week in review (january 30 edition)

It's been forever since I've done this, but I'm curled up on the couch this afternoon and it seems like the perfect time. Yep--still putting off downloading photos! (picture above from Jordan's SF guide. Those in the know, know.)

So...Elizabeth Anne Designs featured a gorgeous wedding shot by Amy Squires, and I seem to have an overpowering attraction to colored foamy ruffles right now. I'm going to have to go buy an un-wedding dress version soon I think. The pink peonies the bride carried are the cat's pajamas.

More gorgeous pink peonies from Artfool via Once Wed.

Cattelaya orchids always make me stop and stare. Heather's photography does too.

And right about here is how and where I'd like to spend Super Bowl Sunday. With the Super Bowl food in tow, but none of the other trappings. And this incongruously beautiful ceiling above. (Finds from Please Sir. Love that girl's eclectic taste! Sculpture by Tara Donovan)

In other news...I pet a cockroach this morning at the Bug Safari with the boys. This is not standard practice for me, rest assured.

Priorities

I should be showing pictures from my lovely Sunday wedding on Hood Canal. I should be posting about some of the things I remembered while there--how peaceful and relaxing Alderbrook resort is, how important a good soundtrack is to a wedding weekend (Adele this time; I'm totally obsessed right now), how sometimes sunshine and salt water are the only dining companions needed for a lunch of champagne and seafood, and how a long ferry ride is always the perfect ending to a day.

But...I've been busy doing some very important wedding planning! Grant, my favorite boy in Birmingham, becomes my new brother-in-law in May, and I'm using it as an excuse to peruse every on-line boutique for the perfect pale blue-green bridesmaid dress. This one is on the way.

So, in the meantime, how gorgeous is this grey J.Mendel frothy perfection featured in New York Weddings? It makes me so happy--the way a rainy, drizzly day can feel like heaven in late August to us Seattle girls.

As seen in...

425 magazine!

Red and yellow bouquet of local garden roses, yellow ranunculus, yarrow, oncindium orchids, cockscomb ameranthus, and bittersweet vine wrapped in vintage French ribbon from Bell'occhio in San Francisco.

Peacock inspired bouquet of local blue thistle, star of Bethlehem arabicum, artichoke, berzillia berries, deer fern, and calla lilies tied with hand-dyed silk.


Shyla Clark, author; Brooke Clarke, photography.

Now that's event planning!

Thank you Nyla of Cherry Coloured for the incredible find of two beautiful sets of photos from the Boston Globe of the historical and exhilarating event that took place January 20, 2009.

The first set shows the event preparations and is a fascinating glimpse of the thousands of people and procedures that made it all come together. I really can't even fathom the coordination that took place to make it happen. (And check out that Lego model of the inauguration! I'm speechless.)

The second set includes photos taken around the globe as Obama's inauguration is celebrated worldwide. Captured in the photos are celebrations in Nairobi, Paris, Missoula, Kenya, Mexico City and Baghdad, to name just a few. It's an incredibly moving reminder that we are all interconnected and that our actions have the power to change lives everywhere.

A little recent press...

A huge thank you to the editors of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom for including my work in their feature article on flowers and foliage for their Spring/Summer edition. I feel so honored to be included in such a beautiful publication.

The focus of the article was on using greenery and foliage as the main feature of a bouquet, with flowers just adding accents and little pops of color. I chose to use very textural and lush green and grey succulents with stems of tube-shaped spotted cobra lilies and tropical orchids to make the bouquet a little sexy! (And how funny that as a result, they titled the bouquet "Organic Chemistry". I don't mention it often here, but my previous career was as a chemistry/genetics teacher. I seem unable to escape it!)

And coming Monday...photos from the other shoot I did this winter! I hope you enjoy them both.

I would love to...

sleep inside of a daffodil. And this bed would almost do the trick I think.

Designer Jeffrey Bilhuber via Cote de Texas. Check out his new book Defining Luxury for more.

Proud sista...

My talented, kind, gorgeous, AMAZING sister Katie Gronewald just launched her handcrafted jewelry line Abilena Studio with her equally fabulous friend Kelly Towne. I've been the lucky owner of several of her pieces for quite a while, and they never cease to get lovely compliments and make me feel tres chic when I'm wearing them. Katie and Kelly have a studio in Birmingham, Alabama where they are putting their art degrees and talent towards making delicate, striking, feminine pieces.

I love how original their designs are, the handcrafted quality of the hammered metals, and the custom soldering work they do. They use very high quality copper, silver, and gold, and unique stones such as turquoise that is actually the palest shade of sage green. (I know...I don't get it either. But trust me...it's pretty!). The white amethyst in my most recent acquisition is crazy beautiful. I always think of my sister as having a very sophisticated bohemian look, and I think this really comes through in her jewelry line. And hold on to your britches...they have a line of BRIDAL jewelry that is truly unique and feminine. They will also do custom designs for brides as well.

Katie and Kelly were inspired by the children of Moi's Bridge, Kenya at the United Orphanage and Academy where they have done volunteer work during the summers (see...I told you they are amazing!). They have named each piece after a child that will benefit from their business--a portion of all of their sales are donated to the orphanage. It's a great way to support a small, community based business and make an impact on a global scale!

Under glass this time.

Antlers. Still.