bloomflora

Fall table inspiration....

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 04:32:00 +0000

Just a little DIY eye candy... Hopefully this will inspire.

Enjoy...!

Our Woodsy Bohemian shoot on 100 Layer Cake...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:32:00 +0000

I just got the news today that our Woodsy Bohemian photo shoot was finally featured on 100 Layer Cake! I had such a great time working with the team my fabulous and incredibly talented photographer friend Millie B put together.

A nod to my other wedding specialist friends Magda Nyitray who does the best makeup ever and Alicia of Reverie Events. Alicia, I had such a great time collaborating with you. We styled the table beautifully!

I remember preparing with Millie through the whee hours of the night for this shoot, making sure every detail was addressed. We slept for a few hours and met at my studio at 5:00 am to pack up my truck with all the furniture... including this fabulous table I had custom made. We picked up one of our models and drove out to the venue. Millie wanted us there at 7:00 am to make sure we had the best lighting for our shoot throughout the day.

As I was driving to the site that morning, I remember getting to the top of the hill ...and it literally got so foggy instantly. You couldn't see 5 feet ahead of you. I thought "OMG, this shoot is going to be impossible with this weather!".

You know what they say.... The show must go on.. or maybe, Keep it movin'! Well we did and the weather and all that followed turned out perfectly. It was a lot of work, but it was also a great fun and wonderful experience. Thank you guys!

And thanks so much to 100 Layer cake. It feels really great to see my flower arrangements and styling featured on a site I admire very much.

Photography: Mille Batista / Location: Woolverton Inn in Stockton, NJ / Dress Designer: Sareh Nouri / Cake & Desserts: Heather Barranco / Designer & Event Planner: Reverie Events / Hair & Makeup: Magda Nyitray / Interior Designer & Florist: Mimi Betancourt at Bloom Flora / Models: Martina Micko, Alina Monacu

Inspire Tuesday...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:54:00 +0000

Somehow, someway... whatever that is!

Honey of a thousand flowers...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:57:00 +0000

Love these warm earthy colors and gorgeous texture... So romantic.

Perfect inspiration for a spring wedding.

Enjoy!

source

Read Bloomflora's holiday tips in New Jersey Monthly Mag...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:34:00 +0000

Enjoy Holiday tips from Jersey experts in the December Holiday gift guide issue of New Jersey Monthly magazine. Thanks for including Bloomflora as one of your experts on floral design!

Hope our tips inspire you..!

Red dahlias and feathers for an intimate wedding..

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:16:00 +0000

I think my new favorite blooms of the moment are cherry red dahlias! The color is just amazing... Lovin' this bouquet I designed for a small, intimate wedding for a friend. The photo below was just a little pre-styling before the event. I had so much fun doing this because I was able to just run with it! Feathers and fern with LOTS of red and plum with deep burgundy.. it was beautiful!

We're back...!

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:01:00 +0000

We're back after a two week holiday! Cleaning buckets, conditioning flowers and preparing for a a huge delivery of flowers that are coming tomorrow for wedding this weekend. Hope you enjoyed your summer!

Arrangement of the day...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:16:00 +0000

Pretty petite arrangement... The perfect thank you.

(hydrangea, tulips, spray roses, bullet allium)

Purple flowers on my mind...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:50:00 +0000

I've been up since 5:30 this morning working on wedding ideas and putting together proposals... The color of the moment seems to be purple! I'm planning weddings of purple combinations with lavender and blush. Another purple wedding with blue, chartreuse and fuscia and another purple theme with graduated shades of purples and lots of white! Feeling inspired today and purple is my mind...

Intuition.. Amazing how the inner self works.

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:15:00 +0000

I am totally amazed at how life works.. As a floral designer there are so many flowers that I love. I don't know that I have one favorite, although I may have favorite colors, but not a preferred flower.
When I was doing all of the planning for my store opening, I knew that I wanted a flower in my logo, so I searched to find "the one". For some reason the poppy just kept appearing. It's the only flower that appealed to me... So I asked my daughter, who is a young artist, to draw it for me. And so, the bloomflora logo was born. It was meaningful in that my daughter had a hand in its creation. I did not know however, what the meaning of the flower was, until now...
Crazy!! I'm just beside myself...

