tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31835883812587486142024-03-05T02:46:04.612-08:00polka dotting my i'sInekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-69724914628168119732014-01-09T11:17:00.001-08:002014-01-09T11:17:31.587-08:002013 in review — March: Flowers for a big fat (fake) Indian wedding<i>2013 was such an amazing year for me — crazy, busy, wonderful, but I didn't really <strike>have enough time</strike> make it a priority to keep up with my little record-keeping here. So I've decided to sit myself down and write a few posts about what happened last year.</i><br />
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March was exciting with <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/03/bouquets-to-art-2013-highlights.html">Bouquets to Art happening</a> and me having the opportunity to help the awesome team of <a href="http://chestnutandvine.com/">Chestnut & Vine</a> with the <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-bouquets-to-art-2013-centerpiece.html">big exhibition centerpiece</a>. I've posted plenty about that when it happened, so I won't recycle it here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ccsf.edu/NEW/en/educational-programs/school-and-departments/school-of-liberal-arts/EHRF/floristry.html">Classes</a> were well underway at that point; in fact, by mid March it was already time for Midterms. I had signed up for Intermediate Floral Design, Advanced Floral Design, Flower & Foliage ID and Care, and Ikebana, although I ended up dropping Ikebana half way into the semester because my class load was just a little more than I could handle.<br />
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The Advanced Floral Design class is also called "The Wedding Class", because it primarily covers bridal bouquets and designs for ceremony and reception decor. The midterm project was a group design, for which each team got to choose a wedding theme and then had to design all of the pieces to go with that theme. Our group chose a big, colorful Indian Wedding as our inspiration, and we had so much fun designing ceremony garlands, centerpieces, and all sorts of floral decorations for our imaginary Hindu wedding couple.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_tajC6_KxaG5Kee3-VWOaq0pxT5tyoW5xO7KqJL3VF7wg5cpfg1pwmu2R1X4oCVp95nZQBQH-8UGEIYiUx2DuOV8RgXdNMKLaoXQDBH9rRWmOsb0shdBNyXCc96I74BFFqkSxcGn-3o/s1600/DSC_6943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_tajC6_KxaG5Kee3-VWOaq0pxT5tyoW5xO7KqJL3VF7wg5cpfg1pwmu2R1X4oCVp95nZQBQH-8UGEIYiUx2DuOV8RgXdNMKLaoXQDBH9rRWmOsb0shdBNyXCc96I74BFFqkSxcGn-3o/s1600/DSC_6943.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Our lovely team in front of our display right before the class critique. Every group got to set up their designs in the classroom, along with an inspiration board that described other elements of the wedding theme. </i></span></td></tr>
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We went with a bold, vibrant color scheme of orange and fuchsia, accented with lime green. Certainly nothing for the faint of heart, but so perfect for a festive Hindu wedding!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Barbara designed this beautiful chair or pew decoration with orange tulips and ranunculus and fuchsia anemones and nerines. I just love the bold, asymmetric design.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Not only did Julia create a gorgeously patterned pedestal for the wedding cake out of button mums and spray roses, she also baked and brought in a delicious chocolate cake for us to share!</i></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aNt_XEPDtCp26KwsMOeVBhifUiobV2CS-0rxODhyVyrZOxuR0hiw3_bAR6Oq1J2eCyVt1lJ_WsQ0Bw8qEKEsFYb6uoZa7q8iiePe4IABcM4-EV5oOTjMubeKYTXODji4WOmq8qb7D2g/s1600/DSC_6952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aNt_XEPDtCp26KwsMOeVBhifUiobV2CS-0rxODhyVyrZOxuR0hiw3_bAR6Oq1J2eCyVt1lJ_WsQ0Bw8qEKEsFYb6uoZa7q8iiePe4IABcM4-EV5oOTjMubeKYTXODji4WOmq8qb7D2g/s1600/DSC_6952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Chelsea took on the centerpiece. The gold-painted Fiddleheads are such perfect accents to the overall theme. And wouldn't you just love to sit down and find this stunning napkin decor in front of you? Those speckled Vanda orchids are amazing.