I have made several updates to my website! Come take a look:

www.flowersbyj.com

Hope you enjoy!

My incredible sister-in-law, Tanya, is probably one of the most contagious people I know, seriously.  If you're ever in a bad mood, she's definitely the one to help you out of that state by simply smiling, singing a little ditty, or even just telling you a random story of something funny that happened to her that day. No joke, my brother Mike could not have chosen a more perfect woman to be his wife, and we're lucky because we get to benefit from her many talents and abilities!

One of which is crafting. Recently they [Mike & Tanya] purchased a new home and she was blessed with a spare bedroom that she got to turn into a craft room!  Since the conversion process began she has been going on a craft blog rampage to find great craft ideas and she even made my brother a Santa suit for our family Christmas parties! I'm telling you - she's got it!

I no longer seem to care who else posts things on my facebook account because I've been so eager to see her latest craft room progress or the most recently found craft blog with a brilliant and easy way to make new shirts, throw pillows or curtains. There's no way to deny it: I'm seriously becoming addicted to these craft blogs thanks to her.

I've been inspired to start learning more crafty skills. Yes, I have crafty flower skills, but I mean sewing machines, paint, wood and much much more! I am so excited to see which of the many things I'm dreaming up will be the one I accomplish first... I'll keep you posted! :)

Here are some of my favorite photos from our wedding!

Since our wedding, I haven't been here to update my blog! Here are some photos from a wedding that I did just 2 weeks before ours! I loved every minute of it, that wedding was flawless! These photos were taken by www.chrisgonzalesphotography.com






I hope you enjoyed these photos! Come back soon to see some of our wedding pictures.

This was such a beautiful day! I was asked to just make the bouquets for the ladies and I'm so grateful that I was able to share in the preparation for this amazing day! The groom is Fijian and so the colors were very bright and colorful. They did such a great job combining the Fijian theme and traditions and also incorporating enough to make it feel like a traditional American wedding as well.

I used orange asiatic lilies, green pompom mums, orange, salmon and peach roses, yellow football mums and lemon leaf for the brides bouquet, and stem wrapped it in champagne satin ribbon with pearl pins to match her dress. She loved the fact that it was so bright, perfect size for her and just so joyful looking.

For the bridesmaids I used green and orange roses, yellow football mums, marigolds, solidigo and lemon leaf as well. This was the first time I have ever worked with marigolds, I know now to stem wrap and wire each one individually before using them, they break very easily!

I had to include this photo, full credit to Denise Bovee, the brides sister-in-law, who is an incredible photographer! ( www.denisebovee.net ) All of these girls looked radiant and just so beautiful. I loved being able to see them hold something I made in these photos, and to see this amazing picture was just very rewarding after a few hours of working on these bouquets. I am excited to soon be neighbors with Thomas & Lauren! May God bless you richly in this new and incredible time in your lives!

I was so happy to be able to help my brother on his perfect day! This day was so much fun. So many laughs, smiles, good tears and great fun. I loved being able to watch people enjoy the flowers I had spent so much time on. I could have never done it without my helpers! They did so much for me.

I discovered a flower that I will definitely use again: Broccoli Hydrangea! This is a small cluster flower, green and sometimes a little tint of white. This flower is the bud of a regular hydrangea, just cut before it has time to bloom. It works as a great filler and accent to a boutonniere or corsage. I love the bright color and how it is still very delicate. I also learned something else, Avalanche white roses last forever!! It's been 2 weeks since the wedding and I still have a small bunch of them in my refrigerator looking beautiful! If you ever want white roses, ask me, I'll get them for you!

I also love China Mums, the large white flowers that I used in the bridesmaid bouquets. They are so big and fluffy, like a big snowball! I used white roses as well, and I think they looked great. The brides bouquet has broccoli hydrangea, lemon leaf, hot pink Suzy Q roses, and dahlias. It was the perfect size and matched well with all of the colors. What you can't see here is the hand tied satin wrap that I put around the stems. I finished them off with pearl pins for a lovely touch.

The alter arrangements had china mums, white and hot pink roses, dahlias, gladiolus, eucalyptus and lemon leaf. There were also two more of these at the beginning of the aisle. I was so thankful for Megan's help on these, I didn't realize how difficult they would be in these vases, but I'm thankful they turned out well. I'm also thankful we were able to use them at the reception as well!!

I could not be happier for my brother, Mike, and his new wife Tanya, they really do complete each other! Thank you for letting me be a part of your beautiful day. I am looking forward to seeing the many years, laughs, memories and adventures your lives will experience. I love you both!

Even though I have only been here once, I know that this will become a favorite place of mine. It is not as chaotic as a fish market, but has a similar feel; people walking booth to booth grabbing flowers left and right, bargaining with the growers and arguing about whether or not that rose is indeed salmon color or pink. The smell is incredible and there is no way you could leave upset, unless of course someone cuts you off in the parking lot, which here, that's very likely.

I am thankful for a local place to order all my flowers at wholesale cost, and that place is Neve Brothers in Petaluma. They are great, and so close to home! I have used them for all the weddings and things I have done so far. I am looking forward to all of my future business with them.

The fact that there are so many types, colors, scents, textures and versatility in flowers constantly amazes me. I never forget to think of how incredible our Creator is to have given us something so beautiful to enjoy! His work is indeed good!

Have you ever come home from a long day to be surprised by a bouquet of flowers on the table? Or maybe given a special flower on a date, birthday, anniversary, or at a time of celebration. Each time something like this happens there is always something to be guaranteed, a smile. No matter how big, small, extravagant or simple the flower you give to someone, there is no way that person will not instantly have a smile on their face. I love people. I love to see people happy, and this is why I'm doing what I am doing.