studio stems blog

new blog .. no blog .... keep blog ... new blog ...

2010-05-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

a sneak peak of a bouquet we did a few weeks back for a Riehl event that was spectacular. more to come ... but somewhere else!

Thought i better at least offer you something visual in this primarily textual post. SO i know i know the blog changes .. where are they? well in the end they really are only half way there! let me explain.

First off the inspiration behind the blog changes occurred months and months ago when i attended nancy liu chin's wedding floral academy in san fran. I learned a great deal about little ways i can improve my company many of which were of a technical nature. i came home with a huge list of goals and i chipped away at them one by one based on how i prioritized. a few months later i met with a good photog friend of mine and we also discussed these much needed technical changes and why. she got me motivated and inspired to indeed change my blog from a blogspot to an embeded wordpress. so it got moved up the list a little, then down, then up, then down. then i finally found the time to work on it. no easy feet if you want to structure and customize it yourself without paying someone for a template. and lets face it i aint the smartest techno tool in the shed. so after a significant amount of time trying to make it work and a trial and error period i have temporarily thrown in the towel. the change is partially there in the format of a wordpress blog, a new one that actually looks very similar to the old one with minimal changes but its not at properly embedded and therefor does not accomplish what its meant to.

this is not to say that i dont still believe in the reasons behind the needed change, i very much do! and i bet your wondering what they are ... so you'll have to go to the new blog {that doesnt quiet serve its full purpose to find out!} its more to say that i have great opps in my life regarding business all of which are great endeavors and intrigue me. and i just dont have the time to accomplish it all all at once. and so because of the frustrating nature of this project and its time consumption this far its stage will stop here for a time.

please please please bookmark the new blog!!!! www.studiostems.wordpress.com

sitting bouquets

2010-04-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

amy's sitting bouquet from a week or so ago. classic simple. plum mini callas, hot pink wrap with some fun pearl pin details.

janessa's white petite sitting clutch white anemone and white scabiosa wrapped with simple black swiss satin.

guest blogger on UTBNG . the blue room .

2010-04-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

We recently did this whimsical blue.green.yellow centerpiece for the blue room @ the blue lemon in highland. Some of you may have already seen it, they had a booth at the thanksgiving point show a few weeks back where this was the main focal piece. I love the blue lemon, their food is absolute! and the blue room, well its a delightful venue option to consider!

Once a month at UBB we switch blog posts with the fantastic tessa wolfe at UTBNG bridal buzz blog. So today i am a guest blogger on her blog. you can see my post on Finding Your Florist here ...

whats to come ... whats behind a new blog and why its taking so long ... several bridal sitting bouquets, & a fantastic wedding!

patience iago

2010-04-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

your probably wondering when these blog changes are coming and what they are and why we are so absent from blogging. there are tons of exciting things going on at studio stems including this striking red simple tulip bouquet we did for a sitting last week {wedding occurs this week fantastic anthro rooftop feel!} but all my blogging time is going towards working out new blog kinks until today of course when i came to that throw in the towel point, lets face it, i am no computer whiz! serves me right i suppose for teasing you to early on! changes are still coming, and yes i am back in the office and in full swing studio work. patience iago patience iago.

meet gabrielle .. our new intern from the life design transition program @ jordan school district.

out of the office

2010-04-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite brian valentine images

I will be out of the office wed april 7th until monday april 12th. all emails and phone call inquiries will be returned then! have a spectacular week!

*** blog changes to come next week be ready!

mad hatter @ market street

2010-04-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

studio stems recently accommodated the tables @ market street grill with these simple & fun mad hatter style centerpieces for a sorority event for Riehl Events. It was fun to do something so off the wall yet simple.

This time of the year is what we here @ studio stems(& many others in the industry) call 'consult season' so i must apologize for our lack of blogging we are very busy with other priorities. we have so many fun things happening here at the studio as well as fun designs in the process. we also have been contributing blog time to some blog changes that are soon to come so stay tuned.

Happy Easter weekend!

turquoise

2010-03-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back we did a turquoise wedding, and though turquoise is a HOT color trend this year, bride's dont usually ask for their flowers to actually be that color. This bride came to me after a flopped bridal sitting bouquet that turned out more green then turquoise. She thought because i do some airbrushing that i could pull off what she wanted. it did take some persistence and i guess it paid off because i complied with her wishes and she got a perfect match on color thats for sure! a challenge non the less. thanks shalice!

the main focus of the bouquet was clearly the amazing casa lily lined with turq gems. painted mini callas brought some pow color and white roses, tulips, and lilies filled it up. small accents of silver foliage were also involved.

wrist corsages were budget friendly hand made wire cuffs with greens and white button mums and little bits of silver foliage.

the bridesmaids carried a single calla with a stem detail that they later dropped into a vase to double as a centerpiece. the men all wore classic white calla or rose bouts. We made a few centerpieces for variety, all of which were simple, a tall silver curly willow focus, short turq focus and of course the bridesmaids vases. simple and unique ... turq unique.

WORKSHOP NOTE: thanks to all of you who have expressed interest. I have decided to only do 5 travel workshops this year and 3 of those spots have been booked, so if your contemplating this at all please contact me ASAP as my own wedding schedule is also booking up! thanks!

workshop

2010-03-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

This is the bouquet that i did for a collaborated shoot with Opie, that has been featured on the Opie blog as well as Utah Bride N Groom blog.

This shabby chic vintage style bouquet has been a hit! Something I created based on the inspiration the location of the shoot provides, {Details in Sugarhouse}. This was also one of my complimentary giveaway bouquets. It consisted of garden roses, peonies, ranucs, dusty miller & lisianthus. vintage blue ribbon wrapped it up!

And with that I think its time to put some workshop options out there ...

As many of my readers, clients, peers, etc. know I am a big believer in education, I seek and attend educational endeavors to better my own skills and craft on a regular basis. I also really enjoy teaching & sharing the wealth. I have been thinking long and hard about what I might have to offer in way of workshop education for the 2010 year, there has been a lot of interest in the last month or so via email and office calls, thanks for your patience while I contemplated how to best serve you! Last year I offered workshops that mainly involved doing a small wedding with Studio Stems, this year I think your tuition could be maximized by me coming to you!

In 2010 I am approaching education just like I approach working with my clients, in a very CUSTOM way. So all workshops will be tailored for the student based on their needs, therefor pricing will also vary and be tailored. But I promise that I will be reasonable and affordable. I am looking to primarily educate those outside of my immediate proximity and I am willing to travel within the U.S. That being said I love my home state and the artists who work here, so please still contact me if your interested, and also keep in mind how heavily interested I am in organizing a summit locally.

The concept: I do a wedding with you, your studio, or your shop as your mentor/employee/educator. While doing so I'll evaluate your process and help you perfect in both business, flower care & design. These workshops will last anywhere from 2-4 days based on each participants needs and can include and are not limited to ... pre design education and help for the scheduled event, order organization, market evaluation, marketing techniques, website/blog evaluation, client contracts, client interaction, client education, employee interaction, associate interaction & contracts, time maximization, finding inspiration & design, flower care, hydration, cooling, design concepts, floral production, bouquets, worn bridal party, aisle/ceremony, decor, centerpieces, on site interactions, client follow up and exposure for your great wedding completed.

Because Studio Stems is heavily booked in the summer season contacting me with your interest level and dates relatively soon may be a good idea. I can only come if I am not already booked! IF your interested please email me with your name, web and or blog address, email, phone number, event date or dates that your interested in, event details, where your at in the designing of that event, what you wish to learn, and the location of course. I will then thereafter be in contact and we will fine tune out the details of maximizing your floral education experience.

I look forward to working on your events & sharing the wealth!

Studio Stems News

2010-03-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

There are so many great things going on at studio stems ... let me share

Get Married Mag

being published is always a spectacular compliment. But this particular mag came to me, i didnt submit to them and that feels really good that a national mag is keeping up on my work and they want it! you can find some of my work on pg 39 in their blooming blossoms section. what i adore about this mag .. you can view the whole thing online very easily! i will say there is nothing better then a tangible mag though and its worth the purchase.

Brideology ...

this educational endeavor was a success and something i think the planning bride should attend. An evening unlike any other full of tips, tricks, and insider info on many wedding avenues for which you will travel. just a few of us great teachers ...

cynthia @ enizio collaborated with Hilary @ alta moda to send a bride down the aisle to conclude the event in a gorgeous gown and professional hair & makeup. We provided a small posy bouquet of ranucs, garden roses, and gorgeous peonies.

All the vendors involved were and are so fantastic and these images are courtesy of darla roze photography! The lead on this event!

