finch & thistle

Finch & Thistle has moved

2011-02-24T16:28:00.000-08:00

...to wordpress.

Please find us at www.finchandthistleblog.com

2010: A Retrospective

2010-12-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

Tremendous thanks to all my wonderful clients, colleagues, friends and family for making this such a fantastic year. Finch & Thistle wouldn’t exist without you and for that, I am truly grateful.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year filled with love, laughter and flowers!

- Rachel

Nonpareil Issue 7: Buzz Worthy Bride

2010-12-15T15:23:00.001-08:00

I have been dying to show off the projects and pictures from the shoot I styled and designed for Nonpareil Magazine in October since well, October! Check out all the details of the 20(!) page article here - NP Issue 7: A Buzz Worthy Bride

Kathleen Ullman of Twig and Thistle created the mood board that inspired the shoot. Her dream wedding would have a “Farm to Table” theme with handcrafted details, natural elements and pink and sage green florals.

I then designed and styled the shoot based on the mood board. Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures from that cold, wintery day out on Bainbridge Island…

Apart from the pink roses, all the flowers, herbs and rose hips in the bouquet and arrangements came from my own garden.

I used vintage marmalade pots found on Ebay for the two smaller centerpieces and the white metal vase came from a flea market. The Mr & Mrs runner project was inspired by the burlap runners one of my brides made this summer and the herb pot favors seemed a sweet and inexpensive take on the Farm to Table theme. Details and step-by-step instructions are available here - Mr & Mrs runner template and here -Herb pot favor template

Our baker fell through at the last minute, so I improvised and decorated simple white cakes from Bainbridge Island’s Town & Country supermarket! Some scattered Secal pears, Black Mission figs and olive branches kept the farm feel a bit more sophisticated.

It was such a pleasure to work on this shoot with Angela and Evan. Not only is their work stunning, but they are a lot of fun to hang out with!

Our hair and makeup artist, Teryl, was fantastic. After an hour with her, our already gorgeous model Kara was just stunning.

As the sun set, Kara posed for some shots under the trees and then we moved down to the water to catch the last of the light.

Dress designer Chrissy Wai-Ching stands by with some hot tea for our freezing model!

Faded Glory

2010-12-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

I saw these pictures of a vintage garden inspired South African wedding in the most recent copy of Wedding Flowers, a British wedding magazine, and just had to share. I absolutely adore the faded look to these bouquets and the interesting mix of texture and color.

Inspiration Board: Corporate Holiday Party

2010-12-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Palette: Champagne, gold and white with natural brown elements
Theme: Natural, chic, elegant
Location: Benaroya Hall, Seattle
Date: December, 2010

Finch & Thistle on Love and Lavender

2010-11-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

Jenny and Jeff's gorgeous Healdsburg wedding is featured over on Love and Lavender! Check it out here...

2nd Saturdayz

2010-11-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to attend a 2nd Saturdayz for some time and now that wedding season is winding down, I finally got to check it out. A must for vintage loving brides and designers, 2nd Saturdayz is held every month on, you guessed it, the second Saturday over at Magnusen Park in Sandpoint.

Perhaps the poster gives it away, but this is no ordinary flea market. This is a market where every booth is styled and decorated to be worthy of a magazine shoot. The ladies who run the show, known as The Junk Tribe, are passionate about vintage shabby chic and picky about which vendors they let in the door. I scored some fabulous new props for next summer’s weddings (library card catalog as seating chart -anyone?), a $20 vintage Christmas tree and some gorgeous holiday trees made from recycled wool sweaters.

There was plenty of inspiration for holiday decorating and winter weddings too.

The next one will be held on December 11. See you there!

Personal: Family Portraits

2010-11-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

We recently had some family portraits taken by Angela and Evan Photography and I am so thrilled with them that I wanted to share some of them here with you.

Here’s the whole gang:
From L- R: Marci (sister-in-law), Gillian (mother-in-law), Grant (my husband), Maddy (niece), John (father-in-law), Tasmyn (sister-in-law), me.

My favorite. We are *obsessed* with our doggies!

SMP: Vintage Romance

2010-11-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

I just had to share this post from Style Me Pretty today. Absolutely gorgeous styled shoot from Sonoma and I just love the soft colors and textures juxtaposed with the “bling” in the jewelry and bouquet. Also a great example of using patterned linens without making the table look fussy or dated.

From jewelry designer Noaki … The shoot took place at Petaluma’s Gypsy Acres, a charming estate in Sonoma County, California’s lush wine country. Our theme was vintage country and Spring birth . We used lots of fresh new-growth greens and lemon yellows along with touches of vintage robin’s egg blue and pale pinks. Here and there we incorporated bits of vintage recycled materials and re-purposed items to carry the overall romantic mood, such as vintage table cloths, mix-and-match china and chairs and — even a vintage bathtub!

Jewelry & Accessories by Noaki Jewelry
Photography by Claire and Sam Photographers
You can see all these beauties and SO much more on Noaki’s website and Etsy Shop!
Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for? Noaki creates custom designs, too! Give her a holler ~ info@noakijewelry.com

Jewelry, Hairpieces and Celedon and White Heirloom Jeweled Bouquet: Noaki Jewelry
Photography: Claire Dobson
Invites, Place cards, Menus : Paperwhite
Table Linens, China, Glassware, Silverware : I leoni
Dresses: Amy Kuschel
Florist: Silver Tape Floral Design
Venue: Gypsy Acres
Hair and Makeup: Sara Martin
Styling: ILeoni & Paperwhite

Chelsea and Jamie: Part II

2010-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

*
The bridesmaids wore different shades of blue dresses from J.Crew and Kenneth Cole and the groomsmen all wore white shirts with blue and orange checked ties.

**
Chelsea wore a Nicole Miller gown, accessorized with a multi strand gold and pearl necklace from Macy’s, and carried a bouquet of white and orange garden roses, blackberries, thistle, dahlias, stock, freesia and green hypericum berries.

*
Jamie wore a custom suit from Nordstrom.

*
Family members dressed in jewel tones and I made their boutonnieres and corsages to coordinate.

The ceremony took place on the patio of the Oddfellows hall in Eastsound, overlooking the beautiful Puget Sound and surrounded by native Madrona trees.

*
Penny the Labrador served as flower girl and ate her corsage halfway through.

**
Outside on the deck we set up a photo booth complete with props and I decorated with hanging flowers in varying shades of blue glass.

Guests enjoyed cocktails on the deck while the wedding party took photographs and then guests dined on barbequed salmon and chicken with cupcakes made by the island's only bartender for dessert.

*****
We used white linens to show off the burlap and the blue mason jars. I used cherry brandy and orange roses, dahlias, stock, hypericum, seeded eucalyptus, blackberries and blue thistle in the flower arrangements.

*
I loved how the light shone through the blue glass as the sun set!

A gift table displayed an antique leather suitcase and the cake topper was from Chelsea’s grandmother’s wedding.

The bride and groom entered the reception to a taped recording by one of the groomsmen mimicking the starting lineup for an NFL football game and guests danced the night away under a ceiling draped with pennant flags in vintage fabric while lanterns and jars of flowers hung in the windows and from the railings of the patio.

****
{all * pictures courtesy of Jonathan Steinberg Photography}

And yes, in addition to designing this wedding, I am one of the bridesmaids :)

Chelsea and Jamie, Orcas Island: Part I

2010-11-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been following the blog for the last few months, you will remember that Chelsea guest blogged about her experiences planning her August wedding on Orcas Island. Here are all the details and pictures from the big day!

*
Chelsea grew up on an apple farm in Wenatchee, WA (the epicenter of Washington state's apple growing region) and in her senior year of high school she was nominated Apple Blossom Queen (an honor that meant she had to bring her tiara and gown to college with her so that she could be ready to attend a parade at a moment's notice).

On a weekend trip to Lake Chelan right after Chelsea and Jamie got engaged, Chelsea and I found a pile of vintage apple label postcards in a roadside antique store and inspiration hit. We would design her upcoming Orcas Island wedding to have a country, organic theme based around vintage apple posters.

