COME ON SPRING!!!

Sometimes Spring needs a little encouragement, and we are ready for some warm weather!   We thought reliving a bit of last year's 2011 Tulips and Pansies Headdress Affair runway show would bring warm thoughts of spring and summer flowers.  This sun hat design was loaded with fresh flowers and sported elegant lines, despite being over 6 feet in diameter!  We had a great time collaborating with the talented  designers from Mataano in Brooklyn, who created this gorgeous yellow printed sun dress for the show.

Rock and Roll Decor at the Pierre Hotel

Our design team did an AMAZING job setting up this incredible table display at the Pierre Hotel for a swank networking event hosted by Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine.  There we met many talented vendors, including Ed Hafizov from Zorz Studios, who provided all the incredible photos for this blog. 

With our set up time slashed from 8 hours down to 3, and a long chaotic route through the crowded basement, this set up was definitely a challenge. Our hosts provided an eclectic list of inspirations for this wedding table design, including Summer, specific Pantone colors (in yellow & blue), Marie Antionette, Juicy Couture, and Rock and Roll. With these factors in mind, our designers brainstormed and pounded the pavements of New York, scouring the flower and fabric districts for materials to weave into a show stopper.

We agreed upon an airy gazebo-like structure, covered with moss and ringed with ivy bush as our mechanics, from which we could hang a crystal chandelier and top with candles in hurricane lamps.  Fresh floral blooms were arranged in a long loosely-draped garland which also contained swatches of yellow printed fabrics and hanging tassels.  We selected varieties of yellow and white flowers for volume and a variety of textures:  asiatic lilies, oncidium orchids, mimosa clusters, proteas, roses, stock, hydrangeas, and craspedias. 

A decadent 'Blush Ruffle' linen from Nuage Designs dressed our table in a couture vibe.  Fantastic 'Leopard Print' chargers, blue braided goblets, and citrine 'Isla' square glass plates were provided by Something Different Party Rental.  Mismatched white and blue chairs from Luxe left no room for convention.

So far, so good.  Yet still we needed more.  Enter silver jewelry encrusted with blue gems, pearl spheres, skulls, and wild animals!  Every other place setting had a ring fit for a goth princess propped on a pillow of craspedia.  Silver skull bracelets posed as napkin rings and jewels sparkled everywhere.  A pair of parrots stood guard over the treasure, and a life-sized silver skull (under apothecary glass no less) served as an unforgettable focal point, like the better half of a Jolly Roger. 

 

Visiting the Dutch Flower Auction

Lisa and I took some time to travel to Holland this winter, tracing our connection for world famous Dutch flowers to back its source.   Many thanks to Tony Cummins, our sales rep at Tuning Bloemenexport BV, for taking time out of his very busy schedule to walk us through the Aalsmeer Flower Auction.

 

 

 

The endless arrays of flower carts and the extreme efficiency in which they were rapidly shuttled around was truly impressive.  Equally impressive was the incredibly high quality of product that we saw on every cart.  Tony explained that several of the floral varieties that immediately caught our eye could not be shipped to the United States due to customs regulations.  Also, any flowers that are not sold at auction are immediately destroyed by a shredder, regardless of quantity. 

 

As the tour progressed, we learned that Holland produces relatively few greens and that flowers sold at the Dutch flower auction are imported from all over the world. 

Although we are generally not fans of dyed flowers, these blue Vandelas were incredible.

We were fascinated to watch the actual bidding process as a non-stop procession of floral carts displaying product moved by on the floor below.  Meanwhile, huge computer screens tracked and displayed competing bids from hundreds of buyers, each lot selling in a matter of seconds!  We began to appreciate that sucuring orders for large quantities of a single variety/color of flower is difficult due to this rapid bidding process.  We were told later that buying in bulk does not necessarily translate into savings.  Also, the buyers promise a set price to their clients before the auction takes place, and must do their best to fulfill their orders amongst competing buyers. 

In spite of furious activity, the floor was quiet and civilized; nothing like the Wall Street stock exchange.  Afterward, we left inspired to acquire new varieties of product for the spring season, and to find unique and  exciting ways to express our design aesthetic.