enthusiasm and kept focus on the important things while planning her wedding.  Cheers to you Lucy & Bill for a warm life together.

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New addition at form & flora

On February 28th, our sweet little Lucien was born.  Its hard to believe that it's already been over 3 months, but like they say, time flies when you're having fun (and losing sleep).   He still sleeps quite a bit but, when awake, he's passing out smiles to anyone who will take them.  What a blessing and a joy!

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Bamboo Floral Dividers

Although we don't do a lot of holiday work here at f&f... we do get a few special orders for Valentine's Day. This one was particularly fun, so I thought I'd post a couple of quick pics. These pieces were for Yakuza in NE Portland. The main purpose of these arrangements was to provide some privacy for couples dining at the long tables while also adding interest and beauty (of course).  The bamboo came right out of our yard and provided the main vertical elements. The flora, lichen, & rocks added low texture and bright color. We had a great time creating them!

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Nora & Jeff... a unique urban marriage

This very "hands-on" couple is all about doing things there own way... and doing them well. These are characteristics I relate with and much admire, but they are not always easy to work with as a designer.  This was not the case with Nora and Jeff. They had big ideas and unusual ideas, but they knew when to step back and let things happen. Consequently, their wedding turned out perfect, and I had so much fun creating the floral for their big day.  Their ceremony took place at Jamison Square, and then they had a parade with all their guests and a New Orleans style jazz band up to the reception site at Bodyvox in NW. Here are a few shots of the finished products, photographed by Christopher Onstott. 

And a few more shots taken on my own accord with a cell phone... Yes I should really upgrade my photography equipment!  But don't those cupcakes look scrumptious!

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Tristan & Derek's Coast Wedding

I love beach weddings! My wedding was a beach wedding and any excuse to visit the coast is a good one in my opinion.  This wedding was no exception.  The setting was the rustic Camp Westwind, and the weather was sunny and glorious.  Tristan's style came together perfectly with a classic elegance being beautifully offset by the natural, woodsy surroundings. Here are a few shots of the floral taken by the lovely Kate Kelly. See more of her amazing wedding work here.

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Jesse & Clara's Forest Celebration

This lovely couple wanted centerpieces that they could give to guests at the end of the day. We focused on hardy and modern looking plantscapes with the addition of flora that could be removed when they died.  Thanks to Adi Susanto for the images. 

  Here are a few of my own photos of the work just toward the end of the process. I really enjoyed working with these vivid colors and textures!! Thanks Jesse and Clara!

  More floral images from this wedding, taken by the couple other guests, can also be seen via our facebook page. Check us out there if you haven't already.

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Jessica & Chris's Garden Wedding

This summer wedding was such a joy to do... kind of a dream client. Jessica wanted her floral to be bold & exotic, but also restrained, not too wacky.  Her colors were vibrant, her floral taste similar to mine, and she trusted me a great deal to do what I do best. Plus, she was just a sweetheart to work with.  I wish this couple the best, their happiness seems infinite.  Thanks to Aisha Harley at Fritz Photo for the lovely images.

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Behind-the-Scene at the PHC event

I just ran across some of our set-up pics for the event I last blogged about. Thought they'd be fun to add in here since it was a pretty different type of set-up for a florist. Thanks to my assistant Katy for her awesomeness during this project.

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Floral Installation for Portland Housing Center

Now that wedding & event season is slowing down, we get to revisit some of our work that occurred over the summer. One of the first events that I'm featuring is the 20th Anniversary of the Portland Housing Center that occurred back in June.  PHC went all out for this celebration, and they wanted the flowers to really make a statement... especially upon entering the Nines Reception area.  I had such an amazing time designing and creating the work for this party.  Hopefully it all speaks for itself.  Thanks so much to Andie Petkus Photography for providing great photos.

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flowers for p:ear

We love p:ear...  they are one of those organizations that every city needs and everyone should know about.  Essentially, they provide hope and support along with real-world training to homeless youth, and they do so using the arts.  Because my previous career was as an art therapist working with troubled youth, this is an approach to change near and dear to my heart.  So last year, after meeting and developing a connection with Pippa, the program director, I not only decided that form & flora would make a monthly donation, but I also began donating my time to create all the table decor for their annual fundraiser. This year I did it again, and below are some pictures from the extremely successful 2011 p:ear blossoms.  This year the theme was Alchemy & Transformation. Taking inspiration from Rumi and a Persian aesthetic in general, the colors were based around precious stones and light. Half of the pieces were gorgeous leafy begonia plants, and half were floral arrangements. Susan Webb, from Glass Alchemy, made by hand all of the vases for the centerpieces. The finished pieces were then included in the auction at the end of the night.  Hope you enjoy the shots (pardon the quality), and check out p:ear if you don't yet know them.  

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the desert (way back) in May

I was told to not apologize about getting soooo far behind on blogging.  So there... but man is it tough to get back into it, especially when event season has kicked in and the potential posts are piling up.

But anyway, some beautiful things happened back in May. The first of which was an incredible vacation I took with my husband and little boy to the Southern California desert.  We went for some hot sun, relaxation, and good mid-century design.  (I'll get to the architecture & design in a later post.) but what truly blew me away was the flora of the desert. I fell in love with cacti and agave in a way I had not before. There were so many unusual species and so many of them in bloom, that I came back to the studio wanting to incorporate more of the desert aesthetic into my work. Here are a few of the shots that really stood out to me.