Monday is for...Recovery

Last Thursday we had a huge event for First American at the NYC Hilton. All the big names were coming to this evening party to include Donald Trump, Mayor Bloomberg, etc so we had to step up our game. The theme was New York New York so we went with a black, white, and silver color palette to create a mood of sophistication and elegance. We used tall black trumpet vases to create a sense of height in a room with insanely tall ceilings. We made sure votives covered the room to provide the right amount of candlelight. Here's a preview of what some of the arrangements looked like:

We want to thank the following vendors for helping us make this event a great one!:

Staffing by Marsell

NYC Hilton

Potomac Floral Supply

Floral Supply Syndicate

Delicious Leftovers

We had some flowers left over from last week's wedding and we decided to play around with some unusual containers. We took a vintage crystal candy bowl, a low round crystal bowl, and a crystal lamp shade and arranged hydrangeas, veronicas, lilies, and alstroemerias to create a fun trio for a table setting. We placed these arrangements on a vintage shawl to add texture, color, and contrast to the blue-shaded florals. Check out the results below!

Makes you want to have a dinner party in the middle of a prairie! Happy Friday!

Scabiosa Pods - The New Trend

One of the trends I'm noticing is the use of Scabiosa Pods. This has been one of my favorite florals to use since day one because of its unique texture and look. It can spruce up an ordinary bouquet or be a beautiful detail on its own. As you can see from the images below you can use this great "flower" for very modern, green, weddings or for more romantic, soft, feminine arrangements.

For my own wedding my mom carried a bouquet made solely of Scabiosa Pods - it went great with her polka dot dress :)

*images from left to write clockwise: DBI Events, botanicalbrouhaha.blogspot.com, theflowercolos.blogspot.com, www.gardenonthesquare.com, shoshodesigns.blogspot.com

A little preview of flowers from THE September Nuptials

Here's a little preview of 9.26.2010 flower arrangements from a wedding especially special to us :)

Rebranding - It's part of Reinventing

Part of staying relevant and being a leader in an industry is to constantly improve and reinvent. We're excited to announce (as you might have noticed yesterday) we are rebranding Designs by iBi to DBI Events. We feel that the new name is easier to pronounce, more catchy, and describes what we do a whole lot better!

We have also officially joined twitter and you can follow us @dbievents

Our new contact info is:

dbieventsdc@gmail.com

Thank you for coming back and reading our posts!

Back to Back Arranging

Finally! A moment to breath...and blog :)

Sunday we had Rachel & Matan's wedding (see inspiration from previous entry) as well as a post-wedding brunch Monday morning. Between flower prepping, arranging, set-up and break-down our system has consumed liters of coffee and has forgotten what sleep feels like. BUT the great news is we had satisfied clients and even gave our business card out to a few potential new clients.

The colors for the 10.10.10 wedding were a luxurious purple and a cool, light blue. The venue was Contemporary Art Center of Virginia Beach, so we had a lot of open space to work with and most importantly natural light!

For the ceremony we built a chuppah using branches and various flowers to match the garden-y feel of the reception.

For the centerpieces we used antique blue hydrangeas, purple stock, and blue veronicas. To bring an extra pop of color we chose purple napkins and used matching ribbon to wrap the vases. Outside we lined the walkway with hydrangea and candle-filled birdcages.

The overall feeling was romantic and fun. We loved the end result and here are some preview photos of what everything looked like!

For Monday morning brunch we stayed with the same theme but also added a few large arrangements to help spruce up the various food stations. Here’s a quick look at one of the arrangements:

Thank you for stopping by today J

And we're back...

After a LONG break from blogging Designs by iBi is back! I have lots to write about after a few weeks of some of the most amazing events of my life. I will be sharing with you tips on how to throw an insane bachelorette party, a beautiful bridal shower, an intimate rehearsal dinner, and a successful wedding! I also have some more fun DIY ideas as well as HOT recipes (homemade hot sauce, soups, roasts...mmmm just in time for the cool weather coming our way)!

This week we are super busy at Designs by iBi - between client meetings and several events this weekend we are dodging flower buckets and craft scissors all day long.

One of the events this weekend is Rachel & Matan's wedding - a great couple who'll be tying on the knot on 10.10.10!!! Both the ceremony and reception will take place at the Contemporary Art Center in Virginia Beach. The colors are a lovely purple and light, cool blues. The overall theme is "love birds" so everyone knows I had to have birdcages throughout the decor. Check out the mood board for their wedding:

I'm really excited about this wedding and can't wait to share photos once it's all done!

Stay tune for great articles to come this week! And thank you for continuously coming back to visit Designs by iBi Blog!!!

