DIY Flower Supply Checklist

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There are tons of great DIY Flower Tips out there!  But not all of them lay out the tools clearly!  This week's blog is to help you with the supplies you need to get start on your own DIY project!

Remember, for all of these, you need to make sure you have set aside some time!  One of the things you are paying for when you hire someone is their time in doing the work - so before you get started on a DIY project, make sure you have carved out enough time to complete it!

That said, here are some basic items you will need for various DIY flower projects (along with some links to get you started)!  Much of these are very similar, but each item is listed for the various projects as needed so you can skip to the checklist that applies to you!

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1. A Centerpiece 

You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)
- flowers
- greenery
- a design
- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)
- oasis (floral foam) and/or a plastic lining to line the container if it is not waterproof
- water
- scissors or gardening shears
- floral tape (green or clear, depending on if your final container is glass or not)
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags

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2.  A Bouquet 
You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)
- flowers
- greenery
- a design
- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)
- (note: a friend to hold the bouquet while you make it is very helpful!  If you are working alone, you can always set it in a clear glass vase to get an idea as to how it looks from all sides)
- scissors or gardening shears
- water
- floral tape
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags
- ribbon
- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon around the bouquet)

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3. A Flower Basket

You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers don't wilt)
- flowers
- greenery
- a design
- a basket
- a bucket or sink to hold the flowers in water while you make the bouquet (also out of the sun and cool, so the flowers don't wilt)
- oasis (floral foam) and/or a plastic lining to line the basket as needed
- water
- scissors or gardening shears
- floral tape (green or clear, depending on the color of your basket and if it will be visible per your design)
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags
- ribbon (as needed for your design)
- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon to the basket as needed for your design)

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4. A Potted Dish Garden 
You will need:
- a clean counter or table-top to work that is out of direct sunlight and cool (so the flowers and plants don't wilt)
- potted flowers
- potted plants
- potting soil
- a design
- stones or other decorative items as per your design
- a basket or dish to use as the potted garden
- a plastic lining to line the basket or dish as needed
- water
- scissors or gardening shears
- floral tape
- floral wire
- towels (paper or cloth to clean up spills)
- trash bin or trash bags
- ribbon (as needed for your design)
- hot glue and/or straight pins (for securing the ribbon to the basket or dish as needed for your design)

Before starting a DIY project, make sure to check these lists so you can be sure to enjoy creating a beautiful floral piece without being caught up to your elbows in flowers only to find you are missing something!  Don't forget to follow here for more DIY tips as well!

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

An Open Letter To Brides-To-Be

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Dear Bride-To-Be,

This is not your standard letter of congratulations. Though I do wish you the biggest congratulations!!

And it is not a checklist of things to do before your big day (although those are all extremely helpful!).

This is to you, yes, you.  If you are a Bride who is currently navigating through Bridal magazines and Facebook Groups and following the latest trends and Pantone colors - this is to tell you that your wedding is not the latest in keeping up with the Joneses.

While this might seem like something unusual coming from a wedding vendor, as we are supposed to be so interested in inflating your budget, this is to tell you that is not how it is supposed to be.

Your wedding should be about you, and your love, and the start of a new life together.

It sounds so easy to say, but it really is!

At the end of the day, it will have mostly been a blur, and all you will have are the photographs and few memories.  But what is most important is that you will be married and on the beginning of one of the greatest adventures of your life.

And that is all that really matters.  

For what it is worth coming from me, please don't hold any aspect of your wedding up to any standard other than "is it something that makes you happy?"

Because, in the end, the day really is about you and your love. And the people coming should be people who support that and would be as happy for you at an afternoon picnic as they would in the grand ballroom of a Paris hotel.

Maybe this does not apply to you reading this.  And if so, that is wonderful!

But if it does, just know that all of us - your caterer and your wedding planner and your photographer and your dress seller and your DJ and your florist - those of us really on your side, are all about making the day special for you!  And having it be the day you always dreamed about!!

Post in FB groups and ask questions.  But, please, don't ask the internet if your chosen colors are "right" or if your bouquet has the "correct" flowers.  

If you are working with a designer, or venue planner, or stylist or makeup artist (or florist), get their professional opinion if you want it.  Just don't forget that it is your day.  And if you want evergreen-themed centerpieces in July, or pink and gold in January, and you can find someone who can do it for you, or you can DIY it, within your realistic budget, go for it!  

