Showing posts with label Splenderosa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Splenderosa. Show all posts

Monday, June 4, 2012

The Bouquet

I have been in the special events industry for over twenty years and have been graced to work with an incredibly creative special events decorator during that time. 
Pieter Bouterse's work is up there with any famed floral decorator you can throw at me- of this, there is no doubt in my mind. His standards are high, his work ethic unequaled. (Did I say Picky?) Because of this, I guess you could call me jaded.

For me to write a post for Splenderosa's By Invitation Only on weddings is almost impossible. I could feed you photo after photo, but decided I best not. I narrowed it down to the flowers and, specifically, the bouquets. 

May I share with you just a small sampling of the bouquets Pieter has made in the past 9 months? 
Tradition is that Pieter always creates the bridal bouquet. I usually create the attendant bouquets, but that is open to discussion and/or a guest floral decorator. 
And did I tell you that one of the best parts of working a wedding is to hand the bridal party their bouquets right before they walk down the aisle?
Never fails to make me teary-eyed. 


By far, the most popular request for the bridal bouquet is all white. Here are a few:





Spring and summer tend to go perky and bright, lots of pink and lime.



 Fall and winter usually are somewhat darker, more serious. 
Equally as beautiful, though.



Of course, the wedding I recall most fondly was my daughter's almost three years ago. A reasonably sized bridal party was refreshing (don't get me started on that subject!), the weather finally cleared out an hour before the ceremony started and we had a blast!


 And, yes, Beth requested a large bouquet. Having worked with Pieter during college to earn spending money, she had seen many a bouquet and knew exactly what she wanted. It was gorgeous!


What are your favorite bouquets?

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Nature's Artwork

I, am a gardener. From the heart.
As you can imagine, for me- spring is a season like no other.
 I think because of its hope and promise, 
I cheer on the tiniest bud amazingly poking out of hard, brown wood.

Spring also makes me chuckle- just look at this gal with her hat.



Early morning brings great rewards to those of us crazy enough to go for a walk in the garden. Sometimes the light is just right- to catch the dewdrops looking like glass beads.




I love discovering the buds. They can be easy to pass right by.




Have you ever wondered what part of that aggressive wisteria plant you want to keep? The part that flowers.... here they are. Its hands. If you prune these off, you've pruned off the wisteria's prize blooms.


These average looking leaves are the precursor to the incredible, huge flowers of the tree peony. Not to be confused with the peony that we all know and love. Check back in about three or four weeks and I'll show you what I mean.




                 A more unusual flowering bush with such dainty blooms...




The flower buds and opening flowers of the holly:


And my favorite of the day- this darling little miniature daffodil.




How is your garden growing?

And now, I invite you stop on over to Splenderosa's monthly By Invitation Only party to see what spring means around the world.



Sunday, January 1, 2012

Lunching in Paris

Welcome 2012!


And what a year 2012 is shaping up to be! 
I am starting it off by joining a group of my fellow bloggers at Marsha's virtual luncheon in Paris. She chose Le Pré Catelan Restaurant, residing in a beautiful historic mansion located in le Bois de Boulogne. I will arrive a bit early so I can stroll around Le Pré Catelan's garden, exquisite even on January first.

1,2,3

I admit, it took a while to decide on my outfit. Fashion is not my thing. Seeing what everyone else will wear, however, will be great fun. Here's what I went with: 



As I join this charming group of women, I look forward to absorbing their enthusiasm and zest for life. Going forward is our theme for today and I intend to!

Going forward in 2012 means I will...

-First and foremost, love and treasure my family and friends
-Grow more food at home and use our little patch of earth to its fullest 
-Visit all of you more often
-Let go of inhibitions and just go for it
-Pick a volunteer project and participate
-De-clutter the house and build more bookshelves


What are your intentions for 2012?

Please join us and peruse the blogs of the Lunch in Paris. Visit here and scroll down to the bottom to link up to the party!


Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!

