Ho Ho Holy Cow! Holiday Parties are Back!

And this one was Comcastic! I am so glad Holiday Parties are back - especially ones that are ready for something fun and different. I was so excited when this client gave me the freedom to design something slightly retro with a touch of mid-century inspiration - in Pink and Orange! Yay Christmas! Sofia Negron spent the day with me as I made final touches and snapped a few shots for us.

Above an amoeba shaped seating sections we decked the hall with some hanging circles and spheres...I can't decide which I like better... the trees or the balls!

Erika and Ryan | September 25, 2010

I have been having such a fun Fall - that I am yet again behind in blogging! But I got a really sweet note from Erika. She and Ryan got their Wedding Trailer from Glen Elliott this past week and she passed it along for me to check out. I have a lot to say about their day- I had the opportunity to do both the flowers as well as the wedding coordinating for their wedding at the National Constitution Center...but the details on that will have to wait until tomorrow. In the meantime, check out their trailer and a few of the detail shots below!

Erika + Ryan Wedding Trailer- The National Constitution Center, Philadelphia PA from Glen Elliott on Vimeo.

Susan and Rudy from Wellington Studio were Erika's official photographers for the wedding - they did a beautiful job. Here is just a taste of their fabulous work (more to follow!)

 

 

 

 

And as many of you know, while I am a great florist - I am a terrible photographer. So I asked my friend Ann Marie Casey to come by and get a few detail shots for me. Here are a couple - and you can see more in the slide show over to the right!

Stacie and Zach | October 23, 2010

I love it when I get photos and videos back! Check out this preview video from Stacie and Zach's Wedding this past  October 23rd. She sent the link with this really nice note:

"I just want to thank you again for everything you did for our wedding!  The flowers and centerpieces were beautiful, and the stair decor had everyone buzzing. 

For our honeymoon, we went to a spa whose toiletries were all rosemary scented- the smell of rosemary will always bring back memories of our wedding day, since it was in my bouquet and Zach's boutonniere!  All day long we kept getting whiffs of it :) 

Here's a highlight video from our special day, Enjoy!

Thanks again,

Stacie"
Zach and Stacie - National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA from Jacob W Schroeder on Vimeo.

Open House: The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Philadelphia

You know you have passed it a million times - maybe even paid more attention to it since our friends in City Hall have installed the red light cameras at it's intersection - yes, The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Philadelphia. My friends at Culinary Concepts are hosting an Open House this Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.and Campbell Studios is pleased to be doing the flowers! If you are downtown take an early lunch break and check it out! Not only will there be great food but you can take a tour of the Temple (one at 12:00 p.m. and another at 1:00 p.m.) and learn all of it's secrets....well some of them anyway! Click here for more information about the event including deals on parking etc.

We all know I am not such a great photographer... but here's a quick shot from my iPhone...

Here are a couple shots from another event we did together - Thanks Kevin York Photography! 

 What kind of secrets you may ask...well how about this fun fact: The History of the Poinsettia is attributed to a Master Mason  - Joel Roberts Poinsett!

Whoa! Yep that's a corsage!

So while I was cleaning up my photos and getting ready to catch up on all the events we have had over the late summer/fall - I couldn't resist a post with me sporting this mammoth corsage! It is almost the size of my head! I do a lot of non-profit coordination for schools in addition to the wedding coordinating. At the end of October I was working with Malvern Prep for their Alumni Awards Ceremony and Homecoming Weekend. These corsages were made by Matlack Florist in West Chester for all of the moms who had a Senior playing in one of the games. (Lucky for me someone couldn't make it!)

Seriously, I got three calls asking where we got them - the big corsage trend is back!
Go Friars!

Pretty Please...Touch....

I have had some really fun weddings this season at the Please Touch Museum - it was a delight to be there again for their latest Open House. Sofia Negron had a table set up there too, so we had a fun time chatting it up with the ladies. I love to see the newly engaged couples with their families, so fresh in the process - exploring all their options. I did the design for my two tables backwards this time and took the cloths into consideration first. Meet gorgeous number one and gorgeous number two:

 

Once I had those it was off to the market - I selected what was freshest and most conducive to the linens. Then there was the design...Sofia had pointed out to me one time that it seems like my thing was 'collections.' I had never really noticed this - but now I was painfully aware that given free reign I cram a lot into the center of the table. So I like a lot to look at sometimes! Maybe if more gals felt this way I wouldn't have to feed the compulsion every open house!

I digress - so I said "don't worry - no collections this time!" but low and behold these new silver foiled container arrived and I just had to do it!

  

 And this was not meant to be a "Fall" display - but it sure would be a lovely option for the season...

 

 And I am still applying for that job as Sofia's assistant: 

Mitzvah Market !

