My White Party

The calendar says fall is here, even if it does not feel like it yet. The days are getting shorter, if not cooler, and I think it is a great time to have people into your home. As you know, I love to bring nature inside- and I love working with fall colors. The theme of one of my favorite events- which is showcased in Inspirations- was Autumn. But I also love to surprise my guests!




















This is my Thanksgiving table from last year. I invited my family and some close friends into my studio, which is an extension of my home, to celebrate! The sleek white is quite a contrast to the deep oranges, golds, and browns that most people are expecting. Anyone who is familiar with my work knows that I love to choose one color and layer and repeat it in every aspect of the decor. Using the same color throughout the room exaggerates each individual element and creates a cohesive look. Here we accented the white with a crisp green. I placed Narcissus on the table for their lovely scent, and to break up the vertical space above the table.

With a monochromatic palette, it is important to create texture and layers with your flowers. These white arrangements gain depth from the fluffy hydrangeas and garden roses. I love when there are details on the table for the guests to continue to discover throughout the night. These bouquets decorated the table during dinner, and everyone got to take one home at the end of the night!

The Dogwood Dog

If you are familiar with my work, you know I love to create floral sculptures! The topiaries I have designed include a lemon leaf elephant, a rose lion, a petal and gold leafed cow, a mini-sunflower pineapple, and my dogwood dog.

This was for an event in the Pool Room at the Four Seasons. We created this sculpture- modeled after the client’s actual dog- to greet guests as they entered the restaurant. If you look closely, you will see an original Pablo Picasso mural on the wall behind the topiary. My idea was to have a guard dog protecting the painting! To make these statues, we have a sculptor create the frame out of Styrofoam and chicken wire. Then the individual dogwood flowers are applied directly to the frame. This is one of the few times when I use silk flowers. Because of the size of the dog (it is four feet tall and almost six feet long), it usually takes about two hours to adorn, in addition to the time it will be on display at the event, so silk makes the production possible. I also love the idea that my clients can keep the sculpture forever as a memento of their event.