To all of the wonderfully engaging friends I have met through PlumSiena~ you have enriched my life tremendously. 
I am amazed at your generosity, knowledge and zest for life.

Cheers to a Happy New Year!


Please- do visit tomorrow when I drop into our Lunch in Paris get together over at Splenderosa.

[via]

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Party On!

It's funny how things work out. 


Marsha, of the fab Splenderosa blog, has a blog party every month and December's event happens to be a fancy affair to celebrate our fellow blogger, Tina (of The Enchanted Home blog)'s new home. She's having a virtual party on December 23rd and we are to choose the outfit to wear to the party. Funny thing is, we are invited to a friend's holiday black tie party in real life and shopping is a definite must. I spend most of my days with paint and plaster on my clothes. 
This is definitely playing dress up for me! 



I chose a vintage (1950's) gunmetal grey, taffeta cocktail dress with a black velvet insert on the right side of the bust; I've never worn a boned bodice before, so this should prove to be interesting. Thank goodness I've been faithful about doing daily crunches! I fell in love with its color and the ruched accent at the waist. It came with a matching taffeta jacket, but I decided to go with another vintage piece and chose this black Bolero jacket for the chilly night air.

Simple diamond and Rose of France earrings, a great pearl clutch from Alexander McQueen and glittery black peep toe pumps round out my outfit. 

I need to ask your advice, though. Should I add a necklace? 

My scent for the evening is I parfum by Puredistance, an elegantly soft floral with fruit and amber background notes. 


For my hostess gift, I decided to stick with what I know very well: flowers.
 I chose a vibrant bouquet of the just becoming available Coral Charm peonies with a collar of white snowberry. A fat satin ribbon ties it all together and I've arranged it so it can go directly into the vase, as is, when I arrive. That way Tina does not have to arrange anything and she can slip it into the garage for tomorrow's enjoyment, as she already decked out her house with greenery.



Please join me and let's go peak at what everyone is wearing! (Isn't that the best part of the party?)

TISH JETT an American in France http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/ 
GREET LEFEVRE in Belgium http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/ 
CATHERINE ROBINSON in London http://www.catherinerobinsoncashmere.com/ 
ANNIE BOUTERSE USA http://plumsiena.blogspot.com/
COTY FARQUHAR in Australia http://cotyfarquhar.blogspot.com/
DEBORAH PETERSON between Houston & Scotland http://www.dumbwittellher.com/
DUSTJACKET ATTIC, Debra in Australia http://dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/
SHARI MILLER USA http://www.littlebluedeer.com/
TINA USA theenchantedhome@gmail.com http://theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/
MONA THOMPSON USA http://providenceltddesign.com/
JACQUELINE MUMFORD England http://home-biba.blogspot.com/
KARIN JANSKY France http://lapouyette-unddiedingedeslebens.blogspot.com
VICKI ARCHER an Australian in France http://frenchessence.blogspot.com/
CECILIA GONZALEZ Spain http://desdemventana.blogspot.com/
RENEE GRANIER & ANGELA FOSTER USA http://underspanishmoss.com/
LISA USA not participating this month http://amidprivilege.com
FRANCINE GARDNER a woman of the world in NYC http://interieurs.com blog
CHRISTINA FLUEGGE USA http://greigedesign.blogspot.com/
STACEY BEWKES USA http://quintessence.com
LEANN BROWN USAhttp://linenandlavender.blogspot.com/
LENE Norway http://theessenceofthegoodlife.blogspot.com/
SANDE CHASE Canada www.agiftwrappedlife.com
SHARON SANTONI France http://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/
KAREN MALAN UK Pas Grand-Chose Blog http://athousandmiles-k.blogspot
LISA PORTER USA lisaportercollection.com
DEJA PSEU USA unefemme.net.
ISA CHANDLER http://isaslittleworld.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A Passion for Details: Antoni Gaudi


"Creation continues unceasingly through the Media of Man. But Man does not create he discovers. Those who search for the Laws of Nature as a support to their new works collaborate with the Creator. Those who copy do not collaborate. Therefore originality consists in returning to the origin.”

