Life is a Carousel Ride

bloom boxx was thrilled to participate in the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce's 2010 Carousel Awards Gala.  We provided the centerpiece for the Chamber president's table, and we had a blast with the theme.  Inspired by Asbury's historic Convention Hall, we included "patinaed" seahorses and a sailing ship which stood proudly at the very top.  The entire top portion of our floral carousel tower was affixed to a battery-operated display stand meant to showcase dolls, so it actually spun like a real carousel.  In addition to brightly colored flowers, we used moss and seashells to invoke the shore - and jewels and mirrors reminiscent of a merry-go-round.  When throwing a party, flowers can be more than just an addition to the tables.  They can be part of the fun!

bridal glam

The wedding day is all about the bride.  It's a day when she gets to feel and be treated like a princess.  And, what's more royal than jewels?  Even in today's economy, this doesn't have to stop with the ring.  The glam look can also translate to the bridal flowers, without being expensive.  Faux fur, plastic pearls, shiny ribbons and crystals are inexpensive, yet add a glamourous look - and a little whimsy.

Meee-oww!

bloom boxx is thrilled to have once again made a floral display for our friends at Parlor Gallery, right here in our home town of Asbury Park, in celebration of and coordination with their new show, "Fancy".  The show celebrates animals in art, and we had a ball with this concept.  Verging on the literal, we used faux fur, feathers, and even faux eyeballs!  See fresh blood-red roses oozing from the head of a teddy bear.  We made bugs out of yellow carnations and feathers.  In vases covered with white faux fur, note the illusion of whiskers is achieved with the poofs of grass swirling out the sides of puffy white hydrangeas.  The largest arrangement we made features gerbera daisies, thistle, and brightly colored feathers.  And if you look closely at the vase covered in faux brown mink, you'll see 2 dark eyes staring right back at you.  Flowers are always add beauty, but they can also be part of the fun!

http://www.parlor-gallery.com/?page_id=1053

And the Bride Carried... a Salad

Ok, that sounds silly.  However, for a recent bridal show, bloom boxx decided to take our love of all things green in an interesting, beautiful "earthy" direction.  Seen here, our bride's bouquet is made up of beautiful green vibernum, hypericum berries, moss and ivy.  In addition to these floral items, this bouquet also contains fresh kale and rosemary!  Keeping in mind that this IS in fact a bridal bouquet, and not salad fixings, we added a touch of glam by wrapping the stems in a beautiful green/brown fabric topped off with a leaf-shaped brooch featuring crystals in shades of green.  The matching ring-style centerpiece uses the same flowers and "ingredients", yet replaces the kale with fresh basil and thyme.  Have fun with flowers!  Mixing other elements with florals is not only a way to do something a little different, it's cost-effective and in this case brings adds a lovely herbal fragrance.

Making a Statement with Flowers

bloom boxx had the privilege of making a floral display recently for the Parlor Gallery in Asbury Park NJ.  Currently the gallery is featuring "Dark & Lovely".  Our color palette was inspired by the "Adam Wallacavage" Curio Wallcovering featured on the home page of Parlor Gallery's web site.  The flowers used here are black calla lilies, blood red spray roses, deep aubergine carnations, and pale blue/green hydrangeas.  To coincide with the show title, we not only used dark flowers, but we also invoked a macabre tone by incorporated dark feathers and wired twigs creeping all over the hydrangeas.    Flowers are indeed lovely, and they can also be fun and interesting. Never be afraid to incorporate non-floral materials into arrangements.

If you get the chance, you have a couple of days left to see "Dark & Lovely" at Parlor Gallery.  You can also see these works on their web site.  This Saturday, April 24th, Parlor opens their next installation, "Fancy".

http://www.parlor-gallery.com/

http://www.parlor-gallery.com/?page_id=1053

Branch Season

Springtime means flowering branches are in season.  Forsythia and cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere you look.  Pussywillow has sprouted.  Showy and dramatic, branches are gorgeous arranged by themselves, or mixed with fresh cut flowers to add height and visual interest.  An arrangement of blooming branches is a great way to show off a unique or oversized vase.  And, of course, cutting from your own yard is economical.  You can "force" branches by cutting them from the bush, so long as it's above freezing outside.  For more information on "forcing" branches, please follow this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086754_force-branches-bloom.html

Enjoy the spring weather, and bring some spring inside by displaying beautiful blooming branches.

The Scents of Springtime

Easter Sunday is one of many signs that spring, at long last, is finally here.   And, this means that beautiful spring blooms are in season!  Not only gorgeous to the eye, many spring flowers are also a treat for the nose and make a fresh, fragrant bride's bouquet.  The pale pink peonies and beautiful hyacinths seen in this bouquet, which really pop thanks to beautiful hot pink anemones, add a delicious natural fragrance.  Ahhh, spring.