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Archives for January 2014

Friday Florist Recap 1/25 – 1/31: Floral Wonderland

Another week, another beautiful collection of floral goodness. We have so many different fun and exciting arrangements for you this week. From a nod to Super Bowl excitement to a sports themed sympathy piece, we’ve got a little bit of everything. It’s not just a collection of flowers, it’s a floral wonderland.

Wedding Flowers

Beautiful piece by Petals in Thyme of Wasaga Beach, ON

Beautiful piece by Petals in Thyme of Wasaga Beach, ON

Special Occasion Flowers

Wonderland by Tom Kenison AIFD of Crossroads Florist in Mahwah, NJ

“Wonderland” by Tom Kenison AIFD of Crossroads Florist in Mahwah, NJ [Read more…]

FSN Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony

Flower Shop Network just celebrated its annual meeting and awards ceremony! We received a few hours of team-building training, and standouts from our sales staff also received awards for personal achievements. Join me as I show you the faces behind the voices you’ve grown to know and love.

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Congratulations to our Salesperson of the Year, Amy Hall, and FSN Rookie of the Year, Irving Casiano!

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Representing Wedding and Party Network we want to congratulate Kelly Roberts (left) sporting not one but two awards and Christy Rawls (right) as the WPN Rookie of the Year.

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Congratulations to FG Market’s Rookie of the Year, Craig Johnson, while Patti Jones cleaned up with the other two honors. [Read more…]

Valentine’s Day Flower Meanings

Flowers are not only beautiful, they also have a lot to say. With Valentine’s Day coming up fast, we are here to let you know the message you’re sending along with that gorgeous arrangement. And knowledge of meaning is no less important on the receiving end. After all, what good is a floral message if the recipient doesn’t understand it?

Three's a Charm100 Percent Lovable

So in the interest of clarifying the communication of love, here are the most common Valentine’s Day flowers and their meanings! [Read more…]

Warm Up With Instagram Inspiration

Instagram Inspiration Jan 28

January, you have been a harsh one. In most parts of the country, winter is still going strong with freezing temperatures, blustery winds and dull gray skies. Thankfully we have incredibly talented florists to remind us that warmer days are coming!

While browsing Instagram this week, these arrangements from our florist members leaped right out of the screen and brightened our day. With bursts of green, splashes of orange and cascades of pink, we know you’ll be thinking warmer thoughts after taking a moment to stop and smell these roses.

 

A Fantasy In Flowers - St. Augustine, FL

A vivid bridal bouquet featuring showstopping fuchsia, purple, pink, and lime green.

A Fantasy in Flowers – Saint Augustine, FL [Read more…]

Bring Good Luck For Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important traditional Chinese holiday. Beginning on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar, celebrations and traditions continue until the 15th day with the Lantern Festival. Similar to New Year’s Eve celebrations in the States, the Chinese New Year’s Eve is known as chú xī or literally “Year-pass Eve.”

In 2014, Chinese New Year starts on January 31st in the US.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, it is time to welcome in the year of the horse!

Chinese New Year

Flowers for a New Beginning

If you plan on enjoying some of the festivities of the New Year, don’t forget that flowers can play an important part in your celebration. Through color, texture and fragrance, flowers instantly bring joy and good will into a room. And if you want good luck in the New Year, bringing a few smiles is a great place to start!

Whether it is surprising your hostess with a fresh-cut bouquet at a reunion dinner or decorating your home after a traditional cleansing of bad luck and spirits, flowers can bring harmony through color and symbolism. While some flower shops might not have a specific Chinese New Year arrangement, this is where a real talented local florist can surprise and delight you!

Tell your florist you want something special for Chinese New Year and they will work with you to create a personalized arrangement that will thrill you and any recipient. Your florist will select beautiful flowers, the perfect container and handle all the details of making something new and exciting for the occasion. After all, that’s what they are good at – expressing the feeling for any occasion through flowers!

Blooming with Meaning

Daffodil – prosperity
Chrysanthemum – longevity
Bamboo – luck
Sunflower – pure thoughts
Mandarin oranges – fortune
Plum trees – hard to find in the U.S. but a popular tradition in China

Chinese New Year Colors:

Red – symbolizes joy, virtue, truth and sincerity and is thought to chase away bad fortune and evil spirits like the mythical beast called the Nian.

Gold – symbolizes fortune and prosperity and is a favorite for starting a new year.

Ask for a custom arrangement that embodies the spirit of the season.
And always always always use a real local florist!

Dancing Daffodils  Floral FinesseBring On The Happy

 

Friday Florist Recap 1/18 – 1/24: Bombardment of Floral Beauty

We’ve received a bombardment of floral beauty! These talented florists have gone above and beyond the call and were gracious enough to share their hard work with us. We have an assortment of arrangements that will leave your mouth agape and see you running to your local flower shop for some gorgeous blooms of your very own. Talent and style abounds here, but don’t let me hold you up. Scroll down and see for yourself!

Wedding Flowers

An absolutely gorgeous bouquet from Helen's Flowers & Gifts in Greenville, OH

An absolutely gorgeous bouquet from Helen’s Flowers & Gifts in Greenville, OH

“The scabiosa pods are so much fun!!”

