CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR

As we ease ourselves from 2011 we find ourselves entering a brand-spankin'new year filled with endless possibilities for happiness, success, and love.

I'm going to begin this new year by sharing with you what makes this girl from Washington State and the owner of Sharla Flock Designs so happy about life.

If you know me, you know I'm loud. I'm about as excitable as a lab puppy and I adore playing with flowers! I might have to leash my enthusiasm a wee bit when we meet, but know that I am jumping up and down on the inside when I hear you describe the vision for your wedding.

I love color. I love the subtle differences that only nature can create. I find myself spending endless hours at the flower market laying out possible complimenting tones, textures, and the best part of all, the fragrance.

I am mother to an amazing two year old boy who makes everything in my world brighter. Which is also the reason I might not get my blog page updated as often as I would like. I have taught him to take time to smell the flowers, whether it's in our garden or at the flower market where I push him around in his red bike. He's kinda famous there. I love the flower market and the feeling of family that lives there. Lots of laughter, coffee, and amazingly beautiful blooms always await us!

My design team is the best in the business because most of them come from art backgrounds. This is not the industry to become rich & famous. But, it is a world rich with a lot of heart & soul for the craft of floral design. We have fun! We have nicknames for each other like Glitter Girl, Mother Bubbles & Lady Bug and we find ourselves laughing...a lot! We eat a lot of chocolate and listen to Madonna's Immaculate Collection....a lot!

I'm entering my 10th year in business and my eighteenth year of working with my medium of choice. FLOWERS! And you might be surprised to know that after all of these years I still have nervousness bubbling up every morning before I deliver each wedding. I still fuss over my bridal bouquets a little too much. Mostly, I really care. I sincerely care about what my hands create for your very special day and am honored to play a small part in your wedding.

Here's to Love and all good things to come in 2012.

* Creativity is Blooming *

FOR THE LOVE OF VINTAGE

Oh how I love & adore old things. Old cars, old clothes, anything that has lived a long life should be celebrated!

I had the joy of working with Victoria this summer to capture HER love of old. A truly beautiful vintage inspired wedding at Beaulieu Gardens.

The talented ladies at MAP Events choreographed a flawless event and it was all captured perfectly with the amazing Gia Canali with her dreamy images. The food was impeccable as usual when working with Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. Perfection!

Victoria wanted to translate organic, relaxed, and elegance....all with touches from the past. I was able to use mercury glass vessels and candle holders to set the backdrop for her floral palette. Delicious, textural arrangements consisting of peonies, garden roses, stock, millet, fuzzy quince fruits, orchids, dusty miller foliage, pierus, with hints of fresh mint and scabiosa pods. What a gift to work with such scrumptious flowers!

My goal is always to compliment the surroundings, not compete with it. Victoria chose the ideal space for her wedding and the decor was paired perfectly with the gorgeous estate.

Looking back on this whirlwind wedding season, I feel honored to have played a small part in her wedding, as I do with all of my lovely brides.

Here's looking forward to many more beautiful wedding and remembering the past....and our love of the old while celebrating new marriages in bloom!

Creativity is Blooming!

CALYPSO CAVALLO

There is no better way to celebrate a wedding on a rainy day than by filling the space with a Calypso color palette to chase the rain clouds away!

I had the pleasure of working at Cavallo Point this past Sunday for Laura & Joel wedding ceremony and cocktail reception.

The color palette was reflective of "International Orange," the color of the Golden Gate Bridge, which stands tall and proud as the perfect backdrop for their wedding celebration. With pops of blues and green for just the right amount of whimsy!

Such a playful, vibrant color palette for a fun & vibrant couple.

Here's to many more fun filled, vibrant weddings to come in 2011. Weddings filled with love, beauty, and color!

* Creativity continues to bloom *

LOVE IN BLOOM

January has blown by in a flash and as we transition into February we are greeted with bursts of pink cherry blossoms lighting up the winter sky.

This past Summer I had the pleasure of working with Suji & Eric at the Annadel Estate where I created dense, lush arrangements consisting of a bountiful collection of peonies, garden roses, hydrangea, sweet peas, lilac, with hints of dusty miller and mint in the color palette ranging from soft whites, blush to rich jewel tones.

It was a breathtaking wedding that was choreographed flawlessly by Stacy McCain Event Planning and captured beautifully by the talented Gia Canali.

And as a special treat we have the pleasure of having this gorgeous wedding featured in the current issue of C weddings!

As we move through the beginning of 2011 I look forward to Spring and a wedding season to bloom like the cherry blossoms in February.

Creativity is Blooming at Sharla Flock Designs.

THE FABULOUS FAIRMONT

There is no greater joy than to have a bride who hands over her wedding with full trust, knowing that she is in capable hands. Top it off with a bride who loves the drama of black ostrich feathers and a little "bling" and you're looking at one happy floral designer!

Jessica & Marc were married this September at the Fairmont in San Francisco. The wedding was decked out in glitz, a dramatic floral palette, and an overall smoldering sexiness that oozed from the combination of all three. With use of black baccara roses, flame calla lilies, dahlias, orchids, fiddle heads, and lots of crystals, candles and feathers it was H.O.T. Hot!
These are the clients who make my job so incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

I have an ongoing feeling of appreciation to be able to do the work that I do and feel honored that I am able to help create the mood for the once in a lifetime moments in their lives.

Once again Sharla Flock Designs is Blooming.... and baby, we're just getting warmed up! * 2011 is going to going to sizzle! *

* Wishing you and yours an incredibly beautiful holiday season spent with the people who warm your hearts.

Special thanks to Robert Hatch Photography for these stunning images

In the Name of Love : Pride & Prejudice

Now that I am a new Mama my blogs have been a little further and far between. But know that I am working towards sharing SO many incredibly lovely nuggets of beauty throughout the rest of my wedding season with you.

I had the pleasure of working with some amazing industry talent this Summer to create a dreamy, romantic floral palette based on the theme, Pride & Prejudice for the launch of Nonpariel Magazine.

The lovely and talented Lisa Lekfowitz and Anne Sage teamed up to capture and style the essence of Pride & Prejudice.

Ah, the love affair I have for garden roses and peonies is like no other! Seriously. Mother Nature knocks it out of the ballpark with these beauties.

I am once again reminded of how fortunate I am to do what I love, surrounded by the most beautiful things on earth....my new son and yummy peonies & garden roses! Life is perfect!

Here's to continuing to share what is blooming at Sharla Flock Designs and to a Summer filled with Love for Nature.