A Designer's Diary

Avner & Shonta

Kendall — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:41:56 +0000

These engagement photos are really different than the “urban chic” photoshoots we see a lot around here. Instead, these are hip in a totally retro way – back to the ratpack and when cool was really REALLY cool. I think Brian Lauer did a phenomenal job of getting to the essence of these two. I love love love the skater shot that totally captured Shonta and if you knew Avner like we know Avner, you would share in our adoration of just how perfect these photos are! I am quite sure the couple and everyone who loves them will cherish these forever. I just had to show you!

Their wedding is coming up in October — I promise you, it will be amazing!!!

Ashlee & Jon in the Knot

Kendall — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:14:45 +0000

What a lovely memory it was to see this wedding featured in the most recent issue of The Knot.

We erected a fabulous tent (by EventQuip) on the bank of the oh-so picturesque “Clenny Run” that winds through the amazing grounds at Winterthur. The ceremony took place at the reflecting pool. JUST BEAUTIFUL!!! And, of course, the flowers by Beautiful Blooms were just stunning!

Thanks to Mike Kehr, we have incredible photos of this beautiful wedding!

Extraordinary Simplicity

Kendall — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:11:02 +0000

While we love to create lavish, detailed and stunning affairs, there is another side to perfect hospitality. Sometimes, creating something extraordinary can be really simple.

Case in point: Last winter, Sara and I spent hours on fabric row playing with all sorts of beautiful material and notions as we were styling some of our upcoming celebrations. After all the creating was complete, we had some fabric left over. We decided to very easy napkins out of our extra fabric to show you how simple it is to make a table extraordinary. All the placesettings and accessories are pieces that came straight out of our kitchen cabinets. The flowers came from my yard. But the looks are truly special.

Geek Chic (As Maggie likes to call it!)

This napkin was super-simple to make. Just a simple swiss dot, cotton fabric, cut into squares and sewn back-to-back.

An easy summer picnic

We just tied together some flowers cut from my yard and threw them in a wood salad bowl. The effect was lovely!

Again, creating the napkin couldn't have been easier!

Breakfast at the Piazza

We thought it would be fun to just bring some things from the kitchen and set them up at the market tables under yellow umbrellas at the Piazza. Nothing unusual going on here — except the homemade napkins. But it really looks really special! What a lovely way to start a Sunday morning, eh?

Here, we simply used a contrasting fabric for the reverse side.

Turning summer obsessions into a sweet soiree

Kendall — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:10:55 +0000

It’s hot. Really really hot. So hot that no one can speak an intelligible sentence about anything that doesn’t include the words “heat, oppressive, humidity or TURN UP THE DAMN A/C!!”

Aside from the beach (or the “shore,” depending on where you reside), there really are some wonderful things that only happen when the temperature rises above the tolerable. So, rather than dwell on the heat, let’s focus on the great things about summer and how to translate them into a wonderful summer party with friends. The key to a great summer fiesta: SIMPLICITY. I’m from the south (kinda), and there we learned at an early age that slow and easy is the path to great hospitality in the summer sun.

What to serve

WATERMELON! I literally crave it — virtually without calories and certainly without fat, it is nature’s reward for not succumbing to road rage when you’re stuck in traffic on the way to the beach (a/k/a the “shore”).

There simply is no such thing as a great summer party without watermelon — in any form at all. But here’s a great way to enjoy watermelon after hours (or, as my father used to say — “it’s noon somewhere!”)

Navan Watermelon Daquiri

Ingredients per serving

(make ahead of time in a pitcher and let it get really cold before serving)

1/2 oz Navan (in case Navan is new to you, it’s a fabulous vanilla liqueur — better than any other — trust me on this)
1 oz 10Cane Rum
3 nice big chunks of fresh watermelon
1/2 oz Part simple syrup
1/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

Muddle the watermelon. Add Navan, 10Cane Rum, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass (from pitcher).

What to place

Then, to continue to keep things as simple as possible, Mother Nature gives us the most charming flowers for the table that require no effort at all to be perfect! When I see daisies in mason jars on a simply set table, it conjours up my favorite summer memories on picnic benches with the fam. I have to admit, as simple as they are, there is just nothing as sweet and pretty as the white daisies that grow abundantly all summer long. I just love them.