A Farmer's Market does a Girl some Good

The best part about traveling (even if it is domestic) is discovering what that region has to offer. This past weekend I was in Matthews, NC and found the cutest farmer's market ever. It was so community driven - they had cooking classes (how to cook with what's currently available), music, tastings, and a pepper roasting machine (free to use).

I, of course, was there to purchase flowers and hot peppers. Mamaw's Shine Flower Patch was beyond adorable - the lady had flower buckets filled with lisianthus (primarily purple) and a whole bunch of wild flowers. To my surprise everything was sold by stem so I got to collect exactly the flowers I needed and my bouquet of 30 stems came out to a mere$18 - boy do I love farmer's markets. Here are a few photos of the bouquet I arranged in my hotel room :)

If you're ever in Matthews or Charlotte, NC I strongly suggest you check this place out. They have amazing baked goods and fresh locally grown produce. To check out their website click here.

NYC Trip - What Could Be Better

My apologies for being MIA for almost a week! I took a trip to NYC and of course when you're in New York there's no time for blogging - I was busy eating, shopping, and playing with flowers :)

One of the things I love most about New York is how readily available everything and anything you might need - that includes the Chelsea Flower Market (on 28th St between 6th and 7th Ave). One of my main reasons for my visit was to go to the market, get inspired, and maybe make a few bouquets. I was a bit disappointed by selection and prices but I think that is a result of the poor economy. It seems that most vendors are cutting down on their inventory and more and more they're focusing on special orders (the big designers almost always place their own orders to ensure they get everything they need).

It's dahlia season (August - October) so this flower is not only in abundance but also a bit cheaper. This flower comes in many different colors, shapes (from basic petals to honeycomb!!!!), and sizes. It's one of my favorites and I love love love working with it because it adds amazing texture to any arrangement/bouquet.

After spending a good amount of time exploring the shops I decided to pick up some pink dahlias, fuscia celocia and a few other lighter pinks. The result is this beautiful bouquet that I dressed up with natural ribbon. The colors and textures pop and this bouquet would be perfect for a modern and fun bride. I'd love to hear what you think!!!

My good friend Anna Azarov shot the bouquet and the result is nothing short of spectacular. We had a good time dodging T-Storms while shooting and I can't wait to come back to NYC to do it again! Thanks Anna!!!

Ichibana in Virginia Beach?!?! You betchya

Yesterday I received a call to do last minute flower arrangements for a fancy dinner party at a beach house in Virginia Beach. All I was told was plexiglass chairs, irises, and modern interior decor. I was a little nervous coming up with a design idea as the style in VA Beach is classic and let progressive than in other places across the country. However, we all know that if someone is using plexiglass chairs they are down with something modern and unique.

Ichibana has always been a style that I've liked and growing up in a minimalistic household I knew this style very well. I incorporated rocks (to reflect the beach location), irises (per request) and glass cube vases (for the modern twist) to create an ichibana-esk arrangement. Below is what I came up with - keep in mind that there will be numerous of these arrangements lining the tables. Enjoy!

Real Wedding - Mel & Adam

A few weeks ago Designs by iBi had the pleasure of creating wedding party flowers for Mel & Adam's beach wedding. With a very appropriate beach theme (whites and seashells) we were able to create one-of-a-kind boutonnieres and lily-filled bouquets.

We used white asiatic lilies, stephanotis, and alstroemerias in the arrangements. Check out the fun photos below!

*First image by Anna Azarov

*Last three images by David Stacks of Princess Anne Photography

Un-Boring for Cheap

This weekend I got a little bored (as it was 109 degrees and being outside was out of the question) so I decided to take on a project.

One benefit of having lived in NYC is that everyone puts their trash out on the side walk. One day my fiance came home with a wooden stool in hand. As he mentioned that he picked it up outside on the curb I freaked out and Lysol-ed the entire thing. This ugly stool has now followed us with every move and I simply got sick of looking at it. So this weekend I took on a project to turn this "free" stool into something more appealing.

Supplies:

• Sanding sponge - $1
• Crown Bolt Nail Heads - $1.24 for a pack (I used 3 packs of 7/16")
• Spray Paint - $3.68 (I used a can of Rust-Oleum Metallic Finish)
• Vinyl to cover seat - $12.99/yrd (you only need a 1/3 yrd)
• Padding for seat - $3.59/yrd (you only need a 1/3 yrd)
• Staple Gun
• Newspapers for spray painting
• Hammer for removing seat from stool
• Stool

Step by Step instructions:

1) Remove seat from stool - you can do this with a hammer

2) Use sanding sponge to sand down the stool + seat. You only need to sand down enough to get the paint seal off, enough for the new paint to stick.

3) Wipe off the stool + seat to remove all the debris.

4) Set up area (preferably outside) to spray paint your stool + seat: lay down newspapers and make sure to wear clothing that you don't mind accidentally getting stained with paint.

