hello lions,

it’s fun to be creative with blank spaces! i empathize with marcy blum’s distaste for venue managers who tell me things like “this is what we usually do/ how we usually set up in this room”. we always want to do it differently.

so how do you create or transform a space or tent? we asked local nashville company blue nova designs for help. they are experts at creating a magical realm using drapery and/or props. they have a background in theater draping + stage design. so they have all sorts of tools to fabricate custom pieces that incorporate metal, fabric and lighting! they love custom pieces + would be glad to talk to you about your design ideas. the picasso pictured above was a client request- they liked it so much they made a few more + added it to their inventory!

each of these cubes are 2′ x2′ – so some of these colorful pillars are 8 feet tall!

they have a helpful, friendly + knowledgeable staff who work hard to make the most of your budget. they offer creative fabric solutions  + multi-purpose use of materials.

what do you think? what do you want the overall initial impact to feel like? do you intend to use drapery of any sort?

love to all,

lindsey

say hello: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

hello lions,
fashion shows can provide dreamy inspiration for your wedding dress. imagination abounds with the release of alexander mcqueen’s final 15 items. here are 3 gowns that are sure to get your brain going this morning:

the fitted, textured coat is so bizarre! the unfinished hem is messy and delicate. also love the high collar in the back- it looks royal and medieval, very queen-like. all of his designs have a touch of tapestry or regalness.

everything about this look is perfect- boots with buckles, very strong lines, an amazing cape. the mohawk finishes out the linear look. would highly recommend a short wedding dress if it’s worn with spunk! check out our LITTER post for a dangerous garter to wear with an above-the-knee dress.

this dress is amazing. please take a second look in the mirror behind the model to see the wing detail coming out of the shoulders on her back. the wing motif is repeated on the bust. the layered skirt and the different materials of this gown give it texture and intrigue.

there are ideas to emulate in your dress design whether your wedding is medieval, gothic or faerie and whimsical! what ideas do you draw from fashion?

love to all,

lindsey

give us a roar: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

Hello lovely lions! I am here to offer one of my favorite floral accents for your viewing pleasure: decorative wire!

I am a deco wire fiend. Ever since I got my first taste of the stuff in my basic floral design elective in 2004 (before I changed majors to floral management from meteorology), I was in love. For years, drab green wire has only been used as a mechanic, always meant to be covered up. You would layer colored floral tape, glue moss, or tack floral materials over the top to prevent anyone from seeing the wire. Now, you can have visually appealing mechanics, decorative accents, or (my dream) an entire arrangement made out of nothing but decorative wire and painted foliages. Said dream will be materializing over a five part blog series starting in December…stay tuned!

Anyway, let me introduce you to three different types of deco wire; 28 gauge bullion, 24 gauge Metallic, and 12 gauge Metallic. Each has their own usage in designs, but push your creative envelope! The design pictures used in this blog are of my work; please don’t steal designs! Use them for inspiration.

28 Gauge Bullion Wire

This is a florist’s best friend when it comes to accenting designs. 28 refers to the gauge of the wire; the smaller the number, the thicker the wire. 28 is a very slender wire and is mostly used for wrapping stems, wrapped around bouquets for a little sparkle, stringing blooms together to provide movement, and (one of my favorites) for strengthening an armature.

This little guy is an armature/decorative accent for a corsage, but it could easily stand alone as a flower. The fine silver wire is the bullion, wrapped over a 18 gauge black wire frame. Imagine using these floating in a low dish with candles instead of orchid blooms!

24 Gauge Metallic

Moving on up the thickness spectrum, there’s 24 gauge metallic wire. This easily replaces traditional green wire for use as anchoring, wrapping stems, and adding just a little sparkle to a design. A popular trend in centerpieces is using leaves swirled in a vase to provide some interest down below the arrangement. The deco wire could be used instead!

My mom is just as much of a deco wire nut as I am! Her birthday was a few weeks ago, and we threw her a black and pink themed party. If you’ll look, there’s bright pink 28 gauge wire floating in the vase along with our next deco entry, the 12 gauge black wire. It’s not only a mechanic for the stems, but some really great visual interest below.

12 Gauge Metallic

Up until a couple of years ago, this was the thickest wire you could possibly get in metallic colors. I’m eagerly awaiting my “mega wire” shipment from Smithers Oasis to play with it. You can use this wire for so many different things! You’ve seen above how it can be used as a vase anchor, but below is my favorite use of the product.

Gorgeous, no? This bad boy was part of my senior seminar runway show on floral fashion. Jena Oh, one of my counterparts from MSU created the armature for a competition and allowed me to use the concept for my work. Instead of the composite bouquet she put down in it, I created a duchess rose from a dozen sunset-colored roses by gluing the petals in a radial form. Imagine carrying this down the aisle instead of a dozen hand-tied roses. Talk about impact and beauty!

So, my lovely lions, I leave you with a challenge: imagine wire as a decorative tool, not just a mechanic. Push the envelope between organic and inorganic materials!

Until next time, with love;

Amanda

floral + ambiance lioness

we are excited to have amanda join our team!

say hi: eustoma.grandiflora@gmail.com

hello lovely lions,

today i want to share ideas from LITTER- a sf based jewelry company. rachael and mackenzie mann, sisters and designers, make metal ornaments for your head, torso, arms, legs and shoes. any of their handmade + recycled jewelry would bring some moxie to a plain dress! they said they would be wearing their favorite pieces for their own weddings, too. each piece is one-of-a-kind because they are made from random pieces of scrap metal. that’s a lot of love in each piece!

with edgy designs and recycled metals, LITTER really packs a punch:

box lay

this headband is sure to make for a beautiful day. it would be a good choice if your wedding is bohemian, grecian or steampunk. it would add sparkle and texture with your hair up or down!

chainmail harness

i love this full-body metal harness.. you could add it to a plain dress for an individual statement with a little bite. who says your jewelry has to be modest, cute or boring?

dripping with gold shoulder piece

these slim gold bands have a beautiful flow- wear two with a dress that doesn’t have sleeves, such as a roman-inspired draped gown. or you could place them over a tight-fitting jacket for a femininely militant look.

light silver shoulder piece

these pieces would add a good weight to a corset or jacket for a punk or goth wedding. it would complement thicker, more substantial materials like leather and wool.

bullets and chains knee strap

sexy jewelry? yes, please- add some appealing danger with this bullet garter. or wear it at knee height with a short dress!

jay walk

these look badass.  the heel height emphasizes the look, so consider that when you’re looking for your shoes.

special thanks to LITTER for permitting me to post these pictures. check out more at their website!

love to all,

lindsey

say hey: lindsey@dandylionevents.com