2012-05-26T16:51:58Z Sue Bain Copyright 2012, Sue Bain SPHPBLOG
I have been hoarding pictures from events since summer. I have had so many fabulous photographers supply me with images that really show off the style, personality, lighting and mood of the events. Now I am trying to decide whether to just eliminate my own snapshots, even if the content was good.

I think I will continue to compile content and go to a couple more One to One sessions and then turn the process over to a professional. In a week or so we am going in to high gear so there won’t be much time to devote to this important process.

I am going to try to listen to some tutorials and I would love to get some input on how to inject some emotion in to a simple site. Anyone have any ideas?]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry100126-093006 2010-01-26T00:00:00Z 2010-01-26T00:00:00Z
Maybe it is the combination of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years that make it all so special. I am so thankful for so many things and I love the spirit of giving. Starting a new year always inspires me to think about how I can be a better person, personally and in business.

I have always expressed myself in the most heartfelt ways through flowers. I love to work with people’s treasured ornaments and decorations and bring in a new twist to make it still special but different. In other circumstances, I can start from scratch and create a story from the beginning.

Just like with wedding work, it is so inspiring to try something new in holiday decorating. You would think that it all has been done before. I love tradition but can’t sacrifice the opportunity to do something new.

We are busy, no doubt about it. Let’s not be so busy that we forget the spirit of the holidays. Let’s take the time to think about the people who are important to us and honor them. Giving is truly better than receiving. I am going to plan ahead this year for sure. That way I can have fun decorating for my customers and for myself.

]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry091101-205001 2009-11-02T00:00:00Z 2009-11-02T00:00:00Z
Margaret Rosemeyer and I did an representation of Judy Pfaff. In a previous blog I showed some pictures of her work. She definitely has the circle repetition going on.

We wrapped Hula hoops with cashmere yarn, then created some cross grid work to weave our flowers through. Then we created a static line to the right of it. From the ground we suspended tomato cages that were covered with chicken wire and freshly picked moss. Nestled in the cages were flower orbs of various types. The ground was covered in chicken wire and moss laid on top with pave of flowers here and there. We took a day to lay things out and a day to add the flowers. During the second day we had time to decorate one of the entries and create a memorial table for deceased former floral designers who had participated in the past. From there we helped others with their work.

All of the exhibits were viewed by spotlight and 2000 candles in the evening. I haven’t heard the final count but I think over 1000 people came for the viewing. Proceeds from the admission were to benefit students of floral design.
I can’t say enough about the kindness and generosity of all the people involved. I really felt that I was a part of something very special.


]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090930-061429 2009-09-30T00:00:00Z 2009-09-30T00:00:00Z
This is my first time going to Bob Friese’s property in Fruitport to make floral creations, though the event is 3 years new. Each year there has been a different benefit from the fund raiser. I understand that there will be great camaraderie, good food and a lot of fun doing what comes naturally to a group of amazingly talented designers.

I will be collaborating with Margaret Rosemeyer from the Chicago area to depict the sculpture of Judy Pfaff. I have no idea what to expect but I know our space will be 9 feet tall by 7 feet wide and that we will arrive armed with plenty of flowers, partially donated by Transflora in Miami. Margaret and I have both assisted Belgian designer Tomas deBruyne and will plan to utilize some of the European techniques we have learned from him. Of course we will put our own spin on it.

Judy Pfaff is a very diverse artist, working with all kinds of materials, doing large installations, sculpture, drawings and paintings. I would consider her work to be contemporary and edgy.(See photos below!)

I will document our results and I am already sure that I am going to have a really good time doing what I like to do best - floral art!

]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090913-093426 2009-09-13T00:00:00Z 2009-09-13T00:00:00Z
My intention is to compliment the dress, not compete with it. For example, if a gown is very simple, without a lot of beading, applique or stitching details, the Bride can have most any amount of texture and shape. However if the dress has lots of important feature in the bodice and around the waist, it is best to keep the bouquet to one or two textures. Frequently, we will add crystals to the bouquet to compliment the crystals in the dress.

Here in Florida during the months of April through October there are certain popular flowers that are just not safe to use. Hydrangea is a perfect example. The heat of the sun is so intense that the flowers will dehydrate very quickly. Orchids and Calla Lilies are generally very durable, making them good choices for the summer months.

The shape of the bouquet is also determined by the style of the dress. It is rare that the bouquet is anything other than round in shape, but unstructured and cascading bouquets are making a comeback, especially in the European and Asian markets.

Deciding whether or not to have color depends on the Bride’s personality and how strongly she would want to have the bouquet show up in pictures.

Ultimately, we try to educate the Bride about the process but we want to give our girls their dream bouquet and that is the most important factor of all!

Photos by Coastal Images







]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090810-192042 2009-08-11T00:00:00Z 2009-08-11T00:00:00Z
Last year about this time I blogged about a competition I intended to enter with garden roses. I wanted to take this time to give credit to Sam and Ashley Brockington from ashleybrockington.com for having done the most incredible job with the photography for that competition. They deserve a great deal of the credit since ultimately if I don’t have a good photo, my flowers just look like any others. Sam and Ashley are great to work with; I admire their art, professionalism and love of family.