Poppy: Imagination, Wealth and Success

Imagination, Wealth and Success... Can you believe it? It was my clarity... It was not intentional, but on the other hand, was it? Was it intuition that made me select that flower? Not sure what to call it, but I know for sure that this is right. It is the right time, finally. It's been a bit difficult and I have questioned my decision to start a business again. No more... I am ready for what is coming with an open mind, an open heart and open arms! Thank you Universe.. for all you have given me and for all that is coming. Exciting!!

The most beautiful rose...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:05:00 +0000

This is actually my favorite rose... it's called "Quick Sand". You would never know that this bloom opens to probably a 3" to 4" diameter. It is just so lovely... and the soft, neutral, blush tone is perfect alone or pairs well with so many colors. I prefer it alone.. to me, receiving a dozen of this rose is more romantic than the red. But that's just me!

Take a look at an arrangement I did today. Hope the recipient likes it!

Enjoy..

Eddie Zaratsian Floral Boutique..at Restoration Hardware.

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:58:00 +0000

This is my kind of flower shop! Not to say that mine is shabby.. but Eddie Zaratsian has got it goin' on! He is so fantastic that he's partnered with Restoration Hardware. He has a floral boutique in West Hollywood, CA at Restoration Hardware that's got the perfect blend of elegance and rustic charm.

These pastries just have my mouth watering too.. they're so beautiful..Yum!

Enjoy..

What kind of car are you...?

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:18:00 +0000

I love these photos so much that it got me thinkin' a little silly, but fun! Hmmm... three different cars with three different messages. They all say it with flowers, but which one would i be?

a. Luxe on the go

b. Vintage chic

c. Mod tree hugger

Of course I would be Luxe on the go! I couldn't resist having it all!
Which one would YOU be?

Enjoy..

Parona Farms bridal show..

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 22:11:00 +0000

Summer bridal events are in full swing... Last night was my second show of the summer. I have one bridal event a month scheduled for the rest of the year. This one was at Parona Farms in Sparta, NJ.

Crazy... but during the drive there and back, periodically, I couldn't help but think of the movie 300 when Gerard Butler says "This is SPARTA!"....lol! So silly, I know, but that name.. I know you thought the same thing!

Ok.. back to the bridal show; The venue was beautiful. I love their outdoor facility and the cobblestone entrance. The windows were beautiful too... What a nice transition from the vestibule to the courtyard.

I'm hoping that one of the brides I met last night will give me the opportunity to design a wedding for them at this venue. It really is a lovely place with huge possibilities.

Thanks for having me Perona Farms!

Enjoy.

Saturday Flowers...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 20:49:00 +0000

I'm loving these Dahlias! Today I paired them up with hydrangea and tangerine spray roses.

This client wanted a colorful arrangement. Since I'm lovin' these dahlias so much, I used them again with the tangerine roses and added fuscia spray roses along with some bright yellow craspedia.

Just wanted to share. Enjoy!

Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Event...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:52:00 +0000

Our first bridal event of the season @ Saks Fifth Avenue, Short Hills, NJ. We got an awesome response... which feels amazing! It's crazy how much time is involved in planning and coordinating these things and they're over in a few hours. It went by so quickly too! We met so many great brides to be who were very excited about planning their own special day. I love to talk to the brides and see the glow in their eyes when they talk about their ideas or not

so clear ideas...lol! It doesn't matter. That's my job and that's the best part. I am looking forward to meeting everyone again and having the opportunity to get to know them better. I hope we can translate their dreams into reality.

It seems that the colors we selected for this event were very appealing to a large group of brides. Most of them said they wanted purple for their weddings. The darkest flower (Amnesia) and the blush just a few shades lighter (Quick Sand) are my absolute favorite roses. They are neutral shades I think work for any season. They were a hit! The brides loved the color combinations I used. Although, it was crazy how many people kept touching the flowers thinking they were artificial! They looked so beautiful... almost too perfect I guess... Hmmm..?!