Promotional update ~ i recently have had a number of brides who really sincerely are appreciative of my work but cannot afford my min order policy. I have decided to go ahead and make the exception through the remainder of 2010 year for MID WEEK only brides. thats mon-thur. so weekenders will be held to the min order policy.

last week on UBNG a bouquet of mine was featured here ... i will have more details coming soon on my blog with some images and thoughts on this floral creation.

what more is to come besides that fantastic shabby chic bouquet ... workshop options, a turquoise event, & a mad hatter tea party!

a day with a sweet sweet blossom

2010-03-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

There has always been a certain level of controversy that surrounds me and therefor that I end up being involved in, business/floral design is no exception. Education is hard to find locally in the floral industry and I crave it. Not only do I crave it, I find it necessary & rejuvenating. This means that I am willing to share my craft & as many of you know, I do. This is a rare found willingness I must say, it also comes with reservations, blink thoughts, and certainly caution, but I think for many years past this idea was more controversial then anyone would admit, but I also see the industry moving in a pleasing direction. I love to teach, I love to learn. I want to be a better florist, business woman, & designer and I am willing to admit that I need avenues of unique practice & other people to help me progress. So on occasion when I am feeling dry, resource-less & needy I go looking for it and then I ask.

Melissa w/Blossom Sweet & I have become acquainted over the last several months through our blogs and UBB, a I greatly admire many things about her art. So I asked for a collaboration educational day that would benefit us both. What a delightful day it was! Two artists whom share passion about the same thing with exceptional talent, enjoying each others strengths and weakness's. We both came away with a breath of fresh rejuvenation. Just what I needed.

Melissa's blog is outstanding and her own images of her work are also likewise. She taught me a few tricks of the photography trade she had figured out to benefit the wicked portfolio industry. {i have to insert here that i have many many photog friends who have helped me a great deal over the years {and you too megan} but i often dont feel like i can continue to bother you with what seems to be such non sense and more often then not i need to learn hands on!} Even though i am sure your sick of pictures of our Grand America Jan wedding I have to show you just a few more. That place is victoriasly beautiful yet really hard to photograph because of lighting and thus images of my work that I shoot {because i cant always rely on the photog} rarely turn out half decent.

a little magic can go a long way.

among many other things we also made bouquets together out of fresh product we picked out together and we discussed methods to our own madness along the way.

product used: button mums, anemone, roses, carnations, lily grass, & french tulips.
above is my bouquet.

below is the two bouquets together :)

{blossom sweet bouquet laying: studio stems bouquet standing}

Melissa - thank you dearly for a spectacular day! For sharing your craft with me & for helping me grow as an artist! I think a floral summit is inevitable ... all you floral friends ... whats your interest level?

rebecca @ grand revisited 1.9.10

2010-02-23T11:43:00.001-08:00

Photography courtesy!!!! Zuma photo

dress: alta moda bridal

cake: sugar kisses cakes

location: grand america

Flowers: studio stems

Rentals: alpine event rentals

Eve & Rob

2010-02-19T08:21:00.001-08:00

could they be any cuter? for real this couple is my all time fav clients ever in a personal how we worked together and jived kind of way. This event was all Eve & Rob it was just simply them, just as it should be. this wedding is featured on utah bride blog today with much descriptive text so please do visit there for more info. here you will just find art photographed.

photography credit: fantastic mrs rebekah westover

venue: sundance

bridal party attire: big star jeans/matix

gown: nancy barruss/avenia bridal

lighting: alpine event rentals

PS: Eve's mom martha {gem of a woman} hired me to floral paradise out the honeymoon suite. unfortunately i do not have pro pictures of this but i do have a few that neens and i took. so ill post on our sneaky adventure soon.

brideology

2010-02-16T07:16:00.000-08:00

Brideology is only 2 days away! A mere few precious seats remain! You may have waited to see what your plans were this week or to see if you have the night off ... now is the time to go to the site and register for a ticket! They are nearly gone and this is one bridal party you dont want to miss!

picture courtesy of Utah Brideology

photography courtesy of darla roze

makeup & hair courtesy of enizio

flowers studio stems

2010-02-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

courtesy of prima donna bride

i found this image yesterday while building a UBB inspiration Vday board ... it captured my artistic soul ... HAPPY ROMANCE DAY!

I will be out of the office from feb 11 - 16 all messages of any kind will likely be returned then ..

dont forget brideology is fast approaching ... only 20 tickets left!!! visit here for more info!

another event ... alta moda anne barge trunk show this weekend!!! the 12th & 13th @ alta moda of course!

color choice

2010-02-10T10:22:00.001-08:00

check out my post on UBB today!

picture courtesy of www.willyoubemybridesmaidblog.com

FREE giveaway

2010-02-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

The vintage inspired bouquet has been taken ... i know bummer right? that seems to be the trend of the year so there are mass quantities of brides looking for that style. Purple passion has also been taken. but the other black, white, and yellow more edgy bouquet is still available. this time around i will post an inspiration pic of a bouquet that inspires me in regards to style and color but be aware that my bouquet will not be a copy. hopefully you know the drill but if your interested i need you to email me at info@studiostems.com with your name, contact information, photographer, wedding date, or bridal date, and image of your dress!

flowers done by: bella fiori
photography: jared wilson
mag: bride and bloom

brideology

2010-02-02T07:41:00.001-08:00

Brideology by definition: the science of bridal planning in all its forms and phenomena with reference to wedding, beauty, romance, entertainment, and education.

A must attend bridal education party will be held on the evening of February 18th 2010 at an exquisite location between Salt Lake and Utah counties. {want location? Visit site} Eight of Utah's leading wedding vendors will be gathering in this place, at this time {seven to nine pm} to share with you {the planning bride} a priceless no pressure educational experience.

You will learn the short & long term value of a professional photographer . what to wear to maximize your engagement pictures . the difference between film makeup and everyday makeup . bridal hair trends . current bridal gown and accesory fashion trends . the value of event design and great rental pieces such as linens . cake tasting . floral trends & the difference between your aunt betty's flowers, a shops flowers, and a designers flowers . costco catering or profesional catering and so much more!

These vendors are providing an priceless education to the planning bride, something that has not been done before. No strings attached just a night of fun! If you want to attend you must visit the brideology site and register, seating is limited.

www.utahbrideology.com

info@utahbrideology.com

today

2010-01-29T09:57:00.001-08:00

today you can see the works and features of studio stems on UBB and a little tid bit on UTBNG check them both out.

2010-01-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

just a few snapshots (by me nothing glam) of the first wedding of 2010 for studio stems. Grand America, silver, white, and navy blue color scheme. several varieties of one type of centerpiece and also a crazy silver winter tree for the sign in. we used glass, urns, silver flute, silver candleabra's, and silver boxes as well as lots of bling and crystals. i hope on this one there will be more to come in a pro image format.

bouquet giveaway!!! that means FREE peeps

2010-01-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

BRIDAL SITTING BOUQUET GIVEAWAYS! I am going to do this a tad different than in years past, the benefactors will be thrilled, this year all bouquets will be FREE, not even cost will be charged. I will be doing 3-5 stages of them throughout the entire 2010 year. and this is how it will work. For each stage I will be posting 3 inspiration pictures that exemplify the creations I am chomping at the bit to design in real life, the color schemes and styles will be clear through these inspiration images but no further information regarding the bouquets will be given.

RULES & REQUIRMENTS
* bouquet cannot be used for actual wedding day, bridal pictures only ... UNLESS you hire studio stems to do all the floral's for the event.

*no brides currently booked/consulted with studio stems at the time of each posting are eligible.

