Nightingale Bamford Gala Event at The Metropolitan Pavilion

I'm thrilled to share some professional images from the gala event last week benefiting The Nightingale Bamford School. It was a fabulous event to work on and I was so pleased with the final result. This was definitely a collaborative effort between my clients and I. After our initial discussions I created a sample of the centerpiece which we reworked a couple of times to get the perfect balance of texture and whimsy. It was a formal event but the goal was to have the light and spirit of the girls who attend the school to shine through in the design. "Growing Every Girl" was the theme of the event but we didn't want to be too literal in our interpretation.

A few visits to the flowers market was all it took to chose elements that were unique and textural while at the same time allowing for movement in the design for the entrance. We intentionally used many layers in the design yet maintaining a simplicity in the use of clear glass vases and Lucite pedestals. I love how all the elements play a key part in the design yet blend seamlessly together to create a really striking composition. But enough talking....I will let the images speak for themselves.

 

Big thanks to Jess of Love & Light Photographs for making a special trip just to shoot these images for me. You can contact her at {loveandlightphotographs@gmail.com}

Winter Quince

We all love flowering branches but some may think that they are only available in the Spring (oh, the beloved cherry blossoms!) but there are some great options already starting to bloom. Quince is one of my favorite, available in both white and pink (light & dark). The buds are small and when they bloom are still a petite flower. I really love the shape of the branches as well, they have a minimal feel to them making them a perfect option for something a bit more sleek and contemporary. I used them this week for one of my weekly designs, here I show the branches alone but I ended up adding some pink callas to the base of the design.

Love the deep coral color of these blooms!

A simple container is the perfect match for a contemporary look.

As with all hard, woody stems be sure to cut on an angle for optimal water absorption.

Add another cut down the center of the branch.

All of these tiny little buds WILL open, you will be surprised to see how long the branches last, especially if  you change the water every few days and give the branches a fresh cut.

Don't be afraid to prune back any broken or unruly branches!

Simple but will be stunning in just a few days as the flowers bloom!