Letting the Glitter Back in

It used to be a hard no from me on Glitter. When applying you must submit to powerlessness over where it will travel, and may pay the price for weeks to come. Sometimes referred as the 'herpes of arts and crafts' -- I just could not with the glitter. Not anymore my friends. I am calling all glitter back into my life. Surrounding myself with people who aren't afraid to sparkle and applying all the glitter wherever possible. I want to be around creative humans discovering their brilliance and support others to find their inner glitter too. No more of this dim your light "I'm scared of glitter" bullshit. Nope, not anymore people, this last weekend I busted out the sparkle for a special project.

Check out these beautiful evergreen based centerpieces I created for a company holiday party. OMG SYKES, a cannabis grower out of Snohomish, WA knows how to throw it down for their employees for Christmas. The owners John and Iris and are such kind hearted people. Iris made me enough spring rolls for a life time - I'll arrange flowers for her ANY day of the week. I'll tell you how I made these cost effective Christmas table arrangements here if you want to try to make your own.

Started with a simple eco-friendly mesh of chicken wire to hold the evergreens since they are heavier. All the greenery was foraged from our farm here in Stanwood and down the street at my parents in Seven Lakes. They have a copious selection of evergreens, mature shrubs and rare plant treasures. My plant loving mother has made many trips to the nursery's over the years since moving there in the 1980s, selecting plants that double as eye-catching landscape and fulfill her love of making seasonal arrangements. Decided a pop of glitter from Hobby Lobby was absolutely necessary because, you know, I use glitter now, and just a few blooms to finish them off from Cascade Floral in Everett. Cascade Floral is a local wholesaler who also owns Stadium Flowers on Broadway Ave. They do offer retail now for a higher price tag, but you could also pick up anything of the like at either Trader Joe's or the grocery store!

Let's talk ingredients:

Cedar

Fir

Hemlock (Mom's favorite tree)

See how this hemlock has an entirely different undertone when flipped over? It's fun to alternate how it's used in the arrangement to bring out its different tones. Keep this in mind if you can get your hands on some precious Hemlock while arranging.

Pine

Spruce

Foraging is fun and connects us with nature. Even if it's just a walk around your own property, it's still just important to get outside, reset our nervous systems and take in the beauty that outdoors can offer. Peep me here in my thriving environment friends! Snips in one hand, fresh cuts in the other.

Limoinium 'Misty' Flower from Cascade Floral

Who said carnations have to be yuck?!

Pure White Double Scented Carnations from Cascade Floral

Holly

We have two giant holly bushes on the farm here on Happy Valley. One is covered in delightful cherry red berries - absolute Christmas perfection. The other is naked as can be. Did you know they pollinate each other? They take turns every year or so on who gets the berries. Nature is one tricky and extremely awesome son of a gun isnt she?!

The Glitter from Hobby Lobby only $.60/each

Eco Friendly mechanics crafted of chicken wire into mesh balls that fit your vessel

Vessels from Hobby Lobby & Client

Now that you've gathered ingredients, the vessels are filled with water and the mechanics inserted its go time. Fill up with multiple types of evergreens pointing outward as much as possible while still keeping stem in water. Make sure to clean up all stems so no greens are in the water, this adds bacteria to their clean drinking water. Use the chicken wire to hold your stems as you poke them through into the water. The wire should help keep them in place and allow the stems to flow outward from the vase instead of sticking straight up.

Fill them up good! Around here in the Pacific Northwest we can be heavy handed on the Evergreens. If you don't have access to all these types, just stick to what you do have. I could have used only fir and cedar, but I'm extra and added spruce, pine and hemlock. You don't want to see the ugly wire beneath, so insert until it's covered.

Check out this textural evergreen base we've created, a feast for the eyes of you ask me.

Next the linomium is inserted, which seems like it is in the statice family. I'd say it was about 5-8 stems each evenly dispersed.

Then three Carnations were added in a triangular shape around the arrangement to get that pop of white from all angles. Lastly was a few sprigs of Holly and then, we added the glitter!

Here is another angle of the centerpiece.

It's always great to make your centerpieces at eye level, and on a lazy susan if you have one. This is because centerpieces are typically adored at the eye level, and always viewed from all sides. The lazy Susan really helps to dial it in without constantly rotating the vase by hand. Plus it's fun to give her a spin when you're all done, pat yourself on the back, and say something like 'dang look at me I'm a crafty son-of-a-bitch!'

Now the part every florist loathes, delivery time. I'm a big fan of working with what you have, so when I need to make a delivery my trusty Subaru Forrester works great. She's my humble petal pusher.

I don't have a fancy studio or workshop, the garage gets flipped to fit any project going on. We are resourceful and like to use what we have to get the job done. Here's to a messy garage I am so blessed to be able to work in.

This was a fun challenge throwing these together last minute. Your girl works excellent under pressure if you ever need something beautiful last minute. It was easy once all the supplies were prepared to create long lasting, cost effective holiday centerpieces suitable for any occasion or event. I hope it inspires you to DIY a beautiful seasonal arrangement to enjoy just in time for the New Year.

If you don't have the time to DIY and have an event or special occasion that needs centerpieces or an arrangement - I'd love to help.

Get in touch freedomflowersbytracy@gmail.com

XO

-Tracy