Studio B Floral's Blog

Minneapolis Institute of Art's - Art in Bloom

2011-02-22T16:30:00.001-06:00

I am excited to again be participating in Art in Bloom at the Art Institute. I've selected my art piece, so now I am thinking about all the fun things I can do to interpret it in flowers.

Hot Colors for a Hot Day!

2010-05-29T20:48:00.009-05:00

A sneak peek into tomorrow's bright and beautiful wedding.

Bride's Bouquet

Bridesmaid's Bouquet

Corsage

Boutonniere

2010-05-29T20:45:00.002-05:00

and the bridesmaids bouquet that went with it

Herbs make the bouquet!

2010-05-29T20:40:00.002-05:00

I wanted to get a couple picture up from recent weddings.
I hope to get some professional photos, but until then...

This is a bouquet that I did for a Bride getting married in the Herb garden at the Arboretum. I used quite a few different herbs and it smelled wonderful!

The Best Wedding of 2009

2010-04-04T16:33:00.008-05:00

I did the flowers for my sister-in-law's wedding in May 0f 2009. Amy has helped me create floral designs since I started Studio B, so it was great to finally get to do the flowers for her wedding. We had been planning the flowers for quite a while and they were a lot of fun to do.

Photos by Christopher Shaffner

More Favorites from Last Year!

2010-04-04T16:06:00.010-05:00

Another wonderful July 2009 wedding. Thank you to Calvin and Cheree for letting me get creative and use some bright colors. Your wedding was so much fun for me. Isn't this bright and fun!?!

These are Photographs by Michele. Thank you Michele for providing the beautiful photos.

Favorites from last year!

2010-04-04T15:48:00.008-05:00

I am terrible at keeping up on my BLOG. So, I promise that I will try to get better at updating it this year.

The 2010 wedding season is here, so I thought I would post a few pics from a couple of my favorite weddings from last year before we start this year.

Thank you to Kayla and Josh for letting me be a part of their July 2009 wedding!
The following pictures were taken by Kage Imagery, who are awesome. I highly recommend them for their creative edge over other photographers as well as how nice they are to work with too!

Beautiful Romantic Wedding

2009-09-01T09:45:00.006-05:00

I just had to get a few photos up of the wedding from last weekend. The bride created this wonderful romantic backyard wedding. Here are some of the flowers that Studio B created for them.

2009-08-24T16:54:00.001-05:00

Studio B Floral Designs on Facebook

Orange Infusion

2009-07-27T09:17:00.003-05:00

I did flowers for a wedding a couple weeks ago that used the most beautiful mix of orange florals. I hope to get some professional pictures with the Bridesmaids etc, since the whole wedding was this great vibrant bright orange color. It was a really fun wedding to create floral designs for.

Longer Lasting Flower Fun

2009-07-24T16:24:00.001-05:00

Quality:

All Florists do not process flowers the same way. At Studio B Floral Designs, we take every precaution required by the Society of American Florists' Chain of Life program while processing your flowers to ensure that they are fresh and will last as long as possible after your event. You can feel confident that Studio B Floral arrangements will bring you and your guests enjoyment long after your event.

Tips for Longer Flower Fun

Allow newly bought flowers, still in their wrapping, to drink clean fresh water for awhile.
Make sure the flowers are put into a clean vase.
You will enjoy your flowers longer if you feed them cut-flower food. Make sure you accurately measure the amount.
Before arranging the flowers in a vase, first cut off one inch from each stem while holding it under water.
Stems should never be broken off or flattened - not even "woody stems". Scraping off the bark is also a fallacy.
Leaves should never be covered by water. They will only make it dirty and this will shorten the lives of the flowers.
Top off the vase regularly with clean fresh water.
During nighttime, flowers will benefit from a lower thermostat setting.
Flowers cannot stand direct sunlight and drafts.
Daffodils can be deadly to other flowers because they secrete a sap into the water. After trimming them, leave them on their own for 20 minutes. Do not cut them again when combining with other flowers.

Floral Meanings

2009-07-24T15:55:00.000-05:00

Language of Flowers

As society slows down to "smell the roses", the meaning of flowers become more important to individuals as they plan to give flowers or while planning an event.

