How do custom orders work?

It's hard for most people to understand flowers in terms of felt. I like to think that the possibilities are endless with felt flowers. You can mimic the shape of real flowers, or create your own. Design a wonderfully wild and whimsical bouquet or create a classic, perfectly symmetrical bunch of flowers.

I recently had a bride contact me about doing flowers for her wedding via Instagram. We briefly talked about her wedding date, colors and location, then decided to get coffee. At this meeting I showed her several hues of blues, grey and silver felt, a few size options of bouquets and we looked at her wedding Pinterest board.

After our initial meeting, I created an inspiration board that looked like this:

From here, the bride was able to narrow down what she liked (and didn't) as far as colors and flower types. She liked the idea of combining Option C and Option D - pretty and elegant! So onto the next steps: finding the foliage and crafting a few sample flowers. Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!

New product alert!

Recently a momma inquired about matching felt floral crowns for and her soon-to-be three-year-old. I couldn't resist this adorable opportunity. Via email we chatted about colors and styles of my already completed bouquets and brooches to come up with the color palette perfect for her idea.

I think the matching set came out so sweet, and can't wait to see momma and daughter adorned in felt flowers!

See details, or order yours here.

Wedding Flowers

Back in March I showed off the beginnings of these beauties, but now they're finished. The total amount of flowers? Too many to count! 

The final order included one bride bouquet, five bridesmaids bouquets, 11 boutonnières and five corsage/brooches. 

You can see the details of the listing, or even create a custom order for yourself here.

Traditionally, not traditional

I find myself gravitating toward the same felt colors over and over. It's not necessarily a bad thing because the cuties always end up in cherished hands. But! I've been trying to get out of my comfort zone a bit in #the100dayproject. I get to use that unwanted felt at the bottom of the pile, and make a reason to NEED blue {insert other random color I've never used EVER before} flowers in your life.

I've also enjoyed posting photos of the flower-making process. Some people may feel I'm giving away my secrets, but the truth is cutting perfectly rounded 1/8" pieces of felt isn't the easiest thing in the world! So I'm happy to share my techniques as it takes practice to hone in on your exact style.

At the end of (three days), I'm pretty happy with my very Springy Bouquets. I think what also seals the deal for me is the glass. The antique milk bottles came from a neighborhood garage sale a couple years back and I just adore them. I suppose now they can't be parted. 

April Goals

Because I don't already have enough to do and enough stresses to keep me awake at night, I'm going to participate in #the100dayproject. I've been contemplating this project for months and have been kinda scared to make a commitment, so I'm just taking one month at a time (not to mention I'll be traveling for two weeks toward the end of this challenge). The focusing will try to be more on the the making, rather than the end product ... but I'm not making any promises. 

1/100

Wish me luck, follow along and look up #100daysoffelt.

March Meet the Maker

I can't believe March is over! The month lent itself as a very creative outlet for me through this Instagram challenge. Especially since it was my second year, and I really needed to flex my imagination for a few of the repeat daily challenges. Regardless, I found some amazing new talent, picked up some great ideas and gained a few followers. Just 200 more before the end of the year to reach my goal (yikes)!

Wedding Trials

How many flowers does it take to make up five bridesmaid bouquets? Approximately 55!

Working on a wedding for this fall. I think we're getting right with the types of flowers...now how about those colors? 

Charlotte's Bouquet

It's pretty fantastic what you can accomplish in a few text messages!

A dear friend was hosting a brunch for the arrival of her friend's third child (yes, third ;). She sent me the invite via text and asked what I could come up with to dress up the tables. Luckily for her I had some foliage in the mint and dark turquoise already crafted up. I also just received a rather large shipment of felt in all the pinks and blushes to match perfectly.

  

Within a few days, I finished up four bouquets and gathered these vintage vases (leftover from our wedding) for baby sprinkle/shower/brunch centerpieces. Mom is going to put them in the nursery and what a nice little welcome for baby Charlotte! 

Black backdrop

I feel like these are a little reminiscent of the old school Rifle Paper Co. flowers....my my how they've changed their offering! I had no idea. When I was in college I applied to be an intern and it was just stationary. Although that was about 10 years ago!

I'm practicing some new flowers with my adorable felted pom poms.

She wore flowers

In the bangs of her hair. Spring is just around the corner, which means flower headbands, flower crowns and lots of bright colors abound.

I'm totally digging these new succulent-like flowers I found last weekend.

Hair Combs

The hair comb bang wagon has arrived. When are you jumping on?

Miniature Wreaths

Lots of snow makes way for new Fairview Place products! Introducing Miniature Wreaths.

These cuties measure approximately 18" long and the hoop, or actual wreath is 4" in diameter. Super cute in a nursery or gallery wall. Or hang on a door knob. I think these will make fun custom orders in the future as well!