Magnificent wedding centerpiece by Your Personal Florist in Troy, OH

Magnificent wedding centerpiece by Your Personal Florist in Troy, OH [Read more…]

Lasting Florals in Vogue!

Lasting Florals Head Piece

If you’ve ever wondered how to get your work into Vogue magazine, Deborah Mooney’s path is probably an accurate, if difficult to emulate, blueprint. In essence: be talented, work with talented people and have a heaping helping of good luck!

The Value of Hard Work and Reputation

Deborah wasn’t trying to get into Vogue. Rather she did what every local florist does every day, accept an order and do her best to make it amazing. It’s that “everyday” quality that makes this story so wonderful. It’s a tale of hard work, of taking advantage of opportunities and striving to make the most of them. It’s about a talented local florist whose toil through the years earned her the respect of her community and a simple request that led to a most unexpected honor.

Answering the Call

Deborah’s work speaks for itself. She’s been operating locally in Midlothian, VA, since 2001, specializing in weddings and special events and working an average of 30+ weddings a year. And when local make-up artist Lulu Schwall put out a request for a local florist to help with a photo shoot, Deborah jumped at the opportunity.

Lulu put Deborah in contact with photographer Jyoti Sackett who requested three unique pieces she could pose together with her models. After getting the details, Deborah went to work. Once they were ready to go, Deborah shipped them out and went on with her day, never giving the project a second thought. Why would she? After all, she had been given no information to indicate the project had such potential. Quality work is business as usual at Lasting Florals.

A Pleasant Surprise

Time passed and Deborah had largely forgotten about the three pieces she’d designed. She had other projects to occupy her time and talents. Weddings, holidays and social events all conspired to keep her plenty busy.

And then it happened.

Out of the blue, Deborah was contacted by Jyoti Sackett who informed her that one of the photos featuring the headpiece she’d designed had been selected to appear in Vogue magazine. To say the least, she was shocked and very excited!

Deborah has done impressive work in the Midlothian area, and because of her dedication to her craft she received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have her work shared with the world. It’s this kind of work ethic that embodies and defines not only Deborah but all local florists. Congratulations to Deborah Mooney and everyone at Lasting Florals. We are proud to have you as members of Flower Shop Network.

 

Introducing Radiant Orchid – The Color of the Year!

Radiant Orchid

Pantone, the global authority on color and issuer of professional color standards for the design industry for over 50 years, has been selecting a Color of the Year since 2000. They base their selection on expert color-sampling from the world of design and fashion, often predicting those hot trends you’ll soon be seeing everywhere.

For 2014, Pantone: Radiant Orchid was declared the Color of the Year!

“Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination. An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society. An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.” -Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute

Captivate With Radiant Orchid

This “it” hue is going to be seen all over – from women’s dresses to men’s ties to throw pillows to accent walls. And, of course, in our favorite flower designs everywhere.

Want to brighten someone’s office with this trend-setting color?  Ask your florist to include roses, matsumoto asters, chrysanthemums or stock in lovely shades of this pinkish purple.

Planning your wedding? Feature radiant orchid as your accent color with gerbera, orchids, callas or roses for stunning bouquets, boutineers, alter flowers and centerpieces.

And what could celebrate this color better than orchids themselves! Purple cymbidium orchids and phalaenopsis orchids come in dazzling arrangements and as graceful, long-lasting potted plants.

Injecting this vibrant color into your day is sure to inspire a wonderful freedom and happiness that comes from appreciating, and reveling in, all life has to offer!

Need help from a knowledgeable florist? That’s no problem! Use our florist search to find a skilled florist near you!

 

FSN’s Pinterest Picks

Pinterest Picks Jan 21 2014 (4)

This week’s selection from Pinterest has us examining how florists create beautiful high points and cascading lows to add drama and movement in a floral piece.

While all 3 arrangements have different styles, colors and textures, the element that unites these 3 lovely works is engaging movement!

Take a look.

Kalmath Flower Shop - Brighton, MI

Klamath Flower Shop – Klamath Falls, OR
This fun bright arrangement features pink gladiolus and glitter picks for height with a few yellow pom surprises throughout. [Read more…]

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a time for remembering a great man, reflecting on the dreams he shared and celebrating his accomplishments as well as the life he led. Honoring him requires honoring the values for which he stood, spoke and lived. He dreamed of liberty, freedom and justice. He dreamed of true equality. He dreamed of brotherhood.

Celebrate the Day Whimsical

Showing Love with Flowers

Flowers are the perfect gift for this holiday because they say so many things. They say friendship, love, hope and yes, brotherhood. You can share a slice of happiness with strangers by handing out yellow roses to random people you pass on the street. You can extend the hand of friendship to someone with whom you work with but may not know well with a lovely bouquet of daisies, or offer that neighbor with whom you rarely speak a handful of gerberas.

A beautiful arrangement offered to the girl at school who sits alone at lunch or a gladiolus proffered to the boy who gets picked on in the locker room, each of these actions honor the values that Dr. King embodied.

Don’t let this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day pass without doing your part to honor the memory of a man who wanted nothing more than for everyone to love each other and treat everyone as equals.