Use the following information to help you choose your next flowers:

• Acacia - Secret love; chaste love; beauty in retirement; elegance; friendship; hope
• Acorn - Nordic symbol of life and immortality
• Agapanthus - Love letters
• Allspice - Compassion
• Almond Blossom - Hope; lover's charm
• Aloe - Grief
• Alstroemeria - Devotion; friendship
• Alyssum - Worth beyond beauty
• Ambrosia - Love returned
• Amaranth - Fidelity
• Amaranth, Globe - Unchangeable
• Amaryllis - Pride; Timidity; splendid beauty
• Anemone - Unfading love; truth; sincerity; anticipation; forsaken; fading hope
• Angelica - Inspiration
• Aniseed - Restoration of youth
• Apple blossom - Preference; good fortune
• Arbor Vitae - True friendship
• Arbutus - Thee only do I love
• Artemisia - Dignity
• Aster - Love; daintiness
• Azalea - Take care of yourself for me, fragile passion, temperance, Chinese symbol of womanhood

• Bachelor's Buttons - Celibacy; single blessedness; hope in love
• Baby's Breath - Everlasting love; happiness; pure in heart
• Basil - Best Wishes; Love
• Bay Leaf - Strength
• Begonia - Beware
• Bells Of Ireland - Good luck
• Bird Of Paradise - Magnificence
• Bittersweet - Truth
• Bluebell - Humility; constancy
• Borage - Courage
• Bouquet of withered flowers - Rejected love
• Burnet - A merry heart
• Buttercup - Cheerfulness; childishness; riches

• Cactus - Endurance; warmth; grandeur
• Calendula - Joy
• Camellia - Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man; loveliness
• Camellia (Pink) - Longing for you
• Camellia (Red) - You're a flame in my heart
• Camellia (White) - You're adorable
• Candytuft - Indifference
• Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; alas for my poor heart
• Carnation (pink) - I'll never forget you
• Carnation (purple) - Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable
• Carnation (red) - My heart aches for you; admiration
• Carnation (solid colour) -Yes
• Carnation (striped)- No; refusal; sorry I can't be with you; wish I could be with you
• Carnation (white) -Sweet and lovely; innocence; pure love; woman's good luck gift
• Carnation (yellow) - You have disappointed me; Rejection; disdain
• Cattail - Peace; prosperity
• Cedar - I live for thee; think of me
• Chamomile - Patience ; attracts wealth
• Chysanthemum (in general) - Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend
• Chysanthemum (red) - I love
• Chysanthemum (white) - Truth
• Chysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love
• Cinnamon - My fortune is yours
• Clover (four-leaf) - Good luck; be mine
• Columbine - Folly
• Coreopsis - Always cheerful
• Cornflower - Delicacy; refinement
• Coriander - Lust
• Cowslip - Pensiveness; winning grace
• Coxcomb - Foppery
• Crocus - Cheerfulness; abuse not; joy
• Cyclamen - Resignation and goodbye
• Clover - Good luck

• Daffodil - Respect; regard; unrequited love; deceit
• Dahlia - Good taste
• Daisy - Innocence; loyal love; purity; faith; cheer; simplicity
• Dandelion - Wishes come true; faithfulness; happiness
• Delphinium - Airy
• Dogwood – Durability

• Eidelweiss - Daring; noble courage
• Eucalyptus – Protection

• Fennel - Worthy of all praise; strength
• Fern - Sincerity
• Fern (Magic) - Facination; confidence and shelter
• Fern (Maidenhair) - Secret bond of love
• Feverfew - Protection
• Fir - Time
• Flax - Domestic symbol; fate
• Forget-me-not - True love; memories; forget me not
• Forsythia - Anticipation
• Foxglove - Insincerity
• Fuchsia - Good taste

• Gardenia - You're lovely; secret love; refinement; joy
• Garland of roses - Reward of virtue
• Garlic - Courage; strength
• Geranium (Oak leafed) - Friendship
• Geranium (Rose) - Preference
• Geranium (Scented) - Preference, melancholy; stupidity; folly
• Gillyflower - Bonds of affection
• Gladiolus - Love at first sight; ready-armed; strength of character; generosity
• Gloxinia - Love at first sight
• Grass - Submission; utility

• Heather (lavender) - Admiration; solitude
• Heather (pink) - Good luck
• Heather (white) - Protection; wishes will come true; good luck
• Heliotrope - Devotion; eternal love
• Hibiscus - Delicate beauty
• Holly - Good will; defence; domestic happiness; foresight
• Hollyhock - Female ambition
• Honeysuckle - Generous and devoted affection; sweetness of disposition
• Hyacinth (general) - Rashness, sorrow, flower dedicated to Apollo
• Hyacinth (blue) - Constancy
• Hyacinth ( purple) - I'm sorry; please forgive me; sorrow
• Hyacinth (red or pink) - Play
• Hyacinth (white) - Loveliness; I'll pray for you
• Hyacinth (yellow) - Jealousy
• Hydrangea - Thank you for understanding; frigidity; heartlessness; vanity
• Hyssop - Wards away evil spirits

• Iris - Faith; hope; wisdom and valour; my compliments; eloquence
• Ivy - Fidelity; friendship; affection

• Jasmine - Amiability; wealth; grace and elegance
• Jonquil - Love me; affection returned; desire; sympathy
• Juniper – Protection

