Budget Minded Bride

I did a wedding last week . . . on a budget. Of course, all weddings have a budget, but I happened to know that this bride was going to try to do her own flowers . . . and she's related to my nephew {by marriage}, and I am a florist . . . I know very well how much work goes into a wedding, and I know the tears that I've shed, working on that kind of deadline . . . wedding flowers are a last minute deal, afterall . . .

I couldn't wish that on her, especially when it was an easy thing for me to do, and I had the time . . . you know? So they bought the flowers, delivered them to me . . . which is surely out of the ordinary :) . . . and here I share with you, the resulting Bridal Bouquet. The reason that this is all noteworthy, is this . . . this bouquet is made from 1 bunch of mixed Spring flowers from Costco. 1 bunch! We are talking budget here, people!

So I just want to give budget minded brides some hope. It does take a little training, but these days, doesn't everybody know someone who can teach them how to wire and tape flower stems? These are wired, then shaped, and wrapped. Oversimplified, I know . . . but take heart! It can be done! You can have beautiful flowers, on a budget . . . learn how to wire and tape, and practice beforehand with flowers from your garden. And practice, practice, practice! . . . Do not wait till the last minute to figure this out . . . it is not rocket science, but in this case, practice does make much prettier. :)
And you're really gonna love this! The centerpieces! She bought sweetpeas from a local fruit stand, and vases from a dollar store. $5.00 centerpieces. It is my intention here to be of assistance . . . to maybe instruct a little . . .

Buy flowers in season at Farmer's Markets or like this bride did, at the local strawberry stand . . . if you have time, grow them yourself {I hate to admit this, but you shouldn't depend on growing them from seed . . . it's just too risky} . . .

To arrange, simply gather them in your hand till they make a pleasing arrangement, then cut the stems off to one length. Lovely. Lovely.

My gift to you. :)

Note: Minutes after posting this, I mean really, truly . . . just minutes! I peeked in On one of my favorite blogs, Running With Scissors . . .and lo and behold, she's making a Bridal Bouquet, but she took the instructions, oh, so much further, and included how-to photographs! Run over to see! Fresh or silk flowers, the instructions are the same! You can do this! I promise! Tell her I sent you! Love!

Oh, my Goodness! I apologize!

Busy as a bee! . . .


I apologize to my few, but beloved followers! I have been doing a little site maintenance, and it occurs to me, that every blog that I've edited has come up as newly published! What a nuisance! My labels are becoming kind of unruly . . . that's what I was attempting to tidy up . . . I'll fiddle with them more another day . . . {apology extended for that, too!} The upside is, that I have grouped How~Tos and Recipes under those two headings . . . It's pitiful, but it's a beginning . . .



And while I'm at this informational sort of stage . . . One of my recent weddings is featured on the photographer's website . . . Still Memories. If you click on Galleries, the first photo that comes up is the bride . . . she's just lovely . . . Thank you, Susi! {The bride's Mom, who alerted me, via Facebook.}

Copyright Free Bee Graphic compliments of The Graphics Fairy

Wedding Flowers

I told you I've been busy!

. . . the arrangement above is a view of a centerpiece. These are from my niece's recent
Carnival Theme Wedding.

The beautiful Bride, Heather, and her handsome Father {my brother}.

. . . moving to the other end of the color spectrum, for another wedding . . .

although the reception was every bit as colorful as Heather's, the ceremony flowers were more sedate . . . except for a little color in the Bridal Bouquet, it was an entirely white ceremony. . .

. . . simple white roses with lisianthus . . .

Isn't it amazing that any one person gets to live surrounded by such things?

Heather's Photographer, Michelle Mahood, is showcasing both the Wedding and Heather and Kraig's Engagement Photos on her blog. {just in case you must see more}

~ much love!

Roses, beautiful roses

Every now and again, I get to feel like I lead a blessed life.

You know it's going to be one of those gorgeous days when a trip to the grocer yields . . . seafood, cheese, a baguette, fresh strawberries, a lovely hot-off-the-presses shelter magazine . . .

and my kitchen counter looks like this.

Ahhh . . . bliss . . .

And you know what this means! Somebody's getting married tomorrow!

Creative Clutter

Aren't they beautiful?
Don't you just love creative clutter?

All over the house?

Look what I'm making! They're unfinished, and likely I won't get pictures of the finished product, but I'll try . . .

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It's going to be such a beautiful wedding!

The Wedding!

Mr. and Mrs.

So . . . one day, your son is minding his studies, doing a "Semester Abroad" at Oxford. You notice that the middle of the night Skype calls are fewer and farther between, then the email frequency is similarly diminished.

hmmmmm . . . you think.

He mentions that, "There is a girl. . ."

hmmmmm . . .you think.

Then, when you do hear from him, he begins peppering his sentences with "Amy and I".

hmmmmm . . . you think.