Chelsea was a very hands-on bride. After I put together a mood board to help with the design direction, she immediately started scouring the blogs for ideas to make their wedding day special on a budget. She made the burlap table runners herself, spent a weekend sewing pennant flags, collected crates and crates of coveted blue mason jars and vintage bottles and glued lace cutout blue paper onto recycled cans for centerpieces.

*
We even assembled the glass cake plates ourselves from platters, ashtrays and sundae glasses we purchased for pennies at Goodwill.

*

Then Chelsea's sister Erica had a *brilliant* idea. She had been to an event for the WA wine commission and seen apples "tattooed" with logos for a sponsor company. We had been tossing the idea around of using apples grown by Chelsea's father as place card holders but this took things to a whole new level. Erica found a small indie sticker company in Seattle and commissioned them to design a small black heart shaped sticker with a C & J cutout in the middle. Two weeks before the apples were to be picked, Chelsea's dad and stepmother stuck the stickers onto the apples while they were still green. Apples turn red right before they need to be picked so the sticker blocked out the sunlight leaving a stencil in green on the red apple. They turned out perfectly!

*
We added small paper leaves to each one and we had the perfect escort card display.

{all * pictures courtesy of Jonathan Steinberg, others by me}

David Stark for West Elm

2010-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

If you haven’t heard of David Stark, I’m sure that you have at least seen his work in one of the many magazines or television shows he appears in monthly. New York event designer to the stars, Stark is known for his out-of-the-box approach to design. He often takes every-day objects and crafts them into amazing sculpture for such corporate giants as Louis Vuitton, Conde Nast, Target and MOMA.

Now the rest of us can take home a little piece of Stark’s work courtesy of his new holiday collection for West Elm. The collection, which focuses on natural and recycled materials, features garlands, flowers and holiday trees made from newspaper and vintage gardening books and ranges from $4 to $39.

To promote the collection, Stark and West Elm teamed up to create a paper flower shop in West Elm’s flagship store.

Check out the video to see the enormous amount of work that goes into a production like this!

Winter Wedding Palette

2010-11-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

I’m always disappointed that more people don’t get married in the winter in the Pacific Northwest. I love working with winter colors and coming up with creative ways to incorporate a warm, cozy feel to the day despite the gloom outside. Here are some of my favorite winter wedding palettes…

Navy and lilac with silver/gold accents: {Lobster & Swan via Classic Bride}

Crimson, baby pink and gold with forest green accents:
{Sara Gray Photography}

Lilac, snow white and black:
{Suzanna Dodson Photography}

All white with lots of texture:

{Clockwise from top left: The Knot, The Knot, Apartment Therapy}

Magenta, purple and chartreuse:

{Via bradfordreformer.com}

Tiffany blue, chocolate and white:

{Clockwise from top left: Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, The Knot, Petal & Bean}

Cake Toppers

2010-11-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

The wedding cake is often the focal point of the decor at a wedding. If the invitation sets the tone of the day, then the wedding cake (or dessert display) is the sweet denouement.

At Finch & Thistle, we are more than a little obsessed with the popular resurgence of vintage bunting in the last couple of years. Here’s a fun and unexpected way to incorporate it into your wedding cake.

A paper wreath adds a sweet touch to a handcrafted, rustic wedding. This sweet wreath and garland comes with DIY instructions from Martha Stewart Weddings.

Love birds have always been popular but these examples from Etsy are a little different from the white lace doves that adorned our grandmothers’ wedding cakes.

Or how about no topper at all? These cakes* are so beautifully designed and decorated that there’s no topper necessary.

{*All from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Gone to the birds

2010-11-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have been a fan of local crafter Laurie Cinotto for years now. I recently saw her gorgeous bird cages at a craft show and almost bought up the entire stall. Wouldn’t these be perfect favors for a wedding or baby shower?

You can see Laurie’s work at the Tacoma Holiday Craft Sale next weekend -

Fab Find: Milkpod Studios

2010-11-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

These adorable handmade bouquets, boutonnieres and garlands are all made from fabric. They would be perfect for a rustic, hand crafted wedding or a bride who wanted a permanent keepsake of her big day.

{ http://www.etsy.com/shop/MilkpodStudio/}

Google Does Weddings?

2010-11-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

Google and Style Me Pretty have teamed up to offer a complete wedding planning manual as part of Google Docs. Brides can use templates to plan out their budgets, produce guest lists, maintain RSVP lists, make seating charts and even put together a wedding album after the big day. So what do you think? Will you be using Google’s wedding templates to plan your big day?

Check out the rest of the wedding templates here

angela & evan, kirsten & mike

2010-10-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

The details from this recent wedding at Sodo Park are absolutely divine and matched only by Angela and Evan’s gorgeous photography. See the rest of the pictures here.

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part III

2010-10-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

The reception tables were covered in taupe linens and the centerpieces were loose arrangements in mason jars and milk glass of roses, dahlias, hypericum, stock, queen anne's lace, dusty miller and lisianthus accented with wild turkey feathers collected on the ranch and placed on vintage lace doilies.

The napkins were held with craft paper napkin rings and the favors were small vintage fabric covered pots of local honey.

Cafe lights strung from old farm tools supported in hay bales and covered with bougainvillea set the mood and created a cozy atmosphere despite warnings from the father of the bride not to wander off for fear of mountain lions. We filled a wheelbarrow to the brim with flowers and vintage lace-covered saddles and antique white candelabras decorated the cocktail patio and dance floor inside the house. White Mexican cutout flags personalized with the bride and groom's names added a nice touch.

Guests found their table assignments from escort cards displayed on wire between hundreds of pictures of Jenny and Jeff's families and large arrangements of flowers (with olive branches and persimmons picked from the ranch) in vintage silver and milk glass graced the buffet of BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, corn bread and salad.

Guests finished off the evening salsa dancing in the candlelit living room. It was a magical night!

*All pictures with watermark courtesy of Lianne Milton Wedding Photography

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part II

2010-10-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Jenny accented her vintage style Nicole Miller gown with a feather fascinator and mesh veil, red lipstick and gold heels.

She carried a bouquet of dahlias, scabiosa, stock, sedum, lisianthus, cool water roses, David Austin roses and dusty miller in shades of silver, purple and pink.

Jeff wore a grey pin-striped suit and wore a boutonniere of pink lisianthus accented with green olives I picked from the reception site that morning.

The two attendants (the bride and groom's sisters respectively) wore taupe and mauve dresses from J.Crew and carried smaller versions of Jenny's bouquet and ring pillows that were passed around to each guest during the ceremony to be blessed.

Guests tossed dried lavender as proceeded back up the aisle and then were bussed up through the hay fields to the main house for the reception.

*All pictures with watermark courtesy of Lianne Milton Wedding Photography

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part I

2010-10-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is hands down one of the most beautiful weddings that I’ve had the pleasure to work on. In part due to the gorgeous setting, in part due to the amazing flowers I was able to get my hands on down in San Francisco (cafe au lait dahlias! persimmons on the branch!) and in part because the bride, one of my closest friends from college, is one of the most stylish people I’ve ever met. This post will have three parts because I just couldn’t narrow down the number of pictures that I wanted to share!

Jenny and Jeff's wedding took place on Jenny’s grandmother's 350 acre ranch in Sonoma County, just outside of Healdsburg. The ceremony was held on the lawn of the caretaker's cottage overlooking fields ripe with hay and emerald vineyards lining the hillsides in all directions. White flags rippled in the wind, lace patterned lanterns danced from the tree branches and the sun beat down on a crowd anxious to witness the marriage of this long-time couple.

*All pictures with watermark courtesy of Lianne Milton Wedding Photography

In love: Miss Pickering

2010-10-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

I recently stumbled across a blog written by an English florist, Simone Pickering and I am smitten. Miss Pickering, as she is more commonly known, is the owner of a “floral emporium” in Stamford and writes daily about her exploits with “the hound.”

