DK Designs Thank You Cards

One thing that I've been wanting to do forever is design a simple "thank you" card for my clients when I send out their orders. I've been so busy that I've just relied on buying boxed card sets that appeal to me. Every time I purchase them, I think to myself... "Why are you buying them? You can make them."

So over the weekend I got my LensBaby out and played around with it and shot a few nice photos of the white phaleanopsis orchid plant my husband got me for my birthday. Then it dawned on me... why not create a simple note card with the orchid photos I shot using my LensBaby. This is what I came up with. It's a very simple fold over note card, but I love orchids and a simple "Thank You..." with my DK Designs orchid logo seemed simple yet, reminds my clients of my company logo and my love for flowers.

I'm sure over time I will create something much more elaborate. like the one I created for my friend Debbie of Debbie Friedrich Photography, but for now, I'm going with this design until I have more time to redesign. Who knows maybe one day I'll dabble in photography. LOL...

DK Designs Clay Floral Centerpieces - Part III

Another BIG order completed this morning! What a relief. The red orchids really added the finishing touch to this beautiful fall floral centerpiece. I really think these arrangements are going to look great in Jennifer's church and reception hall!

I have to say with centerpieces like this, I'm even amazed at what I can create. I get a real sense of accomplishment when I finish pieces like this and I'm so happy that I had an opportunity to really challenge myself artistically. I hope in the future I get a chance to create more centerpieces for brides who are interested in having an "eco-chic" alternative to fresh flowers. Can you imagine how beautiful this would look on a dining table or entry way table? My husband often told me when we lived in Hawaii that I should try to pitch my centerpieces to hotel chains instead of them using fresh flowers in their lobbies. Could you imagine??? Now that would be a REAL challenge!

Today I'm taking a tiny break to spend time with family and then later, back to work on my next bouquet (phaleanopsis orchids, callas and tuberose) for a Canadian bride getting married in Australia. Now that's a fun destination wedding...

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Jennifer and her fiance!

DK Designs Clay Floral Centerpieces - Part II

Yesterday, I honestly did not get much done in the way of my orders. I had planned to knock out some flowers for the centerpieces, but instead, my son decided it was supposed to be about him, especially when he figured out that it shouldn't be about mommy on her birthday, it should be all about him. LOL... I think I need a birthday "do-over"!

At any rate, I digress. Today has been much more productive. I'm almost finished with my next client's centerpiece order. Another fall-like arrangement. Believe it or not, each arrangement measures 20 inches high by 16 inches in diameter! These will definitely be interesting in terms of shipping them to Maryland as they are quite heavy. The only thing that is left for these centerpieces are the red Singapore orchids the client requested. The centerpieces are made up of large creamy ivory peonies, yellowish tone roses, red ranunculus, green hydrangea, bells of Ireland and Singapore orchids. I used some red and green fillers to fill in the spaces, and add a little more depth and texture.

After this order is done, I go back to a white and blue color palette.. Fall is over (in terms of my fall color palette orders) and it's back to destination wedding style floral bouquets (tropical flowers in light colors) for my up and coming clients... I seriously don't think "wedding season" has ended for me... Which is a good thing!

I've Been Blog Tagged - Compliments of Stacie Tamaki... The Flirty Girl

I've been Blog Tagged... Okay, so I guess the 30 things about yourself email is now hitting blogs. Stacie Tamaki included me as her 4 bloggers to pass it along to... Thanks Stacie... but I guess it's a way for my readers, potential clients and former clients to get to know a little more about me! :) So here goes...

4 Things I Did Today:

1. Walked 2 miles to pick up my son and had to carry him home since my car broke down.. God forbid I actually got some exercise. Guess it's good since I haven't had a chance to join Stacie and Lea on the Wedding Walkers events.
2. Finished the 2nd big clay flower order (I had 9 orders total for the month of October) today: 2 bouquets, 9 boutonnieres, 8 corsages.
3. Shipped 5 gardenia hair flowers. Great... now I need to make more as my Etsy storefront is almost completely out.
4. Worked on tulips for my centerpiece order

(Aidan showing me his broomstick he made in preschool today... 1st time using scissors)
4 Things On My To-Do list:
1. Make more time for my son, Aidan and my husband, Michael.
2. Figure out a way to make flowers in my sleep.
3. Continue to grow my business and manage to keep up with the growth/pace.
4. Have a real vacation every 6 months.