*must have reputable professional photographer approved by studio stems

*application should be emailed to audrey @ info@studiostems.com include your name, email, phone number, wedding date, location, bridal sitting date, location of bridal sitting, photographer, dress color & style {picture if possible}, picture of bride {can be casual snapshot}, what inspiration image bouquet your interested in and why that one, why you want a studio stems bouquet and why you want it FREE. {be creative but honest please!}

BE AWARE OF A FEW THINGS
If I chose to explore your further candidacy you will be required to sign a simple contract along with your photographer stating that images of the bouquet {good ones} both by itself and with the bride {a minimum of 15 images} will be taken and given to studio stems promptly after the shoot takes place with full copyright release.

and of course you can always call {801.404.0927} or email me {info@studiostems.com} with any further questions

so without further ado .... this stages 3 inspiration images ...

vintage garden romance

a passionate eye

elegantly BOLD

simplicity

2010-01-16T10:25:00.001-08:00

have a good long weekend

a revisit & a look ahead

2010-01-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

how could i not revisit the exquisite ...

sizzling hot ... i know! so this is a little revisit to one of the most fab events from 2009. thanks to lindsay jane photography for the prof pics! I didnt share much of this event before because i simply am not a great photographer ... i know i know same old song and dance. just enjoy!

brittany was one of those brides that miss talking to and interacting with, could she be more gorgeous? her bouquet was all english garden roses and it smelled so delish. it was classic and fit her, and her venue well.

darling bridal party. clearly britt's colors where browns, creams, and greens. with a few accents and details in pale pinks. Half the bridesmaids carried pale pink english garden rose bouquets and the other half carried cream colored english garden rose bouquets.

flower girls ... some of the cutest i have yet to see! carried classic green button pomander balls.

english garden roses make fantastic wrist corsages if i do say so myself!

great venues make such a big difference in ambiance and la caille is no exception. i worked there a lot this year. and for this event i enlisted the help of one of my fav industry peeps, alpine event rentals to supply fantastic chandeliers everywhere!

the centerpieces had these darling table numbers made by pink piggy and each table had a trio of monochromatic arrangements in classic glass vases.

classic hanging pomander balls at the ceremony gazebo.

petals down the aisle were arranged in a paisley pattern multi toned and roped off until the bridal party entered.

megan @ pink piggy and i collaborated on this candy buffet. its nice to have a florist take care of this for you, they have unlimited resources on containers and vases so why not, worked out perfectly!

thanks britt for letting me be part of your special day!

LOOKING AHEAD 2010 - are you looking ahead to spend less? you may notice a new promo section on the side bar at the top of the blog. here you will find promotional things going on here at studio stems. first noticy a policy waiver on our $1000 min order policy for weddings in february - april. so be sure to contact me even if your budget is small. i also have some fun stuff on the horizon to offer you like another set of giveaway sitting bouquets! woo woo. so be sure to stay tuned.

Pink Piggy Design {new site debut}

2010-01-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

So i have waited exactly 7 months to post these pictures {or at least some of them!} this last summer Megan @ pink piggy design organized a collaboration of vendors to participate in one stellar photo shoot that primarily showed off her amazing invites. It really turned out to be amazing for all of us! Retrospect {photography} alta moda {provided gowns} enizio {hair & makeup artistry} and of course yours truly {flowers} and then the invites from pink piggy {the reason}

The whole point of this shoot was very themed as megan was preparing to launch a new vintage elegance website to showcase her astonishing works of art. That day has finally come! so head to her site now! here is a little taste of her candy ...

want more? you must go visit her site! You can also see her own write up on her new site debut on UBB. and you can also leave a comment on UBB that may just get you a little complimentary treat!

so my inspiration for the shoot was the marie antoinette feel megan was trying to create. i created 5 bouquets for this shoot {more to be seen in many other places}. the two pictured here are very different, one is curly willow and big bloomed hydrangea with my fav vintage champagne brown ribbon. the other is a layered style with light tones of large blooms flowers and deep rich smaller bloom accents.

Utah Bride & Groom mag 2010

2010-01-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

so its officially hit news stands! thats a studio stems bouquet on that cover. a very fall like organic one!

not only can you see my eye candy on the cover but inside the mag too including a pic of me in a tip box accomidated with words. publication has been a yearly goal for me for several years. and each and every year it gets better and better. id like to thank tessa wolf @ Utah Bride & Groom for a great relationship and opportunities for which i am super grateful for and for her friendship.

2010

2009-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

I very likely could be the poster girl for branding inconsistency! i never can find creative happiness in a logo that is everything i need and want it to be. That all being said i think this is closest to logo bliss i have ever been .... so here it is unveiled. the new branding for studio stems. i would like to say that it comes with a sealed stamp of long term consistency ... but if i say that it wont, if i dont say it at all then of course it will so lets not say anything at all! I also have to send HUGE shout out to megan of pink piggy designs for putting up with me! for creating yet another fabulous logo and for being a great friend and business partner! be sure to check out some fresh new tunes, ok so only 2 new songs i couldnt give up the rest as well as new logo and new images on the site!

I look forward with excitement to 2010 as studio stems continues to progress into something i can be proud of. This year much {and i do mean much} of my work is featured in local magazines as well as even a bouquet on a cover! So go pick up a copy of Utah bride and groom mag january 1st! (cause thats my fav!) Many local blogs will continue to feature the work and writings of yours truly including my own little spawn i share with megan Utah Bride Blog i will continue to write for Pink Blossom List starting back up in feb so for all your florists who follow be sure to find me there as well.

Outstanding 2009 events have yet to be blogged so look forward to that as we all look forward to another great year! Have a safe & joyful celebration of what has past and moving forward. Thanks once again to all of you that have supported me and continue to support me!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

2009-12-25T10:35:00.000-08:00

Utah Bride and Groom article

2009-12-16T16:46:00.001-08:00

this little tid bit has been tweeked from my previous doing for other sites and blogs and in line with some fellow artists for UT B&G check it out here!

cereh & her amazing bouquet

2009-12-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

cereh & tarans wedding was just a few months ago. This bouquet was so suited to cereh and so custom her. they were a delight to work with and for and this bouquet was one large rock of beauty.

photographs courtesy of: atmosphere photo

alta moda SALE!!!!!

2009-12-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

Alta Moda (the best bridal boutique in the state ... in my opinion!) is having their annual sample sale. This is your chance ladies to get a couture gown that you otherwise could not afford!

To make room for new 2010 arrivals gowns will be marked down 50-85%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! several gowns will be as low as $400 and many options under $1000.

Just imagine, a Monique Lhiullier gown for under $1000!!!

There will be dresses from all of your favorite designers; Vera Wang, Melissa Sweet, Augusta Jones, Rosa Clara, …and the list goes on.

Good things to know:

* Sale hours are 10am - 5pm, December 12th only

* No appointments: First come, First served (wait list)

* Gowns are sold as is

* No holds and all sales final

* Most gown are suited for street sizes 4-12

* We only do this once a year, so now is the time

* Space is limited; bring along only the key decision makers

We love our gowns and treat them with the best of care, so you can be assured you are getting a glorious gown at a sensational price.

Sample Sale. December 12th. Tell your friends!

the beginning of the end of '09

2009-12-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

Tis the season! it is upon us! i made this collage for UBB flower friday and i wanted to share the seasonal inspiration.

i have not been the blogger that i expect so that for sure means that your expectations have been disappointed. at this busy time of year some fun new things are coming the way of studio stems including several editorial publications even a cover! shhhh! a lot going on at UBB, new logo and web design and some fun new blog changes along with several posts like cereh & tarans wedding, amy's wedding and a few other odds and ends. Its been a spectacular year for studio stems. Its been a year of growth & change. Those are the years that really extend and push me and just like a difficult yoga class, feel so good in retrospect.

i want to thank all my clients this year! LIz S. MACU, Brooke H, Erika, Enizio, Sarah M, Jaycie, Maren, Megan P, Alysa, Joey & Nadia, Jacque, Katie, Breauna, Rachel, Halley, Brittany, Ashley L, Megan N, Whitney, Cereh, Amy Q, & last but very much NOT least Eve & Rob!

A big shout out needs to go to my partner in all business crime ... megan bailey w/pink piggy design and co-owner of UBB! I cant do this without you girl.

there are also so many other vendors that make me feel like i am part of a family and are a huge players in the success of studio stems. i want you all to know how grateful i am for your business & personal friendships!

Whimsy, nancy liu chin, roze photography, rebekah westover, dustin izatt, jessie evans, alta moda, retrospect, enizio, alpine event rentals, log haven, la caille, sundance, laughing gravy, sugar kisses, melissa kelsey, esprit, red mt, FSS, vanessa millecam, & no doubt i have missed a few!

behind the scenes ... cost vs. art

2009-11-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

As the market corrects causing the un-savy shopper to become savy, the wedding industry is also under financial scrutiny, including the cost of wedding flowers. More then ever in my eleven year floral career, brides are asking me what flowers cost. sometimes they are finding this out for themselves … and then they are asking me why a single stem boutonniere that carries a cost of only $1 is being charged at a $7-$10 rate. So following in suit (with permission of course) of some other amazing designers across the nation (ie nancy liu chin, amy of hidden garden, david dahlson w/mayesh, sean low and a few others) I want to break it down for you as to what it is that you GET when you “get what you pay for.”

Ill try to keep it simple and straight forward. For simplicity take this bouquet for example (that i chose for seasonal reasons):

here is what you will need to make this bouquet, this is cost only you may not use the entirety of product but you will have to purchase it to create this one piece.