By way of introduction her website states that,

“When not working Miss P likes to cook and wear slutty shoes.

The Hound is the resident shop dog.

He likes to greet customers, sleep, and eat roast chicken.

He loves Lily of the valley.

He hates gerbera.”

Her work is stunning, her wit pronounced and her English-ness undeniable. A daily dose of her blog is sure to amuse and inspire and serves to make this English designer a little less homesick.

Miss P’s blog:
http://misspickering.blogspot.com/
The Hound’s blog:
http://www.shop-dog.blogspot.com/

Abbie and Matt

2010-10-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Palette: Lavender, plum and sage green
Theme: vintage, rustic, whimsical
Location: Golden Gardens, Seattle
Date: June, 2011

DIY Pumpkins from Twig & Thistle

2010-10-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

As a Brit who didn’t grow up celebrating Halloween, I have to admit that sometimes I find it hard to get into the ghostly spirit beloved of my friends and neighbors. After an unfortunate incident in college involving a large pumpkin and a broken car windshield, I had sworn off that particular squash for life…that is, until I saw these gorgeous pumpkins from Kathleen at Twig and Thistle. I think these would work equally well for Thanksgiving dinner or a holiday party. Click here to see more of Kathleen’s fun ideas.

DIY Pumpkin Candle Holders for BHG
October 22nd, 2010

I shared my third project for the Better Homes & Gardens contest yesterday and today I have all the materials and instructions you’ll need to make your own. With just a few simple steps, you can make any foam gourd into a pretty and natural looking fall accessory. Have fun!

Supplies
Styrofoam Pumpkin
Candle
Drill
Hole Saw Attachment for drill (found at hardware stores)
Craft Glue
Glitter

Instructions
Determine the width of the candle and make sure the hole saw is just slightly larger. Remove the stem and locate the center on top of the pumpkin. With the pumpkin firmly secure, center the hole cutting attachment above the pumpkin and slowly drill out the center. It may help to have someone hold the pumpkin steady while you drill. Once center is cut, you’ll need to carve out the foam with a knife. Continue the process until you have desired depth.
Once the hole is cut, coat entire pumpkin in craft glue. Generously cover with colored glitter and let dry. Once glitter is dry and to prevent glitter from flaking off, spray with a bit of hairspray to set.
Use non-drip candles (typically the wide candles don’t) or if you’re using tea-lights, opt for ones that have a plastic or metal cup so that wax doesn’t get into pumpkin. Place candle inside and light!

*As with all flammables, be mindful and keep a watchful eye.

Sneak Peek: NonPareil Photo Shoot

2010-10-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

I spent Sunday out on Bainbridge Island styling a photo shoot for NonPareil Magazine with Angela and Evan Photography. We got very lucky with the October weather and had a great time working with the “Farm to Table” theme concocted by Kathleen at Twig and Thistle. If you haven’t had a chance to check out NonPareil yet, do so immediately! It’s an extremely stylish online magazine filled to the brim with DIY projects for weddings and events. I was thrilled to be part of their invitation-only winter issue and can’t wait to share my behind-the-scenes pictures when the article is published in December.

Inspiration Board: Josh & Lisa

2010-09-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

Palette: pear, cement and rust
Theme: fresh, vibrant, modern
Location: Edgewater Hotel, Seattle
Date: August, 2011

Bride’s Eye View: Wedding Crafting Report – 4 days to go!

2010-08-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hi again! It’s 4 days until our wedding, and Jamie and I are furiously at work in the Wedding Command Center, also known as two 8-foot tables in our basement covered in scrap paper, burlap remnants, spreadsheets, gift boxes, cocktail napkins, dirty dishes and other casualties of wedding planning.
I wanted to share a couple thrifty and crafty projects from the Wedding Command Center that we’re working to finish by next weekend – our seating card display, and cupcake table design.

(My future husband in our embarrassingly messy basement/Wedding Command Center)

Escort Card Table and Table Names
I grew up in an apple-farming family, so when Rachel found a collection of vintage apple postcards we knew we’d find some way to incorporate them into the wedding. My little sister came up with the ingenious idea to use apples as seating cards, and name the tables after the apple box labels.

Along the way, I also became obsessed with burlap. Why? Burlap fulfills the coastal-organic-barbeque theme nicely, and is conveniently an inexpensive wedding trend at about $3/yard at most fabric stores. In addition to making burlap table runners and a burlap photo backdrop (more on those projects later), Rachel suggested we pin the postcards to a burlap backdrop on the seating card table, to help people identify their tables.

Voila! Décor and helpful directional signage in one fell swoop!

To assemble this project, I purchased a 2’x3’ piece of foam core for $3, a $7 gold table-top easel, and pearl-head pushpins for $4 at Michael’s. I previously purchased a bolt of burlap on Craigslist, but this project would require about 2 yards (or $8) worth of burlap. My postcards totaled around $20.
I wrapped the burlap over the foam core, tucking the edges in on the backside and securing the fabric with the pearl-head pushpins like so -

Sitting on my $7 gold easel from Michael’s, the table name display looks pretty from the back and front. Not too bad for a $42 do-it-yourself project!

These postcards coordinate nicely with our wedding colors and design concept, but this idea can be incorporated into many other events. I’ve seen so many wedding blogs feature vintage postcard projects lately, so I’m sure there’s many a bride out there using them in some fashion.

Cupcake Stands
Next up was my cupcake display table. Jamie and I chose cupcakes instead of a traditional cake to save money and hassle, and I’m so glad we did. Look at the fun project our cupcakes led to -

Can you believe Rachel and I scored all these beautiful cake stands for a total of $100? The secret behind our frugal design is that we made 6 of the 9 stands in the picture. Can you guess which ones? The other 3 were purchased on Ebay and Craigslist.

We assembled the cake stands by purchasing $50 of serving plates, ashtrays and parfait cups at Goodwill. Playing around with different combinations of bases and plates led to us this design. We glued them together with Super Glue, the adhesive suggested by the professionals at our local Home Depot. You can find more detailed instructions along with a materials list in this previous Finch & Thistle post - http://finchandthistle.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-vintage-cake-platters.html

My baker was so taken with this idea that she’s offered to purchase our handiwork after the wedding, but I’m not sure I can part with such a fun project!

Styling Willi

2010-08-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

Monday was one of the hottest days to-date in our bizarre Seattle summer so when I got a chance to style my friend Willi’s book cover shoot over on cooler Bainbridge Island, I jumped at the chance. Willi is a master gardener and expert cook who hosts the website DigginFood.com. She has a weekly gardening show on KUOW (Tuesdays, 10am) and is the West Coast editor for Organic Gardening magazine. The shoot would be the for the cover of her new book, coming out sometime in 2012.

We rode over on the ferry laden down with props and outfits galore – vintage baskets, buckets, wire racks, crates and piles and piles of gorgeous produce – the temperature dropping steadily as we got further and further from the city.

After a quick pit stop at the Winslow market to meet our photographer, Jim, we headed to the southwest tip of the island to our shoot location, Octavia Chambliss’ beautiful garden. Octavia is a garden designer based on Bainbridge and she had kindly offered up her garden for the shoot even though she herself would be away on vacation. It was a stunning location. Imagine an immaculate perennial garden with a large vegetable garden tucked inside, a weathered picket fence and cottage gate leading to a tiny, vintage soccer field and public beach. The Bremerton ferry made hourly passes through the landscape and the sun dropped gently down behind some trees. It couldn’t have been more idyllic, or more Pacific Northwest, if it tried (although a surfacing Orca would have made for an awesome shot!)

I got busy unpacking the props while Jim and Willi scouted out the best spots in the garden. Then it was time to get to work. Here are some “behind the scenes” shots from that afternoon…

Putting my prop styling (and photography) skills to the test. Conclusion: kind of like flowers, just tastier.

With Jim’s reflective light panels all set up, it was time to begin!

Perhaps a sitting pose instead?