• Larkspur (pink) - Fickleness; levity
• Laurel (mountain) - Ambition
• Lavender - Devotion, distrust
• Lemon - Zest
• Lemon Balm - Brings love
• Lemon verbena - Attracts opposite sex
• Lilac - First love
• Lily (general) - Purity
• Lily (calla) - Beauty
• Lily (day) - Coquetry
• Lily (eucharis) - Maidenly charms
• Lily (orange) - Hatred
• Lily (tiger) - Wealth; pride
• Lily (white) - Virginity; purity; majesty; it's heavenly to be with you
• Lily (yellow) - I'm walking on air; false and gay
• Lily of the valley - sweetness; return to happiness; humility; perferct purity
• Love-in-a-mist – Perplexity

• Magnolia - Sweetness; beauty; love of nature; nobility; dignity; splendid beauty
• Marigold - Comforts the heart; grief; cruelty; jealousy; sacred affection
• Mimosa - Sensitivity
• Mint - Protection from illness; warmth of feeling
• Marjoram (sweet) - Joy and happiness
• Mistletoe - Kiss me; affection; to surmount difficulties; sacred plant of India, magic plant of the Druids
• Monkshood - Beware, a deadly foe is near; chivalry
• Moss - Maternal love; charity
• Myrtle - Love; love in absence; remembrance; Hebrew emblem of marriage
• Myrtle (wax) - Discipline; instruction

• Narcissus - Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are; you love yourself too well; self-esteem
• Nasturtium - Conquest; victory in battle; maternal love; charity; patriotism

• Oleander - Caution; beware
• Orange - Generosity
• Orange Blossom - Wisdom; purity; eternal love; your purity equals your loveliness
• Orange (mock) - Deceit
• Orchid - Love; beauty; refinement; you flatter me
• Orchid (Cattleya) - Mature charm

• Palm leaves - Victory and success
• Pansy - Thoughts; love
• Peach blossom - Longevity
• Peony - Shame; bashfulness; anger; indignation
• Peppermint - Warmth of feelings
• Periwinkle (blue) - Early friendship
• Periwinkle (white) - Pleasures of memory
• Petunia - Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me; never despairing
• Phlox - Agreement; sweet dreams
• Pine - Hope; pity
• Pink - Boldness
• Poinsettia - Be of good cheer
• Poppy (general) - Eternal sleep; oblivion; imagination; extravagance
• Poppy (red) -Pleasure
• Poppy (white) - Consolation; sleep
• Poppy( yellow) - Wealth; success
• Prickly Pear - Satire
• Primrose - I can't live without you; early youth; young love
• Primrose (evening) – Inconstancy

• Queen Anne's Lace – Fantasy

• Rose (red) - Love ; I love you
• Rose (white) - Eternal Love; innocence; heavenly; secrecy and silence
• Rose (pink) - Perfect happiness; please believe me
• Rose (yellow) - Friendship; jealousy; try to care
• Rose (black) - Death
• Rose (red and white) - Together; unity
• Rose (thornless) - Love at first sight
• Rose (single, full bloom) - I love you; I still love you
• Rose bud - Beauty and youth; a heart innocent of love
• Rose bud (red) - Pure and lovely
• Rose bud (white) - Girlhood
• Rosebud (moss) - Confessions of love
• Roses (bouquet of full bloom) - Gratitude
• Roses (garland or crown of) - Beware of virtue; reward of merit; crown ; symbol of superior merit
• Roses (musk cluster) - Charming
• Rose (tea) - I'll always remember
• Rose (cabbage) - Ambassador of love
• Rose (Christmas) - Tranquilize my anxiety; anxiety
• Rose (damask) - Brilliant complexion
• Rose (dark crimson) - Mourning
• Rose (hibiscus) - Delicate beauty
• Rose leaf - You may hope
• Rosemary - Remembrance; commitment; fidelity

• Sage - Wisdom; long life; domestic virtue
• Salvia (blue) - I think of you
• Smilax - Loveliness
• Snapdragon - No; deception; gracious lady; presumption
• Spearmint - Warmth of sentiment
• Spiderflower - Elope with me
• Statice - Lasting beauty
• Star of Bethlehem - Atonement
• Stephanotis - Happiness in marriage; desire to travel; come to me
• Stock - Lasting beauty; promptness
• Strawberry - Perfect goodness
• Sunflower - Loyalty; haughtiness; you are splendid
• Sweet Basil - Good luck
• Sweet pea - Goodbye; departure; blissful pleasure; Thank you for a lovely time
• Sweet William - Grant me one smile; perfection; gallantry

• Thrift - Sympathy
• Thyme - Strength and courage
• Tuberose - Dangerous pleasure
• Tulip(general) - Fame; charity; declaration of love;
• Tulip(red) - Believe me; declaration of love
• Tulip(variegated) - Beautiful eyes
• Tulip(yellow) - Hopeless love

• Violet - Modesty; faithfulness
• Violet (blue) - Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true
• Violet (white) - Let's take a chance on happiness
• Viscaria - Will you dance with me?

