Wildflower Girls

I had a very sweet man come in the other day who was looking for a big beautiful bouquet with no budget in mind. It gets better... he asked for a wildflower look which just made my heart skip a beat. I absolutely love making bouquets with the "wildflower" or "gardeny" look and wish that I had the opportunity to do so more often. It's kind of like when you go into a tattoo shop and ask the artist to do their favorite style of art and you would like to get one of the things they love to draw most. Quite frankly they are going to give it their all because they love what they are doing and they are excited about it. I realize this is kind of a weird comparison because not many of you know that I had previously worked at a tattoo shop for a couple of years. It's kind of neat being able to make a liaison between two completely different industries but I guess that it has more to do with the fact that we are all artists in our own way.

Feeling Grey

Alright spring I'm ready for you. I have had enough of grey mush, wet feet and not knowing whether or not I need to wear my winter coat in the morning. I am ready for gardening, the new garden center and doing spring urns all around the city. I cannot wait any longer and truly feel that when this groggy grey weather leaves so will my groggy grey mood. 

I must say that these little guys may be grey but they certainly are not groggy. I think they are exquisite.

Finally Some Antiquen'

Let's just say I will always have time for shopping. I have been extremely lucky lately with finding antiques at The Sally Anne. People keep giving away their collectibles without knowing what they are worth. Let me just say that I don't mind at all and that it has been a lot cheaper than shopping at antique stores. Now don't get me wrong, I adore supporting the quirky little antique shops but what I like it even more is helping to feed and clothe the less fortunate. Either way buying used goods is extremely beneficial no matter where you buy them.

Petal Purveyor

Sweetpea's was recently mentioned in T.O night... Can I tell you how excited I am? It has lead to so many opportunities it is simply incredible. All of this of course began with our write up in blogTO and has even lead to wedding magazine photo-shoots, weddings for this summer and an abundance of new customers that I have had the pleasure of making bouquets for. This is calling for a busy summer and many more opportunities to come. I can only await with anticipation.

Behold Some Bouquets

I know it's been a while since I've posted pictures of arrangements/bouquets but it has just been so busy at the shop. I swear I am making about a hundred bouquets per weekend and I seriously do not stop designing for 8 hours straight. There is just no time to take pictures of my work before it goes out the door. The good new is that I adore making as many bouquets as I do and I am so thrilled to be as busy as I am, it is just so much fun. I may never be rich but I absolutely love what I do and I wouldn't trade it for anything. So here's to a million bouquets to come and decades of working hard in my interesting little industry.

It's a shame the Lily is missing one of it's petals I cannot stop staring at it but I just had to show you this colour palette.

I don't quite know how I feel about this arrangement. The Hydrangeas are too symmetrical and grocery store bouquets have ruined Lilies for me. However, I do like the shape and still think it is pretty.

Marvelous New Hybrid

Okay so maybe it's not new in general but it is certainly new to me. This Stock came in this week and my jaw dropped from it's extreme beauty. Whoever decided to take one of my favorite flowers and mix my two favorite colors together is a sheer genius. Are you as blown away as I am? The Waxflower that came in just had to be in the picture with it because it was also quite fabulous and matched perfectly. Oh! And not to mention that the Waxflower was also very fragrant. I'm not talking the kind of fragrance that Lilies, Paperwhites and Hyacinth give off but more so the soft delicate smell of Sweetpeas. Yum!

National Post & Sweetpea's

I couldn't believe the good news I received today! Sweetpea's has been mentioned in the National Post. I know right?! We were all ecstatic when we heard. I am so happy to be a part of a company that is growing so quickly it feels amazing.

"The next display, by Sweetpea's, a florist on Roncesvalles Avenue, seemed to attract the most gawkers: their installation features a magnolia branch in bud peppered with dozens of peach-coloured origami swans."

Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post

Black Pussy Willow

This is the first year I've ever seen Black Pussy Willow isn't that strange? I feel like I have been left out in the dark about this black beauty. They have these spectacular black catkins and orange branches (which both aren't dyed.) I made a bouquet with them alongside black baccara this weekend and let me say it was truly elegant and divine.

Glimpse of the Season

I made my first corsages of the season today yay! I absolutely ADORE making corsages and boutonnieres and simply cannot wait for wedding/prom season. I loved making these specific corsages because I was able to make them nice and small just how they should be. No one needs a massive "bouquet" pulling their shirt down due to the weight.

The Miraculous Palm Weaver

I know right.. AREN'T THEY SPECTACULAR? My co-worker Molly made them up and I stopped and stared at them so long that the alarm went off as I opened the shop. I would never have the patience but I am certainly curious to learn how to make them. I love seeing new things in floral design that blow my mind mechanically.

Green Fabric

I know it might seem kind of weird but have you ever gone to Value Village and looked at their bed sheets? I honestly have found dozens of beautiful floral prints and when you consider the fact that you are getting five or so yards for two dollars it is such a steal! Not to mention that it is an extremely eco-friendly way to go about sewing. Here are some of my "Sash Pillows" that I have made in order to make my living room a little more cozy. Thankfully, my sweetie bought me a sewing machine for my birthday so I no longer have to sew everything by hand.

What Makes Me Tear Up

Wedding Video's! They make me literally start to sob I don't know what it is. I guess it is kind of embarrassing? ... oh well! This one here absolutely touched my heart with the officiant's phenomenal speech, the fact that the groom's son was his best man and.. well.. because the bride's dress was probably one of the nicest dresses I have ever seen. Grab a Kleenex box before you start the video, I swear!

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20494037" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/20494037">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6169308">Katelin Gallagher</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

English Country Garden: Tres Chic or Too Much?

I was ecstatic when this order came in. With the only instructions at hand to make it "English Country Garden" and to use my favorite crackled pot I was ready to go. I must say it brought me back to my East of Eliza days because without working there I must say I would have had no idea what color palette it was. English country garden is anything and everything meadowy meets shabby chic. Personally we all know I love a tone-on-tone palette but this one I still have a soft spot for. Ranging from pastel yellows, to muted blues, to lavender purples and to pale pinks it is anything but tone-on-tone but still gives off a pleasing vibe. What do you think?

            

Finally A Victorian Portrait

About four months ago I went on this hugh creative bender where I bought a whole set of oil paints, stretcher bars, canvas pliers, a staple gun and a bunch of vintage fabric in order to start this project. That week I stretched my own canvas, put on a layer of clear gesso and began sketching out this victorian portrait of an actress from a silent film (don't ask her name because I forgot to write it down.) I literally finished half of the painting and then left it for the past four months. Last week my mom and I were hanging all of my pictures in my new bedroom and she "accidently" put a huge drywall plug where this portrait was supposed to hang. Therefore, everyday I had to stare at this ugly plug which nearly forced me to finish the painting. Yesterday morning my sweetie and I went to the AGO to take a look at the exhibit on India's Royal Courts. I must say it totally blew me away and I recommend that everyone should go see it before it is gone. Nonetheless, I have never been so inspired to paint as I was that day so I took my little butt home and painted for seven hours straight! I am quite pleased with the outcome. I know that I am no Mucha but I am satisfied with my efforts.

 

New Glass Love

I'm super excited about these new picnic cups that just came in they are to die for! Who says you should drink out of a cup instaid of sticking flowers in them? I have three reasons why I fell so deeply in love with them:
1) They are made out of 100% recycled glass and have a beautiful stamp to show it
2) The have a blue-ish tint to them which reminds me of my apothacary vases and other antique glass
3) Their size is absolutly perfect for posies which are always a delight to make.
I am so lucky that Sweetpea's ordered 100 of them! Lets just say I will be using them as much as I possibly can for as long as I can. To bad I'm not getting married soon they would be a perfect vessel for my multi-vased centerpieces and they are cheap to boot!