A close up of that fabulous blue table was enough to make anyone hungry.

We picked these herbs and peaches fresh from Octavia’s garden.

Time for a new top and a new location (check out the giant rhubarb in the background).

Couldn’t resist a few flower pictures.

A few head shots for publicity…

Yummy garlic scapes

And my personal favorite shot - earwigs in the peaches!

Bride’s Eye View: Location, Location, Location

2010-08-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

After Jamie and I settled on our wedding concept, we set out for a location that would achieve the feeling we wanted to capture without breaking the bank.

During our search, I learned that state parks are the hidden gem of wedding planning – many parks are in a beautiful location and have reception spaces from the average to the extraordinary. Best of all, because Washington State Parks and Recreation doesn’t spend gobs of money advertising like traditional wedding venues, many of these beautiful spaces are inexpensive and unknown to the masses. Many locations let you use the caterer of your choice, and provide your own alcohol, which can mean thousands of dollars in savings. Info on all Washington State Parks wedding and event spaces is here: http://www.parks.wa.gov/dayuseplaces/

Two state parks I've visited and would recommend are Kitsap Memorial State Park near Poulsbo and Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend. Rachel and I drove out to Kitsap Memorial on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year and we were seriously impressed. The websites for both these venues don’t do them justice – in person, the Kitsap Memorial Log House is a rustic but beautiful reception hall set among towering pine trees, perched on a bluff overlooking Hood Canal. Boring online, but stunning in real life. Likewise for Fort Worden in Port Townsend.

These gorgeous pictures from One Love Photo truly show off the Kitsap Memorial Log House’s full potential -

We also spent some time researching what’s in our own backyard in Seattle. Seattle Parks and Recreation Department rents the Alki Bathhouse and the Golden Gardens Bathhouse (below pictures courtesy of Laurel McConnell) for weddings and events, and both of these buildings are charming venues with tons of options for ceremonies and receptions.

We stumbled on (and eventually chose) the Oddfellows Hall on Orcas Island while searching for a state park in the San Juans with an event venue. Oddfellows isn’t a state park property, but it has the same benefits – set in a beautiful location, affordable, and no strings attached in approved vendor lists.

Weather permitting, our ceremony will take place on the patio overlooking Eastsound.

And our reception will be inside the 100-year-old historic dance hall just upstairs.

What are some creative and affordable places you've found, off the beaten path or just around the block?

Bride’s Eye View: Part I

2010-08-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I am so pleased to share the details of our upcoming wedding with you all! So here goes…

Jamie and I are getting married August 28th on Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington. We got engaged last summer (three minutes before we took the picture below) and have spent over a year planning our wedding, so I’m excited to share some of what we’ve learned in the process!

As I set out to plan our wedding, I turned to the dozens of wedding design blogs for inspiration, including this one. I found great ideas for dresses, décor, beautiful locations and reception entertainment. However, the problem was that I found too many great ideas! Overwhelmed by all the shiny pretty wedding things, I realized I had to first think big picture before dealing in the details. So, Jamie and I asked ourselves what I think is the most important question as you start planning - “How do we want our wedding to feel?”

If you’ve ever visited the San Juan Islands, you know it’s a laid back place, and that’s how we imagined our wedding from the start. Our wedding slogan, so to speak, became “organic, coastal barbecue.” We wanted our wedding to feel like a more dressed up, organized and beautiful version of the parties we throw at our home, surrounded by friends, with tasty and healthy food, and plenty of Northwest wine and beer. We wanted our guests to remember our wedding as part of a memorable weekend when they relaxed, unplugged, and enjoyed the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Once we knew how we wanted the day to feel, I was finally able to contemplate a specific location, décor, and the many details we’ve since planned. The hardest part of the process was editing down all my ideas into a few manageable DIY projects. Rachel and I discussed everything I was thinking of doing and then she put together this design board:

I loved it! Not only did it help me tie all my ideas together and visualize the mood of the wedding, it gave me something tangible I could show other vendors and friends.

And so…our wedding colors became many shades of blue (the “coastal”) with some orange and peach thrown in for contrast at Rachel’s suggestion. We bought a bolt of burlap and used it for anything and everything we could, and started saving and re-purposing glass and tin jars for flowers and candles (“organic”). And we chose food and drink vendors we were confident could deliver a delicious but casual menu (the “barbecue”).

Throughout the next couple weeks, I’ll share some of the specific projects we took on to make our wedding concept a reality, and how it all unfolds in just 25 days from today!

~ Chelsea

Bride’s Eye View Introduction

2010-08-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

Over the last few years, I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing people and recently I have noticed a trend- friends so often become clients, but conversely, so do clients often become friends. I’m not really sure why this happens although I have a couple of theories. Weddings are intimate and special occasions and brides will usually choose vendors with whom they feel a connection. I would hope that the brides and vendors who choose to work with me over all the other talented florists and designers do so because they enjoy my personality almost as much as they appreciate my design style and aesthetic. It’s the part of my job that I most value and enjoy and let’s face it, if I didn’t get along with my clients, I wouldn’t have any!

Because Chelsea is one of my closest friends and possibly one of my biggest fans (second only to Max and Izzie), I have been intimately involved in the planning of her upcoming wedding. We’ve had countless conversations about colors and dresses, venues and menus, decor and flowers and so I thought it would be fun to share some of those conversations with my other clients and readers. As Chelsea planned her wedding over the last year (while holding down a stressful job with an intense traveling schedule, managing a puppy and fiancé and remodeling a new house), she has trolled the wedding blogs, magazines and websites to plan a wedding that will be truly unique and meaningful for her and her fiancé. Over the next four weeks leading up to the big day, Chelsea is going to guest blog on Finch & Thistle about the trials, tribulations and DIY madness that has taken over the Walli-bull household. I hope you will all enjoy her wit and insights.

Got Milk?

2010-07-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

I got to use my collection of vintage milk glass vases and compotes for a recent bridal shower. You can find milk glass everywhere from Ebay and Etsy to your local thrift store. Collectors will buy them for anywhere up to $150 each but I got all of mine for about a dollar a piece at my local Goodwill!

Milk glass originated in Venice in the 16th century and is still manufactured today. It is popular with collectors and designers because it’s relatively easy to find and makes a stunning display when grouped en masse.

I particularly like how the cups and goblets lend a vintage twist to even the most modern floral arrangement and how dramatically colors pop against the stark white. The unique patterns on each one also photograph beautifully.

Here are some pictures from the shower…

Becka and Scott

2010-07-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

The colors for this weekend’s wedding in Sequim are absolutely divine! I just adore the combination of sophisticated jewel tones mixed with the casual feel of wildflowers.

I always start with the bride’s bouquet – picking the most beautiful flowers and setting the tone for the rest of the arrangements. Becka is bucking the trend and wearing a blue dress which should make the colors really pop.

These David Austin Cymabaline roses are some of my favorites – a heavenly scent and the closest thing to peonies at this time of year. Antique green hydrangea and poppy pods give balance to the bright pinks, blues and orange.
The flower girl’s whimsical bouquet is one of my favorites to date.

A poppy pod, purple lisianthus flower and pink freesia make up Scott’s boutonniere and Orange Unique roses, pink lisianthus and pink freesia finish off the mother’s corsages.

And finally some of the reception flowers…

Garden Party

2010-07-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

I’m sort of in love with my garden right now. After two years of solid hard work, it is finally starting to feel like the end is in sight. A little more “let’s relax back here and enjoy” rather than “hmm just need to…” So it seemed like the perfect backdrop for a photo shoot of these gorgeous wedding invitations that I’ve been dying to showcase. I love how unique invitations have become in the last few years. Gone is the stuffy cursive type and calligraphy and in its place, the perfect way for a couple to set the stage for their wedding’s tone and theme. These two are a prime example that fun and class can go hand in hand.