Antoni Gaudí

It has been said that original, new architecture, capable of changing everything, is produced by humanity only once every 700-800 years. With the suggested theme of It’s All in the Details at Splenderosa's International Blog Party, By Invitation Only, I could think of no better example than Antoni Gaudí as I strode through the beautiful streets of Barcelona. Gaudí's sincere devotion to his God and nature guided his inner sense, urging him to create with extreme details, down to each and every air vent not only having a function, but exhibiting beauty as well.

Antoni Gaudí the immensely creative, imaginative and controversial architect, was born in Reus, Catalonia, Spain on June 25, 1852 into a family of coppersmiths. He attended school first in Reus, later moving to Barcelona where he obtained his degree in architecture. 
 
At that time, the Romantic period was winding down and the Art Nouveau / Modern Style was exploding onto the scene, although Gaudí did not limit himself to any particular school of thought. Gaudí dedicated his work to cooperating with Nature and the Earth, described as organic naturalism; in his latter years, he also became devoted to his Catholic religion. He remained both a bachelor and a vegetarian. He defied the accepted building techniques, using nature as his inspiration. Gaudí combined the common materials of iron, concrete, brick, stones and mosaic with Arabesque geometry and elements of nature to express his deepest convictions. The architect had a close collaboration with his fellow Catalan artists: the stone masons, potters and blacksmiths, who carried out his instructions in great detail.

 



Gaudí was only 31 years old when he took over the already existing Sagrada Familia cathedral project. Although Sagrada Familia is considered his masterpiece, it is not his most personal creation. He was limited by the site (a small block in the middle of a crowded city) and the construction board, to whom he was subjected.


The forest of spires

The cathedral today presents two of the three facades that Gaudí had planned. The first, the façade of the Nativity, was begun in 1884 and finished in Gaudí’s lifetime. While the exterior is almost a Baroque profusion of statuary and organic elements, the interior is completely different with vast walls of geometry and light. 
The second façade, Passion, is now finished and the third, Glory, is under construction.

Nativity scene


Snakeskin

 Snails and lizards were imitated to create these downspouts.


A bell tower with its “crown”

Gaudí’s work on Casa Batlló was actually a remodeling between 1906-1909 of an existing building. Its façade is clearly suggestive of human bones and an almost organic tissue. Gaudí’s use of color through mosaics is evident throughout.

Organic forms, such a the nose and human bones, were inspirations to Gaudi and can be seen in the building's facade.


Notice the human "masks "on the front of Casa Batlló

Park Güell, built between 1900-1910, was begun as a concept for a residential area, but the project failed, with only two of the proposed 70 houses built. Today it is a municipal park unlike any other in the world. Wrought iron, polychrome ceramic mosaics and a viaduct of stone and stalactites are part of the multi-level terrain that hosts gardens on different levels.

The vaulted ceiling of ceramics in the Hall of Columns supports the great square above, which provides great views of the city of Barcelona. Its circular benches, embellished with fragmented ceramics, appear as a modern art installation.
 

Park entrance


The ceilings in the Hall of Columns (meant to be a market place)



Ceiling medallion





Wrought iron and mosaics- popular themes in Gaudi's work


Palm tree inspirations for sure!



Wrought iron fence with palm fronds



"Stalactites"

Barcelona city view


La Pedrera (Casa Milá) has a stunning presence on Passeig de Gracia. Built between 1906-1910, it features undulating balconies with wrought iron appearing as sculptured elements and ornamentation. The building’s roof contains a surprising collection of vents and chimneys made out of white ceramic tiles that resemble conch shells. Definitely not the norm!







Surprisingly, Antoni Gaudí was run over by a tram at the height of his career on July 9, 1926, assumed to be a begger by his appearance and was left on the street for hours. He died the next day. His works were controversial then but, as the crowds indicate at every site, he is much loved and revered today.

 Please visit my fellow bloggers over at Marsha's fab Splenderosa blog for more definitions of It's All in the Details!



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