• Water Lily - Purity of heart
• Wistaria - I cling to you
• Woodruff - Sweet humility

• Xeranthemum - Cheerfulness under adversity

• Yarrow - Health; healing

• Zinnia - Thoughts of friends
• Zinnia (magenta) - Lasting affection
• Zinnia (mixed) - Thinking of an absent friend
• Zinnia (scarlet) - Constancy
• Zinnia (white) - Goodness
• Zinnia (yellow) - Daily remembrance

Art in Bloom is this Week at MIA

2009-04-27T09:26:00.000-05:00

Join me for the 26th year of Art in Bloom, a four-day festival of fresh floral arrangements and fine art, presented by the Friends of the Institute at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

This splendid spring celebration highlights the talents of more than 160 floral artists, whose work will be on view next to the works of art that inspired them. From Thursday through Sunday, you're invited to sample the fragrant scents in the museum, enjoy a lecture or demonstration, attend a party or free docent tour, and browse in the Art in Bloom Shop. Admission to the museum to view the floral arrangements is free!

I will be there on Thursday April 30, 5 – 9 p.m.
Flowers After Hours: A Minnesota Carnival of Fun
Museum-wide
Start your spring fling right here! Come for the amazing art and flowers that fill the air with color and fragrance. Stay for a night of classic Minnesota delights.
Think you know about American movies? Get your game on with a classic movie trivia contest with StarTribune film reviewer Colin Covert. Sample free wine and Surly beer—pure artistry in a glass! Get gritty with Minnesota’s premier honky-tonk band, Trailer Trash. Have fun raising people-watching to a fine art.
Refreshments available for purchase.
No reservations required for "Flowers After Hours."

More info about Art in Bloom can be found here http://www.artsmia.or...

My arrangement will be in the Impressionism Gallery on the third floor, so don’t miss it!

Tahitian Landscape by Paul Gauguin (Gallery 355)

Tami

The Beginnings of a Florist

2009-01-19T10:07:00.001-06:00

I thought that my first post to my Blog should be about why I became a florist in the first place.

I had a job at the University of Minnesota that afforded me the luxury of having three months off in the summer. I enjoyed taking courses and working in my garden at that time. Studio B Floral Designs came about as a way for me to combine my passion for gardening and art into something that I could do as a hobby. I took floral design courses at Koehler and Dramm to see if I liked it as much as I thought I would. Standing amongst the buckets and buckets of flowers at my first course in that classroom, I fell in love with floral designing. I had found my creative niche. I took several more floral classes and still continue to take floral seminars to stay up to date when I get the chance. I started out by doing the flowers for my own wedding and then decided to open my own floral studio to help others with their weddings. I quickly became busy enough to fill my time off at the University in the summer and some. It was no longer a hobby for me, but a career path.

I did work at Dundee Nursery and Floral for a summer doing their floral designs also. This gave me some great insight into how a retail florist does business and also had me involved in a garden center, which was a lot of fun for me. It also solidified the idea that I really enjoy most being involved in doing events rather than opening a floral shop of my own. I love seeing a bride's vision for her wedding and then helping bringing it all together to see the end result.

In 2004, I had my first child and I gave up my 9-5 job at the University to be home with her. Since then, we have added two more children to our family. Being a florist that gets to pick her own hours is a wonderful way to enable me to stay at home with my children, while doing something that I tuly love as a career. Also, I am so lucky that my mother-in-law has retired and is available to spend time with her grandchildren when I work on a wedding.

I limit the number of weddings that I take right now, to be able to give those brides my full attention. I feel like every bride whether they are spending $500 on flowers or $5000 should get my full attention and so I don't book more than one event at a time. I do have two wonderful assistants that have been with me since that first wedding, my own. They have been a great asset to my business and I appreciate their help tremendously, especially when I am supposed to be at the church and the reception site at the same time. :)

In 2006, we moved to our new home in Burnsville and we removed some walls to make a great studio space in our downstairs for Studio B. It is a really nice, large, organized space and has just added to my efficiency. It is so enjoyable to be able to walk downstairs and be at work. Even when I don't have a wedding, it is a nice space to work on other creative projects or "play" with flowers.

Anyway, I am so lucky to do something that I love and have the support of family and friends that make it possible. The result is you get flowers that are personal, beautiful and infused with the joy and feeling of your event.

Now on the BLOG bandwagon

2009-01-13T12:46:00.000-06:00

Well, it is time. I better get on the band wagon and start a blog, so that I can better share my stories about being a florist. I have the opportunity to meet so many great couples and to create beautiful floral designs for their weddings. This will give me a place to reflect on some of the events and show off some of my favorite photos.
Tami
Owner and Designer
Studio B Floral Designs