DIY flower crown tutorial-straight from the garden

i don't know exactly what it is

but there is something so wonderful about wearing flowers in my hair

it brings me back to being a little girl

carefree

running around barefoot in the yard

picking flowers

making mud pies

it stirs up something in my soul

it makes me long for adventure and wonder

it's romantic

it's magical

it's beautiful

so naturally 

i love the idea of flower crowns for weddings

i can't think of a better occasion for a woman

to adorn her hair with bunches of gorgeous blooms

if i ever get married

you bet i'll be wearing flowers in my hair

forget jewelry

 i'll be accessorising with florals

but until then

i'll just be making flower crowns for others

but if you ever find yourself wanting to make a flower crown of your own

whether it's for a wedding or just for fun

i've got a little tutorial for you

it's literally easy as 1, 2, 3

and it's a bundle of fun

and you don't have to go very far to get your florals 

or even spend any money on them

just step outside into your yard

i guarantee you will have plenty to work with

be creative
and let your inner wild child run free

bringing you back to those daisy chain days

things you'll need

thin green floral wire

millinery wire 

wire cutters

flower snippers

a few of your favorite florals from the garden

florals i cut

lavender

oregano 

maidenhair fern

agapanthus

crape myrtle flowers

scabiosa

yarrow

privet leaves

step 1. 

use millinery wire. measure where you want your crown to rest on your head. connect the ends of the wire by wrapping them around each other tightly so it stays in place. you now have the base of your crown.

step 2.

 use some small greens to cover the millinery wire. i used herbs from the garden. place your greens around the crown and use your thin floral wire to attach them, wiring as you go.

step 3. 

now attach the rest of your favorite florals

by gathering them and wiring them to the crown just like you wired the greens. you can wire them individually as well as in little bunches, whichever way is easiest for you. 

i chose to do a cluster of flowers just on one side of my crown, but there are no rules. you can place flowers wherever you want on your crown.

once you're done attaching your flowers

you are finished and can enjoy

your very own floral crown.

don't be afraid to be creative

this is your flower crown

let your personality shine through your design

and have fun!

A Ferny & Flowery Friday

ok, so what girl hasn't thought about her wedding day

at least a tiny bit?...

well, the ever so tiny thoughts i've had about my wedding

involve being outside somewhere

in creation

surrounded by all the people i love the most

there's no where else i could imagine that moment in my life taking place

somewhere in the mountains or the woods 

where there's not much need for decorating 

because trees, ferns, and moss are in abundance

and get the job done

{obviously i've hardly thought about this}

there's something about those mossy, earthy tones

that do something to my heart

that stir up some serious passion in my soul

that send inspiration

flying all over the place in my mind

{via}

this week all i wanted to do was be outside

maybe it was the rain

everything was so lush and fresh and inviting

{albeit i wasn't entirely used to the drop in temperature}

but it was inviting none the less

and as i admired all the green around me

 inspiration struck

i wanted to create something from those mossy tones i love so much

flowers fit for that wedding in the woods

i've thought about only a tiny bit

i chose two types of simple, white flowers

and a variety of greens 

including jasmine, juniper, citrus leaves, ferns

that were cut fresh from the yard

put em all together

and this is what came about...

bouquet wrapped in lace (bottom layer) and burlap (top layer)
pinned with pearl tear drop pins

boutonniere: sword & maidenhair fern, juniper, moss and twig.

i love being inspired

i guess it really doesn't take much for me though

typically i just have to walk outside

well, until the next inspiration hits

{which im guessing won't be too long from now}

have a happy weekend!

Brittany and Adam's Winter Wedding

Happy New Years to you!

It's my first blog post of 2013

and I can't think of a better way to kick start the new year

than with a dose of wedding flowers.

 I met Brittany and Adam almost 2 years ago,

they're students in our Cru movement at UCI.

I have had the privilege of discipling Brittany for the past year and a half

and it has been so wonderful getting to know her 

and her heart for the Lord.

She is probably the most gentle, sincere and compassionate person I know

and it has been so neat to walk alongside her and Adam 

as they begin this new adventure.

It was this past December they tied the knot,

and it was so fun to be a part of their wedding day.

I absolutely love getting to work with brides,

creating arrangements with personal touches

 that reflect their style and personalities.

Brittany's choice of colors and flowers 

matched the wet, wintery wedding day perfectly.

Brittany's bouquet was overflowing with gorgeous

stems of white Hydrangea and Vendela roses

and accented with antique blue Hydrangea and sprigs of babies breath.

All wrapped in burlap and lace.

For her bridesmaids she wanted contrast,

she wanted their blue to pop.

And pop it did.

Their bouquets were filled with Vendela roses,

babies breath and stems of bright blue Hydrangea.

They were all wrapped in burlap and lace and tied up with 

a blue ribbon.

The men all wore a Vendela rose and babies breath boutonniere

while the moms and grandmothers all carried a single,

long stemmed white rose.

Getting to do the flowers for 

this beautiful, winter wedding was 

pure joy.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Clements,

thanks for letting me be a part of your special day!

Bring on the Blooms

Things are getting exciting 

round these parts folks.

Along with spending my summer in full time supporting raising mode

I've also acquired myself a little side job.

Well more of a "funtivity" than a job I would say.

I have recently found myself in charge of the flowers

for a wedding that is bound to be epic.

{no pressure or anything}

The bride and the groom were actually a groomsman and bridesmaid 

in the wedding I was also a bridesmaid in a couple weeks ago in Utah.

We actually met a few years back and

the story of how we've come to be friends is pretty cool.

I would definitely say it's a story of God's timing,

that I'm sure I'll be sharing soon.

{It's pretty neat}

Anyway they're pretty stinking awesome

and I'm so thrilled they're getting hitched!

This past afternoon I spent a little time

with the bride and her mom picking out the blooms for the big day

{that is quickly approaching}.

It was one big drool fest for me.

I was in heaven.

Gorgeous blooms everywhere I looked.

And the smell,

oh the smell of the flower mart.

A flood of memories came.

Of the years I spent working with flowers on a daily basis.

Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I'm guessing I will be a tad impatient the next couple weeks.

Waiting for the flowers to arrive,

waiting to finally put it all together

and of course waiting to watch another sweet friend walk down the aisle

and marry the man of her dreams.

Sigh.

Bring on the blooms!

I am in Love

Today, I spent the day laying in bed feeling icky.

Sick in the summer?  

Really?

 Seriously?

Lame.

So I did what any other girl would do, 

sat in bed on my computer looking at pretty things.

Hoping that it would somehow make me feel better.

And if you know me, you know I love flowers (duh) 

and that I have a special place in my heart 

for weddings and design.

Today I stumbled across quite a gem and it's needless to say that I fell deeply, madly in love.

What a beautiful, summer inspired shoot.

Filled with everything that I love, and then some.

Ranunculus, strawberry flowers, oh my!

I'm smitten with EVERYTHING about this bouquet. 

I'm drooling over the black Dahlia's and white Astilbe.

I love old books.

Loving the vases.

My only thought is to maybe mix in some blackberries,

which would tie in nicely with the black dahlia's.

I love everything about this.

The flowers, the colors, the photography, the outdoors....

Gah, if only I was planning a wedding!

If you want to view the rest of the shoot...check it out here!

Well, that icky feeling is beginning to grab hold again.

Time to sleep. 

At least I know I'm going to be having sweet,sweet dreams.