1 bunch of black magic roses $22
1 bunch of red france roses $22
1 bunch of red berry $9
1 bunch of salal or lemon leaf or foliage $5.25
1 bunch of red tulips $10
1 box of pins $2.50
1 spool of ribbon $6
1 spool of floral tape $1.50

the basic costs of goods to make this bouquet rings in @ $78.25

now consider what a few other elements going into this bouquet might be worth. What about the design of flowers that so eloquently marry each other, how they are grouped and or arranged? The knowledge of knowing that before hand and not being reliant on an assumption that the combination you have chosen will look good. Basically what about experience that ultimately ends in a piece of art that has a bit more integrity then an un-experienced DIY bouquet done by someone with little to no experience? The energy to order them, pick them up, store them, hydrate them, arrange them, finish them, and deliver them? Yeah you can avoid all this expense by doing it yourself if you have lots of time, great resources, some serious know how and a few other skills, or your aunt kate can do it as well, but what is the outcome? Great floral designs really can make or break your wedding, and I mean this literally! They are often the focus and indication of how nice your wedding was and what style it entailed in all your forever pictures you just paid a great photographer for (i hope you have done this at least). So lets say you recognize this and you want works of art for your floral designs. Above and beyond the costs you see above, what are you willing to pay for those other underlying less physically tangible things to consider? What is someones time & talent worth to you? What should their markup be? What about covering their company expenses before they even make a profit? Like the advertising that got you to them in the first place, their insurance that covers the unimaginable, the gas for all the driving around they did for that one bouquet? a professional florists needs to 'account for their costs and pay themseleves a LIVING wage” as david w/mayesh would say.

So is this bouquet worth $160 to you? Its cost plus match? Is it worth $200? is it worth more? Does it depend on who its coming from? What I want you to know is this, more often then not you get what you pay for. If you want your catering done out of your kitchen from costco by aunt jane then thats what your catering will taste & look like and so on and so on. But most importantly I want you to know that if you ask your professional florist to break it down for you, he or she just might be willing to show you how meager their income really is. sometimes a little light shed is a valuable piece of knowledge.

In fact I think this concept pertains to nearly every vendor in the wedding industry. Many soon to wed couples think about doing invitations, catering, photographer and other resources themselves. But what is the value of a pro doing it right?

I do realize the doom and gloom of the current financial crisis and how it is truly curtailing the dreams of many betrothed. I dont doubt that a DIY path may be the only option and I dont mean to offend or downplay great possibilities that come out this, I sincerely wish you all the best. I merely mean to educate you as consumers as to what you get when you get flowers vs art or food vs catering or images vs photography and the values associated with both sides. There are ways to work around the economy with your vendors, they are full of options. Seek them out and utilize their expertize.

wedding floral acadamy

2009-11-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Last week i journeyed out to san francisco (a city of my heart) with my assistant jules to attend, participate, and help with Wedding Floral Academy.

i cannot say enough about nancy liu chin and her eloquent teaching & design abilities. she is a selfless designer contributing back more then most do. I came home overwhelmed in the most positive sense of the word. workshops are about education & ultimately growth. an opportunity to take advantage of. i came home with some major growth in nearly all areas of life and my business. few endeavors supply such a balanced experience of growth. If you are a designer seeking further education, wedding floral academy is a must!

the first few days were business focused, i am filled with excitement to implement ideas that i know will better my company thanks to this healthy rejuvination. then we spent a few days at flower market on brannan to experience floral design. a few things that came out of it for me ...

a big shout and thanks to nancy of course as well as stacy with the flirty bride for one amazing quick blogging course! and for her industry involvement. Also the other participants, mainly marion, jen, jean, kelly, anne, and last but very much not least for julia, making the trip an adventure of a lifetime. thanks for going on this journey with me girl! never forgotten!

rachel & ker on my blog & UBB

2009-11-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

this wedding is a revisit on this blog but these are pro pics provided by emily brown photography. so i thought it was worth some nostalgia. its also on UBB today!

so ihave just returned from WFA with Nancy Liu Chin i have so much to share. its almost overwhelming but its so fantastic and i feel so rejuvinated in business and design.

WFA bound!

2009-11-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

its time, the day has finally arrived. studio stems is headed to san fran for WEDDING FLORAL ACADEMY with NANCY LIU CHIN! i can hardly wait. Nancy is and has been an amazing mentor to me and i am so excited to go out there and help her with this educational artistic experience. therefor i will be out of the office from ... friday the 6th - thursday the 12th. all emails and messages will be returned then.

enjoy some of nancy's work while you smolder in your jealousy!

good posts to come when i arrive back, several weddings and some great informational stuff.

happy halloween

2009-10-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite things ... my gem studded tarantula necklace .. i have a dark side too! its slight but there. some dark wedding inspiration ....

as promised breauna's goooorgeous wedding

2009-10-22T12:25:00.001-07:00

lets just start with breauna herself ... beautiful bride!!! this is from her sitting where we did a simple nearly monochromatic bouquet of dahlias, buds, mag leafs & curly willow. up front i want to thank and recognize the amazing talent of vanessa millecam for these gorgeous photos and great work!

then there was her wedding day bouquet ... breauna wanted her flowers to be gorgeous but as she would say it "sort of dead looking" something a little nightmare before christmas but still gorgeous and in her color scheme. i used antique hydrangea, petal less sunflowers, poppy pods, brown cym orchids, dahlias & buds, mini callas, curly willow, & mag leafs to create this look custom for her!

mothers wrists adorned pearl bracelet base with brown cym orchids and small bud details

bridesmaids bouquets were small versions of the brides. flower girl carried a button pomander. all ribbon was dark chocolate brown.

the boys in their classic and simple bouts the groom adorned a mini calla with a dahlia bud, mag leaf and curly willow while his groomsman mimicked his creation but without the calla.

breauna wanted tall centerpieces in classic glass V containers and curly willow was a must and so was that borderline dead feeling.

sugar kisses created this marble masterpiece cake that i then adorned with a cage style wrap of curly willow and fresh flowers.

it was a pleasure to work with breauna & her family every step of the way and turned out a gracefully, gorgeous, and nearly dead event.

sneak peak ... OOO

2009-10-12T10:45:00.001-07:00

breauna's bouquet ... more to come!

Out. Of. Office.

i will be out of the office from oct 12-20th. i am cutting myself off from the wedding world for some much needed rejuvination. all messages will be returned after the 20th. thanks.

photography credit: vanessa millecam

studio stems on UTB&G

2009-10-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

love when my stuff is exposed two days in a row! check it out here!!!

PS not to mention how grateful i am for the gracious writings of another blog/mag. i dont always see myself the way they do but it sure feels good.

featured

2009-10-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

check out studio stems feature wedding {breauna & ted} on Utah Bride Blog ... more flower pics to come on my blog!

Ashley's summer wedding

2009-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

i think this might be my most fav ever ring/flower pic. i love crespedia, the modernism in natural form they convey speaks to me. these photos are courtesy of Jeni Boston photography

as promised ...

2009-09-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Rachel & ker 9.12.09

this pic hardly does this very unique bouquet justice! cant wait to see the real pics with the actual bride holding it. its a lot bigger then it looks as well. oh the perspective of a lens ... two tones of english garden roses, signature black callas and monkey tails wrapped in brown satin and classic pearl line! oh oh and crespedia!

rachels aisle was lined with classic shepherd hooks and pomanders done in a natural style with variety of greens, whites and browns.

centerpieces in short rectangular vases wrapped in cork with a unique variety of flowers and color!

throw bouquet ... unique as well and of course doubling at another table!

look for better pics to come at emily brown photography

venue: log haven

bad habits

2009-09-20T22:53:00.000-07:00

i have become so reliant on the pro photogs for pictures that i have become reluctant to use my own. but sometimes the wait for those is just simply to lengthy and out of my control. you readers deserve more than that right? you'll suffer through my better then average but not better then a photog images right?

so this image is from rachel's event last week at log haven. i like this picture a lot because the focus is this english garden rose 'juliet'. english garden roses have been the focus of the last two big events here at studio stems. i have decided that if anyone every asked me what kind of flower i would be if i had to identify myself with one it would be this ... this exact color and variety of english garden rose. its plump yet beautiful. it also has more layers then an onion i swear and what better way to describe me! its also just another sneak peak but is my image which means ill get to photoshopping and get you a real post.

a few other things to watch for ... ashley larsens event, rachels event @ log haven, brittany's amazing la caille event, breauna's stunning experience, a few bridal sittings and a few other small but very nice weddings.

p.s. couch is gone.

