Barnaby and Jonna got hitched!  This bouquet has some of my favorites.  Bridal veil leucadendron, peonies, and button scabiosa.

That bunny tail grass is so soft.

Everyone loves taking photos with their shoes.  I have so many shots like this.  I spared you all the ones we took at the beach.

Those little star shaped blossoms are called nigella.  Nigella is such a delicate little flower.  It’s usually blue but sometimes you’ll find it in white.  I always thought it was cumin (which I cook with all the time), but it’s actually a little bit different and known as black cumin seed.  The ancient Egyptians used nigella all the time, and a little vile of it was found in King Tut’s tomb!  It has quite a history, being referenced in the bible, the Romans used it as a dietary aid and in arabic is called “blessed seed”.  In English we call it “love in the mist” so of course that wins points with me.

Congratulations to Barnaby & Jonna!!!!

Chicago is hot today.  I am probably one of the only people here that love the heat and humidity.  I’m sipping on some Limonata (Shannon suggested adding rose to it.., and I think that later this week I am going to do so) with a fan in the window and a Bootleg cat asleep on the floor.  Today is my day off!  And the beginning of a little and much needed mini get-away!  Tomorrow Davey and I are driving to New Buffalo, Michigan for some antiquing and some swimming (I have been dreaming about wanting to go swimming in the lake, but never being allowed!).  I’ll bring back lots of neat little containers for weddings and resale!  And I will have caught up on sleep.  I’ll see you on Thursday evening but leave this with you for now.

This bridal bouquet makes me want cupcakes!

The colors are just so sweet!!

So good bye for a few days.  Today I am going to take a walk and look at some fabric, walk around the Ukrainian Village gardens, and soak up some sunshine.  Tonight is packing and sandwich making, filling the cooler with goodness for the next few days.  I love me some sliced fruit salad.  Cross your fingers we find some chairs for the dining room table, too.

xo!

This post is dedicated to Stevhan Gobble.

I am planning that in the next couple of weeks I will be able to make more time for yoga, cook more meals at home, manage my photos, junk around for new (old) vases and vessels, sew the curtains for both my living room and the studio space at the shop, take a few walks, hang out in the sunshine, read my book, finishing knitting the bed for the cats, hug my friends and tell my boyfriend I love him a few more times.  It’s times like these we should remember how fortunate we all are, how important it is to love, laugh, live, breathe, eat, drink, speak, move and be.

Brenda and Stevhan, I love you both.

The weather forecast is calling for 74 degree temperatures today.  Mid May is beginning to feel a little more normal with the warm up.  Not that I mind the cool weather, it’s the reason why our local peonies and lilac and many other branchy delights are still going strong.  Spring fever!  I see couples holding hands, deliveries to special friends, “just because” and dog walkers everywhere.  Giddiness in the air…

Tonight Natalie and I are meeting to finalize the flower school.  Darling Fleur’s blog will soon be up and running!  But more on that later (If you’re interested, email me for details!).  And yesterday Jaclyn and I met to discuss our upcoming photo shoot at Videnovich Farms.  We’re ready with a banjo, some pastries, and an engagement session that is simply going to charm the hell out of you.

Passion Flower.

Amethyst clusters (we have geodes and agate, too).

Nigella!

May is always my busiest and month out of the year.  Here are some bouquets from just the past week.  I love that the bridal bouquet was filled with lots of colors, and the bridesmaids were simply green and white.

And to contrast with above, here we have some deep lapis and blues.  The textures here are really fantastic.

Coral peonies, below.  <3

And the pretty bridesmaid bouquets that matched.

And there is always Kitty…

The last three weeks have been BUSY.  Since May first we have worked on 8 weddings (one in Las Vegas), a couple of special events, and Mother’s Day.  I do not know how staff or Davey can handle me right now!  Tonight I am taking a little much needed relax time.  A delicious, homemade Indian dinner, a spicey Manhatten to start, a glass of red wine and a movie (Zodiac?  Seraphine?).

Back to the grind tomorrow!  See you then. If you are waiting for a phone call or email, thank you for your patience!  :)

(P.S.  That’s Bootleg hiding behind the glass of wine)