Jessica and Judd

2010-07-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Judd were married on Saturday at Laurel Creek Manor in Sumner, WA. I absolutely loved designing a country chic wedding for this fun couple! The pink and orange color scheme set the stage for a bright and sunny mood with lots of fun details – a photo booth fashioned from burlap and vintage pennant flags, “lovesicles” in the kid-friendly candy buffet, hand painted wooden signs, croquet and hula hoops, mason jar lanterns and of course, flowers galore!

Here are a few images then click on this link for our Facebook album for the full set…

How to: Vintage cake platters

2010-07-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Vintage, garden chic is a popular look for weddings this year and is featured almost exclusively on blogs like Style Me Pretty and Once Wed. Vintage fabrics, cake plates and mason jars can be sourced at a premium on Ebay and Craigslist but somehow paying a fortune for something meant to give off a casual DIY feeling just doesn’t feel right. Here’s a fun idea that one of my brides and I came up with to create a vintage dessert display for her upcoming wedding.

What you’ll need:
Glass serving platters of varying sizes
Glass goblets, old fashioned ice cream glasses, ashtrays, or candle holders
Jam jars
Glass appropriate super glue

We found all our glass platters, goblets and Mason jars at the Seattle Goodwill but local flea markets, garage sales and estate sales are also a good place to look. Varying sizes and heights make for a more interesting display and we used different shades of blue glass for a fun twist.

This is such an easy project! First wash and dry all the glassware. Assemble everything on a table and play around with the different pieces. Try and put together a mix of high and low platters and experiment with turning the sundae glasses and goblets upside down to see which look you like best. When you’re pleased with how everything looks simply glue together the matching pieces with a thin line of super glue around the edge of the base piece. Be sure to center the base or your platters will topple when you put food on them!
Arrange a few blossoms in jam jars, add a couple of candles and voila! A vintage dessert display for less than $75!

Fab Find: Little Retreats

2010-07-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon Little Retreats during a recent all-consuming decor hunt on Etsy. Seriously, if there is anything greater than Etsy for one-of-a-kind design then I want to know about it pronto! Brooke of Little Retreats makes beautiful decor items for events or simply to feather your nest. I am particularly enamored with the mustache collection - perfect for event photo booths - and the endless collection of bird themed items. I will be using the cutout bird cages and tiny nest name card holders for one of my weddings later this summer (oh and live birds in cages…stay tuned for that one!)

Inspiration Board: Beth and John

2010-07-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

Palette: shades orange and chartreuse with gem tone accents
Theme: vintage, whimsical, chic
Location: The Herb Farm, Woodinville
Date: October, 2010

MS Gala Realized

2010-06-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Finally had time to post the pictures from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Annual Dinner of Champions in May. I based the design scheme on the invitation which was developed independently by a graphic designer who didn’t know that the blue and orange would coordinate perfectly with the ballroom in the Grand Hyatt! The theme of “Inspire & Innovate” lent itself beautifully to a modern design- sleek black glass vases, gorgeous, luxurious mokara orchids, star shaped blue thistle, orange protea, cherry brandy roses, burgundy leucadendrum and black river rocks. I loved the BBJ linens in the pinktuck and bengaline and the orange, orchid strewn carpet was a fun touch at the entrance to the event. Gobos in the jack design from the invitation highlighted the ceilings and walls and a transition from orange to blue lighting let guests know that the after party had begun.

Original design board -

Design Board: Laura and Majid

2010-06-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

Cindy and Ethan, Sonoma

2010-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

If the rehearsal dinner consists of beautiful centerpieces, hot dogs, champagne and homemade ice cream sandwiches, the wedding is guaranteed to be amazing! Last Saturday at Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma Cindy & Ethan were married (finally!) as guests looked on shaded from the California sun by orange parasols. Cornerstone Gardens is a photographers dream which I’m sure was why Cindy, a photojournalist, chose the location. Photo op after photo op with gardens designed by famous landscape architects and blooms galore. Guests enjoyed iced lemonade infused with lavender, bean bag chairs at the kids table, the hilarious Special Edition of “The Union” at the reception table and dancing into the wee hours in the big red barn. Congratulations Cindy and Ethan!

If Marie Antoinette Threw a Baby Shower….

2010-05-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

I was absolutely thrilled to design the flowers for Melanie’s baby shower, especially when I saw the fabulous pink tiered glass compote she wanted me to use. Melanie designs and produces the most gorgeous pillows and as you can see, her attention to detail is meticulous. When asked to host a shower, most people would whip up some food, throw a few flowers in a vase and call it good. Not Melanie. She traveled far and wide to acquire all the pieces she wanted for her sister-in-law’s baby shower. From spray painting a vintage baby carriage to convincing a bakery to make her pink bread for the tea sandwiches, no thought or expense was spared. To see more details of Melanie’s baby shower decor, check out her blog post over on Plum Cushion.

Finch & Thistle and Angela & Evan

2010-04-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

Seattle photographers Angela and Evan have posted a lovely write-up of F&T over on their blog. While you’re over there taking a peek, be sure and check out some of their latest work featured on the blog. The husband and wife photography team have such a fresh, fashion-forward approach to wedding photography – perfect for the savvy Seattle bride.

in love / Finch & Thistle Event Design

Monday, April 26, 2010
I would call it love at first sight.
While browsing through Seattle’s florists, designers, and other wedding vendors I came upon Rachel’s website Finch & Thistle. Wow- talk about beautiful, sophisticated, and innovative work! After meeting with Rachel I was even more impressed…she is absolutely darling and really has a passion for her work.

From custom floral design to event decor, Finch & Thistle does it all. Rachel’s work is also in this month’s Metropolitan Bride & Groom. Pick up a magazine and check her out!

For all my brides-to-be, I truly recommend Rachel & know what a work of love it is for her. Don’t hesitate to contact her for more information. Thank you Rachel for creating such unique work that is inspiration for us all!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here’s a little sampling of their gorgeous work…

And while these two pictures are the work of Amy Soper and Adam Conway, I think they’ll give you a little bit of insight into the fabulous couple behind the lens….on their own wedding day.

http://angelaandevanblog.com/

April Showers

2010-04-15T18:18:00.000-07:00

bring more spring flowers…

Cindy and Ethan Imagined

2010-04-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was asked to design a centerpiece for the Junior League’s Starry Night Gala last month. Among the requirements - that the piece be composed of one single color and that I used a glass vase no more than 6” high. Not overly inspiring to say the least!

Less than a week before the piece was due, I was still debating the colors. Green for Spring? Too boring. Blue for the starry night theme? Not many blue flower varieties this time of year. Hmmm. Then inspiration quite literally dropped out of the sky and arrived on my doormat! A beautiful wedding invitation from friends in CA inviting us to their June wedding in Sonoma.

Gorgeous right? And so the process began…the flowers would have to be pink. Silver to play up the elegance of the letterpress. Rural, meadow flowers and herbs to complement the location. Roses to add sophistication…

Have you ever seen that section of Bride & Bloom where different designers put together a table from the same color scheme and theme?
Now I’m dying to see what the Sonoma floral designer comes up with!

Spring Flowers

2010-04-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy working on all the fast-approaching weddings and galas (and yes, playing for a very short week in Belize) that I haven’t been keeping up with posting the recent work. Here’s the first of a few catch-up posts…

Hellebores -

Oh my! How I *love* the hellebore! A gorgeous, delicate little flower that blooms long before everything else in my garden. I now have a full bed of the little beauties – black/purple ones, rose ones, blush ones, lime ones, double bloomed yellow ones – to use in Spring bouquets and boutonnieres.

Inspiration Board: MS Gala

2010-03-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

A bit of modern

2010-03-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Jeff Leatham’s gorgeous designs – fish bowls and callas-

Inspiration Board: Jamie & Chelsea

2010-02-12T12:10:00.001-08:00

Inspiration Board: Jessica & Judd

2010-02-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

Inspiration: Studio Choo

2010-02-05T08:57:00.001-08:00

The two ladies behind San Francisco’s Studio Choo never fail to inspire me…see for yourself…

All pictures courtesy of Studio Choo

we like it wild: we heart flowers

2010-02-05T08:36:00.001-08:00

I am posting this link courtesy of the talented ladies at Studio Choo in San Francisco who put together this lovely Valentine’s Day project for Design*Sponge. Hopefully it will inspire you!

