Just a little Pretty....

I stalked Ann Marie until she took these pictures of this little Fritillaria arrangement I made before we left a party she hosted at her gallery. Now, some people say they have a funky scent, and yes, most fritillaries contain poisonous alkaloids - but they are so darn pretty!

October Featured Artist: Shari Sikora

Great Florist - Terrible Blogger....but as I catch up and try to my posts I am pouring over the gorgeous images that photographers have so graciously emailed me I don't think I have taken the time to brag about the local artists that I like to include in my designs. So let me take a moment and introduce Clay Artist Shari Sikora.

Her artist statement starts out "I am an artist; it’s not what I do, but simply who I am and always have been." and it is so true. What she "Does" and how I met her is via Valley Press Inc. (a family owned custom pre-press, printing and finishing company I use in Bala Cynwd, PA. where she creates amazing designs and keeps me coming back because she reads my mind - especially when I lose my nouns.)

But I digress! Here is what she really does...

What she is, is an amazing artist who creates wonderful pieces in clay & uses the Raku method of firing. Ironically Raku means "enjoyment" or "ease" - which fits in perfectly since she says that "from the first day she touched clay she loved it."

You have seen her work in a number of shots (courtesy of AMC) where I used her fridge magnets as place setting decor. I have pretty much stalked her shows to purchase all the teal and gold flower button magnets. Each one is unique with vintage button centers she has lovingly selected from her mother's extensive (and I mean huge yet meticulously organized) collection. In addition to the local craft shows, you can see Shari's work regularly at the Potters Guild as well as Earth & State in Media, PA.

Support local art! Buy some pottery today!

Unpublished Gem No.1: IVC Open House March 2011

I miss you so much! Here is another post that got 1/2 way done before I got distracted by beautiful flowers and lovely brides...way back on...OMG! March 16th! Yikes! I am feeling some particular stress since we just wrapped up the October Open House at the IVC & I am worried AMC will hold the new images hostage! (Just kidding ...sort of...) Anyway check out these unpublished gems...

Ann Marie Casey (AMC) has been a busy photographer, here are a few real shots from our previously mentioned Open House at the Independence Visitor's Center (IVC) below. Check out the slides show to the right for more details. During set up she was 'yelling' at me to stop...I thought I had her behind schedule, but really she said "...I kept giving her too many things to shoot!" I met a lot of super cute brides at this event and booked 3 weddings! (which by now I am sure I should be posting their pics!)

 

You know how I like to rock out a "Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall" theme for open houses not only because I like to torture myself by trying to find out of season flowers but because it give visiting guests an idea of what their wedding could look like depending on when they get married! 

Winter

 

 Spring

 

Summer

Fall

Thank You IVC for showcasing the Grand Hall, Liberty Ballroom and Terrace, Brulee Catering for the delish dishes...

 ....and Isgro's Paticceria for my cake fix!

Blog Gem: 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show | Campbell Studios Presents

Amazing Spring Events = Beautiful Parties > No Social Media ~ Where did Spring go?! 

I have to admit I was feeling so on top of technology - I had a whirl wind of Facebooking, Twittering, LinkedIn and Blogging...then I got my hands dirty....I started this post in May and now it's the middle of June August September October! How does everyone do it?!

There have been so many great events, lovely brides and fun projects - lets start with one previously unpublished gem of a posting that was super fun: Campbell Studios presents at the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS set up a round platform presentation area where different designers/floral artists from the area were invited to give a demo for a few hours.

The Philadelphia International Flower Show 2011was March 6 - 13th where "Springtime in Paris" had everyone itching for a sign of warmer days. I had the opportunity to 'present' in the Designer Showcase. I invited Ann Marie (AMC Photography) to come and capture Kristie and I in action.

 Now, while I am not short of opinions and my 'Girl Friday' Kristie knows more flower names than I do after 20 years in the business - we don't actually like to be onstage. (Or on camera for that matter - so AMC had to go undercover.) So we transformed the round stage that we were supposed to speak from and turned it into the platform for the flowers and we mixed and mingles with the crowd!
We had so much fun!

 

Our plan was to give people a tip that they can take and actually do themselves. Something that they could go home, try & say with pride "I made that!" I filled my garden trolley up with my personal collection of vintage containers, ash trays, vases and buckets so I could show people how to design in regular containers - things they may already have.
All we needed was a rubberband to make these people feel like Martha Stewart!

 

And we were worried no one would come see us...we were wrong!
People were taking notes!

 We were nervous at first, but had a really great time! See you next year! XOXO Kristie & Judith

We gave away these little DIY Tip Sheets - I just know everyone ran home and tried their hands at floral design when they went home!

Cocktails and Connection: The Knot |The Bump

Campbell Studios was so psyched when Mark Kingsdorf of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants asked us to be the Floral Sponsor for last nights sold out industry networking event held at The Please Touch Museum (PTM) by The Knot. Kim Rifici (Catering & Facility Senior Sales Manager for Max and Me Catering at the PTM) and I had such a fun time picking the rentals out to compliment Mark's "Speak Easy/1920's Art Deco Party" theme inspiration. We started with the linens that Nancy Bauman from Gala Cloths provided and it all started to come together. 