I designed this acrylic candelabra and had it laser cut, although I do admit, it's hidden. Not intentional, but when I started to arrange the flowers the night before, it just organically went this way, so I went with it. I also had these mirrored containers made by IGO Displays and Alisa @ Creatively Engaged Stationary was so kind to make these menu cards for our table. They were a hit for sure! It's all in the details...

These glass candleholders were also a hit to my surprise. They're very popular and commonly used for NY events.. NJ brides were really lovin' them!

I rented the linen, glasses and plates... the amethyst glass worked perfectly with the flowers!

Here is the menu card.. I single Phalaenopsis orchid was a simple and elegant touch. Loved the silver starburst and snakeskin combo.

The eggplant callas and dusty miller were so beautiful I just couldn't resist... I had to do something with them, so I used them for the bouquet. I added the red aspadistra leaves to the bouquet and so I used them in the table arrangements as well to tie in the rich color. I thought it made the table arrangements less traditional, which I like.

Here is Diana, Bloomflora's events manager... She thinking about how fabulous she would look in this beautiful dress...

So happy now.. It's a bit large for her, but its a gorgeous dress! As soon as we began to set up, she was eyin' up that dress.

When the event was over we gave away the Phalaenopisis orchids to a few cool peeps we met at the event. Very happy woman I must say..lol!

This is me... on the way out..

Thanks for stopping by...!!!

Enjoy.

Pretty Corporate Silk Arrangements...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:31:00 +0000

Hello again! I thought it would be nice to share these beautiful spring/summer mixed arrangements I created for a fab law firm in Summit, NJ. My client pre-purchased these crystal vases for the reception area and conference room, so it made it easier for me to get right to the flowers. We discussed doing weekly fresh flowers, but agreed upon seasonal SILK flower arrangements instead. That's right, they're silk!! I had these displayed in the the store for a couple of days before delivering them and my store customers couldn't believe that these weren't fresh flowers.

Love the vibrant colors... and I was able to use of one my all time favorite flowers, the "poppy" which is also the flower in my Bloomflora logo...

Viburnum is another fav for it's beautiful chartreuse green color.

This was the smaller arrangement and I added purple hydrangea for overall jewel tones.. My client was very pleased and I really did enjoy putting these together. Not so much different than a fresh arrangement... lol.. Well maybe a bit. Cutting the wires of the silk stems IS a bit insane.. but worth the end result.

Enjoy!

Behind the scenes of our first Flora workshop...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Our first floral workshop "Spring flowers for the table" was a hit. The students enjoyed the class very much and they did very well I might add. This was my first time teaching so I thought I would be a bit nervous, but it came easily for me. It felt natural and I truly enjoyed myself so much! It was a nice feeling to present something I'm passionate about to a group of woman who were so attentive and excited to learn. Definitely doing a lot more workshops...

We offered some wine, sparkling water, fruit, cheeses and crackers.. and of course, Diana's freshly baked and incredibly delicious chocolate tarts.

I started the class by talking about how to condition flowers. Simple, but very important stuff if you want a long lasting arrangement.

We talked about preparing containers with floral foam and a brief demo on how I prepare my glass vases for an arrangement. Since it's much easier to create an arrangement with floral foam, I decided to go with that option for this class..

The ladies learned how to properly green their containers in preparation for their floral design masterpieces..

This is my favorite picture, because they just finished greening and they look a little worried.....lol!

They've selected their flowers...

and the their big design moment has finally arrived...!

The ladies did such a great job.

Thanks again for joining Bloomflora for our workshop. It was great fun!

Simple Cellophane template for hanging art

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:17:00 +0000

So I got a group of botanical framed art for the shop... I have no level and what a daunting task to measure the wall... blah, blah, blah..! I was going to make a paper template of the frames, as most people do, but the light bulb went off! I'm a florist, so of course I always have cellophane in the shop. The cellophane was shining like a bright light upon me.. and voila... the daunting task became the easiest installation ever!

Here's how simple it is;

Materials Needed:

-Cellophane

- Large chisel tip Sharpie

- X-acto knife

- Picture hanging strips (Command Brand)

TIP: Make sure you buy the appropriate strip to support the size of your frame.

Ready, Set, Go!

1. lay out all your artwork on the floor the way you would like it to appear on the wall.

