An embroidered feather Mandala to go into a box frame.
All found feathers – white cockatoo, various duck. pink Galah and sadly a swamp hen that had been taken by a fox.
Feather mandala
10 Mar
Category Archives: theme ideas
Watercolour
04 Jan
Floral dress is Zac posen – on runway
For the bridesmaidsLovely watercolour look fabrics from talented Japanese designer Nani Iro
Try Etsy for invitation designers using…..
Here is a simple tutorial for making watercolour table numbers, the technique could be applied to any of your wedding stationary. The lovely textured paper is essential and it should be available at any art supplier along with the latex masking agent used.
Here some lovely watercolour dipped paper cups used for holding lovely little floral arrangements.
The finishing touch
10 Jun
A beautiful ribbon is the perfect accent for a beautiful bouquet. I have been collecting creative ideas for ribbons from the simple to the unusual.
A ribbon can add a pop of colour where your flowers cant. Weddings over winter can have fewer flower choices so why not stick to a simple palette and bring your colour in with some ribbon.
Lace is a good option, A soft white cotton or a more glamourous black.
If you are crafty consider customising, cotton lace can be dyed or ribbons embellished with embroidery.
I am loving this idea, a piece of fabric wrapped around the bouquet. The perfect excuse to buy a LV scarf? or see if there is one that belonged to your Nana. The best fabric shops have gorgeous silk prints and using a print can bring some complexity over a solid colour ribbon.
Some sparkle?
Raffia
Ric rac is a cute option. It works well mixed with other ribbons.
Here are some more unusual. Pom pom braid, feathers and even fringe.
Balloons
08 Jun
I had a wonderful post ready to post about how much I love helium balloons. before I could finish it I have been told that helium is a finite resource and the party industry is taking helium away from Scientists and MRI machines. I am a fan of Doctors and Scientists as much as balloons so I am content to let them have the helium.
With this in mind I have re crafted this post. Here are some wonderful ways to use Balloons without using helium.
Mixed sizes of balloons made into a garland with fresh flowers.
These could be helium but tying small bunches of balloons along a cord would give the same effect. The rope of balloons could then be hung anywhere
Confetti or glitter filled balloons will still look amazing without the helium. It is the static electricity that keeps the little pieces stuck around the walls of the balloon.
These balloons are suspended from the ceiling. I have seen some tutorials that suggest a small weight in each one before blowing them up.
Apple season
03 Mar
If you have driven between Canberra and Bega recently you may have noticed that all the road side apples are coming into fruit. This is good news for anyone who likes to make free cider or anyone who is having their wedding this time next year and is looking for something unusual to include in their flowers.
In truth the apples were probably best to use for floral arrangements a few weeks ago, if they are too ripe they are more likely to drop off their branches.
Above are some apples growing between Candelo and Bemboka. These are red but I have also seen green apples in places if that will match your colour scheme.
Apples included in a bouquet.
Here apples are included in the table setting.
Banskia
27 Feb
The banksias are coming into flower. soon I will grab myself a huge bouquet to enjoy indoors. If you are not lucky enough to have your own supply here are some for you to enjoy.
I am assuming a blow torch was what has given the wonderful black char to these banksia pods. Just keep them away from the dress.
Lush bouquets mixed with softer foliage and smaller flowers. Most native flowers will last well when cut so arrangements like these can be made days before an event.
I included this lovely print by Australian artist Margaret Preston. The graphic lines on this wood block print are the perfect inspiration for invites. Printing paper with that soft natural colour is available from any good art shop.
Single stems with their leaves are an easy choice as they last well and can be arranged by anyone.
I had some fun playing with banksias from my mum’s garden.
Midnight Bride
12 Feb
Black is a colour being embraced more and more at weddings. Living in Australia we are naturally drawn towards the sun so as a contrast to that I have been searching for the pieces to put together a wedding fit for midnight.
A bride likes to stand out on her day and white is certianly a great way to do that. To stand out in a black or coloured dress is also possible, the dress just has to be a showstopper.
Above Tara Latour, Vera wang, Vintage charles james, Dior, Dior, Zac Posen, Dior, Marchesca.
To go with the dark and moody dress some dark and moody flowers
Begonia leaves, Autumn leaves and artichokes, Black berries and purple roses, eucalyptus and ferns painted black.
channel Queen Victoria with a mourning tiara.
Save the money you would spend on a venue with a view and use it for wine and chocolate. Any venue filled with candles is going to be wonderful. Choose winter so the sun sets early, or better yet if you think your guests will not whinge too much set the ceremony time for midnight.
Crocosmia
04 Feb
Another local ‘weed’ that has caught my eye is the brilliant orange crocosmia. It is currently flowering in abundance along the side of the road between Tura beach and Merimbula. I am lucky enough to have some in my garden and I am going to make sure I collect some bulbs to put into my new garden when the house is finished. I had never thought of it as a wedding flower until I started imagining what was possible outside of what is available commercially.
Crocosmia cut and left tall for a lovely farmyard wedding. This bride also used wild fennel which is flowering at the moment too. The tall leaves she used are actually young stalks of corn.
Crocosmia mixed with garden roses and Oregano flowers.
Crocosmia in a more yellow shade mixed with ginger flowers for a tropical elopement.
Twinkle twinkle
29 Jan
little star……..
Vintage stars. If you know someone handy with a jigsaw perhaps the moon and star backdrop could be easily made and used for a photo booth.
Etsy is a wonderful place to search for creative little star details in accessories and jewlery.
I have seen these starry string lights around on Pinterest but never anywhere for sale in australia. they seem to have much smaller bulbs than your average christmas might and also are on a wire that can be shaped and will stand on its own. Perhaps worth a search online.
These lanterns were a diy made from an easily available pattern for a star lantern. The garland would be easily made from cut out stars, 2 stars stuck together with string in between.
Norman Hartnell sprinkeld the wedding gown of the then Princess Elizabeth and her bridesmaids with stars.
He must have loved them as he used them in a few more gowns.
Invitations inspired by charts of the night sky.