Green Thumb

Hard at work keeping the succulents alive and well for the holiday season. I used to sell these in five or seven packs, but it seems selling them individually works out even better. Find them at Kitsch for just $3 a piece!

Pretty new products!

New flower crowns and unicorn headbands heading to Kitsch this week!

Aunt Eileen

I've been lucky enough to have been surrounded by strong women my whole life. I know I have mentioned this through several blogs before, but when I was younger I wasn't sure I really realized it. Probably because those women were protecting me from what exactly they needed to be determined of....

Regardless, my Aunt Eileen was definitely one of those women. She is the only living sister of my grandfather (the only living Great relative I have left) and is a mere 95 years old. After a very unpleasant first marriage my Aunt and her friend packed up a convertible and headed out west. Santa Monica is stopped, renting an apartment and securing a job at Santa Monica High School as an Art Teacher. It was there she met the real love of her life, Tom. They bought a remodeled a house just eight blocks from the Pacific Ocean. They traveled the world together, as apparent through her home's decor - and photography she took that adorns several walls and photo albums (she was a photographer for the US Navy's WAVES).

It wasn't until I was in high school that my relationship with her had started to blossom. When she heard of my interest in journalism and photography, she insisted I come live with her and work for the L.A. Times. Because in her mind I was just that good to land a job working at one of the best newspapers in the country. She would send me sections of the newspapers, or clippings of their photo stories. She would help a little each semester with $50 check to put toward books and cards of inspiration.

I didn't make my first visit to her house until 2009, but I've been incredibly fortunate to experience her spark, her stories, her love of life and generous hospitality several times since. She is remarkable in so many ways. Some days she recognizes who we are, but others we're just a pretty face that she'll constantly remind you of over and over. Either way, she hasn't lost that flair and quick wit that has always made her Aunt Eileen.

Crafted at O'Connor Brewing

This year, Crafted added a Spring show to its lineup. I was pretty excited since I haven't participated in a big show since the very first Crafted - 2.5 years ago! There was no shortage of people that's for sure. However there were a shortage of buyers - for me at least. Not sure if people didn't have a reason to shop, or felt flowers weren't on their 'must-haves' list, but it wasn't my best show. I did get to see a lot of old and new friends, bought a beautiful new necklace and drank some delicious beers...so I really can't ask for more than that!

debut of con'FELT'i, an idea from the hubs after seeing my clippings all over the house.

brooches and hair clips are always my best sellers. this year i added several different back options,
so the brooches are very versatile.

also the debut of mini flower clothes pins. cute for hanging photos, attaching cards or organizing paperwork.

March Self Portrait

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon the #marchmeetthemaker challenge, but I am pretty proud of the outcome of what a few extra minutes each morning can produce.

I won't bore you with the detailed explanations of all the photos, but if you insist...then check them out at Instagram. I will say I have two favorites of this exercise. Second row/photo five, Third row/photo one. These two best sum up who and what fairview place is - a beautiful mess. Haha, I'm only slightly joking. It's easy to get caught up in the photos of perfectly manicured studio spaces, cute storage essentials, gorgeous product shots and so on. How a person can create such beautiful things and not make a complete mess? I find it completely refreshing to bring out my boxes of findings, a pile of felt and a glue gun and have half the room torn apart in a matter of minutes (I would imagine that the hubs feels completely refreshed when it's all put away at the end of the night ;).  So, moral of the story? Quit obsessing over the perfect photos and do what comes naturally!

Transformation Tuesday

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good deal and a good DIY. A few years back I found this tea cart at an estate sale in Norfolk. I gave it a clean coat of white paint and used it for parties in our backyard and planting and displaying (real) flowers. Last week, I decided it was in need of another makeover for my Pop Up Flower Shop at Kitsch. As luck would have it, I had a can of gold spray paint under the sink (intended for some plastic animals...let's just call that project a #pinterestfail) so the tea cart transformed into the Flower Cart.

The cart (along with a few wooden crates) was the perfect display for Saturday. Simple and cute. It didn't allow for a lot of product, which I'm always guilty of bringing. I was able to incorporate a gold, metal record album holder (holding the brooches) that I had been hoarding in the basement, along with the cutest miniature Ball jars we got as a wedding present (holding the mini flowers on the bottom shelf).

The Pop Up Shop went really well! Lots of people came out and built bouquets, which was very exciting. And I got to meet some Fairview Place Fans, which is always inspiring! Plus, I was able to talk to the shop owner for a while and got several new leads on shops, blogs and podcasts to follow. I've decided to apply for the Crafted Indie Art and Craft Market, which is debuting a new Spring show in April. Wish me luck!