New Look... New Website... New Blog

I know it has been a while since I last blogged but I've been making some changes over the last couple of months and was waiting to announce my new brand identity, website and my blog has also moved.

You can now follow my blog posts at www.dkdesignshawaii.com/blog/.

I'm super excited about my new brand identity logo and website, thanks to the amazing teams at Flosites and Flothemes! They helped me bring my ideas into reality and I look forward to growing the brand and the business. Please stop by and check it out! www.dkdesignshawaii.com.

More Lilacs

One of my long time clients asked me recently to create a large arrangement of lilacs for her. It's probably the largest arrangement I've made in quite some time and when we chose the vase, I didn't realize how big it was until it arrived. The arrangement has 12 stems of lilacs and was really tall. 

I always said I would make lilacs for myself to have in my home but still to this day it hasn't happened and it's been over 4 years. I'm always so grateful to my clients who continually come back to ask me to make them more floral arrangements for their home or to give as gifts

Bridal Bouquet with a Vintage Look

A client recently asked me if I could create a bouquet off of a photo of another clay artist's design. That's always hard because each clay artist has their own style and look. However she liked certain elements of that bouquet and I tried to incorporate them but also make it my own design.

She wanted eucharist flowers but instead of the traditional green centers she wanted them to be pink. She also wanted ivories, pinks and greens with the vines and different types of greens. The bouquet had ranunculus, bouvardia, vines, hydrangea, tulips, roses and succulents as well. This bouquet I didn't use any plastic filler, it was all clay! The bride was very happy with the outcome.

Bridal Shower Favors (White and Black Theme)

My cousin's daughter asked me a couple months ago if I could help her with a bridal shower she is throwing for her best friend. She wanted to do favors for a white and black themed shower. Crafty isn't her thing so we discussed ideas while I was visiting them back in April what would work. She really liked the idea of doing the flowers that would serve as decor but also gifts for the people attending the shower. 

We agreed upon anemones, roses, gardenias and ranunculus. I did a black favor tag to look like chalkboard material and printed the text in white. They came out so lovely. This would make great bridal shower or even wedding favors.

Anemone Bouquet and Boutonniere

My client, Marina, contacted me again after she received her anemone pillow and hair flower. She was so impressed with the two items that she decided to move forward with her bridal bouquet and boutonniere. We included sweet peas and stephanotis blossoms with pearls  and some green leaves to fill in the space between the anemones and give some added texture and dimension. We also did a matching boutonniere for her groom.

 I am always thankful when clients add on more items after they order initially and see what it looks like in person. 

Lilacs going to Greece

My past bride and client, Georgia, contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I could make a bouquet of lilacs for her home. I had done her wedding flowers and favors a few years ago, so I was happy to hear from her again. She had fell in love with lilacs I had done for two industry friends. She wanted the flowers to be in the aqua blue Ball jar vase.

White and Black Wedding

My client via Etsy asked if I could make her a white and black anemone hair flower and she really liked my anemone ring pillow so she ordered both for her upcoming wedding. Anemone is one of those flowers that isn't always in season so have a clay version of the flower available is a great alternative. 

 I love the contrast between white and black, it's very sophisticated. I don't often get asked to do ring pillows but I do enjoy it when I get to make them.

My new shop on Shoppe by Scoutmob

I'm very excited to announce that I'm offering some of my clay flower creations through Shoppe by Scoutmob. I'm very honored to have been contacted by this awesome company and to be asked to sell my clay hair flowers and cake flowers through their online retail channel. It's been a great start to the year with lots of new opportunities to grow and this is just one of them! I hope to continue adding new items to the shop in the future. They also just started a Weddings Shoppe feature which I'm sure will continue to grow!

Please check out my shop here.

Spring Flower Arrangement

 My wonderful client, Joyce asked me to create this piece for her best friend who's birthday was earlier this month. She wanted tulips, daffodils and gerbera daisies. She pretty much left the colors up to me but wanted it to be Spring inspired with pretty colors. I added some lily of the valley as well to this arrangement. Her friend received it last week and was so thrilled with the gift.