heart breaking

2009-09-10T18:59:00.001-07:00

for those of you that follow my family blog you know i own this sweeet vintage couch. its 9 feet 4 inches. very antique but in great condition. pattern on fabric is amazing. i have held on with a tight grip through the move but in reality this couch will not fit and work in my home no matter how i try. it saddens my heart but i must part with this beut and enjoy smaller and simpler items i possess. i am posting it here because i think this is an extremely valuable photo shoot piece. i know you photo peeps read this blog ... well ok i dont know but i hope you do. so any of you readers out there interested email at info@studiostems.com with your bid.

ashley ... sneeeeek peeeek

2009-09-08T00:29:00.000-07:00

a little teaser from ashley's wedding. studio stems is close to settled for studio workspace. the last of the inventory was moved in on labor day thanks to the labor of two very strong brothers of mine! it feels so good to be more settled. more to come .....

photography credit: jeni boston

organized chaos at studio stems

2009-09-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

there is a sure air of chaos here. but its good chaos. studio stems has officially moved to our permanent provo pad. its still under construction (so please continue to excuse the dust) but its getting there slow but sure and though the unpacking is nauseating i am getting it done. i am excited to have a bigger work space and more storage for inventory. we still have been busy busy besides the move a few brilliant weddings have come and gone as well as some really amazing creative opportunities. like this one you see above. Tessa @ utah bride & groom mag asked me to create a fall bouquet for their mag shoot. i heart opps like this. it lets me reach way outside the box. excuse the picture. its been edited (poorly at that) on my new laptop that i still dont know how to use and of course it was taken by me not ideal!

we are still taking fall bookings and dont forget about our deals in play!

catherine @ memorial grove

2009-08-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

catherine wanted soft pastel colors, yellow, blues, pinks, and of course whites with some greens ... naturally. kept her bouquet really simple and elegant with pale yellow mini callas wrapped in pink satin ribbon and a pearl line, bridesmaids were budget friendly small clutches of pink monochromatic carnations. MOH was a little more special as you can see.

for decor we did half classic fat cylindar glass filled with hydrangea, lilies, football mums, stock, and roses, the other half were regular classic glass cylindar vases filled with the like. the tall buffet piece had added glads and amaranthus along with a little willow. the sing in table was the ever so popular carnation pomander a top a candle stand.

lindsey hearts peacock feathers & gardenias

2009-08-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

9.1.09

LIndsey new what she wanted ... traditonal, cascading, gardenia's and peacock feathers (bleached and regular!)

saving money with studio stems

2009-08-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

this centerpiece was from a clients wedding a few years ago! one of my fav's. photography: rebekah westover

There are a few ways to get a deal with studio stems. As many of you know we have a $1000 minimum order policy. For brides on a budget this may seem more then they can afford, but if your getting married in the off season then your in luck (in fact if your getting married in the off season you can get deals with just about every wedding venue & vendor so you should be asking if your date is set in one of these months!) Another way to get a deal is to book one of our associates! who isnt looking for a deal these days? i got it for ya ...

so 1. book studio stems for your october, november, january, february, or march wedding and i will wave my $1000 minimum order policy and take on smaller events.

and 2. book any of these vendors in addition to your contract with studio stems and you will get a complimentary bridal sitting bouquet up to a $200 value.

pink piggy design - invitations
sugar kisses cakes
laughing gravy entertainment
david perry films
buy a dress @ alta moda
enizio - hair and makeup artistry

kayleen T photography
roze photography
jessie alexis photography
retrospect studios
dustin izatt photography
rebekah westover photography

*associates are listed in no particular order!

Kate & Rob

2009-08-10T01:11:00.000-07:00

where: log haven
when: end of june 2009
Photography: Angie @ sweet memory garden
hair & makeup: enizio
Flowers: me of course!

la caille {haley}

2009-08-02T20:13:00.003-07:00

i am always tempted to wait for pro photography to post pics but with such a busy season i could get behind on the blog for sure. but you all want to see it anyway right? regardless of my rusty photography skills {or lack thereof} and then you dont mind a trip down memory lane in a better way down the road do you?

so Haley got married the last weekend of July at the fabulous La Caille. This venue has a magical feel to it. Kind of like disneyland!

Her bouquet was unique in color but traditonal in shape and flower choice {with the exception of a little bit of monkey tail for some modern flair}. Sterling & amnesia roses, dark purple mini callas, & black monkey tail. Haley was all about wedding tradition and sentimentality. We included a small sprig of IVY in her bouquet to follow an old victorian tradition to plant the ivy sprig out of the bridal bouquet to be used in the bouquets of posterity. Ivy also represents wedding bliss & eternal fidelity.

bridesmaids carried small clutches of purple mini callas with a little bit of greens and a wrap that mimicked the brides wrap in custom purple fabric and black lace as well as matched their dresses.

The ceremony was at the gazebo area out amongst the ducks, peacocks, and swans in the delightful garden atmosphere. we hung a cone basket from the center of the gazebo that was drapped with hanging green amaranthus and a fresh bouquet of hydrangea, roses, and calla lilies. small paper cones also hung from the gazebo with single sterling roses inside them. Two large arrangements sat on cabaret tables in front of the gazebo pillars in large glass bow vases filled with hydrangea, amaranthus, dendro orchids, and roses. The aisle was lined with purple petals and the chair ends adorned paper cones with more petals for a colorful wedded walk down the aisle after the ceremony.

inside the atrium for the reception each table centerpiece was a tall cylindar classic glass vase with submerged dendro orchid stems. elegant and simple. the head table had a fuller arrangement with a lace collar to match the wedding party. The cake was a simple 3 tier with purple ribbon and a few clutches of fresh flowers freelance by yours truly.

i want to thank julia for great work assisting me on this event. Jules your a valuable asset to me! thanks!

amazing veil .... FREE!

2009-07-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

i absolutely heart cage veils and wouldnt you know it UtahBrideBlog is giving one away .. yep i said giving! and its simple and easy!

just go here and enter!

lindsey

2009-07-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

lindsey is getting married this weekend and i am pumped to be part of her event. she comes from a fam of gem and has been easy and delightful to work with. she wanted something that not many bride's these days want here in utah ... a true classic white traditional cascade bouquet. with a little spin of peacock feathers.

photography by: xpose

hot peony

2009-07-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

you might remember this absolutely stunning bride from this post ... i am so fortunate to have jacque as a client. she rocks and she is so gorgeous. on her bridal shoot i had in my posession some very coveted hot pink peonies that i desperately wanted to go to good use so i sent them with her and my bestest photog friend rebekah for a little added measure to their shoot. sure glad i did! thanks girls!

whats to come ... lots of weddings and a few more sittings! including kate & rob's fantastic affair at log haven

composite

2009-07-17T01:24:00.001-07:00

a lily composite for haley's photo shoot. fun. this actually was one of my bouquet giveaways from the spring time posts. i really wanted to do a lily composite and it was joyous. interesting feast for the eyes. labor intensive but gorgeous. runs about $150 and up depending on size.

utah bride & groom

2009-07-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

recently LIz & Brig's wedding from several months back was featured on the utah bride & groom blog! Utah Bride & Groom produces one of Utah's best local wedding mags & blogs so check it out!

harley davidson

2009-07-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

harley davidson as a venue? does it get cooler then that? this is a venue that she be more highly considered, that being said i think megan had a hook up so i dont know how keen the guys at harley would be on often hosting events. but the big glass doors and modern vintage architecture made one gorgeous and unique event. the amazing merchandise display tables doubled up as buffet tables and the dressing rooms in the middle of the store served well as backdrops for the cake and decor. everything was just so perfectly suited to this style!

megan's color scheme focused on whites for the most part, a little bit of green and some cool accent colors like bronze/copper/black/silver. we had large carn wreaths at the door and inside at strategic places, kept the centerpieces simple but cool, and bridal party flowers in theme with the venue.

thanks megan for letting me be part of your rockin event, it was a pleasure!

photography: the amazing & wonderful dustin izatt!