4 Of My Guiltiest Pleasures:
1. Online shopping... It's my biggest weakness.
2. Taking naps
3. Buying Aidan something every time we go shopping
4. McDonalds french fries

4 Random Facts about Me:
1. If I don't have to go out of the house, I live in my pajamas.
2. I hate public speaking (you have no idea how NERVOUS I was doing the Martha Show and the podcast interview)
3. I look for at dishes and cups that most people would think were a good find for food/drink as perfect containers to use for my flowers, especially when they are under $3.00!
4. I'm a one woman corporation... All the work is done by me! I have help when it comes to invitations, but with the flowers, I do them all, by hand, and love it even when I'm stressed trying to get orders out the door.

Here's who I'm tagging:
Debbie Friedrich of Debbie Friedrich Photography
Geralyn Camarillo of Hokuli'i Images
Evonne Wong of Events by Evonne
Lea McIntosh of Lea McIntosh Weddings

Real Wedding - Laura & Garett (8.8.08)

Shortly after Miss Pineapple originally blogged about me, I was contacted by Laura and she inquired about my bouquets. We initially decided on apricot colored dahlias. After she saw what I created for Miss Pineapple's bouquets, she immediately changed her mind and we decided to do the Victorian Elegance (peach peonies with copper centers, mauvish purple roses, copper tone roses, copper fillers, peach ranunculus, stephanotis and tuberose buds) look instead. Laura started out only wanting the bridal bouquet and the MOH bouquet and then the order increased into small centerpieces and a toss/keepsake bouquet! Laura was one of my 1st Canadian customers and she was so worried that the order would be held in customs so she had me ship 1 month prior. Luckily I had shipped a previous order that only took 6 days so I had to push her order out a little.

At any rate, she contacted me today and sent me a link to her website and I got to see some of her beautiful wedding pictures so I thought I'd share them with you. Isn't she beautiful. They make such a cute couple. They look like a lot of fun. I always enjoy receiving real wedding photos and I hope again to add these to my Real Weddings section of my website when my orders slow down a bit. But for now, please enjoy a few of the images she shared with me! Don't you just love her birdcage veil? Too cute!

Thank you Laura for sharing your wedding photos with me and my readers.. Congratulations and Best Wishes for a long and happy marriage!

Fall Colors - Part IV

Today was an extremely busy day of a lot of things that I wish didn't happen today. My car broke down after dropping Aidan off at preschool (dead battery). Luckily my husband was still home and could jump it so I could make it back to the house. I was able to work on a few more flowers for my centerpiece order, but my work was cut short because I had to walk to pick up Aidan and walk back. Even though I didn't finish all the items I wanted to get done, I finally finished Kirsten's order!!! :)

Here are some images of the corsages and boutonnieres which completed her order. The corsage wristlets I ordered didn't exactly work. They were too loose and so I emailed Kirsten to see if she wanted the ugly cheap looking elastic wristbands or if she wanted to try doing ribbon corsages (Kirsten - I hope your family doesn't read my blog!) Anyway, we decided to go with ribbon corsages. I think it will look really nice and really bring out the rich chocolate browns. The corsages and boutonnieres are different, some red and some orange, but they all look beautiful and uses the flowers and elements that were in the bouquets.

I'm so glad to finally get another BIG order out the door. My target for the centerpieces to ship is Tuesday so I have a lot to get done....

Best Wishes to you Kirsten and your hubby-to-be!

DK Designs Clay Floral Centerpieces

I have to say, I've been working so much on flowers the last month that my elbow and wrist are starting to tell me something.... Don't take 8-9 wedding orders in one month! LOL.... I wanted to share some photos of my work in progress for my first official large centerpiece order since I was featured on Martha Stewart. This particular client saw my Victorian Elegance pieces and really liked the urn style vase. She said she has some black lanterns and so we decided upon these large black ceramic resin urns. They are 12" tall! Jennifer is using these centerpieces as her decor for the church as well as for the memory table at her reception.

The photos show light yellow really large roses - 25-30 petals each and creamy ivory peonies with that golden yellow fringe center. The photo actually has all the flowers that will go into 2 centerpieces, just to give you an idea of the scale. There will be green hydrangeas, orange-yellow tulips, red orchids and some green bells of Ireland. I think by the time it is done, this arrangement may measure 16 inches and will be 4 sided!