Avoid adding to the glut of office chocolate and candy hearts this Valentine’s Day by bringing a bit of of the outside in. You don’t need to be head-over-heels in love with someone to add some sweetness and color to their day, and these bite-sized arrangements are guaranteed brighten up any cubicle.

We recycled a heart-shaped box to use as our tray (spray-painted white) and mini tins as our candy cups (we found ours in the baking section of Bed, Bath and Beyond and spray-painted them gold). Once your paint has dried, arrange the cups in your box the way that candy would sit in a candy box. Add a small amount of water to each cup, enough to keep your stems wet but not so much that they’ll spill over on the drive to work. Choose a few scoops of your favorite flowers to artfully distribute to the tiny cups. The nice thing about this project is that you can use smaller flowers that are sometimes too small and delicate to work into large arrangements. Cut short stems and sort them into the cups. We used narcissus, quince blossoms, and ranunculus but any small flowers will do fine. Add the lid and secure with a ribbon. Be careful transporting them and be sure to keep the box level (that’s why we kept the water low).

Pass out the mini-arrangements or let your coworkers choose their favorite ones. The arrangements may only last a few days, but that’s a few days more than a box of candy would last and with so fewer calories. Don’t forget to save one for your desk, too!

For bigger pictures, click here!

Flowers: Spring arrangement

2010-02-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to see the first peonies at the market last week. This delivery from last week had fuchsia peonies, lime vibernum, sage/pink leucadendron and lime green hellebore and cherry blossom twigs from my own garden.

Design: Winter Tablescape

2010-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

A private dinner party was a great opportunity to try out a new tablescape idea. The hostess wanted a “wintry theme but no cut flowers.” Hmm. I went with potted paper whites, small ivy topiary balls and trees and a selection of wooden reindeer and icicle balls to round it out. Table gifts of books were wrapped in craft paper and tied with gardening twine. My favorite burlap runner on the gorgeous rough-finished dining table contrasted nicely with the vintage blue Spode plates and gold and silver Christmas crackers. Lots and lots of white candles and little glass dishes of nuts and malt balls filled out the table and kept the guests happy while they waited for the next course…

Flowers: KCTS channel 9 at SAM

2010-02-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

First of the pictures from a busy, busy week - centerpieces for a KCTS channel 9 event for Rick Steves held at the Seattle Art Museum.
Trying out a new album format – let me know what you think!

View Full Album

Interview: Ryan Flynn, Photographer

2010-01-29T12:37:00.001-08:00

One of the biggest challenges I face as an event designer is the photography. I try my best to capture the flowers and event décor to properly show the mood and feel of an event and let me tell you - it’s hard. Partially, the beauty of flowers is in their transience – a reminder that we must truly appreciate the occasion and the moments around us. Delicate objects of beauty that invoke all senses, yet after a few short days, a memory and a photograph is all that remains.
Ryan Flynn would be the first to tell you that photography is all about capturing the ephemeral – emotion, beauty and joy.

I had the good fortune to meet Ryan when we worked together on a wedding last summer. A young, tall, bald guy with a light bulb grin, he seemed as laid back as they come (a trait I always appreciate in wedding vendors). I went home and checked out his website and was completely blown away. The tall, bald guy happened to take some of the most beautiful pictures that I’ve ever seen. His style is both journalistic and romantic -unique, poetic almost- but what struck me initially was the raw emotion in all Ryan’s photographs. I promptly sent his site link to everyone I knew getting married and informed them that he was worth every penny.

Fast forward a couple of months to the wedding day and as per usual, I took some pictures of the flowers when I delivered them to the gorgeous bride. Then in the chaos of setting up the ceremony site with an arch that wouldn’t stand up a mere fifteen minutes before the ceremony was due to start, I promptly forgot about them. Days later I anxiously waited to see some of Ryan’s photographs of the day and I wasn’t disappointed. They were stunning. Magical. I turned to the pictures I had taken. They were ok – the flowers looked pretty and the lighting was good but they lacked everything in comparison. Emotion.

I hope this interview will give you some insight into Ryan and his work and help you decide upon a photographer as you plan your own event.

F&T: What is your favorite part of wedding photography?
RF: The people. I love being around so many emotions, relationships, and stories. There's so much to see, and so many moments to witness.

F&T: Why do you primarily photograph weddings rather than other events, stills, portraits etc?
RF: Wedding photography sort of combines all those things. I like landscape photography, and other sorts ... but at the risk of sounding overly metaphysical, people are an infinitely varied landscape. I just find them much more interesting; and building relationships and connections is vital to me.

F&T: How did you get started in the business?
RF: I got started by second shooting for other photographers, before venturing out on my own.

F&T: What kind of training have you had?
RF: No formal schooling. I learned by asking a lot of questions, making mistakes, and taking a lot (a LOT) of photos. I looked to other super talented photographers for inspiration, too.

F&T: What have been your biggest challenges in starting your own business?
RF: Finding my style and vision has been a challenging process, one that never really ends. Other than that, the mundane organizational and administrative tasks are vexing to me. That and the amount of computer work (shooting is about 10% of what I do).

F&T: What was the craziest thing that has happened at a wedding you worked?
RF: I've been incredibly lucky, in that I haven't seen any major drama or disasters. Probably because I have great clients! Although I wish I had some funny tales to tell...

F&T: Which wedding most stands out over the last year and why?
RF: It’s so hard to pick just one. I was honored to shoot the wedding of one of my closest friends and his new wife. The venue was great, the weather perfect, attractive couple, etc. What made it stand out to me was how it felt to watch them commit their hearts to each other. It was one of those times where the love and joy were totally palpable. That and her father-daughter dance ... I might have had tears in my eyes. That day reminded me why I'm a photographer.

F&T: What kind of design details most stand out to you when you photograph a wedding?
RF: When all the aspects of the wedding design flow together in a cohesive style/theme, it really stands out. The flowers, the colors, lighting design ... they can all come together to really affect and set the mood for the day. One doesn't dominate another, rather it supports the others. You can tell when it was thought out and planned from a holistic standpoint like that. That said, a great pair of shoes and perfect flowers are always a good call.
F&T: What do brides need to consider when hiring a photographer and preparing for their wedding photographs on the day?
RF: You should be comfortable with your photographer, and really be able to connect with them as a person. That trust and comfort make everything easier. The photographs are an investment you'll be looking at for decades to come ... if they're important to you, make a talented photographer a top priority. Also, think about the light! Good light is your best friend. If possible, allow some free time to make portraits when the light is best. Beyond that ...just be yourself. Be happy. Enjoy yourself and the beginning of this adventure!

F&T: How would you describe your photography style?
RF: I tell stories with photographs. I want my photographs to move and immerse people. I document moments and emotions, along with shooting some stylish portraits.

F&T: What are your favorite shoot locations in the Seattle area?
RF: I really like Herban Feast Sodo, and Pravda Studios. Around Seattle is some amazing scenery, and there are some resorts and venues that put you right in the middle of that... Alderbrook Resort comes to mind.

F&T: If you could get paid to go anywhere in the world, where would you most like to shoot a destination wedding?
RF: Shooting in Italy would be a dream come true. I wouldn't mind going back to Ireland to shoot, either!

F&T: What makes a great photograph?
RF: Emotional impact. There's a lot that goes into that. Or it can be dead simple. But a great photograph makes you feel something ... the more powerful, the better.

To view more of Ryan’s work check out his website at www.ryanpflynn.com and his blog at http://ryanpflynn.com/blog/

Behind-the-Scenes at a Photoshoot Part 2

2010-01-06T19:26:00.001-08:00

The Winter/Spring 2010 issue of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom is on the newsstands so I can finally share with you my behind-the-scenes photographs from the shoot back in October. My copy arrived in the post on Christmas Eve so you can imagine how my magazine debut put all my other Christmas presents to shame!