There are no "Wedding Police" who will monitor if your silk flowers came from France or a Dollar Store, or from a florist.

I am happy to help with any flower questions!  You can always comment here or message my FB page.

Your day is about you and your love.

Never lose sight of that!

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

5 Things To Do With Flowers Now That Spring Is Here

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With Spring officially here, the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming!  While it's the perfect time to start keeping fresh flowers in your home, here are 5 other things to do with flowers now that the days are longer and the sun is warm and bright!

1. Start a flower garden

Now is the perfect time to till that soil and get those seedlings started.  Better Homes and Gardens has some great tips for getting a flower garden going, so what better time to select that part of the yard you have always been neglecting and fill it with some colorful flowers?  (Plus it is a great way to support bees!).  Don't live in a home with a yard?  A DIY window planter is a perfect way to wake up to fresh blooming flowers all summer long!

2. Go for a nature walk

We don't always notice, but most plants actually flower before they become green and leafy for summer.  That tree pollen has to come from somewhere!  So spend an afternoon on a nature walk and take the time to enjoy the tiny flowers blooming on the edges of the branches, in bushes and on the ground.  This is also a great way to go butterfly sighting, or watch the busy bees do their work!

3. Make a flower salad

Martha Stewart never fails with this amazing flower salad recipe.  While there are tons of edible flower recipes out there, see if you can come up with your own ways to include these edible beauties into your favorite recipes. 

4. Enjoy some floral ice pops

That's right - ice pops made with edible flowers and herbs.  Mix it up with some lavender mint or maybe add a splash of lemon to some rosemary and rose petals for a colorful and refreshing sugar-free treat when the sun starts to heat up!  

5. Embrace essential oils

Did you know that lavender oil is a natural way to combat headaches and even anxiety?  So while you're out there soaking up nature's sunshine, cool off with some lavender lemonade, or try a few drops in a relaxing bath at the end of a long day, or mix a teeny, tiny touch into a cup of earl grey tea in the morning.  Want to start off cool?  Pour the tea over a cup of ice after it has been sweetened (keep a metal spoon in the cup with ice so it doesn't crack when the hot tea is poured in) and enjoy a flowery sweet tea with your breakfast!

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

10 Kittens That Remind Us That We Can Do Anything

Sometimes I think the world just needs more kittens.

Like this one

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Or this one

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Because we all know some days we just want to be here

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And sometimes our daily life just feels like

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If we just try a LITTLE harder, we know we can do it!

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Even if we can't just get through life being cute

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Once we figure out where we are going

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Nothing can stand in our way!

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Sometimes we just need a friend

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But no matter what - we can do it!

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Just remember - you can do the thing!

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<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

DIY Flower Design

While it is always nice to have a professionally done arrangement of flowers, sometimes it is fun to do it yourself!

Follow these five tips for fantastic flowers made by you:

1. Pick your colors 

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When picking colors for a centerpiece, follow these tips.  It is really nice to pick complementary colors within the design, with a few pops of an accent color.

2. Pick your flowers

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You can always get plain flowers from a florist by the stem, or at your local grocery store.  

Find ones that fit within the color spectrum you selected in Step 1.

3. Find the flower's "face"

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Each flower has a direction it grew in, usually where the sun was the most during it's growth.  That is the "face" of the flower.

If your design is going to face a specific direction, you want to make sure the faces of the flowers are facing in the direction of your design.  If this is a circle, you would ensure they all face outward.  If this is a piece that will go against a wall or perhaps sit on the corner of a desk, you want to make sure the flowers all face towards the person that will be looking at them.

4. Spread out the colors  

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Make sure the colors you select are spread out throughout the design, with carefully clustered similar flowers that still spread out the colors throughout the arrangement.  You want to make sure it doesn't look polka-dotted, and yet at the same time, there is a nice variety of flowers throughout your piece.

Give your design one final look-over, filling in any holes as needed with leaves or additional blooms.

5. Finishing touches  

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For a final touch, add a small bow or piece of ribbon around the bottom of your design, either in a complementary color, or as an accent piece. 

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, or want to share any additional tips for DIY floral design!

