floral arrangements

Give your mom flowers, and she'll smile for a day. Take her to a hip floral class, and she can create arrangements for a lifetime. (that's right, the proverb works for Mother's Day gifts too). On Saturday, May 11, from 10-11 a.m., West Elm stores nationwide will show students how to create an arrangement from The Flower Recipe Book, penned by highly sought-after floral designers Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo of Studio Choo.

For $65, you'll be equipped with a vase, clippers, blooms, and a book, so all you have to do is call your local store to reserve a spot and show up. Yes, it's that easy!

Aside from the bonding points you'll score while crafting your killer arrangement, the inclusion of this jaw-dropping coffee-table tome bundles two gifts in one. The book is filled with step-by-step tutorials ranging from bouquets to garlands and is categorized by season and formality, so there's no need for the class to end on Saturday!

I just returned from a whirlwind three-day trip to North Carolina to learn about Shaw Floors' new line for HGTV Home. The first evening of the trip, I attended a dinner in the charming courtyard of Deerpark Restaurant, located in a historic barn designed by Richard Morris Hunt on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. The scene was absolutely romantic with twinkling string lights wrapped around the trees and gorgeous tablescapes at each round table.

While the use of small carpet remnants as table runners was quite cute for the occasion, I probably won't be replicating the look at home. But I did fall head over heels for the romantic fruit and floral votives at each table. Orchids, anchored by glass beads, and citrus were slipped into clear glass cylindric vases of staggering heights, which were then filled with water. A floating candle was lit on top of each vase, and small tealights were scattered around the table for a truly unforgettable display. I can't wait for my next dinner party, so I can replicate this look!

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member CourtneyOutLoud from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

Well with all this techno stress in my life as of late, I decided I needed a little reprieve — something soothing to look at while I worked in the kitchen (which doubles as my drafting studio, art center, and psycho best friend counseling center). So I created this simple vignette shopping my local grocery store for flowers and my garage for everything else . . .

Simple, easy and elegant – exactly what I needed to gaze upon during this stretch of chaos. . . . I used curly willow and stargazer lilies I picked up at the grocery store for a total of $10. I love the juxtaposition of the lilies against the erratic willow branches. I placed them in a simple vase from West Elm, which I loved for its color, height, and clean lines.

I finished the vignette with two pieces of driftwood and a painted glass bowl I picked up from Marshalls a few months ago. The wood provides a nice organic form to the lower section of the vignette while the bowl visually expands the lower portion of the composition providing sheen and width to an otherwise vertical display.

For more vignette and home decor ideas, visit my blog Courtney Out Loud.

Have you been working on any decorating vignettes lately? Be sure to share your photos with the Lovely Little Vignettes group!

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member stephaniepoli from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

These flowers were still looking pretty good after the rest of the bouquet wilted, so I trimmed them and made another pretty centerpiece for the dining room table. The gray stripe tray is from Ikea. I love how it pairs with the bright yellow flowers.

Have you created any decorating or floral arrangements in your home lately? Be sure to share photos with the Lovely Little Vignettes group!