Thanks to Laura Cassidy (Seattle Met B&G Editor in Chief) for inviting me to be part of this issue, the uber talented Iwona Konarski at iwonak.com for the beautiful letterpressed collateral, Cornelia at Liave (liave-home.com) for loaning me her gorgeous tableware and Bakery Nouveau (bakerynouveau.com) for the scrumptious macaroons (raspberry chocolate and passion fruit - yes, somebody had to eat them afterwards...)

*Credit* Both full page views from Winter/Spring 2010 issue of
Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom http://seattlemetbrideandgroom.com/
photography by Danielle Leavell

London Calling

2009-12-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a few winter and holiday decor images from my recent Thanksgiving trip "home" to London...

Knightsbridge:
This gorgeous entrance courtyard in Knightsbridge made me positively swoon! It takes serious gardening skills to keep flowers alive in London's frosty winter weather. I should know - these potted topiaries with cyclamen inspired me to come home and spruce up my own pots...which didn't survive last week's freezing Seattle temperatures. Back to the nursery...

Regent Street/Oxford Circus:
Liberty's department store at 218 Regent Street has been around since 1875, making it one of the oldest shops in London. Known around the world for its stunning building reminiscent of a Elizabethan theatre, luxurious designer collections and interior design origins, I was dying to check out its Christmas decor and was not disappointed! A ceiling covered entirely with wrapping paper ribbons, tinsel streamers glistening all the way down from the 8th floor and flowers, flowers, flowers galore!

A visit to Luella Bartley's Christmas Grotto immediately added an extra page to my Christmas wish list with so many irreverent and beautiful things it was tempting to ignore the exchange rate and max the credit cards http://www.liberty.co.uk/pws/images/services/projects/luella/luellaxmas.html

So if you happen to be in London at Christmas, I highly recommend a visit to the iconic store, camera at the ready, and if you feel like being really generous, dear husband, I'll happily accept one of their "gift coins" commissioned exclusively by the Royal mint. http://www.liberty.co.uk/

Goody Bags for KCSARC!

2009-12-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Every 2 seconds someone in the United States is sexually assaulted. It's an appalling statistic and to make it even worse, 70% of those victims are children. The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) is the *only* provider of rape crisis intervention, legal advocacy support and therapy for survivors of sexual assault in King County, yet every year KCSARC relies on funding from the city, state and individual donors just to keep itself afloat.

Each year, KCSARC holds a 1,000 person breakfast in Seattle. The 2010 "Kids are Our Business" breakfast will be held on February 23 at the Westin Seattle and is free to attend. This year's speakers will include Molly Shen (KOMO news anchor) and Margo Myers (ex KIRO news anchor). Major sponsors include Expeditors, Group Health, Boeing, Virginia Mason, Nintendo, Puget Sound Energy, Committee for Children and many others. Attendees will come from every major business throughout King County.

Here's how you can get involved:

We are looking for in-kind donors to contribute items to our Table Captain gift bags at the event. By contributing to the gift bags, your business will get to showcase your product/logo in front of over 1000 influential people at far less than the minimum $2,500 sponsorship level. We will need 100 of each item and are also looking for a sponsor to provide the bags themselves.

I became involved with KCSARC because I strongly believe in their mission to "End the Silence" which I think will resonate strongly with the women of the Ladies Who Launch and CRAVE communities. As mothers, daughters, sisters, trendsetters and entrepreneurs, we can support KCSARC with a small in-kind contribution, showcasing our own business to potential investors and customers while standing united against sexual assault in our community. Together we can "End the Silence."

Please contact me at rbowes@kcsarc.org if you are able to help with this request.

Thank you!

Wedding Paper Divas

2009-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a low budget and high stylin' invitation for an upcoming event, look no further! Tiny Prints (and sister company Wedding Paper Divas) offer gorgeous, modern styles to fit anyone's price point. Originally offering invitations and announcements, Tiny Prints has now expanded to include photo books, gifts, business cards and calendars - all using their stylish designs as a template.

Where Tiny Prints particularly stands out is in their selection of wedding stationary. Using their design templates, brides can now customize their own websites, invitations, save the dates, address labels, ceremony programs, reception menus, gift tags, place cards and thank you notes allowing them to carry through the day's theme and style without the expense of a independent designer. Check out the invitation I recently ordered for an upcoming baby shower - I love that the design is pretty and feminine but doesn't scream "BABY!" in pink or blue, rattles or storks.

They are currently offering a couple of special offers -

Enter the coupon code WEDSALE at checkout to save $15 when you spend $99 or more on wedding invitations or enjoy $40 off when you spend $199 or more on wedding invitations!
Enter the coupon code WPDHOL at checkout to save $10 off your order of $49 or more for holiday cards from our parent site, Tiny Prints, and holiday party invitations from both Tiny Prints and Wedding Paper Divas!

Check them out here - http://www.tinyprints.com/, here http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/ and here http://www.tinyprints.mycanvas.com/.

afternoon in the arboretum

2009-11-04T09:05:00.000-08:00

I recently spent a lazy sun-soaked Sunday wandering through the UW arboretum with my husband and dogs...here are a couple of shots...and don't even get me started on how much I love to use berries and twigs in my floral designs!

Seattle Met Photoshoot Part 1

2009-11-03T09:03:00.001-08:00

A few months ago, I received a call from the Editor of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom magazine inviting me to design a summer reception table for their next issue. After months of planning and deliberating over details, the photoshoot finally took place last week. While, I can't reveal any pictures or details here until the magazine hits newstands in late December, stay tuned for "behind the scenes" photos as well as shots from the magazine when it does!

fall arrangements

2009-10-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

dancing for salmon only

2009-10-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to report that Friends of the Hylebos' annual Ruby Dance last weekend was a great success surpassing the fundraising goal by $3000! But then, with Sean MacLean of King FM fame as the emcee, Gene Duvernoy of Cascade Land Conservency as the keynote speaker, MacKenzie Allen as the auctioneer, Margery Godfrey as the event chair and Finch & Thistle as the event planners/managers/designers, how could it possibly be anything other than a great Saturday night in Federal Way??

Over 200 guests turned out to the King County Aquatic Center for an evening of silent and live auctions, an action packed program, rusted steel herons and raise the paddle. We exceeded our fundraising goals and a good time was had by all (even those working the event). Many thanks to all the volunteers and committee members who contributed time and willing hands. We couldn't have done it without you!

A few pictures from the evening...

all good pictures courtesy of Seth Bynum, less decent ones by me

No. 6!

2009-09-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

Finch and Thistle is currently in 6th place in the Best of Western Washington competition. We need to make it into the top five to receive any recognition so please send this link to all of your friends and vote now if you haven't already!

Photos from Ryan Flynn - Lara and Eric

2009-09-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

I am so impressed with Ryan's work that I will be recommending him to my clients left and right. Stay turned for a very serious and proper interview with Ryan in an upcoming post. In the meantime, you can find him here - http://www.ryanpflynn.com/. And how adorable are these flower girls???

All photos courtesy of Ryan Flynn Photography http://www.ryanpflynn.com/

New Partner, New Direction

2009-09-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

In addition to floral and event design, Finch & Thistle offers event planning and non-profit event fundraising consulting. In order to expand on the consulting side of the business, I am delighted to welcome my new partner to the business - Alix Compton.

Alix and I have had the privelege of working together for over three years now and I am thrilled to be able to offer her event management and fundraising expertise to our clients. Together we offer the full event package - creativity with logistical event management. As I recently explained to an event committee - you can have the most beautiful event in the world but if the logistics aren't under control then chaos will ensue - and conversely - if the event runs smoothly but isn't visually appealing, no one will remember it. Finch & Thistle is able to offer expertise in both these areas and the addition of a partner enables us to reach a broader audience in the Puget Sound area.