5) Spray stool with color of your choice. Let dry and spray again to get a nice, even coat. (lady at Home Depot told me to use a primer or else it'd be disastrous...she was wrong. So in my opinion a primer is not neccessito). Also, you only have to spray paint the bottom of the seat as the top will be covered with vinyl.

6) Cut padding into circles the size of the stool seat.

7) Cut vinyl into a circle from that has a diameter larger than the seat by 4 inches.

8) After placing padding on the seat, seal with vinyl circle and start stapling the vinyl to the bottom of the seat.

9) Once the vinyl is stapled on, remove any excess fabric from the edges (you don't want anything to hang down once you put the seat back on the stool)

10) Time to nail in the nail heads - make sure to space them evenly. This is a pretty difficult step as the edge of seat was rounded...this part took forever.

11) Attach seat back to stool and voila! New and Improved piece of furniture.

I know that this look is pretty modern but you can play with colors to make it fit your home decor. How about black stool legs and a zebra-pattern seat?

Ready! Set! Arrange!!!

We are preparing for a beautiful beach wedding this weekend. The couple, Adam and Mel, are our neighbors and we couldn't be happier to partake in their celebration. The wedding is taking place at Virginia Beach, VA - directly on the beach! How awesome is that? The colors are white and blue and the bride asked for simple elegance (our fave!)

It's extremely hectic here as we are doing the bridal bouquets, wedding party flowers (bouts, bouquets), bouts for dads, corsages for gmas, and flowers for the hair for the moms. The nerves are kicking in a bit as this horrible heatwave can't seem to disappear and we're scared of wilted flowers! Currently the room temperature in the studio is "fur coat acceptable" as we must keep the flowers complete cool before the big day!

Flowers will consist of white lilies, white alstroemerias, and stephanotis. Simple, elegant, and totally beach appropriate. And to add to the beach theme and keep the groomsmen's boutonnieres from staining their shirts we made these cute little seashell backings that will create a layer of protection between the white stephanotis and the linen shirts. (and of course a signature Designs by iBi fuscia heart on the back for long and lasting love). Can't wait to post wedding photos of this awesome couple, their friends, and our work!!!

We Be Jammin'

I'm always on the lookout for unique party favor ideas that satiate the sweet tooth with a local flare. Sick of collecting bottle stoppers and don’t want to obligate your guests to build their collection after attending your event?

Favors should be useful, fun, and reflect the event and host. All too commonly they fall like a flat afterthought after a great event.

With a little creativity and without breaking the bank, we’re bringing the afterthought into the forefront and introducing homemade jam! I know what some of you are thinking – jam? Really? What’s so unique about jam? Who hasn’t had strawberry jam? But the fun part of making DIY favors is that you can customize. Think about the region where you're hosting the event - are they known for dates? Peaches? Even if you're getting married or hosting in a region you’re not familiar with the venue director can guide you through local flavors (and there’s always the internet to help guide you.) This is a great party favor for an outdoors wedding or event, such as at a winery, farm, park, or botanical garden. You can spin your own flavors to the classic local character and give your guests a lasting impression.

This is a very inexpensive project that can easily be done in an evening. All you'll need is some mason jars (as low as $0.80 per jar), ribbon to match your overall theme, craft glue (we use Aleene's Tacky Glue 4oz for $1.19 at www.save-on-crafts.com), scissors, place cards, and a jam recipe of your choice (a classic taste just uses the fruit/veggie, sugar, and lemon juice).

Step 1: making the jam of your choice (as you will have to boil the jars at the end of the process it's a good idea to wait to decorate your mason jars until you've sealed the jars)
Step 2: dressing up your mason jar - measure the ribbon to go around your mason jar (the diameter), cut the piece, glue it on the jar, and then attach a label (either the jam flavor, the day of your wedding, or the guest's name so that it can be used as a placecard).


Below I have provided a Fig Jam recipe that is sure to delight your guests. It's unique, versatile, and projects a classy image :) (you can of course google a recipe of your choice that complements the event)

Ingredients:
2 quarts chopped fresh figs (about 5 pounds)
6 cups of sugar
¾ cup of water
½ cup of lemon juice

To prepare chopped figs: Cover figs with boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes. Drain, stem, and chop figs.

Combine figs, sugar and ¼ cup of water in a large sauce pot. Bring slowly to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook rapidly until thick. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Add lemon juice and cook 1 minute longer. Pour hot into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch head space. Adjust caps. Process 15 minutes on a boiling water bath. Yields about 5 pints. (feel free to adjust sugar to your taste)

Hostess with the Mostest (part 2 of 4)

When your guests arrive make sure to Greet and Introduce. You want your guests to feel welcomed and they're obviously attending the event to see YOU. It is important to say hello to everyone who walks through the front door. And remember to point them in the direction of the food/bar/dance floor.