In addition, the flowers that I used were Maria Theresa german garden roses from Transflora. They were gorgeous and performed amazingly well for several days.

I have hesitated to add links to other wedding and event vendors out of fear of slighting someone. I apologize to Sam and Ashley for not having given them credit and I need to do the right thing by mentioning this now. Here again are the pictures:





]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090722-150748 2009-07-22T00:00:00Z 2009-07-22T00:00:00Z
I know it sounds crazy but I have Spring Fever! Living in Florida is great because we have warm weather most of the year, so how is it that I would get spring fever?

Having grown up in the Adirondacks, I know what is happening right now. The snow is melting and the weather is promising to get warmer. I have a summer cottage on Lake George and I love that home with all of my heart! In late May or early June (depending on my wedding commitments) I can go there and work in my perennial gardens and plant window boxes. Later in the summer I will go back up for a bit of vacation. There and then I will get to see many old friends and family.

Spring flowers are available now and I can’t get enough of them. Daffodils, Narcissus, Tulips, Peonies, Hyacinth and flowering branches always make me happy.

I made my reservation for AIFD symposium, which will take place in Kansas City this year in mid July. The best floral designers in the world will present amazing shows for 3 days straight and the things we will see are beyond our wildest imagination. This is my 7th year attending and it raises the bar on floral design each year. Information can be viewed at AIFD and the symposium is open to everyone. This year Tomas DeBruyne from Belgium will be returning to teach an all day hands on and lecture program. I worked with Tomas on a 4 day project and presentation 2 years ago in Palm Desert. He is amazing! You can read about that experience in one of my previous blogs and you can view his work on www.tomasdebruyne.com.

The promise of spring renewal and revitalization is a feeling that I never want to loose. Spring speaks to my heart and soul and I am excited for another year

]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090316-230849 2009-03-17T00:00:00Z 2009-03-17T00:00:00Z
We actually had some home decorating opportunities and I do love working with permanent botanicals. After purchasing an abundance of permanents at the Atlanta Gift Show, the merchandise began arriving. So many amazing, real looking and feeling flowers are available!

We continue to find new ways to market our business, participating in wedding shows and learning new technology through cyberspace. Networking with other business people has been so enjoyable and rewarding, discussing mutual goals makes all of us better at what we do.

I am looking forward to the coming months and am optimistic that we can continue to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our customers.

]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090306-082700 2009-03-06T00:00:00Z 2009-03-06T00:00:00Z
Repeatedly, over the past few weeks, I am faced with issues relating to the changes in the economic climate and how it affects my business. Largely, it has been a creative challenge that I meet with enthusiasm and humility.
Since the majority of my business is weddings and events, I see that Brides planning their wedding day are sensitive to the cost of decorating and even more, the limitations of their guests to travel to a destination event.
I fully appreciate and honor their concerns. This is a time to make the most of my materials and come up with ideas to get the biggest look for the least expense. I think this is fun and new and it is always a welcome change for a creative person.

The difficulty lies with the fact that the magazines and internet show events that are large and expensive (because that is great for photos) and sometimes it is hard to translate the ideas to a budget that is a fraction of the one shown in pictures. There is nothing new about that fact. I remember when Martha Stewart first came out with her Wedding Magazine and we tried to explain how hard it is to find pink lily of the valley and locate Japanese tree peonies for cutting.

As always it is a challenge to gain the attention and confidence in the first meeting with a Bride and try to answer her needs for the perfect centerpiece at a price that fits in the budget. I try to establish a range and assure her that we can always re-fit the ideas as necessary.

I love my work and I love being a part of such an important event in a person’s life. I enjoy having the opportunity to get to know people during the process of planning and I honor my relationships with other professionals.

In truth, it is much easier to work with an unlimited budget but it is exciting to change with the times. I embrace the challenge!
]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090216-071027 2009-02-16T00:00:00Z 2009-02-16T00:00:00Z The invitations were prepared by Debra Mehrberg of dm paper designs. They were so impressive and beautiful.
Admission was a free, voluntary donation to Brides against Breast Cancer.
Colonial Country Club provided us with delicious food and a wonderful location.
Lace and Roses Bridal and Formalwear presented the Bridal Fashion show and showed lots of dresses in a fast paced exciting line up.
Coastal Images prepared much of the planning and showed their artistic talents in photography.
Elite Weddings Disc Jockey and Videography set the pace for the event, providing the music and the lighting as well.
Clean Ride Limo had their stretch limo and custom bus in the entry for everyone to tour. I did not get the chance but I heard that it was amazing.
Uptown Hair designers showed their ability to make the models gorgeous in a very short period of time.
Irresistible Confections displayed a tremendous diversity of packaging for their handmade chocolates
Mason’s Bakery treated everyone to cake.
The attendance was intimate and I enjoyed seeing a group of Wedding Planners visit with each other. I am a firm believer that we are all in this business to help each other.
This group of couture wedding vendors was a classy, professional group of people that showed their amazing talents and quality services. I was honored to be included amongst them.


]]> http://www.signature-florals.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry081026-075646 2008-10-26T00:00:00Z 2008-10-26T00:00:00Z