Between us, Alix and I have nearly 20 years of combined event experience working with a wide range of clients including corporations, individuals, trade associations and non-profit organizations. 10 years of that experience was acquired working directly with non-profit community relations and development teams, with a particular focus on fundraising through special events. So next time you need an experienced event planner to manage your company's event or fundraiser and take care of all your floral and design needs, you know where to find us!

Best of Western Washington!

2009-09-15T18:20:00.001-07:00

I am delighted to announce that Finch & Thistle Event Design has been nominated for best flowers in King 5's annual Best of Western Washington competition! I could not be more excited that we have been nominated alongside some truly amazing local floral designers - Fiori, Aria and Willow and Bloom to name a few. The voting is open until October 11 so please follow this link and vote for us!

Lara & Eric, 8/8/09

2009-08-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to get to know Lara and Eric over the course of their wedding planning. What a kind, considerate and down-to-earth couple! Lara is one of the most organized people I have ever met and she had most of the details down and vendors booked well over eight months ago. Eric built their wedding arch by hand, carefully wiring curly willow branches together into a rustic masterpiece. The arch did cause a few issues though...when I went to decorate it after dropping off the bouquets etc, it wasn't standing up by itself on the grassy slope of Hamilton Viewpoint Park. My sweet husband ended up hoofing it to the hardware store to buy stakes to hammer in supports on either side. I am pleased to see from the pictures that the arch remained standing throughout the ceremony!

The wedding colors were lime and eggplant, the theme vintage, organic glamour. Here are a few pictures from the day...

*invitation design by iwona k design studio- www.iwonak.com

Amber & Joel, July 2009

2009-07-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Cam & Alex contd...

2009-07-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

I just love when I get to see the professional photographs of my clients weddings. Here are some more of Cam and Alex' April wedding in the San Juans (and yes, that is me hard at work in the last shot)...

Kay & Matt contd...

2009-07-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Kay sent me a link to her wedding pictures and I am blown away by how beautiful they are. She also included this lovely note:

I wanted to take a few moments to write a note of praise for the work that you did for our wedding. The flowers were beautiful, and in addition to the fact that they were more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, everyone who attended our wedding and those who've seen pictures since have remarked at how stunning the flowers were. You managed to combine the style elements that we'd talked about in our meetings and added your own personal style to the pieces which, believe me, helped me immensely :). The bouquets held up perfectly during the very warm day and despite our selection of a classic white/cream color scheme, looked vibrant and springy. Almost if not more important than the flowers themselves, you were truly a pleasure to work with, and I enjoyed talking through all our ideas together with you. Your professional knowledge and exposure from being in event planning helped to put me at ease amidst all the craziness of our wedding planning.

THANK YOU!!!

~Kay Lambert

Aren't these pictures just gorgeous?
Courtesy of Leo Chen Photography (www.leochen.com)

i heart CRAVE Party

2009-06-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

I just received my save the date for the Seattle summer CRAVE Party and I am so excited! I went to my first party last December and am thrilled to see that Finch & Thistle's flowers and table design are shown on their photos page here-

http://www.craveparty.com/photos_craveshow08.html

If you haven't been to one before, CRAVE Party was created by my very own Ladies Who Launch incubator leader Melody Biringer (yes, that Biringer) as a way for busy women to gather a couple of times each year at a one-stop-shop location. For the cost of three Seattle non-happy hour drinks ($35), you get access to exclusive deals at boutiques (jewelry, handbags, clothing, accessories, home decor etc etc), a divine dinner, free drinks, complimentary spa services, belly dancing lessons and numerous entertainment acts.

I can guarantee that CRAVE Party is the most fun you will ever have networking with other women business owners at an event thrown by women business owners...oh and did I mention that you also get to take home a delicious goody bag?

Details:
Summer Dreams CRAVE Party
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Teatro ZinZannis Spiegeltent @ 222 Mercer St, Seattle
Tix $35 includes drinks and dinner
www.craveparty.com to register

Seattle Symphony Stradivarius Salon Gallery

2009-06-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Diggin Food...and Flowers

2009-06-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

When we moved into our new house eight months ago, imagine my surprise to find out that some old friends of ours from college now live a mere five minutes down the road! Willi is the creator of Digginfood.com and a veritable gardening goddess. She is the West Coast editor of Organic Gardening magazine and was recently featured in Sunset magazine ~ http://www.sunset.com/garden/fruits-veggies/how-to-grow-fruits-vegetables-backyard-00400000041730/

We have decided to collaborate in the next couple of months on some fun DIY projects for our readers and to get things moving, here is a recent post from DigginFood about jam jar lanterns for the garden...http://www.digginfood.com/2009/06/diy-candle-lanterns/

Handmade Weddings

2009-06-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

I. love. etsy. Seriously. I think it is possibly the coolest site on the whole wide web. A treasure trove of unique (and usually cheap) jewelry, clothing, candy, furniture, artwork etc etc. If you can make it, you can sell it on etsy.com. While trolling for inspiration the other day, I came upon some fantastic finds just perfect for a handmade wedding. And while I am the first to extoll the virtues of a real flower versus a faux (the scent! the texture! the ephemeral-ness!) some of these paper flowers and pom poms are just divine!

twigs & honey shop: myrakim

Kari Herer Photography

Party Poms

paper platypus

finch & thistle

Finch & Thistle has moved

2010: A Retrospective

Nonpareil Issue 7: Buzz Worthy Bride

Faded Glory

Inspiration Board: Corporate Holiday Party

Finch & Thistle on Love and Lavender

2nd Saturdayz

Personal: Family Portraits

SMP: Vintage Romance

Chelsea and Jamie: Part II

Chelsea and Jamie, Orcas Island: Part I

David Stark for West Elm

Winter Wedding Palette

Cake Toppers

Gone to the birds

I have been a fan of local crafter Laurie Cinotto for years now. I recently saw her gorgeous bird cages at a craft show and almost bought up the entire stall. Wouldn’t these be perfect favors for a wedding or baby shower? You can see Laurie’s work at the Tacoma Holiday Craft Sale next weekend -

Fab Find: Milkpod Studios

Google Does Weddings?

angela & evan, kirsten & mike

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part III

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part II

Jenny and Jeff, Sonoma Part I

In love: Miss Pickering

Abbie and Matt

DIY Pumpkins from Twig & Thistle

Sneak Peek: NonPareil Photo Shoot

Inspiration Board: Josh & Lisa

Bride’s Eye View: Wedding Crafting Report – 4 days to go!

Styling Willi

Bride’s Eye View: Location, Location, Location

Bride’s Eye View: Part I

Bride’s Eye View Introduction

Got Milk?

Becka and Scott

Garden Party

Jessica and Judd

How to: Vintage cake platters

Fab Find: Little Retreats

Inspiration Board: Beth and John

MS Gala Realized

Design Board: Laura and Majid

Cindy and Ethan, Sonoma

If Marie Antoinette Threw a Baby Shower….

Finch & Thistle and Angela & Evan

in love / Finch & Thistle Event Design

April Showers

Cindy and Ethan Imagined

Spring Flowers

Inspiration Board: MS Gala

A bit of modern

Inspiration Board: Jamie & Chelsea

Inspiration Board: Jessica & Judd

Inspiration: Studio Choo

we like it wild: we heart flowers

Flowers: Spring arrangement

Design: Winter Tablescape

Flowers: KCTS channel 9 at SAM

Interview: Ryan Flynn, Photographer

Behind-the-Scenes at a Photoshoot Part 2

London Calling

Goody Bags for KCSARC!

Wedding Paper Divas

afternoon in the arboretum

Seattle Met Photoshoot Part 1

fall arrangements

dancing for salmon only

No. 6!

Photos from Ryan Flynn - Lara and Eric

New Partner, New Direction

Best of Western Washington!

Lara & Eric, 8/8/09

Amber & Joel, July 2009

Cam & Alex contd...

Kay & Matt contd...

i heart CRAVE Party

Seattle Symphony Stradivarius Salon Gallery

Diggin Food...and Flowers

Handmade Weddings