Sweet Violet Bride Magazine

At the beginning of this year I was a new girl in a new town with a new business.  There were a lot of unknowns.  But I did know God called Jesse and I to Boone, and I knew he had called me to start Philosophy Flowers.  So we came and I did.  Ten months and twenty weddings later -- here I am.  I feel like I've climbed a mountain, but strangely, I'm not tired.  

I think it's because the burden God gives us to carry is light.  He does the hard work.  He organizes the appoitments.  All we have to do is walk with Him.  

My life has gotten really interesting since I started walking with Jesus each day.  I have found myself in places I would have never dreamed — experiencing more miracles in a year than some do in a lifetime.  Very specific amounts of money have shown up when I needed them, very specific words of affirmation have been spoken that have literally been the answer to a prayer and propelled me to move forward with a specific task.  People whose strenghts seamlessly compliment my weaknesses have shown up at just the right time, with the right tools, and they have graciously poured out their creativity and heart, and things like being published in this magazine happen.

Sweet Violet Bride Magazine is based in New England.  It's packed full of great inspiration for the bride that loves nature!  Our "Biltmore Garden Inspired" editorial will be featured inside its pretty pages.  Warm thanks to Naomi at SVB and Heather from Heather Payne Fine Art Photography — these two talented ladies made it happen!

If you'd like to pre-order a copy for your coffee table you can here.  It's scheduled to arrive in mailboxes in January 2014.  

DIY Magnolia Leaf Wreath for the Southern Christmas Show

This year Old South Vintage Rentals invited us to team up with them to create a designer room at the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, NC!  We love working together — shaking things up in the city of Charlotte and Boone and everywhere in between!

In the designer room, you'll find a big wreath made from magnolia and we wanted to share how to recreate that look for your next party!  

This is what you'll need: 

• Magnolia leaves
• Mesh wire
• Paddle wire
• Wire cutters
• Straight pin
• Ribbon

Start by taking the mesh wire and bend it into the shape you'd like your wreath to be.  Then cut several 5 inch pieces of paddle wire. 

Gather three similar sized magnolia leaves, overlapping the main vein in each and place your thumb over the intersection.  Take a piece of paddle wire, fold it into a u-shape and press an end through each side of the intersection.   

Take the group of wired leaves and attach them to the mesh wire shape.  For this wreath, we used small leaves at the top and gradually used larger leaves as we worked towards the bottom.

Wrap ribbon around the point where the leaves meet.  Before securing the loose end on the backside of the wreath, insert a piece of ribbon horizontally on the frontside.  This will be used to make the bow.  

Then use a straight pin to secure the ribbon from behind.   

Flip over the wreath and tie a bow with the horizontal ribbon to complete the look! 

There are a thousand different ways to use these basic skills and materials!  Wire netting can be formed into so many designs — monograms, topiaries, swags, squares, photo backdrops & focal walls.  We hope this DIY inspires you to dream bigger for your next party!  

Maybe you aren't a DYI person, but you want a designer look for your next event — Give Samantha and I a call.  Old South Vintage Rentals has a beautiful inventory of furniture and home accessories available for rent and I love to ice off the look with fragrant seasonal florals!

Please direct holiday decor inquiries to Samantha at [email protected] and Kelly at [email protected].

Poppies

I have a pen-pal.  Yes, a real, live send-stuff-through-the-mail pen-pal!  Last week she sent me box full of seeds for next spring, specifically poppies.  She said that I was "taken with them" last spring.  She's right.  I was!

I don't even know that I knew that I was.  See that's a good friend.  They notice things like this.   And it's a good thing she did it, because that got me looking for my poppy pictures and I realized I never hit "publish" on these beauties.  So now you get to see the poppy glory :)

These are my seeds -- a little preview of things to come :)  

Speaking of previews, the Flower Olympics is coming to Boone next spring!  So if you are a flower girl and you want to up your game for next season, get in on the games!  It's going to be affordable, informative and really fun.  We're going to focus on developing our skill set and portfolio!  If you want to be informed when a date is set and details are released, email me!  [email protected]