When guests entered the South Foyer, they were greeted with an Art Deco vibe..the Pluto Linen dressed the tables here and Campbell Studios used all silver toned containers in sleek designs. When I look at all the vintage wedding portraits I have collected from that time period, (aside from the masses of Plumosus Fern!) I think of classic flowers such as Baby's Breath, Chrysanthemums, Gardenias and Roses. I also think of those gorgeous Max Leverrier Deco Lamps. So as a homage to the 20's we made giant Baby's Breath spheres on trumpet vases, tulips in stylized tulip vases and roses/gardenias here and there. Ann Marie Casey was attending and graciously shot a couple set up pics for us...Thank You AMC!

The white furniture from Dave Buckley from AFR kept the design grounded and Ellen Diamond Williamson from On Q Productions Inc. highlighted all the details with her fabulous lighting team. Shutterbooth gave everyone a chance to capture the moment with complimentary photo booth fun.

When guests moved on from cocktails into Hamilton Hall we flowed from "Deco" to "Speak Easy." Bentwood chairs added just the right touch to the Waldorf Damask linens...we finished them off with cigar boxes, vintage books and ferns (I had to get the ferns in there somewhere!)

Carmen Tomassetti and the CTO Artists rocked the house while Dave Williams of CinemaCake captured it all on film for the evening! Susan Beard Photography was the official Photographer Sponsor - stay tuned for their event images!

Brian Toner from Eventions kept all the sponsors logos rolling on his video screens - like ours which recently made its debut:

Everyone wrapped up the evening with coffee that Marci Mathis from Maui Wowi provided and my favorite food group cake by Esgro's Pasticceria in the Carousel House.Thank you everyone for making this event so exciting to produce and attend!

Style Me Pretty | Kate and Luke SMP Featured Wedding

How ironic that I sit down to catch the Campbell Studios Blog up on all the fun we have been having this summer only to find that one of my favorite sites "Style Me Pretty" picked up the submission CinemaCake and BUPhotography submitted of Kate and Luke's wedding this past May! They were one of the last posts I wrote, what a great way to start the week!

Campbell Studios did all of the Event Design and Wedding Coordination - it was such a pleasure to pull together Kate and Luke's personal sense of style for their big day! From Kate's gorgeous Junko Yoshioka gown to the long reception tables (a first at the Union League!) filled with all white open Peonies, Hydrangea and Roses - the wedding had details specific to them at each turn.

You can check out the wonderful write up by Mallory by clicking "Style Me Pretty Little Black Book" and check out more of Bernadette's images from the wedding by checking out the "Style Me Pretty - Bridal Inspirations." If you have a minute to add a comment I would love to know what you think, and any activity keeps Kate and Luke visible so more people like you can check it out!

Katy Goodman | The Please Touch Museum

Katy and Jeff  found me via Sofia Negron - their photographer, and we hit it off from the start! The Wedding and Reception were both held at The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Various shades of reds made up the color pallet - all developing from the 'Red Majestic' callas in her bouquet...(which ended up not being as red as anticipated; but a call earlier in the week to the bride to talk about color assured all that it would balance out the red bridesmaids perfectly - and it did!) The colors flowed through the event beautifully. 

The silver foiled containers gave consistency to both the centerpiece designs, while the red napkins brought the signature color to the edge of the table.

I love the way Sofia catches moments like this, when you are not looking at the camera - but are truly in the moment..

 Check out more of Sofia's details in this sneak peak slideshow below!

 

(Thank You Sofia!)

Kate & Luke | Union League of Philadelphia

Here's a little sweet treat from Cinemacake; the trailer from Kate and Luke's wedding. Just like cake - I always want more! Jimmy & John were such great shooters, I can not wait to see the whole film!

Dunigan-Breslin Trailer from CinemaCake Filmmakers on Vimeo.

This was also the first time I had the pleasure to work with Bernadette from BUPhotography. She was a sheer delight & so much fun. Here is a sneak peak from her...

Campbell Studios had the pleasure of doing the event design, floral decor and coordination for Kate and Luke. The ceremony was at Old St. Joseph's and the reception was at the Union League where Abby Kanak and her amazing staff took care of every guests needs. Everyone rocked out to Chico's Vibe, who read the crowd and rocked the house. All of the printed materials were done my one of my favorites Kramer Drive.
I can barley stand waiting for Bernadette to finish up with the Photos! Stay tuned for more...!

It is a cruel April 1st!

Quick Pics from the Independence Visitor Center Wedding Open House | 3.16.2011

Thank you so much for inviting Campbell Studios to the open house last night! Michelle (Max and Me Catering) and Roshni (Liberty View Ballroom) introduced me to some very lovely people with upcoming floral needs! Ann Marie Casey was there (and on twitter now too @annmariecasey) so I can't wait to see her take on the tables. More details to follow when the images are available!

(This one was my favorite...)

Yep, there's those gorgeous Kramer Drive printed materials again - yet 

they look so different with this combo!