He sends pictures home, "Amy and I at C.S. Lewis' house" "Amy and I at Stonehenge" "Amy and I at the Eagle and Child", "Amy and I frolicking in the snow", and so forth.

hmmmmm . . .you think.

This is going somewhere, you think.

You're very right.

It was a sweet country wedding. Yellow daisies, eyelet, gingham and Mason jars..

The flower cart was also the candy buffet. You can't see the shelf in this photo where Mason Jars held all manner of old fashioned confections. The vintage style candies were a pretty wonderful treat!












The stained glass window was originally built for Elizabeth and Justin's wedding, five years ago. They were married in the same garden. What wonderful memories we have there!
When Elizabeth was first looking it over, she looked at the brick wall, with that lovely window opening, and mused that she wished there were a stained glass window in it so it felt more like a church. I hadn't done much stained glass in . . . a number of years, a great number of years, and I liked the idea. I really, really liked it! . . . so there you go! That is the way the stained glass window happened.

This lovely lady is my Granndmother, and the Groom's Great Grandmother. When I say," my Grandma says . . ." she is the one that I am quoting. This is Grandma Cassie Lillian. The precious new baby is named for her.

Isn't it a wonderful life?

It is almost time

This is post number 99! Do you know what that means? Next post will bring a give-away. Scroll down several post for more information, but for now . . . leave a comment and you are entered! In the beginning, I thought it would be between three different pieces of jewelry, and it seems that everyone is interested in a pearl necklace, so a pearl necklace it will be!

It's wedding time! My house is full to overflowing with gorgeous, bright, sunny yellow flowers! From here on, it's an all out marathon. The Groom and his Dad are outside building the wedding arch. It seems that all of the college buddies are arriving today, and as it should be, he will have a little time with the people who travelled from all over the country to accompany, stand by, support, and witness, as he and his beloved begin this journey.

Bar-b-quer extraordinaire {who is also known as the Father-of-the-Groom} is finishing up his prep for the rehearsal dinner at the wedding site. Grocery shopping, transporting the equipment, and gophering for the resident florist. Busy, busy man, but we will feast.

My dress is fitted and refitted. The tuxedos are in. The house is semi-tidy. The shopping is done. The most handsome, teenie-little ring bearer tuxedos are at the seamstress' shop to be pressed, and don't faint, my check-off list is all checked off!

I don't know how this happened!

Now, maybe now, . . . maybe there will be a few minutes to spend with our son before he takes a wife and to enjoy observing: his love for this precious woman, his dedication to her, their happiness and impatience to begin this new adventure.

Oh, I am so happy. This is what we want for our children, to know love and to be loved.

Oh, wonderful, happiness and joy!

Big, BIG news!

So much to tell you!

We have been so very, very busy! I wish I could show you the photos, but I can promise that this will be a photo-rich post once I am able to show them. In the meantime, my computer is on the fritz, I tripped over the cord a few days ago, and I'm pretty sure that's the root of the problem, it has no power. Today, I can use Sam's. He's home for Easter vacation, but has to return to school tomorrow. I always hate for him to leave. . . . big sigh . . . It has been so much fun to have him at home. We have worked his fingers to the bone. I dare say, he's looking forward to the rest.

Where do I begin? Elizabeth is on bedrest. It seems that her baby daughter may make an early appearance. With her little boy, she's been staying with us while Justin has been working out of town. He came home last evening. I can imagine how happy they must be to be together as a family unit in their own home. Especially their new home.

That's one of the other activities that has been keeping us hopping! With Justin out of town, and Elizabeth on bedrest, the rest of us have been trying to settle them in to the new house. There was a deadline {besides the impending birth of Little Girl}, yesterday, the Elizabeths hosted a Bridal Shower for Sam's bride, Amy there.

It was a lovely shower. Bebe made the most wonderful cake! I have photos, but am not using my own computer, so, sit on the camera, they must. About half of the attendees had to travel substantial distances {I think a hundred miles could be considered substantial, don't you?} Thank you, to all of you. It was positively wonderful! They are nearly set in the kitchen!

Our youngest grandson has just had a birthday! It was such a blast! {More stored photos! I sure hope the Geek Squad can help!} He had the ultimate three year old pirate themed party. All of the little boys arrived costumed as swashbuckling buckaneers. I have to tell you, it was pretty much, one of the cutest things ever! His Mommy made his pirate ship birthday cake. You will not believe it! I feel like such a tease.

And there is more big news! As if a BIRTHDAY, a BABY and a WEDDING aren't enough. . . {drumroll, please} . . .you know that Sam and Amy are both graduating from college this year, and some of you know that he has been applying to graduate schools. . . here it comes . . . he's going to PRINCETON! Okay, okay, I am his Mom, you understand . . . I could just pop! I am so proud!

Well Dear Ones, I will write again, as soon as I can. I have to go sit down for a few minutes, and try to recover!

~Much Love!