Wednesday, December 31, 2008
DK Designs Clay Peony Cake Flowers
Real Wedding - Grace & Kyle
Dianna hired Dave Miyamoto Photography to photograph the ballroom and detail shots before the wedding reception began. The actual photographer hired to do the wedding was Frank Amodo Photography. Both very talented professionals in my book. Can't wait to eventually see the wedding photographs as well. Thanks to Dianna and Dave for sharing the photos with me. If you want a competent and very professional destination wedding planner and coordinator and are getting married on Oahu, Dianna is someone you should get in touch with. She has many years of experience in wedding & event planning.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
DK Designs Clay Gardenia Cake Flowers
Well, my cake flowers aren't even completely dry, but I had to put up more items. This is something that a few clients had asked me to make and I've just been so busy that I haven't had a chance to make them available for purchase without doing a custom order. So here it is.... my line of cake flowers. The price is $140 and so if you break down 4 flowers comes out to $35/each. Which I have to say is reasonable considering that 1. sugar art gardenia flowers that are roughly 5-5.5 inches in diameter run $275/flower, 2. gardenias aren't always in season and if they are, there's no guarantee that the edges of the flowers won't brown by the time your photographer is able to take pictures, and 3. you can keep them to treasure well after your wedding and bugs won't eat them! :)
So, in the coming weeks, I'll be launching a few other cake flower offerings on my site... Stay tuned...
Happy New Year! - Year of the Ox (Clay Figurines)
I'm hard at work making products to sell through my Etsy site as well as Estilo Weddings and samples and orders for other clients. May the new year bring each and every one of you, much joy, happiness, good health and prosperity!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
DK Designs Clay Flower Hair Comb on Etsy Home Page!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Custom Clay Flower Arrangement - Reds, Pinks and Whites
I haven't often done Casablanca lilies, but I decided to do this particular flower also because not only is it beautiful, but it's very expansive. I think the 3 lilies really is the perfect mix among the red peonies, red roses, fuchsia pink ranunculus and the coral pink roses. Plus the white vase adds another nice contrast to the flowers themselves. Lilies are known to be very fragrant which is why some people don't like them. The nice thing about clay lilies, they have no scent so you can enjoy their beauty without being overwhelmed by their scent! :) Hmm... do I dare start working on flowers to try and make quick arrangements for family members for a Christmas get-together tomorrow??? Hmm...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas from DK Designs
So from my family to you and yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas or for those of you who celebrate other holidays and not Christmas, Happy Holidays to you as well. I'm going to enjoy a couple of days off with my family, especially my husband and son. They have sacrificed a lot for me this past year with all my successes and growth and I'm so very thankful to them for all their love and patience.
Monday, December 22, 2008
New Items in My Etsy Shop
Anyway, my shop has been kind put on the back burner because I've been so busy with all my wedding orders. It's been non-stop crazy since November of last year. It still amazes me how much has happened in one year's time. So, after two more of my items sold today, I realized I needed to add a couple new items to my shop. This is what I came up with. The Tropical Punch II is one of my favorites. I just made the flowers today (with the exception of the orchids and the tuberose). I only wish I could keep it because the colors really pop and are so "alive". I think that's one thing I LOVE about making the flowers, finding the right color combinations and color palettes. If you only knew me when I started learning DECO Clay, all my projects were like a rainbow sherbet color (pastel pinks, greens, peaches and yellows). When I started my own business, I really had to challenge myself to try bold and vibrant colors.
The other is a hair comb that I made a while ago and finally decided it was time to post it as I'm sure it will do well with my wedding clients. I think it would be wonderful over a beautiful bridal veil or for a flower girl. Mini stephanotis with Swarovski rhinestone crystals, mini tuberose and mini roses. Heck, everything is mini, but believe me even mini is a lot of work. Lots of detail and lots of flowers, that's for sure.I hope that over the holidays as I'm busy trying to work on some projects and samples for clients, magazines and wholesalers that I will have the opportunity to make extra flowers so that I can add to my Etsy shop. The goal is to add some wonderful cake flowers (like the ones I described in my previous blog post). Stay tuned...
Sunday, December 21, 2008
All White Peony Cake Flowers - For a Cake Designer in Florida
Friday, December 19, 2008
Holiday Bouquets - Boutonnieres
Holiday Bouquets - Bridal Party Bouquets Complete
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Holiday Bouquets - Work in Progress
These are work in progress pictures. I will have more photos on Saturday, but these are the bouquets I've done so far (before the painting process). I love the colors. It is very holiday-ish with a tropical twist. :) Plus, you can't get peonies in winter so clay peonies are a great solution! :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
Real Wedding - Elizabeth & Marlon, A Destination Wedding in Mexico
What a nice email and some beautiful photos to boot! :) Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your destination wedding day photos with me and my readers! Best wishes to you and Marlon on a lifetime of love, laughter and happy times!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Real Wedding - Jessica & Chris
I really enjoy seeing photos of my work from the wedding day and to hear how happy my brides are with their flowers. Plus for those who are skeptical about going with clay flowers, the real wedding day photos really showcase how real the flowers do look and the fact that my clients will forever have a bouquet to remember their wedding day by!