It has been a crazy Fall - I can not wait to post some of the beautiful Summer/Fall weddings and finally get caught up on blogging! I got a beautiful CD from Ann Marie Casey Photography which has some gorgeous detail shots (if I must say so myself!) They will be posted soon! I met her for the first time when she was shooting Jacob Berger's Bar Mitzvah earlier  season. She dropped me an email to let me know that she submitted the event to the blog "Mitzvah Market" and they posted her coverage of the event - and they came along with some pretty nice kudos to Campbell Studios...Thank You Anne Marie and Mitzvah Market!

Just in time for Halloween: The Bat Orchid

I swung by the flower market yesterday to pick up a few extra things & ran into their Dutch flower buyer - he was so excited about the Tacca Chantrieri Black Orchid that has recently hit the market, and I can see why! I was so psyched when he gave me one as a treat to take home! (Which I totally did! So the image below is from the web until I can decide what to make with it...it's just so pretty all on it's own!)


These things are putting the spring in everyone's step... I was at another wholesaler today who couldn't wait to see if I got the gift he sent - yep - a few Tacca Chantrieri! I feel so lucky, this is like Christmas! I can only imagine this was the first week they became available considering all the buzz.


The Tacca have a long stem with a deep chocolate color similar to the Chocolate Cosmo, long dangling whiskers and these outer wings that hold smaller petite blossoms within...so cool! While they are a little on the pricey side...they have a long life as a fresh cut, so they are well worth it! But they will have some limited availability, so if you are as hot to trot about these as I am, just give me advanced notice to bring them in for you!

It's happening!

It looks like we are on the slippery slope to digging out our cars from 18" of snow and pining for our "Vacation of a Lifetime." Pack up the flip-flops, say 'good bye' to Lily Pulitzer. I peeked out my apartment window this morning and it is official. Fall has arrived!

But along with great sorry comes hope...gorgeous Dahlias, lovely textured berries, vines and branches are arriving into the flower market for the new season. It's like celebrating a Birthday or Christmas when I go buying - there is always something new. Seeing them is as if old friends are back and I can't wait to dive into designing Fall.

I love an Open House!

It has been a crazy week but I take every chance I get to help out the NCC and Max and Me Catering when they have a showcase for prospective brides. They send me a list of all their rentals and linens for the tables, and ask me to design a complimentary arrangement.

Sofia wasn't available, so I took these shots with my new iPhone that my sister got me for my birthday. While it does have a flash; these images are just validate my resolve that while I am a good florist - but a terrible photographer!

Spring was on a Antique Violet linen and a sleek sliver container was requested:

Summer was on a soft peach linen and modern black containers were requested:

Fall was a twist on the regular harvest theme and a copper/bronze yet retro container was suggested. I went classic - that's retro right?

And Winter threw me through a loop - they asked for lanterns and mine are white/silver...but they had gold accents on the table settings. So I just went for it & I think the overall look ended up pretty romantic!

ISES: Networking at Octo Lounge

I have been slacking on my networking these days - but now that the trips and get-a-ways have waned I thought I would catch up with my friends at ISES. The monthly meeting was held last night at Octo Waterfront Grille on Delaware Avenue. I am not sure how I missed this patio summer hang out - but the food was plentiful, tasty and the company delightful. I got a chance to catch up with Gal pals Sofia (Sofia Negron Photography) and Gretchen McHale (World Cafe Live). Sofia is doing great - she recently moved to NYC but don't fear! She is still booking Philly weddings! (I'll post out latest together at the Rittenhouse ASAP!) Gretchen is planning a wedding of her own - this event was the debut of her super cool custom designed wedding ring!

Basically these are industry events where we get to mix, mingle and catch up with other "events" people to swap ideas, share tips and hopefully get a little business out of it. Occasionally, there are people whom I have run into at these things but we don't get to spend any quality time together.

Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff is one of them. She is a professional Tarot Reader & Company of Psychics. Yes that's correct. Apparently, Gretchen is an acquaintance of hers and has multiple readings. All of which she says were "relevant and insightful." How could I resist hearing about my possible destiny when Marilyn's business card is a virtual mullet - all business in the front and Tarot on the back! The flip side of my card showcased this image:

Yikes! I have to admit I was quite curious to hear what my card was going to tell me & was totally glamoured by Marilyn when she spoke. I couldn't really remember all of the details that she shared but here are the basics - with the added note that this change in my life is going to happen on the first...the first of what she couldn't say...:

"Those who pull this card in a reading are in for an incredible adventure. This card marks the beginning of a new direction - particularly in matters of creativity.This card is calls loudest to artists, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and those seeking to set out on a new creative path. To them, it is the "green light" card - a sign of positive encouragement, a signal to go for gusto! in their endeavors. The ace of wands Tarot card meaning is all about taking our internal creative fire in hand and holding it out for the entire world to see. Now is our time to spread our warmth, passion, and vision to others."

Wow! I am so psyched for the 1st!