PS. i had a fab intern for this project! sunni you rock! thank you for your tips and teaching me!

red

2009-07-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

this is jacque taylor a local wedding photographer, she is my gorgeous client. rebekah westover is her photog & i am flattered to be her florist. when another industry vendor comes to you for their own wedding there are few things as truly complimenting. thanks jacque! she is so absolutely gorgeous that its hard to even focus on the bouquet but i thought this bridal sitting bouquet was a great post for the 4th of july weekend. i am really excited for jacque's upcoming wedding in august. her colors are red, green, gray & black. a stunning combination. bouquet = two varying tones of red roses, mini callas, and cymbidium orchids. collared in black feathers and wrapped in the perfect gray with a stunning broach.

studio stems will be "out of the office" for the remainder of the week
but tomorrow you can see more of my work/tips on other blogs {pink blossom list} & {Utah Bride Blog}

photography courtesy of: rebekah westover photography

eve

2009-06-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

great name, great bride, great bouquet!!!! need i say more?

photog: rebekah westover
flowers: coxcomb, poppy pods, petal-less painted sunflowers, yellow freesia, & red mondara.

june bloom

2009-06-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

so june is typically wedding blitz month! i took this years june off for my little peanut saylor. so this year june has turned into bridal sitting month for studio stems rather then wedding month! every week has included a few sitting bouquets. i have loved just the right amount of creative outlet for my circumstances and some fun brides & bouquets. I am looking forward to some more full fledged events.

today's post is courtesy of sweet memory garden photography ...

Kate has been a delightful client and she is so beautiful and fun. the weather has been june gloom this month and nearly every shoot i have been involved with has had some rain issues but kate's was the most adventerous and yet still such amazing turn out! her wedding is the one and only june wedding studio stems will be doing and its coming up fast next week so watch for more! we used a bright array of a sunset lily, green cymbidium orchids, mini callas, anemone, and freesia. kate's fabulous look was created by the one and only enizio

whats to come .... jacque's two bouquet bridal shoot, melissa's shoot, peacock feather bouquet, eve's original and amazing shoot bouquet, and megan's harley davidson wedding :)

revisiting sarah & daniel

2009-06-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

hotel monaco .... slc utah ... sarah & daniel .... spring 2009 .... modern ....

photography - rebekah westover

teaser & workshop openings

2009-06-10T19:54:00.000-07:00

enjoy this little teaser from megan's wedding. it was @harley davidson and was boss. more to come of course. thanks to the wonderful dustin izatt.

i am opening up 3 more workshop summer dates. want to know what a workshop even is?

here at studio stems i get weekly inquiries about hiring, internships, or people just flat out wanting to learn. i have decided to offer all you inquirers an opportunity. studio stems will be offering mini workshops periodically. the best thing about these workshops is that they will also be real experience with our team as we prep and complete events. you will be an employee for the day, one that can ask as many questions as you like and one that i will be specifically paying extra attention to in efforts to educate you on the ins and outs of it all and there is nothing more valuable then real experience on a real event. *clients rest assured that you still get me and my whole team as it was prior to now!

dates for the workshops are June 26-27, july 24-25, and july 31st and aug 1st

rate will be $300 per workshop

if you are interested email me at info@studiostems.com
i need your name, contact info, what dates your interested in, what experience you have, and why you want to participate in the workshop, also what you would like to learn.

joey + nadia

2009-06-07T22:31:00.000-07:00

my brother & his bride ... believe it or not a rare opp for a pro bono event.

english garden roses, hydrangea, amaranthus, sahara roses, & mini callas

*** a big shout out to Jessie Alexis Photography for providing me with these pics but more then that for being such a great vendor!

also another shout out to Julia Rex for being the best workshop participant ever!

and then a shout out to my brother whom i am so proud of and love dearly!

FREE FREE FREE PEONY BOUQUET

2009-06-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

URGENT! so i hope to find one really really lucky bride with some serious flexibilty & a great photog who is also flexible. perhaps for a bridal sitting shoot. i have some amazing very open gorgeous darker pink peonies. i want to make a bouquet and get some great shots of it. for those of you who dont know peonies are a pretty penny and a bouquet of this nature would be somewhere in the $300+ range. ITS FREE. but the catch is i need it to be shot sunday or monday (yes like in the next two days)! maybe, maybe tuesday morning at the latest. they are almost through their delightfulness so this is URGENT.

if you want to apply please email me at info@studiostems.com with your name, contact info and link to your photogs work and when you could shoot.

**** all my photog friends forward this to brides or email me if you can come get the bouquet and shoot it by itself! thanks peepS!

wedding floral academy by Nancy Liu Chin

2009-06-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

in november Nancy Liu Chin is doing a 3 day wedding floral design workshop. space is imited and this is a priceless experience. I for one will be attending and contributing! and its in my most fav city in the US good old San Fran. visit her workshop blog here for more info! and contact her ASAP for a spot.

peony

2009-06-01T19:48:00.001-07:00

the peony is one of my favorite things. thats right things ... not just one of my fav flowers. its a pricey stem, but so amazing. i recently moved out of my home & studio and am renovating a new one. in the meantime i am at grandmas and so comes the blessing of a mature yard. big in bloom peony bushes. the color is incredible and i cant stop going out to visit these buets! i had to share! i may make something with them or even throw them into one lucky bride's bouquet!

soon to come ... more from joey & nadia's event, an amazing wedding at the coolest venue in town (harley), and lots and lots of bridal sitting bouquets.

just a reminder that i am not available for consults until mid-june.

joey & nadia preview

2009-05-27T15:59:00.001-07:00

last weekend my brother got married. this is a rare treat for me and it was delightful .... besides the fact i was really sick. i didnt get to enjoy his wedding at all. priority was to get the flowers/linens done. i was able to attend the ceremony but little more. Nadia wanted a neutral toned champagne color scheme with a little purple and green. she also wanted a very romantic garden european feel with a modern twist. the photogs involved ~ jessie alexis & rebekah westover. this gave me an opp to use some of my most fav flowers since i had more of a say then usual so garden roses it was! cant resist them, the way they smell, the way the open, the way they layer, the way they are! delightful! other flowers used in bouquet: hydrangea, amaranthus, mini callas. more to come on this one ....

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2009-05-19T13:37:00.001-07:00

This is the second bouquet in my giveaway series ... it went to alysa. its a simple small clutch in a beadimir style, meaning layered. the center layer was perfectly fragrant and lovely hyacinths with a little bit of green bling, the second layer was gorgeous orange ranuculus, and the third was a looped satin ribbon collar. the stems were wrapped in black satin ribbon and a green gem lined topped it all off. this is also a budget friendly bouquet and depending on the size ranges from $75-$150. photo's are courtesy of one my favorite up and coming photogs jessie alexis photography!

so whats this construction business about? well please be advised our office & studio are UNDER CONSTRUCTION! so i am moving my studio and office and some good old renno needs to be done so for the time being all clients needing consultations i am sorry they wont be avialable in their usual plush environment ... barns n noble will have to do for the summer months!

megan

2009-05-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Megan's shoot was captured by the great dustin izatt and reminds me of a sort of "legend" or "labrynth" feel. so whimsical and majestic! flowers by me of course!

the ultimate budget bouquet

2009-05-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

this bouquet is the first to post on the blog out of our giveaway series! thanks Erin Hicken for being willing to participate and keeping an open mind. i really wanted to do this bouquet for a few reasons but mostly for those econimically affected brides on a budget. being on a budget doesnt always mean the sacrafice you think it does! this bouquet is made out of???? any guesses? so Erin shared with me that someone stopped her .... a stranger mind you, to ask her just what kind of flowers were in the bouquet ... they are almost unreconizable in a well done monochromatic scheme ... and prove just the point i was trying to make! CARNATIONS! of course. so here you have a very budget minded bouquet that is darling in so many ways and white traditional! so many variations could be created! this bouquet would cost less then $100. cant beat that!

thanks AMB photography!

one lovely blog award

2009-05-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

thanks to utah bride blog for nominating us for one lovely blog award!

the rules smules:

1) accept the award!

2) post it on your blog together with the blog that nominated you and link up!

3) pay it forward of course to 5 other blogs you enjoy

4) let those that you nominated know you nominated them :)

5 blogs i thoroughly enjoy ....