I got an email from Miss Pineapple (now Mrs. Pineapple) the other day and she shared a wonderful story. She said that when they were taking photos in Philadelphia in the city they were near a sculpture and she accidentally hit the bridal bouquet I made for her and she said that everyone gasped thinking it broke and to everyone's surprise, not a petal moved. Now that's a true testament to how durable these flowers really are! She even said that as they passed people in the city they all commented on how lovely the flowers are. Comments and feedback like this make me so happy and that's why I LOVE what I do!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Proposal in Paradise Launches Lea McIntosh's Ready to Propose Custom Proposals & Concierge
Click here to watch the video
Friday, December 12, 2008
Another Wedding Vendor GTG
It's so funny because she just posted her next photo that's a companion photo to her "Sunkiss" picture titled, "Flare" on her blog (http://www.shootingfromtheheart.typepad.com/) and I told her I want to order it. Turns out she told me the story the day those photos were taken she was taking pictures of the favors and place cards that I did for her client's wedding (the first time I met her). Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to these photos. Needless to say, Debbie does amazing work whether its of plant life, weddings, portraits, or lifestyle pictures. She's one of my favorite photographers and I can't wait to one day head down south and have her photograph my husband and son for a family portrait session. :) Hopefully sometime next year before my wedding season starts going crazy!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Name this Bride and Win a Prize! Contest Ends 12/15!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Custom Cake Topper - Collaboration with The Flirty Bride!
A Day in the Life of a Fill-in-Wedding Planner Day 2 and 3
I didn't spend much time getting to see the grounds of the Grand Wailea Resort. I spent my time running errands or doing prep work in my room. So the only shot I took was this one of the lobby. What a beautiful resort, but I guess I'll have to visit it next time to really enjoy it!I realized when putting the favors together that I did not print 3 of the guest names so I was in a panic, but had a plan, I had 2 hours in the morning where I could figure out what I could do to make sure I had the 3 names and 3 favors done. I needed one lauhala box and cardstock. I had to drive up to Kahului to get it which is a half hour away. I got a little lost, but managed to get back by 10:45 a.m. Met with the bride to pick up the marriage license her 2nd pair of shoes and headed to the ceremony/reception location to set up. I was responsible for setting up the welcome tables with the favor box/placecards, get the guestbook/picture table set and put the lanterns, programs and fans out for the guests. Needless to say for one person to do is a lot, but I just kept moving. It was non-stop moving and so my 1 hour of sun was not spent on the beach, but at the Molokini Lookout setting up. LOL...The vendors I had the opportunity to work with were AWESOME. I am so excited to see the professional photos from Amity Mason Photography. She's an amazing photographer and so down to earth. After she gets back from her trip to South Africa and Egypt, she'll be sending out photos (January)! Can't wait. :) Derick Sebastian and his musical talents filled the ceremony location with beautiful Hawaiian music. He also sang as a duo during the cocktail reception. Very professional and on-time. I highly recommend him if you're looking for local talent for your event. Reverend Al Terry was AMAZING... He was so cute how he asked the bride and groom to kiss each other after exchanging the leis. His ceremony was beautiful and he also added a touch of humor. Although our ceremony started late and he had another wedding just after Alyssa and Daniel's he did a great job and did not rush it. A true professional! Tihati Productions also provided us with a great conch shell blower and Brandon did a fabulous job!From there I rushed down in my golf cart back to the reception to make sure all was set up according to Alyssa's instructions and the SeaWatch Restaurant and Leah Robb's team at Maui Elegance Floral Design did a great job. These are some shots before the tables were lit. DJ Dan did a great job keeping the guests entertained. He is truly a great entertainer and he had the house rocking. Even the SeaWatch general manager said it was the most high-energy/fun wedding they have had there to date!
All in all, it was a fabulous day and Alyssa and Daniel clearly had a great time. She was gorgeous in her Vera Wang vintage inspired gown and Daniel in his ivory Tommy Bahama long sleeved shirt and khaki colored slacks, accented by a beautiful maile lei intertwined with blue hyacinth. Alyssa's bouquet was a mixture of white roses, stephanotis with pearl centers, cattelya orchids with the striking purple center with white dendrobium orchids cascading down. Her bridesmaids had orange bouquets with mango callas, pin cushion proteas and orange roses.
The whole trip I was sick and it made it more difficult to really be on my "A" game, but I ignored being sick so that I could provide Alyssa and Daniel the best day-of wedding coordination possible and I think I did the best job possible and hope that the bride and groom had a memorable and fun-filled wedding day! Thank you to all the vendors who helped make their day the most special day in their lives.