Cox Scholars Banquet

 

Fall Textures and Colors

 

I have been really lucky to work with some great ladies on my corporate work.  They give me linen colors and let me have a chance to use basically whatever I want to.  It allows me to experiment with flowers I don't use very often.  It also allows me to use my interior design experience exploring textures and colors.  

Last week was busy in the design studio making fall creations for 2 events at Indiana University.  I used some traditional fall flowers and added in a few unusual pops of texture for fun.  I used trachilieum for the first time.  (Its the purple puff-ball looking flower below.) It is rough and a little prickly to the touch.  It was the perfect pop of eggplant color that the client requested.  I also used lavender mum, green button mum, alstromeria, green hypericum berries and seeded eucalyptus.  

I was so pleased with how the centerpieces turned out, and more importantly, the client loved them!

A Little Pinterest Love

  Anyone else feel a slight obsession with Pinterest??  I almost feel a little guilty for the amount of time I spend searching bouquet and centerpiece ideas!  (And, I'll admit it, I am usually looking at the food section as well!!  But that is a story for another time!) 

Pinterest has become a brides best friend!  When I got married, (back in the old days) we had nothing in the way of social media, let alone a place on the Internet to find inspiration and ideas.  I mean, there was no Facebook!  I'm not really sure what I did with all that free time:)  Maybe I read a book or 2, talked to someone on the phone or even face to face!!  My how things have changed!

I typically use Pinterest to find inspiration photos that I can use to illustrate ideas to brides. (Although,  I am so school, I still really like to show brides pictures from books and magazine!) I typically ask brides to send me the link to their Pinterest page so I can see all of the ideas they are cooking up!  I also share mine page because I am pinning like crazy these days!! 

For most of my brides, I will offer to create a board just for them.  That way we can share ideas anytime, anywhere!  This is great for my out of town brides! 

With a 5 month old, sometimes I am up in the middle of the night.  Usually I am  pinning while I feed the baby!  The worst part about my late night pinning is my mind starts to race and even after he is back to sleep, I am wide awake!!  Oh my mind!

 Feel free to stop by and check out my boards.  I am all over the place with what I pin!  http://www.pinterest.com/meechols/boards/  Food, home design, ideas for the kiddos!!  But my flower boards, those are my favorites!!! 

What are you pinning these days??

Happy Pinning!!!

Textures

As a former interior designer, I am always looking and feeling materials and objects.  Texture is something that is tactile as well as visual. You not only want to be able to feel textures, but you want to be able to see them. (Confused yet??!!)  When it comes to floral design, texture also plays a key role.  At times it may not be possible (or appropriate) to reach out and touch a bouquet of flowers.  However, being able to "see" the texture is important. 

This centerpiece is full of textures.  Fluffy, rough, smooth, prickly, all in one little vase.  Its pretty amazing what you can achieve with flowers.  And don't even get me started on the smell!  This little guy is a real feast for the senses!

I'm BACK!!!!!!

 

Whew!!  What a year this has been!  I’m guessing if you read this blog, you were slightly confused when I stopped posting after only 4 posts!  I have a pretty good reason…he is a sweet little bundle of cute baby!  Yes, I am now a mom of 3 kids under 3!!  Some call me crazy, I like to think I just like a challenge!  HA!   I took some time off and now I am back in the swing of things and enjoying wedding season.

I am currently booking for fall/winter of 2013 and spring summer of 2014. .  I am also booking for corporate events for the fall and winter of 2013.   

 Please contact me at meechols9@yahoo.com for more information.  I look forward to hearing from you and I am so glad to be back to the world of flowers!

Corporate Work...

 

 

I truly enjoy any chance I get to work with flowers, obviously.  What a sad day it would be if I didn’t!  Of course most of my clients are brides, but I often have opportunities to work with corporate clients.  Typically this involves centerpieces for luncheons or meeting’s. Sometimes I do arrangements for lobby’s or the front desk of an office.  Whatever the case, I love it because it is usually a change of pace from my usual weekend wedding work. 

