Relaxing at the park

We've been screaming mad busy around here, but took a little time off on Sunday to have family pictures taken by the awesome Holly Strand of Beautiful Endings Photography. We just hung out at Gasworks Park, and she snapped some very candid pictures of us. Of course, we ended up with lots of shots of screaming Noah, and cameo appearances by Teddy and Zouza. Here are a few of the first ones Holly sent.

Just an update...

It's a little crazy around here right now, and I'm doing a horrible job of keeping up with family and friends, never mind Fiore Blossoms or fresco! So...for those of you that have written/called/texted/emailed and I've neglected to respond, here is a very quick update!

• Signed to sell and buy yesterday. Only 30 minutes in between which was great since I didn't like the homeless feeling I had during that time.


• Chaos at home, living out of boxes and bags. Hayes has regressed to two-year old behavior and is sleeping on the couch for complicated reasons. Noah is half potty trained/half outdoor trained. (no, not on purpose)


• Keys in less than 24 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let the cleaning/demo/painting/buyer's remorse begin!


• Checked on the to-do list: Noah's carpet purchased, bathroom tiles chosen, contractor booked, new fixtures (including a curvaceously sexy pedestal sink from 1924 found at Second Use) for both bathrooms purchased. Today's tasks are picking up lots of paint and ceramic light switch covers. At last count, there are currently 24 different switch cover styles going on in the house.


• Bought and somehow transported a HUGE cabinet salvaged from an old jr. high in Seattle from 1926. It is incredible and I can't wait to share photos.

Over and out. Catch ya later from the new digs.

(#26) Just a glimpse...

of ooh la la! This French bride in her blue dress is perfection.

Photo from Olivier Lalin.

Final installment of Anna + Matt

Just a few more pretty details from Sharlane Chase Photography, and a few sources of all the gorgeous things Anna chose. I love the style she infused through all of the elements of the wedding!

Catering: City Catering (one of the nicest catering companies I've worked with!)

Anna's dress: Vera Wang from Belltown Bride

Bridesmaid dresses: She Bible

Make-Up: Michael Bride (yes, that's his real name!)

Venue: Mt. Baker Community Club

Anna is graduating in a few weeks as a Naturopathic Doctor, so life has been full of celebrations for her recently! Congratulations and best wishes for a lifetime of health and smooching!

I've loved Bell'occhio's woodland cake stand since it was featured in a MS weddings issue years ago, and I have a pretty big weakness for cake stands (and Bell'occhio!) in general. However, it's never quite fit into my budget. A few weeks ago Once Wed featured a lovely woodland cake stand for the DIY project of the week. Easy and gorgeous! I think I'll make a bunch and put all kinds of things on them--little potted plants, little bottles and miscellaneous on my vanity, my constantly lost stapler and calculator on my desk, and maybe even a cake now and then.

Wouldn't it be cute to put a small one at each guest's seat with a cupcake?

Happy Monday!

Thanks Chelsea, for the reminder that weeds are beautiful. (There's got to be a life lesson in there, don't you think?)

Procrastinating again.

Before I started this business, I used to be someone that really liked getting things done ahead of time. I loved that "I'm-so-on-top-of-it-you-can't-touch me/stress me out/make me freak" feeling I would get when I had assignments completed (college) or lesson plans written (from first career) long before it was necessary. I even liked making a bunch of dinners for the week ahead.

Sometimes clients ask me what is the hardest part of what I do. I used to say that it was having to do everything last minute. You just can't make a bride's bouquet two weeks before her wedding and expect to be in this business for long! I've gotten used to that now though, and it has melted and oozed into the rest of my life. I'm supposed to be teaching tomorrow (revisiting first career--teaching a grad class on science methods for a few weeks). I have papers to grade and some rubrics to write, but I can't stop reading design blogs AGAIN. I'm obsessed with tile. Obsessed. And two weeks ago I would have said I don't even like tile. It all started with subway tiles, then moved on to hexagon mosaics, and has now settled in around penny rounds and opaque glass, the latter of which does not fit into a 1920's farmhouse in the least bit.

A few house pics I'm loving, and a house tour you MUST check out. I find it completely fascinating, though based on the comments on the original post, many people feel hateful toward it. HATEFUL! Which is also fascinating. Share your thoughts if you are so inclined. Regardless, the man of the house has long been on my list of five freebies. Waking up to that voice would be better than a killer smile, amazing abs or tiger claw soup or whatever does it for ya...

Wedding jewels

A few pics I snapped when I was in Birmingham of Abilena Studio's latest creations. The fabulous Kelly and Katie did a suite of custom pieces for a summer wedding--coin pearls for the bride, and four coordinating and complimentary earring designs for the bridesmaids. All of their soldering and beading is just exquisite!

Abilena is really starting to carve out a niche for custom wedding jewelry. I love the collections I've seen--each has several pieces that wonderfully complement each other, yet reflect the taste and personality of each person who will be wearing them. Abilena can make pieces for whole wedding party, so that even the mothers and flower girls will have something that coordinates. Katie and Kelly will meet with you in person if you are in the Birmingham area, or spend a time working with you via phone or email if you are out of the area, to learn about your vision for the day and the personalities of all of the people that will be helping you celebrate. And the fun part about this is that they are so fun to work with!

After receiving MY custom earings as Katie's bridesmaid a month ago, I put in a life-time wishlist for anything by Abilena. Steve knows not to get creative now, but to just leave it to the girls. Can't wait to see what the next holiday turns up!

And one more thing...check out Abilena's new blog! They've been posting pictures of custom work and some great shots from a recent magazine shoot!

Real Weddings: Anna + Matt's flowers

The pretty pictures from Sharlane Chase continue...today, a few shots of Anna and Matt's flowers. Zinc trays for low centerpieces from Jamali Gardens with hand-blown glass hurricanes in the center from Pottery Barn. Directions for hand-wired candles here, and Jamali's petite votives are the perfect size.

[I love the hand-crafted look of them...a nice change from the ubiquitous hanging drop votives often used. My husband probably wouldn't agree--while making 150 of these together, he asked constantly why we weren't using the ones we always use. Around #89, I started to think the question had some merit, but we'd gone too far to give up! But if you are thinking of doing it, they really only took a couple hours to do all of them.]

Real Weddings: Anna + Matt

Beautiful photos from the uber talented Sharlane Chase, and lots and LOTS of kissing! If it's any predictor of future bliss, than I do believe these two will be still kissing on park benches at 95.

Sharlane sent so many great pictures that I'm going to post a few more tomorrow. They'll be the fun ones--details and flowers!

Spotted!

Right now, Slant is offering a great deal on delicate little vases etched with ferns that also serve as place card holders and favors. On sale for a box of four for $12.oo--down from $26.oo. So pretty for a woodland wedding...

And where have I been? Selling our house (now officially sold!), and buying our new home (now officially purchased!); packing like you wouldn't believe; the usual busy round of second/third consultations for summer weddings; throwing a big ol' sale to purge the pack rat stash, and listening to some Rock&Roll from Eric Hutchinson nonstop. It's like caffeine coming out of the speakers.

Have mercy on my flaky blogging. A real wedding tomorrow if all goes as planned...