*pink blossom list

*whimsy floral design

*davina fear

*enizio

*green wedding shoes

the pink blossom list

2009-05-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

the pink blossom list asked us vendors do we have what it takes? well i thought i did so i applied and i am now part of this elite group of national designers! this blog is great wedding inspiration to brides everywhere and features the works and advice of some all time greats! i truly am greatly flattered to be part of PBL ... to be among and part of the greats is truly a high .. .some of my favs nancy liu chin designs jack balthazar & sasha souza to name only a mere few. there will always be a link to the blog on the left side of the blog among other great wedding lists!

maren 5.6.09

2009-05-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Doing Maren Ogden's wedding was pure flattery for me. Maren owns ELizabeth & Homer Designs. doing another wedding vendors wedding means a lot of things and its a huge compliment as far as i am concerned. Maren's colors were shades of yellow, whites/creams, and greens. one of my favorite combinations! her bouquet included white peonies, yellow double tulips, yellow skyline roses, green hydrangea, bublerum, & variegated parrot tulips. her wrap base was green fabric used throughout the event with a lace overlay, but not just any lace overlay this lace was vintage sentimentality! its lace from maren's mothers wedding dress! we also used small vintage clear buttons as a delicate accent.

bridal party flowers were glorious in simplicity!

sign in table was a simple blossom wishing tree in a vase mimic-ing the wrap on marens bouquet

maren did something i wish a lot more brides would do and that is to use banquet length tables for guest seating! the centerpiece options are so adorable for this sort of set up! i love the line of it all and the idea of many containers. each vase held a simple arrangement. the tables finished with all its details was epic!

last but not least! marens cake ansamble .... so cake was created by sugar kisses cakes! amazing job turia! the cake had these amazing pleats and ribbon details that were so specific and darling. we added a cluster of vases with simple arrangements to tie it all together and above the cake hung a floral chandelier with a focal point pomander ball in the middle. dendro orchid leis draped and hanging votive vases, amaranthus, curly willow and dogwood blossoms.

thanks maren! truly.

sneak peak

2009-05-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

so this is the boot & bouquet for Megan's groomal session with the ever so fabulouso dustin izatt ... so watch his blog to see even better captures of this piece of art. this was a really fun bouquet for me to do! and i am really pumped about megan's event at the end of this month rockin out at the harley store! flowers: scabiosa, white fuji mums, green hydrangea, succulents, & tuberose to create a little earth funk!

signature

2009-05-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

this fabulouso shot is courtesy of blush photography! great creative shot that may archive as one of my all time favorites!

black mini callas have sort of become a studio stems signature ... not by my intention but they just have. any designer/florist can paint these suckers but not like i do! back in march a client of mine Erika's event was centered around this simple signature in a very monochromatic yet bold way. it was fun to do and reminded me of just how intrigueing these are!

workshop spot open

2009-04-28T10:52:00.001-07:00

pulled this from the 2005 bouquet archives, iris, delphinium, and roses.

so all the workshop spots are taken for the spring/summer sessions except one next week that most recently fell through. so one more spot open for the 5th and 6th of may. the 5th would be working here at my studio from about 10-3 lunch provided. and the 6th would be from about 2:30 to 5:30 at thanksgiving point. if your interested please apply via email ASAP! info@studiostems.com

a revisit in preparation

2009-04-20T10:25:00.001-07:00

a few bouquet only shots of sarah's sitting a few weeks ago ... courtesy of the amazing rebekah westover! sarah & daniel will wed this friday and i cant wait for their amazing event taking place at the chic hotel monaco!

flower tip friday on utah bride blog

2009-04-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

every friday there is wedding flower tips on the best blog in the state ... utahbrideblog.com and much of them come from ... yours truly! so check out the post on this spring ... not wait .... winter friday!

also a tid bit for anyone who is thinking of or going to purchase a dress at the bridal center in provo ... i know a was to be bride who needs to sell a credit there. here is some info ... it will save you money ... and help her out!

$425.00 credit at the Bridal Center on University Ave in Provo. We will
give an additional 10% off making it 382.50. Please call or text for
any additional information.
Call: 801-226-3959 Ask for Tami
Text: 801-691-3258

Thanks,
Brooke

a mini workshop with studio stems

2009-04-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

here at studio stems i get weekly inquiries about hiring, internships, or people just flat out wanting to learn. i have decided to offer all you inquirers an opportunity. studio stems will be offering mini workshops periodically. the best thing about these workshops is that they will also be real experience with our team as we prep and complete events. you will be an employee for the day, one that can ask as many questions as you like and one that i will be specifically paying extra attention to in efforts to educate you on the ins and outs of it all and there is nothing more valuable then real experience on a real event. *clients rest assured that you still get me and my whole team as it was prior to now!

the first opportunity is drastically soon! april 23rd & 24th. it will cost you $100 per day with me. april 23rd will be from 1-5 in orem and the 24th will be from 2-5in slc. i will be accepting applications for the april workshop until the 21st. if your interested i need you to email (info@studiostems.com) your name, contact info, age, experience, and a short paragraph about why you want to do this with me. please specify which dates your interested in.

future workshop dates: may 5&6, may 28&29, and june 26&27
questions email me!

jayci & allen 4/11/09

2009-04-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

purple, black, green, viburnum, ranucs, dahlias, fuji's, & tulips

david perry films

2009-04-09T14:18:00.001-07:00

I heart this videographer! he is a black bag vendor and my top recommendation in his field! please enjoy!

In response to David Perry’s mother being refused assistance from her insurance company in 1998 for a life threatening disease, he put together a video using just an old home video camera, VCR and audio cassette recorder. When his mother, as well as fifty other patients, were then able to receive the financial support they needed, he knew he had found his passion.

Ten years later, David has since traveled to Africa, Guatemala and Mexico championing the cause of the less fortunate. His documentaries have been featured at the United Nations in New York City and recognized with the WEVA International Community Service Award. David was named "Best of State" for documentary films in Utah.

Along with addressing life's challenges, David has a great passion for filming weddings. Capturing some of life's most beautiful and joyful moments has been a rewarding and fulfilling adventure for David. David shoots over one hundred weddings per year while still producing award winning wedding films. In fact, David has won over fifty awards for his wedding films, including four Telly Awards, five Aurora Awards, multiple other international awards and over twenty first place awards here in Utah.

David's greatest reward has always been seeing the difference a well produced wedding film can make in a couple's lives for years to come. You can see more of his work at his website www.davidperryfilms.com.

www.utahbrideblog.com

2009-04-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

so perhaps the very best inspirational wedding blog ever to be created is now launched and ready for your eyes that are looking for candy! i am biased because i did have some involvement but the people behind this blog are extrodinary! its about time utah had a design blog worthy of your attention! whats so cool is that it will feature all utah related weddings or vendors and will be very interactive for the brides & grooms out there, they can submit stuff and participate as well! i am so excited about this and cant wait for you all to check it out ... so what are you waiting for? go there now and link up with this beut!

isnt this couple HOT!

2009-03-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

how gorgeous is this couple? i mean seriously ... so this is sarah & dan's groomal sitting. photos courtesy of the talented rebekah westover. sarah & dan will wed in the SLC T on april 24th and then dine afterwords at the chic hotel monaco. this event will rock in the way of floral design and i absolutely cant wait to create. this bouquet for sarah's sitting is entirely different then her wedding day ansemble, however its simple and striking with its two bold tones or orange and yellow. mango mini callas, and orange spray rose, a little greenery for added measure and a brown swiss satin wrap. thanks guys!

NEW .... logo, music, colors, pics, facebook, everything!

2009-03-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

you may have noticed a little face lift on our blog & site. face lifts hurt! yes they do, and they take work! from a skilled surgeon. (team of surgeons in this case) thanks megan! as an artist i get bored and need change as i evolve. so you reap the entertainment benefits of it all. check out our site, become our fan on FB, comment on the blog! and enjoy!

*photo by dustin izatt photography

jessie alexis photography at Thansgiving Point show

2009-03-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

some preeeeety tulips for JAE's booth at this weekends thanksgiving point wedding expo
tonight 4-8 tomorrow 10-6

freshen up

2009-03-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

arent callas magnificent?

there are lots of new posts coming! a lot of work has happened in the last few weeks but few moments captured by my camera .... so be waiting. we are also freshening up with a new logo and colors very soon! you know me ... i get bored!

brooke @ wadley farms

2009-03-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

this weekend we did these simplistic fun designs for brooke. her venue was wadley farms and it all seemed so fitting!
her bouquet was a simple clutch of yellow narcissi, white tulips, and ruscus accent ... tied with adorable polka.dot ribbon. her bridesmaids' bouquet .... an even more simple clutch of tulips tied with the same ribbon. pictured here also is the grooms boot matching up with the bouquet with a little added lily grass. the few on site decor arrangements done for brooke included yellow freesia, white tulips, white & yellow stock, ruscus, lily grass, and wax either in galvanized containers or mason jars.

2009-03-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

studio stems is still looking for 2 more clients for the bouquet giveaway. please apply via email to info@studiostems.com ~ i need to know your name, contact info, date bouquet will be needed and if its for a shoot or actual wedding, location it will be needed, color scheme, picture of dress, and photographer name and link. these bouquets are valued between $200-$400 dollars but you will only be charges cost. between $30-$150. contact us ASAP!

bouquet give away ....