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Designs by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!

Stop & Smell The Roses

image: Custom Design by Flower Design by Bridget

It's March - well, early March.  Which means that Spring is just around the corner and Winter is just starting to finally fall behind us.  We are soon to be past the months with the least amount of sunshine and resultant winter gloom that effects many people.  Spring is coming, as proven by the flowers that start to show their beautiful faces.  And the time comes when we can actually, literally, stop and smell the roses.

Did you know that while this does have the figurative meaning of taking time to appreciate the beauty in life and not rush past all the wonderful moments, actually smelling roses has been thought to have health benefits dating all the way back to Ancient Persia?

Rose oil has been known as everything from an antidepressant to an aphrodisiac over the ages, with multiple uses in between 

Roses can also be used in a wide variety of recipes!  While burying your nose in the soft petals and breathing in their sweet scent can be soothing all on its own, you can actually get food-grade roses for everything from custard to cupcakes!  (How's that for the perfect touch to a garden party?!).  And if you are feeling particularly adventurous, you could make a whole menu from edible flower ingredients! 

My personal favorite though, is working roses into a bouquet, or specially designed arrangement where the roses are accented by maybe sunflowers or tulips, or the roses themselves are the accent, bringing a touch of class to a simpler design.  Then there is always the simple bouquet of a dozen roses all by themselves.  

We know that the color of a rose can have many different meanings.  Red of course means "I love you" and communicates passion.  Meanwhile pink is a softer more friendly liking, good for a gift for a daughter or friend or for a younger couple.  White means purity,as always.  And yellow is the color of friendship.  So while we are waiting for the Earth to spin just a little bit closer to the sun, and for the long days of Winter to finally, fully give way to the Spring, make sure you stop and smell the roses.  And share some of the rose love.  Be it for a lover, partner, friend (or even for yourself!), give your nose a relaxing treat with the scent of a fresh rose!

Or, if you are feeling adventurous, give your taste buds a treat with a rose-themed dish! 

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Design by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!   

Three Months Later...

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It is hard to believe that Flower Design by Bridget has now been open for almost 3 months!  It seems like just yesterday Facebook, Twitter and Google+ were getting set up, I was blogging about opening my shop, and our website was going live.

It has been a whirlwind, with floods of orders for Christmas and Valentine's Day, and lots of repeat customers in between.  Honestly, those are the best because it means that I was able to create something for them that meant enough to come back.  

I know I am not the only flower shop in Clearwater, but as I said in my first blog, my first boss told me that every arrangement needs to be special.  While it is one thing to copy a mass-popular cut-and-paste bouquet, it takes a little something extra to make the flowers a special message between people.  Because that is really what it is all about.   

That's why I make sure to have "Designers Choice" options, and why I work with my customers to make sure that if you are looking for something for someone important in your life, the flowers are as amazing as they are.  This is in addition to the pre-designed options, as sometimes you might want to pick something - but even these are carefully hand-arranged, because there is no point in sticking flowers in a vase like a robot. 

Being from Europe, I also curated some select gifts to offer in my shop, for when you need more than just flowers, or when you want to send something to someone who maybe has allergies or prefers something aside from flowers.  Things like KOBO soy candles:  domestically grown, pure soy wax and lead-free, enviro-safe cotton wicks that come is a special recycled cardboard box with seeds in it that you can soak and plant (everything from flowers to vegetables)!  I also keep small-batch European soaps and Woodstock wind chimes, which go really nicely with a potted flower option.  I do this because it is one thing to put flowers in a vase or copy a picture, and another to make sure that each piece that leaves the shop is special, and has room for details and extras that make it unique. 

Looking back now after these last few months, I just wanted to say "Thank You" to everyone who has followed along on my adventure of opening up shop, and who has played a part in my dream of sharing my passion and love for what I do.

<3

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Bridget is the proud Owner of Flower Design by Bridget, bringing European Certification and 20 years experience to Pinellas County, Florida, where she lives with her husband (Air Force, Ret.) and two children.  When she is not in her shop, you will find her enjoying a cup of Roiboos tea with her family and several cats and dogs (including one named Daisy).  While the holiday greens and decorations of December are her favorite, she looks forward to bringing you sunshine and smiles through flowers all year round!