2. Measure the space between and above each frame. I measured them 2" apart from each other and 3" above each other.

3. Tear a sheet a clear cellophane and lay it on top of the grouping. This was approximately 36" wide.

4. Trace the outside of the frame onto the Cello and draw little rectangles the size of the hanging strips on each corner. TIP: Do this carefully...You don't want to frames to shift.

5. Position the cello template on the wall. What's great about this is that the cello creates static on the wall, so the paper just sticks right where you want it! Put little pieces of tape on each corner to avoid shifting anyway.

6. Take a step back to make sure everything looks good..:)

7. Carefully score the rectangles on each corner with your X-acto knife, making little tab openings. TIP: Make sure your blade is sharp so not to press on the wall too hard. Hold the paper with one hand so that the paper doesn't move while cutting.

8. Create openings large enough to position the strips at each corner. NOTE: You will also position the strips to the back of each frame as shown on the cello cut outs. Place all of the strips in the cut outs and stick. Now you're ready to pull of the cello off the wall.

9. Position the top corners of the back of the frames to match up to the strips on the wall and push firmly to secure. Done!

Enjoy!

Mother's Day labor of love...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:13:00 +0000

Our first Mothers day at the shop was certainly a labor of love. From our handmade pillows...

to handmade bite size cupcakes..

and a petite premade peony arrangement perfectly paired with handmade soaking salts..

Hand wrapped and tied candles...

with the loveliest bud vases.

Yellow and green for the mayor's wife and lots of color for our councilman's wife...

Carefully packaging the flowers and double checking all the cards going out for delivery... Thanks Michelle..You did a great job!

Our weekend was a sweet success. Thanks to everyone for their support and a special thanks to my Bloomflora team!

This is me in the green and Victoriya who is the talented floral designer and photographer that worked with us this weekend (ummm... we were trying to be fabulous).

This is Miss Diana in the blue and yellow ( the store manager and my other half) with my beautiful daughter Isabella. Michelle made our deliveries, but she was in and out so fast that we couldn't get a picture of her...!!

And finally..... my favorite picture of all...me and Isabella.

xo. I love you Bella.

Arrangement of the day....

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:20:00 +0000

This weekend was crazy busy with the wedding we did. Having Monday off was heaven.... Honestly, I did nothing but relax. It was wonderful! Back at the shop today this arrangement was my first order of the day and my favorite because I am crazy for hot pink flowers, especially peonies. Who doesn't love them?

Gearing up for mothers day week... BIG flower delivery tomorrow. Looking forward to it! I'll be sure to share. Enjoy!

Off to do our first Bloomflora wedding...!

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:24:00 +0000

We're off to do our first Bloomflora wedding! I can't believe it's finally here... It's been 3 days of crazy hours. My fingers are battered from all the cuts I have and aching from hand wiring so many flowers..and I have spray paint and glue stuck to them.. This is the not so glamorous part of being in the flower business..A small price to pay when you're doing something you love! Diana and I are ready to go through our checklist and then we're off to pack up the truck to make our brides dream come to life. Stay tuned for more...Enjoy!

lilacs for the table...

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:13:00 +0000

This past Sunday I did an arrangement for a Christening. The client wanted a lush soft spring bouquet with lilac... When I placed it on he table it just fit perfectly, as though I had been in her house before.

I love that! The client was very happy. Here is a picture in my shop and a pick at her table.

Enjoy!

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Okay, now that we have gotten passed the Grand Opening, we are in full swing with Mother's Day preparations! Why not "Make Mom Smile" with flowers is our simple yet beautiful tag line. As a mother, not just a florist, flowers would most definitely make me smile. I'm sure all you moms out there would agree.

Here is a peak at our new window and the Mother's day blooms we're offering this year.

Enjoy!

Our First "Flora" Workshop at the Boutique!

noreply@blogger.com (Mimi) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:37:00 +0000

We are very excited about hosting our first "Flora" workshop.. {Flowers for the Table}

Although mother nature seems to be a little confused this year, we thought it would be nice to step into Spring with the loveliest of seasonal blooms.

Look forward to meeting our new Bloomflora friends!

Please feel free to call us or stop by the shop with any questions.