I love the simplicity of the arrangements I did for a recent corporate luncheon.  They asked for bright and cheery and on the small side so that people could transport them home afterwards.  I think I delivered on all fronts.  Daisies, billy balls, hypericum berries and snap dragons are looking fresh and fun for summer.  I love using ruscus( green leaves)  as a filler and the bear grass adds a touch of height. 

Bright and cheery, these centerpieces were a hit with my clients and with me!  Super fun to create and a nice break from my norm!! 

Wedding Professionals Networking Event

 

I was recently asked to provide the florals for the Bloomington Wedding Professionals Networking group.  This is a group of talented and hard- working individuals that provide services for weddings and events in the area. This includes wedding and event planners, banquet hall facilities, photographers, audio visual support, videographers and other florists just to name a few.  It has become a great resource for ideas, knowledge and support.

I was asked by Ashley, an amazing planner with The Bird& The Bee to do center pieces for tables, kind of a mock reception of sorts. They gave me a color scheme and let me run wild with ideas. I used blue mason jars wrapped in burlap to create a more rustic/romantic feel. I used hot pink spray roses for a pop of color and of course, my favorite billy balls to add a dash of yellow. I used curly willow to give the arrangements height without being too bulky. Light yellow dahlia, blue delphinium and dusty miller finished off the look with a touch of Italian ruskus for greenery.

Ashley and her partner Daniela were great to work with. It was such an honor to be asked and I hope we can work together again in the future!

The event was great and I was thrilled with the warm reception I received! I love how the arrangements turned out, perfect for a spring/summer wedding!  So fun and fresh! 

 

Welcome!!

Hi there! Welcome to my little piece of the web! I’m so glad you’re here. Hopefully you will enjoy visiting and continue to do so often!

My name is Meredith and I am the owner and lead floral designer at A Fresh Flower. We are a boutique style floral studio specializing in weddings and events. (In simple terms, by appointment only!) This blog is my way to showcase our work, as well as learn, explore and teach about all things flower! Here is our “official” mission statement that sums up who we are:

A Fresh Flower is dedicated to the art of floral design. We are a boutique floral design studio specializing in flowers that distinguish your event as a reflection of your own personality. Our goal is to create an enjoyable experience, utilizing your input as we design the elements that truly make your wedding unique. We are as passionate about flowers as we are about providing exceptional service to our clients. We work closely with each client so that our flowers, hues, vases and designs represent the individual style and theme of the occasion. Every wedding and event is unique and we strive to make your vision become a reality. A Fresh Flower insures the highest quality flowers and materials for the best price. We aim for incredible customer service through communication, follow through, courtesy and respect for each client and event. A Fresh Flower’s attention to detail is impeccable and will be spotted in each and every design. Our designers strive to create designs using new and innovative design ideas and techniques. 

A little bit about me… I was an interior designer for over 10 years and owned my own design business for 5. I grew up in my aunts flower shop and have always had a love for flowers and floral design. I believe it’s in my blood and I am so excited to be back in the world of flowers! I have over 8 years’ experience in floral design working in shops in Indiana and Florida. I love being a stay at home mom but I also desire a creative outlet. This allows me to have both and I am extremely lucky!!

Most importantly, I am a wife and a mom. I married my very best friend almost 8 years ago. A year and a half ago I gave birth to twins. (Yes, you read that right, twins!) It has been the BEST thing that ever happened to me. I am blessed with a sweet boy and a precious girl. We also have a little yorkie named Oliver running around our house teasing the babies and barking non-stop. Some days it feels a little like crazy town, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

So, here we are! Hopefully you will come back and visit us often. Grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile. (I’m probably on my second or third cup! Love coffee!! And exclamation points! If you hadn’t noticed!!!) Come back to see pictures of pretty flowers, wedding and event ideas and probably a picture (or 5) of my sweet babies. I’m a proud mama, I can’t help it!!

Here is a pretty picture to get things started on the right foot!

Blossom Sweet