2009-03-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

thats right studio stems is giving some bouquets away .... here are the details....

as a designer i get cravings to do certain things. sometimes i get to do those things with clients, other times its a bit too edgy for clients. i recently attended a design class and realized that i want/need to do some things that i have been dreaming up artisticaly. i have about 6 designs in mind. they range from a more traditonal feel with a twist to very edgy. i want to GIVE them away for COST ONLY. this means you would be getting bouquets from studio stems, from me ... for $30-$200 that would normally be $150-$500. here are the rules ...

1.If your an exisiting client and your designs are done you cannot apply, if your designs are not done and your an existing client you can apply. otherwise this is open to any and all brides for bridal sitting bouquets or wedding day bouquets.
2. color schemes are available to be customized to you on 5 of the bouquets.
3. i will not divulge designs until we have chatted and i have determined what design would best suit the applicant
4. you must have a professional photographer, that is willing to comp me a disc of images that include the bouquet, or you must own the rights to your disc and allow me to copy your pics for advertising use.
5. you must pay costs up front.

want to apply?

please send this info to info@studiostems.com
Brides name:
Phone:
Email:
Date bouquet is needed:
Target cost price range:
Location of shoot or wedding:
Photographer:
a few descriptive sentences about the mood and style your trying to create with your dress & event would also be helpful!

brig & liz ...

2009-02-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

and my favorite image .....

This was a smokin cool event. held at homestead in midway utah. thanks to the ever generous and uber talented rebekah westover for all pics!

flowers used in designs: green hydrangea, black magic roses, purple ranuculus, black monkey tail, was, green hyp berries, orange asiatic lilies, several colors of tulips, curly willow, mini callas, lily grass, and amaranthus.

paperwhites smell soooo good

2009-02-21T04:53:00.000-08:00

i know not the best pic ... to bad i dont have a nifty photog at my hip all the time! anyhow this is brooke's sitting bouquet. made of paperwhites, yellow tulips, and a little lemon leaf, wrapped in blue satin ribbon. simplicity at one of its best. smelled so good and brought a little bit of spring to my office momentarily! brooke's wedding is march 13th so be watching for more spring delight.

this pic is also taken on my "new" vintage couch! im so excited to finally have it in my home .... its sentimentality at its best!

a better view

2009-02-15T20:50:00.001-08:00

a better view of Eliza's event through the very talented lense of melissa kelsey photography.

decor in a consult

2009-02-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

So this is part deux of consulting informational posts. when it comes to decor we need a lot more from you. starting with venue info and details as well as mood and style your trying to create.

how many centerpieces will you be needing? what color of linen will adorn the tables? are you interested in high or low pieces, a variety or keeping it simple? do you like multiple container styles and types? do you like glass, something organic, or solid? bringing in pictures of centerpieces that appeal to you is helpful but not necessary. bringing in pictures of your venue is also helpful.

knowing wether you are interested in buying or renting containers from studio stems is a good decision to make before consult. do you want to give them away at the end of the night? do you want to keep them? our rental program is really rather ideal, we allow you to enjoy the pieces in their containers for a few weeks and return the containers to us later at no extra charge. we have a large supply & variety of containers.

will there be a head table that needs to be signified and set apart from the rest? what shape of tables will you be using? traditional rounds or buffet, square perhaps?

will you be needing fresh cake flowers? if so your pastry artists info and sketch of the cake would be great. we also will need to know at some point what time the cake would be arriving on the venue site. we typically like to freelance cakes ourselves rather then handing that over to the pastry artist. if you need help with some recommendations for a cake artist or if you know that you want fresh flowers on the cake but not what style of cake you want yet then let us know that too we are more then happy to help.

a sign in piece? this is the first impression! do you need your sign in piece to incorporate seating assignment cards? if not will you need an extra arrangement for that or buffet decor?

what about aisle decor, do you need a floral runner of any type, or chair clutches, cones, or candles? perhaps pomander balls? and what about your ceremony location? can we help you adorn that? will you need to transition your ceremony spot into a reception and need us to adjust that with you or double up your ceremony decor into your reception?

are there any other locations of interest? and most importantly what budget do all your decor needs need to fit into?

this is sort of a good preliminary idea of what we will ask you in consult about decor needs so that you can be prepared and armed with as much or as little information as you want to provide!

a worthy cause in the congo

2009-02-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

My good friend Cynthia @ enizio will be holding a dress drive on april 11 2009 to benefit a very worthy, need of attention, cause. please check out her blog link here for more info! but the jist is this, enizio will be collecting/receiving any prom style dress's you can donate at their studio in lehi until april 11th, at which time they will hold a dress drive (sale) where they will turn those donated dress's over and sell them to local high school students. no dress will be marked more then $40. what a great way to get a great prom dress in rough economic times. this is helping our local kids too! ALL proceeds will be sent to the panzi hospital in the congo. I really admire cynthia for her drive to make a difference in the world and her dedication to humanitarian aid!

sympathy for the shumways

2009-02-05T15:06:00.000-08:00

consulting season

2009-01-27T14:34:00.000-08:00

these are all pics of the flowers we sent up to the market street open house last weekend. enjoy ...

this is the season of consults. so many brides are planning spring, summer and even fall weddings for the 09 year. january through march is studio stem's busiest office time! so i thought i would do a little post on the importance of coming to your floral consultation armed with as much information as possible and why. this week we will address what info we need pertaining to bridal party flowers and next week address floral decor needs.

first off we need to know your basic info, names & contact info for obvious reasons and we also need to know your event date and all locations and times pertinent to the event so we can coordinate your needs with appropriate timing for your fresh flowers, delivery, and set up. if you have an event cordinator at your venue contact info for them would also be important.

next we need to know who your photographer is and if you will be having a bridal/groomal sitting that will require fresh flowers and the date, time, and local if so.

Next its nice to have a close to accurate picture of the bride's gown and color swatch so that the design process can be maximized through proper proportional sizes and tones. its also great to have an idea of the color of tux and accessories the groom will be wearing.

next we need to know the quantity of men in the bridal party and what their attire entails. this means, fathers, grandfathers, groomsman, officiants, ring bearers and any other pertinent tux wearing male party memebers.

dido on the ladies but a little more extensive, if your having bridesmaids with fresh bouquets a picture and swatch of their attire is also helpful. quantities are also important. how many flower girls, mothers, and grandmothers and their attire and if they prefer pin on or wrist corsages, halo's or hair clips etc...

its important to have an idea of what your budget is so that our designs suit that budget and we dont waste your time and ours on designs that are not affordable for you.

its also important to bring swatches if exact color matches are desired and even if you dont need an exact match its still very helpful. there are a lot of shades of pink, understanding what you consider baby pink is best realized in actuality. also any pictures of things that lend to the style, mood, and creation of your event are helpful.

obviously pics of flowers you like in bouquets or otherwise is also very helpful.

let me just top this off by saying you dont have to know all this at your initial consult, though its helpful we wont kick you out or not help you if you dont have it. but we will lead you and guide you to obtaining this info and giving it to us!

studio stems @ market street

2009-01-22T14:14:00.000-08:00

market street's cottonwood location is having their annual wedding open house this coming saturday the 24th from 11-1 studio stems will be there!

same bouquet ... better pics!

2009-01-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

better pics courtesy of the most wonderful rebekah westover photography! shout out girl!

a bouquet for liz

2009-01-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

I love LIZ she has been a fun delightful client. her wedding will take place in the cold month of february at the cozy resort in midway homestead. her sitting was yesterday and thus her sitting bouquet. green hydrangeas, red roses, redish purplish ranuculus, black monkey tail, green hyp berries, with a mixed collar of black feathers and greens. something cool about her wrap is it was made out of scraps from her dress, something i think should be done far more often especially for those girls who are having that key piece custom made. and goes so well with the ansamble. i will say that scraps can be difficult to work with given their shape but certainly something can be done, and why not? its fun!

candy buffet .... yummmmm!

2009-01-16T13:24:00.000-08:00

a candy production in print! thanks to rebekah westover for the fabulous pics! this fabuluos delicious table of treats was produced by megan at pink piggy designs in conjunction with a little bit of studio stems. it was last fall for kristen and duke at the JSM building! pure fall delight! if your interested in a candy buffet please contact pink piggy!

venue spotlight .... brad metcalf gallery SLC

2009-01-15T12:24:00.000-08:00

this is brad metcalf gallery 620 W 540 N (gerrard) salt lake city utah

not many wedding to be clients know that there is a plethura of places you would never expect that are avialable as a venue option. this is one of them! in fact this funky modern eclectic gallery has slashed its rates if you book before the 15th of april from:

regular weekday rate $600 to $360
regular weekend rate $900 to $540
regular holiday rate $1200 to $720

not a bad deal for a venue! call brad himself to view the space and set up an apt.

cell: 801-518-3459

studio: 801-883-9794