Introducing your guests to other guests is crucial. How many times have you attending an event and the hostess didn't introduce you to others at the party and you spent the rest of the night hanging out with the group that you arrived with? Parties, in my opinion, are not only about hanging out with your friends but also to meet new ones :) As a host it is your job to make sure that everyone is comfortable and the more your guests mingle with each other the more fun everyone will have.

Carnations - "I hear they're making a comeback"

Nowadays Carnations are the most overlooked flower. As Charlotte in Sex and the City once said ''Carnations are filler flowers." But recently carnations are becoming more and more popular and are appearing in some of the most elegant floral designs out there.

Carnations are great for floral arrangements for numerous reasons: one of the best reasons is probably their affordability. Carnations are some of the cheapest flowers out there and are available all year round. These unique flowers are also fantastic because of their ruffle texture and their variety of bright colors. In addition, they are durable and can be used on their own or as part of bouquets.

Below I demonstrate one of the easiest and prettiest ways to use Carnations - floral spheres. All you'll need is one 4" diameter Oasis floral foam, one bunch of carnations (usually comes with 24-25 flowers), and either floral cutters or scissors.

Prepare the foam ball by placing it into a container filled with water (make sure there is enough water to cover the full sphere). Do not push the foam under water or pour water on top of floral foam - this will cause air pockets to build and keep flowers from drinking. Always let the foam soak up the water.

Once the sphere is fully saturated with water you can begin your floral design. One by one cut the carnation stem down to 3/4" to 1" and place into foam ball. Take another carnation and repeat this step, placing the flower petal to petal. Continue this until the sphere is completely covered and you can no longer see the green of the foam.

You can do a great deal with these spheres - give them to flower girls instead of flower baskets, hang them off chairs for extra decor, make different size spheres and use them as centerpieces, and finally simply placing the sphere (or half a sphere) on top of a vase. Below is an example of half a sphere on top of a vase (I filled the vase with moss as to keep the bottom of the floral foam of showing).

So next time you're the market pick up some carnations and get creative!

Turkey Day Decor

Thanksgiving is only days away and for those of you hosting you know how important it is for everything to be perfect – food, ambiance, and décor. With the economy in the toilet most of us are shopping for groceries without any budget to decorate. I am a huge fan of decorating on a budget and have come up with several great ideas to decorate the table without spending a dime.

My inspiration came from a recent trip to Washington, DC. Fall is a great time for this city because all the trees change colors – streets are covered with yellow, red, and orange leaves. This season has always been a favorite of mine because change is in the air and it is very hard to find the same color pallet in any other season. The brightness of tree leaves is abundant and bringing these same colors indoor is easier than it might seem.

For those of you hosting a large dinner party with guests from both sides of the family you are most likely going to need place cards. Scrap the note cards and trade them in for real ‘’paper’’ – leaves. You can collect a variety of bright color leaves from your own backyard or community park and use these as your place cards. All you have to do is grab a Sharpie, write the guests names on the leaves, and place these on top of the plate, charger, or salad bowl. This will add color to your table setting, provide fall ambiance, and direct guests where to sit. How much will this cost you? Zero dollars.

The leaves on the ground aren’t the only beauties – check out the fallen branches. You can easily assemble a fantastic centerpiece consisting of a glass vase, branches you’ve found laying on the ground, and fallen leaves. Fill the glass vase with tall branches and then add the leaves. This will not only add color but height as well. You can create a very chic yet holiday atmosphere by making several of these centerpieces and placing them evenly apart on a long, rectangular table. How much will this cost you? Zero dollars.

Collected leaves are not only good for centerpieces but also for turning your ordinary items into holiday décor. For example, I took a glass vase, added a pillar candle and inserted bright colored leaves in between the candle and the glass. This is safe, removable, and best of all FREE. Turn your ordinary into extraordinary with a simple touch of nature. How much will this cost you? Zero.

My latest discovery is another great, simple centerpiece for long or rectangular tables – Brussels Sprout stalk. I picked up this stalk for $3.29 at Trader Joe’s. At over 2 feet long this vegetable stem makes a great centerpiece. You just place it on the table, add pillar candles to either side, and call it a day. The best part is the next day you can make a Brussels sprout dish. Recycle, reuse, reduce. How much will this cost you? If you are a Brussels Sprout fan then ZERO. For those of you who will only be using it as a centerpiece - $3.29.

You can pretty much take any household item and decorate it with leaves from the outside. All you’ll need is double stick tape, leaves from your backyard, and a little creativity. Chair backs, vases, candles, cards, even your front door are all great places to display the beautiful colors of autumn.

Enjoy Turkey Day!