Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Desperate times call for desperate measures!  In an effort to get finally potty-trained Noah into undies (He had firmly rejected all that were offered.  Even the gift of a pair that sported the beloved Swiper, on Christmas morning, resulted in a sobbing tantrum in the middle of the festivities.), I spent the weekend making custom boxers for the boys.  Noah said he'd wear boxers if he got to pick the fabric, and of course Hayes had to have a pair too.  Exhibit A:  Police and flame boxers, modeled by their very happy owners.  Success!

And Exhibit B:  Pictures finally of the newest member of the family!  Meet Dravus, the two year old, super sweet and mellow, slightly giant, and very cuddly harlequin great Dane that I adopted at Christmas.  Speaking of happy owners!  Other than the beloved Frye boots she chewed up, I couldn't be happier that for my first dog ever I went big.  I promise to do my best not to let this become ode-to-Dravus instead of Fiore fresco, but I'm not making any promises.

 (couch time with best bud Noah, watching Madagascar together)

Unveiling February 14th...

Something big from Anthro is coming...BHLDN, a wedding division!  If it is anything like their everyday and party offerings, or beautiful stores, it will be a feast of delicious ruffles, details, sparkle, and texture. 

Check out the pretty trailer they are using to create a buzz here, and then mark your calendars for the grand unveiling on Valentine's Day.
 

And...don't forget about the talented and dedicated artists making sparkly ruffles, swirly invitations, accessories with glorious patina on Etsy.  Amazing inspiration and gorgeous products are already available there!

Last chance to visit fairyland...

One of the (or maybe THE) most enchanting places in Seattle is soon closing it's doors.  Souvenir, a little dreamworld created by the talented Curtis Steiner, is being evicted so that an elevator shaft can be installed in the building it has inhabited for eleven years.  I tried to explain the beautiful intrigue of Souvenir to someone recently, but it is so difficult to put into words.  Besides the exquisite windows (two of which are shown below) that Mr. Steiner creates, the tiny store feels a little like Alice in Wonderland, a little like a fantastical jewelry box, and a little like sneaking into your crazy, eccentric Uncle's house to go through the nightstands.  But most of all, more than any other shop/store/gallery I've ever been in, it really feels more like an experience than a store.  A trip to Souvenir always felt a little like a spa day for the creative part of the brain...inspirational, replenishing.

Mr. Steiner (currently wearing black, accesorized with a black mourning armband) says that he will be reinventing rather reopening, and has a potential location chosen.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed it won't be too much of a reinvention, but I can't imagine him creating anything less than magical. 

 (Beautifully intricate masked animals of vintage paper by Patti Grazini)

Souvenir will be open until February 6, and currently has an excquisite funerary window dedicated to itself.  Treat yourself to a trip before it's gone.  And the huge wooden counter with a gazillion drawers is the nightstand part...they are meant to be opened!  I found the gorgeous vintage wallpaper I just installed in my bedroom there; the pictures of which will be posted soon.

Au revoir Souvenir!  I'll miss you dearly. (The full sad story is available here and  here.)

And...I'm back!

Good news!  The long hiatus (thanks to a Beta version of IE that went very, very wrong) is over.  I've been busy, with lots to share soon.  A new family member (Ruff!), and beautiful bedroom remodel (a little Bollywood, a little fairytale, a little brothel...a whole lot of awesome!).  Inspiration, and some shots of recent work.  Can't wait to share.

*Photo of Kansas City Arts Incubator, via 100 Layer Cake.

A sense of place.

"Minka" trailer from Birdling Films on Vimeo.

Hauntingly beautiful trailer for "Minka", the story of a 250 year old farmhouse in Japan, and the meaning of home.


By Davina Pardo at Birdlings Films.

A pink pimp and Gagallet...

Warning:  the following post is being written under the influence of quite a quantity of cold medication.  The content may or may not reflect this.