Custom Floral Arrangements

This year has been a year of many blessings. Not only have I received several wedding flower orders, but lately, I've been getting a lot of requests for home decor pieces. A Facebook admirer on my business page asked me several months ago to do single stem flowers and then she asked if I could just make a home decor piece with all her favorite tropical flowers that have special meaning to her. This arrangement has gardenias, pikake, plumerias and hibiscus. 

She also asked me to make some mini teapots of forget-me-nots for a friend as a going away present.

 It's been a great joy to do more home decor pieces and single stem flowers, as well as a challenge, but I enjoy a good challenge!

Gardenia Shoe Clips

I haven't made shoe clips before, but an Etsy client asked if I would try to make some. They are for a wedding she is attending this summer. I really like how these turned out.

Just thought I would share a couple of pictures of how they look. Who knows, maybe I'll consider offering them in the near future.

Orchid Plant

My dear friend from high school recently asked me if I could create something for her salon & spa. She's does facials, peels and more in the Monterey Bay area. She also makes lovely jewelry. If you live in the Monterey Bay and are looking for facial services or some jewelry for someone special, please visit her website at: www.beautifulskinspa.com.

Here are some pictures of her orchid plant.

Eggplant Purple Peony Cake Flowers

A past bride/client contacted me recently from Australia and she asked if I could make a couple peonies for her sister who is getting married next month. She loved the peonies I made for her wedding cake but she wanted the peonies to be in eggplant purple or aubergine with a bit of bling. 

I love how vibrant and vivid the color is on these peonies. The large one will sit on the top of the cake and the smaller one in between the layers

Custom Orchid Arrangement

My client and past bride, Joyce asked me to create an arrangement that she could put on her altar with a gold statue of the Bhudda. Joyce always challenges me with her requests because she usually picks flowers I haven't yet done before. She wanted dendrobium orchids, cattleya orchids, miltoniopsis and bulbophyllum aruicomum, which are the national flower of Burma. 

After Joyce showed her mother the arrangement, she said that I didn't get the bulbophyllum orchids right. The tough part is when you have to depend on the internet and you can't find a detailed image of the flower you want to replicate. Nonetheless, Joyce is very happy with the arrangement and is excited to put it next to her Bhudda statue.

She said she would try to get me a replica of the flower so that one day I can create the orchids correctly!

Cake Flowers (Poppy, Gardenia and Peonies)

I love how one flower can make a beautiful statement on a cake. It's simple yet beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I love a full cascade of flowers on a cake too, but there is also beauty in just one big bloom.

I had the opportunity to make these for a client this past week: gardenia, poppy and peonies. The peonies are actually a set of 3, painted with gold highlights per the client's request.

 This red poppy with green and yellow center was also made. Initially the client wanted a green and yellow center but she decided to have the stamens in black instead. So this one below is for sale on Etsy. You can find the listing here.

Custom Plumeria Favor Boxes

My past bride, Keva, contacted me recently to see if I could make 5 more favor boxes but with custom colored plumeria flowers and matching ribbons and tags. This was a fun one. I wasn't sure how they would all turn out but I'm pleasantly surprised how well they all work.

 

It's a great way to see that you're not just stuck to one color plumeria for your favor box!

Custom Floral Arrangement for a Past Client

I'm always very thankful for repeat business from my past brides. This particular client/bride ordered from me years ago and she still asks me to create special arrangements for her and her loved ones. Her uncle recently passed away and she asked me to create a floral arrangement for her aunt in memory of him. 

She asked for fragrant roses, jasmine, gardenias and orchids. Mostly in white and ivory tones but with hints of color. I think it turned out really nice and hopefully it will bring her aunt some love, happiness and peace during this difficult time.

Joyce asked me to create another arrangement, which I will be starting tomorrow, so another blog post on that later this week.