If you’ve been wondering why it’s been quiet around here, I’ve had the nastiest sinus infection since last weekend. Christmas Eve morn brings some light to the situation as my voice has returned (slightly) and according to Davey, my sense of humor is back.
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Anyway, thank you all for another wonderful year.
We’re all heading out for the holidays and will be back on January 4th at 10am.
xoxoxo
Have a spirited and joyful holiday and we’ll see you in the New Year!
We have some pretty things.
Little terrariums and lovely succulents.
Handmade stockings
Hanging feather ornaments
and adorable, handmade cross stitches. Plus lots of other goodies. Like our vintage wine decanter with boat etchings, or Linnea’s Lights candles.
Shopping local is really, really important & we appreciate. I love this organization, Local First, dedicated to just that.
Almost all of my gifts this year are handmade or purchased in an independently owned business. It’s tricky to sometimes find the right gift, but feels just so satistfying afterwards.
Hope your holiday shopping has been as stress free as possible!
xo
Occasionally the holidays feel like this:
That’s a busy afternoon at Fleur. And our little elves have been making some really beautiful arrangements. Caleb made these, and on that last post.., Caitlin created the arrangement.
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Today I learned something valuable. No matter how much you need a cup of caffeine, do NOT stop in a bakery when you are hungry. I guarantee you will walk out with one red velvet cupcake too many.
xo
So many things on the to-list right now. I drank a coffee today and feel like a spaz. Still have to buy stamps for the cards and then mail them out. And a couple of gifts left to pick up/finish sewing/wrap. And pick dates on the calendar for our Spring Sessions (weekend tutorials coming soon to the shop!). And rearrange the shop. And figure out where I’m going to find all that fake brick paneling. And accounting. GAH! I hate accounting! I’m going to go eat a hamburger and drink a glass of red wine and get back to all this list making. My favorite part of list making is crossing off everything once it’s done.
Also, anyone have a copy of the Spring/Summer 2011 CS Brides? We’re on page 176, but I’ve yet to see it!
xo
Yesterday we picked out the sweetest little tree for our home. Every year I debate back and forth on whether or not to have a tree. In the past I’ve decorated my ficus plant or just filled a large bucket with lots of cut pine and juniper branches for some fragrance. This year felt a little more special, it’s our first holiday season in our new home together and we agreed that a tree was absolutely worth having.
We have no ornaments and frankly buying some felt really unsatisfying, so we decided to make our own. Last minute we had the thought to run to a thrift store to buy some old books and use their pages to decorate. To my surprise and complete silly, unapologetic holiday joy, Davey found an old Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol!!! Next stop, Grand Street Gardens where we found a tiny yet full little tree & after one detour to Star Lounge Coffee we headed home.
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First things first, we needed some inspiration. Terrible carols on the radio, holiday brew poured into our mason jar mugs, we started stringing some popcorn discussing the ornamental plan of action. I dug around all my fabric for some pieces of scrap material that we could tie to the branches and as well as to use for a tree skirt. Neither of us really knew what the other had in mind for embellishing our pine.
Without really thinking about exactly what we were doing, we both started creating pinwheels and fans tied with thread. Book page snowflakes and fabric bows.
A pinwheel of paper topper. Of simplicity and happiness. Of holiday joy.
xoxo
With the temperature at a balmy 21 degrees (after yesterday’s 9 degree high) I’m enjoying looking at these images taken by Michael Critzon at Yamashiro Studio during Bomie & Clay’s wedding.
It’s hard to believe that this image was taken just two months ago in October.
Bomie’s bridal bouquet is filled with vanda orchids. They’re, in my opinion, one of the most majestic of orchids because of their vivid, sometimes lapis shade of purple/blue as well as their plump shape.
Outdoor weddings seem far away…
Their wedding was held at the Hinsdale Golf Club. The large windows are a special treat and they even have beautiful chairs!
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Cakes dripping with a cascade of fresh blooms always look stunning.
Congratulations to Bomie & Clay!!!
Remember Pip & Brian?
Well, they’re all done & hitched, living the newlywed life! I truly mean it when I say this couple is just outstanding. Looking through their flowers I mostly remember the smiles they both wore all day long. They couldn’t have been happier.
Here are just a few teasers from Jamie Hartley Photography. Her new website will be up soon!
www.hartleyweddingphoto.com
All the centerpieces were arranged in milk glass pedestals. So pretty!! My milk glass collection is a bit crazy, and rather than pack them all away in boxes, they are stacked on a shelf in our prep room so they can be admired all day long.
And even though it’s December, I don’t think it’s too late (or early?) to look at images of these gorgeous Toulouse Lautrec yellow garden roses. And those beautiful dahlias!
They’re so beautiful, I can’t wait to see them again next year!! We were squealing every time these dinner plate sized beauties arrived. And they’re grown locally. :)
And this boutonniere makes me so happy. Filled with little buttons Pip provided, because her nickname for Brian is button. <3
The ceremony was at the Columbus Park Refectory which offers such a regal and elegant back ground for the ceremony (The link right there shows images from Vrai Photography of another wedding we worked on at the space!).
Pip’s bridal bouquet is one of my favorites! Those roses are just outstanding and I love the touch of blue tweedia scattered among the orange and yellow.
And of course, I have to show you a photo of this banjo (no, it’s not mine). Pip & Brian hired an incredible bluegrass band for the ceremony and reception. I’m always a sucker for a banjo.
xo!
This is Susan from Sparrow, and Robert from Mode Carpentry and Longman & Eagle. They own businesses right around the corner from us in Logan Square and they’re engaged.
Simply Jessie took all these amazing photos.
You can find more of them HERE and HERE.
And Sarah Drake Design created some paper and fabric adorableness.
We created a little sweet heart table for them at the Inn above Longman & Eagle, which Robert designed and built. Any of my out of town friends will indeed be staying here. In fact, I’m ready to move in. It’s fresh, simple and filled with repurposed material. And there is a cassette desk. Oh man, don’t you remember making mix tapes??! Mix cd’s just don’t cut it.
This table setting is honestly one of my favorites. It’s a bit rustic with the grape vine and birch on the table, yet filled with somewhat traditional and lush blooms. But still modern with those amazing bitch etched wine glasses (We sell them at Fleur) and the awesome yellow chairs. The colors.., light blue, yellow and cream are wonderful for the season as well. I love the blue-yellow combo in general these days.
Thank you Susan & Robert and to Simply Jessie and Sarah Drake Designs for all the creativity!!
XO!
Mentally tonight I am somewhere between here:
and here:
It’s only Wednesday and I’m experiencing some craziness this week. Mercury is in retrograde. That makes sense because I was a victim of skimming scam with a debit card. And well, a LOT of money later I’m still arguing with the bank about it. Another trip tomorrow.
Despite that crap, this weekend I helped style a really great photo shoot. There will be some details about that tomorrow, but as always, I love working with Simply Jessie and thoroughly enjoyed the work of Sarah Drake Design, as well.
And tomorrow I am finishing up all my estimates from last week. And working on my least favorite part of the job: Accounting. Seriously. It sucks. As well as I am hoping to clean my closet and organize the pile of clothes on the floor. An ex once told me that I live like a gypsy when it comes to my clothes, and sadly it’s true. Hangers are over rated.
Once all this holiday business at work is over, I am going to pick up some new ink pens. I miss drawing pretty things like plums and figs.
Tomorrow be prepared for some amazing photos. You love snow. And the color yellow. And peonies.
And now I’m taking a break. It’s 9pm and I want to read.
Ready for an early day tomorrow!!!
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