Last weekend marked the occasion of my first Halloween wedding.  Black and white damask, orange ranunculus, old dusty books, mercury glass, black chandelier crystals.  A REALLY fun couple.  And the following pick-up crew...

Also, if you are on twitter, I have a job for you.  Or a favor to ask.  Or something that you're going to want to do anyways once you hear about this.  (And if you're not on twitter--whether it's because you don't care about it or because you're boycotting it--this is what will break you.). 

Are you sitting down?  Pacific Northwest Ballet.  A full length production.  The entire soundtrack.......wait for it.......Lady freakin' Gaga!!!!! Word on the street is that it could happen, with more signatures on the twitter petition  (seriously!  a twitter petition? is this what grassroots looks like in 2010?).  Just tweet something like "I'm bluffin' with my pointe shoes" or "Boys, boys, boys...we like boys in tights!".  Whatevs.  But just follow it with #pnbgaga.  And that's how you sign a twitter petition.  And make yourself my new best friend. 

And if you need some motivation (as if!), remember this?

Words

Books.  Deconstructed.  Recreated.  Breathtaking, complex, tactile.

Sculptures by Boukje Voet.

A not-so-itsy-bitsy SPIDER

The spookiest cake I've ever seen!  Spotted in a store window of our local bakery.  Normally I'd shudder from those fake flowers, but that giant fuzzy clinging tarantula takes the cake!

Happy Halloween!  I'm off to make finger jello.

Urban Unveiled 5.0 photos

Some snaps from Urban Unveiled a few weeks ago.  The show was a huge success...beautiful and inspiring ideas everywhere, some super sweet and fun 2011 brides, and an AMAZING fashion show from Luly Yang.  I have to admit, her shows are always pretty incredible, but some years they are a little "runway" for me; beautiful, but nothing I'd wear myself.  This year though...I was coveting EVERYTHING.  My only regret of the show was that I was upstairs during the fashion show, so none of the pictures turned out.  I so badly wish I had one of the grey silk ball dress with embroidered pink flowers.  It's not "wedding-y" at all, but is my new "if I could do it all again" dress.

Anyway, enough fashion talk.  First pictures are of the Fiore Blossoms space, of course!  Daylight during set-up, and then night time with all of the elements of my "Urban Picnic" in place.  I loved the burlap ribbon through the Chivari chairs, and the antlers coming out of the arrangement.  The beautiful table number sign is from Paper Moxie (thanks Sheryl!).  In the last picture, you can see the evil that I had to look at all night--the Trophy Cupcake tower!  The raspberry lemon ones were my kryptonite.

The sweet little vintage space created by a couple of my favorite ladies...the girls from 1000 Words Photography.  Sheena from The Invisible Hostess designed the most amazing glowing table, and Sam Day does an entire oil painting of the event DURING the event every year. 

A pretty pink dress I love (from Moms, Maids, and More), Flora Nova's dramatic columns and white orchids (I know, strange to put another Seattle florist on here, but Christiane and I have always been very good friends.  She has been a mentor and confidant to me, and I think there will always be enough weddings for the both of us!).  And I have to include the True Colors Events table in the photos.  My three favorite boys in all of Seattle are a given, but I think Travis and Jesse are in the lead for spots four and five. 

Black and white damask is still huge, and the W Hotel did it beautifully.  Look at that cake!  And Abaloria jewelry is always exquisite.  Someday.....

A couple awesome cakes from a new Urban Unveiled partner, The People's Cake, followed by a shot of Benaroya, all dressed up for the party! 

(#39) Just a glimpse...

Billy Balls, Craspedia, those-little-round-yellow-thingys...whatever you call them, the little round yellow thingys seem to be a huge favorite right now.  I've been loving them for adding texture and their soft gold, not at all harsh, pop of color.  This image from Ryan Ray Photography (via Junebug's image gallery--an AWESOME resource!) shows how pretty they can be as the feature flower.  Crazy cute, huh?