Fuzz and Flowers

I’m on a color scheme kick, which got me thinking, where do other people get their color fixes? Always-popular Design Seeds seems to be an indispensable resource, but I don’t know—I like discovering palettes in unexpected places. On the other hand, I have been known to regularly fill my purse with free color swatches from Lowe’s…

Thrifted Zippers from Sushi Pot

Colors – Rose from LuLu DK

photo by Yuki Sugiura

If you’re pondering a centerpiece for the New Year, I always get compliments on this clementine topiary. Can’t you picture a few of these miniature trees dominating a long tablescape?

People have been asking me how I fix the clementines and if they are edible. The answer to the first part couldn’t be simpler: I skewer the clementines onto floral picks. The second part, on the other hand, is debatable. I wouldn’t eat fruit on floral picks because of their green dye, but you could use wooden culinary skewers if you are determined to serve your topiary. Personally, I wouldn’t want to eat anything that’s been resting against floral foam, but that’s just me.

Ingredients:

• Clementine
• Carnation
• Spray rose
• Pine foliage
• Lemon leaf

I’m really into old-school Christmas decor right now, and apparently I’m not alone.

Anthropologie released mercury-glass-esque trees last year and offers the same in a cooler color scheme this season. I’ve also seen many retro-inspired handmade trees on Pinterest ranging from the glitzy to the feathery (the ones shown above are by Shauna Mailloux), and my mother decorated her tree in the classic style this year. Can you say “bling-bling”?

Happy holidays! :)

Is it too early for a new floral designer crush? I hope not.

I discovered Sarah Winward on the blog Ruffled where she shared an amaryllis-inspired arrangement for winter brides-to-be (first image). Many people sort of forget the existence of flowers during the winter season (at least beyond poinsettia and mistletoe), but there is much to be arranged, especially from the berry family. And who doesn’t enjoy the textures of winter greens and pinecones? Add some wintery white blossoms (amaryllis, ranunculus, anemone, peony) and impress holiday guests with your sophisticated sense of style.

Who needs ornaments? We’ve got flowers. ;)

I was plucking lily pollen today and couldn’t help but like what I saw: burgundy, gold, and green.

Here’s the spoil of my last Holiday Design class!

Magnolia leaves make gorgeous, lush wreaths and dry well for reuse. My only regret is not having more of the dried pomegranate to wire in, but c’est la vie.

If you’re thinking that the wreath looks a little low, you are correct—I hung it from the knocker with a zip tie. Overanxious? Guilty. But to be fair, this wreath is the first Christmas decoration I’ve gotten to hang this year.

Ingredients:

• Magnolia foliage
• Dried nigella
• Dried pomegranate
• Grapevine wreath