What to wear

And finally, while we’re spending a hot summer day, we must know that there’s just nothing more comfortable than a simple cotton sundress (this one is by Betsey Johnson) adorned with nothing but this wonderful straw hat we found at J.Crew.

Of course, I can’t help but add some flair to the ensemble by placing one of our great Emersonmade flowers (from the Eclatante Boutique) on the sun hat. But that’s just me.

Have a great time! If all else fails, jump in the pool.

Rent Me!

Kendall — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:35:47 +0000

As many of you know, we have an amazing studio on Liberties Walk in the uber-chic section of Philadelphia known as Northern Liberties. People just love it here — and so do we!!

Often, people stopped by to ask if we rent any of our space out for parties. As the photos below show you, the answer is a resounding yes! We’ve gotten enough requests now that I thought it was time to send a message to the world that if anyone would like to rent our studio out, we would be more than happy to make that happen.

If you need more space for a larger party, we can combine our space with the teaching studio at Beautiful Blooms Boutique as a kind of bundle where you could have both spaces and the Walk in between for an amazing party on the Walk. Take a look at all the photos below to see how cool each possibility is. The space rental fee includes the use of our incredible screens, too, where you can play a video of your own or watch a cool season finale or the World Series! Depending upon what configuration of space you choose to rent, your party could go anywhere from intimate (25 people) to 125 people. The rental fee begins at $500 for a five hour event.

Give us a buzz if you’d like to talk about renting our little oasis. We’ve had some incredible parties here!

Paper Cups

Kendall — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:10:02 +0000

I know I’ve been promising to update the blog with our 2010 events — and I will! But when I see things like these totally irresistible paper cupcake cups, I swoon, melt — then have to share.

I found them on my latest favorite blog — Darlyblog.

I really need a cupcake in one of these adorable paper cups.

Bold and Beautiful Zinnias

Kendall — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:04:45 +0000

After a wonderful event in Princeton, I decided that it was too late and I was too tired to drive all the way home, so I spent the night at a friend’s house in Princeton. Donna (of Beautiful Blooms fame) and I took Sunday morning off and hung out in super-charming downtown Princeton. We stumbled across a fabulous little garden, outside of an adorable bar, filled with zinnias where we could sit and drink coffee.

I forgot how much I loved zinnias. I took some photos with my brand new iPhone 4 and I was pretty impressed with the colors! Just looking at them makes me happy, so I thought I’d spread the cheer.

Houn & Jon are engaged!

Kendall — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:39:52 +0000

We seriously Jackie Bayne of Love Shack Photos and the really cool stuff she does when photographing couples. Case in point: Jackie and this really great couple, Houn and Jon, decided to get their engagement photos taken around our beloved Northern Liberties. Then to end the incredible day they were having, landed here at the Eclatante studio for the final shots. It was a blast — as you can see. Feel free to take a look on Love Shack’s blog site to see all the photos – I just put the teasers up here.

Kindness Blooms (again)

Kendall — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:36:52 +0000

Philly Mag’s Bridal Bulletin just ran a feature on our wonderful program called “Kindness Blooms,” where our clients (and others) can donate the flowers they love from their incredible celebrations to people who could really use a little unexpected joy and beauty in their lives. The Kindness Blooms page will tell you how you can help!

You may remember a couple years go when we first blogged about word starting to get around about Eclatante’s Kindness Blooms’ project in MainLine Today and Philly.com.

Since then so many floral arrangements have been provided to the Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Hospital, the Laurel House and several area retirement and nursing homes. Its been pure pleasure being able to facilitate the joy that people get from truly beautiful flowers. And, honestly, there are just no words to express how much better it is to donate the flowers than to see them trashed!

We are always looking for volunteers to help in our efforts. Please take a look at our Kindness Blooms page and let us know if you can help!

Cool Memories!

Kendall — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:51:30 +0000

One of the best things about summer is the jingle of that little white truck that we hear in sub and urban neighborhoods from the first day that the winter finally disappears through the last glorious heat wave. It’s a sound that we can all link back to our childhoods, right?

When I came across these cards this morning by Fine Day Press on Etsy, I almost giggled. Then I realized I had to share them! They are truly happy cards!!!