Wednesday, March 25

Floral Portraits from the Past


In 2000, I was asked by a local rental company owner to send flowers to a caterer in town who was throwing a holiday party. Since the caterer was a good friend (I had done both her weddings and that of her brother), I decided to add to the arrangement and give it as a gift from both of us, with the consent of the rental owner. I bought a garden container; a "stone" statue, holding a bowl. I placed him in a large tray and did flowers out of his bowl and also around the base. Purple was her favorite color, so it had to be a focal point, of course, along with the holiday reds. It remains one of my favorite arrangements, and a good part was that she could keep the statue and place it in her garden, holding birdseed.

I was hired by an event planner to do this buffet centerpiece for a business function at The Cardinal Club in Raleigh. At the time, patterned table linen was very popular, but in hindsight, I see that it would have been better had she chosen a solid color fabric.

This was for a holiday event at our NC Museum of Art, where I provided flowers for many parties and events for 12 years. It's much bigger than it looks here, since the obelisk is four feet tall by itself, and that urn was 2 1/2 feet tall from its base.


Another event at our Art Museum, with a tropical theme. I love working with tropical flowers, and you don't get many brides that want those. That black vase is almost 5 feet tall, which is good at the museum, since the ceilings soar and height is badly needed in centerpieces.

This is one of a pair used above the altar in an old Catholic Church in Wilmington, NC. The wedding was held at The Graystone Inn in Wilmington, and the old church - which now functions as an event site - was where they had the reception. The groom was the brother of the caterer I mentioned above.

This last one was made for a real estate company holding an event in a local country club to thank their clients. I had to take the photo from an angle, which isn't the best for seeing the arrangement- but since it was in front of a window and the sun was shining brightly, it couldn't be helped. Every now and then I like to indulge my quirky, artsy-fartsy side, and this one let me do it in spades! What you couldn't know from this photo is that during delivery, I had to brake hard while turning a corner, and the whole arrangement (about 7 feet tall) fell over. I was scared to death to take it out of the van; just sure that it would be unusable. Wonder of wonders, it remained intact and only a few blossoms broke or were bruised and I replaced them. Somebody up there likes me! (or He did that day, at least.)

18 comments:

Buzzardbilly said...

I worship at the altar of your abilities to take something as beautiful as a flower and make even more beautiful! You, my friend, are one talented goddess. Tell Mr. Kenju he should worship you as well!

Gilly said...

Oh my! Those are just so beautiful! You are soooo clever! I always admire anyone who can make flowers look like they did that naturally!!

I'm lost in admiration!

Kay Dennison said...

Magnificent!!!!!!!!!

Pat said...

You are a true artist Judy. You paint with flowers.

Arkansas Patti said...

Wow, you really know how to make a person feel inadequate. Arranging is a real talent. I LOVED the tropicals for the Art Museum.

themom said...

I bow to your talents. All arrangements are truly unique and gorgeous. I can barely put cut flowers in a proper vase.

Bobkat said...

Magnificent! I bet those larger pieces looked absolutely stunning in their settings with the high celings you mention :)

Anonymous said...

Judy you make flowers talk!

The first one is my favourite.

tiff said...

I'm partial to the ones you did on Jan 03 of this year. :)

What's better - a few curly willow stems are leafing out, and I intend to plant them. Sweet!

Oh, yes, these other arrangements are lovely as well. Hee!

Evil Twin's Wife said...

I know I've said it before, but you are truly talented. Those are works of art!

Blonde Goddess said...

What a beautiful job you do! I am so impressed. I can barely dress myself. I can't imagine being able to create such gorgeous things.

rosemary said...

You are a true artist...absolutely stunning all of them...i repeat myself however...often.

srp said...

These are just wonderful... how ever did you get those really, really large ones to the event or even in the vase... if the vase is 5' tall... I can't help but picture a step ladder in my mind. Just gorgeous. I think the thing I enjoy the most about your arrangements is the variety of flowers you use and that a lot of them are unusual, not the standard everyday flowers.

Barry said...

Wow! Fabulous!

The arrangements are just stunning! Heck, I'm speechless (and that never happens).

kenju said...

Thanks, everyone for the nice comments and compliments.

SRP: For the arrangements at the museum, they were made on site, and taken on a large cart to the event space. The tall vase was placed on the table first, and then I would get on a ladder or chair to place the arrangement on top of the container. I had to have help - someone to hand it to me - but their staff was usually willing to help in any way.

awareness said...

Judy....just beautiful! I especially like the altar arrangement and the last one! I guess i'm an artsy fartsy at heartsy.

ps. I have a new name for your list. I met her last week in my travels.... Dorcas Lyons. I couldn't say her name out loud because it didn't seem right somehow. Who in their right mind would name a child (girl or boy) Dorcas???? Here's the kicker....Her dog?? She named it Knucklehead!! I just about lost it when she told me....hahaha!

Traci Dolan said...

We had an 80th birthday party at the restaurant and had a beautiful flower arrangement. I thought of you when I saw it!

Jamie Dawn said...

Your artsy fartsy side does some good work!
Those arrangements are all beautiful, and I like the first one a lot. It was a great idea to have the statue that could be used in the garden afterwards. That's a twofer gift!
I saw Naomi again, and she had one of those lovely floral centerpieces that she often has on her dining table.