</i></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDr33OFx1JlC4SsqUWMeQgadE6PA2kDG-ieAC3eZh2rIoanjxe9-G4BkEDIpWChEbo76iGakNneodnBqsW8StMX2-9tWPxoE8_A1rrquBfKNz039htjr0cc0Pv7cMhyphenhyphen0QDgQZzzGTJ-8/s1600/DSC_6953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDr33OFx1JlC4SsqUWMeQgadE6PA2kDG-ieAC3eZh2rIoanjxe9-G4BkEDIpWChEbo76iGakNneodnBqsW8StMX2-9tWPxoE8_A1rrquBfKNz039htjr0cc0Pv7cMhyphenhyphen0QDgQZzzGTJ-8/s1600/DSC_6953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEnbgHa8k65tAk4D262pR2qDhwE3PQJsk6yxvd0i1SB_VZB-M06TIzcQ4PTt5CIONtMqyUnJqD5161WAbnEF2MVmmnp8bRDb2V3Y8UjVFdvWOcmNGUrezt2UdQohvLQwDdtIzdxkGXYU/s1600/DSC_6937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEnbgHa8k65tAk4D262pR2qDhwE3PQJsk6yxvd0i1SB_VZB-M06TIzcQ4PTt5CIONtMqyUnJqD5161WAbnEF2MVmmnp8bRDb2V3Y8UjVFdvWOcmNGUrezt2UdQohvLQwDdtIzdxkGXYU/s1600/DSC_6937.JPG" height="636" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>I created this decorative floral panel to adorn the Welcome Table of our imaginary Indian wedding. The carving of Lord Ganesha rests on a low, Pavé-style design made out of carnations, ranunculus and hypericum berries.</i></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUphCsd28eMZmtwYkKz2ogDvk8zlZfU-vlBS3KzzY_uFc3Q3909gX48rwMVf8XS2yshB579oPLayCxLF8ODp5vZJavBGaNN3hPcHslvglrsk_0DGvUG0VS3_x_3_OHcumfM5EuIzSb9rM/s1600/DSC_6965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUphCsd28eMZmtwYkKz2ogDvk8zlZfU-vlBS3KzzY_uFc3Q3909gX48rwMVf8XS2yshB579oPLayCxLF8ODp5vZJavBGaNN3hPcHslvglrsk_0DGvUG0VS3_x_3_OHcumfM5EuIzSb9rM/s1600/DSC_6965.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Julia was in charge of crafting the traditional ceremony garlands worn by bride and groom. So beautiful!</i></span></td></tr>
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We worked really well together as a team and just loved our bold, colorful designs. It's one of the great things about class that you can experiment sometimes with styles and designs that may not necessarily be in high demand or easy for you to sell to clients. This way, you can stretch a bit creatively and try something outside of your comfort zone. <br />
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So much for March, stay tuned for April!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-75372961755290853602014-01-04T18:55:00.000-08:002014-01-04T19:40:00.630-08:002013 in review — February<i>2013 was such an amazing year for me — crazy, busy, wonderful, but I didn't really <strike>have enough time</strike> make it a priority to keep up with my little record-keeping here. So I've decided to sit myself down and write a few posts about what happened last year.</i><br />
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February had a couple fun social gatherings in stock. There was a <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/02/super-bowl-flower-arrangement.html">Superbowl party</a> at our friends' house, for which I made a football-themed floral centerpiece, and the hubby and I rekindled our love for homemade Southwestern Eggrolls (<a href="http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Chilis-Southwestern-Eggrolls-Recipe.html">here's the recipe</a>).<br />
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We celebrated a dear friend's birthday at Oakland's Jack London Square. I gave him birthday balloons that said "Happy Birthday" and "About 38 or so" (the guy at the party store who put the letters on the balloons just loved it). You won't see a picture of said balloons though, because I did not buy the little weight that you're supposed to tie the balloons to — I figured we're all adults and a grown man can hold on to a handful of balloons. Well... let's just say that the balloons got away, and next time you tie a bunch of balloons to a chair, make sure it's a good knot. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DGsxC6dil3ABD8kyhP-6vKL5cPG8BMSzETTkcxBQbLmsI3XUoxpcxPtYFrPAoYpFjI9aca876WO77ubLe-FV08ZXHy_8SyPQlGKsD7BpvBVjnnqCmgq2NK55-gc5X65XcOIKkOljjV8/s1600/130223_Jay_Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DGsxC6dil3ABD8kyhP-6vKL5cPG8BMSzETTkcxBQbLmsI3XUoxpcxPtYFrPAoYpFjI9aca876WO77ubLe-FV08ZXHy_8SyPQlGKsD7BpvBVjnnqCmgq2NK55-gc5X65XcOIKkOljjV8/s1600/130223_Jay_Birthday.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I got to volunteer at a fantastic <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/03/floral-design-seminar-with-natasha.html">floral design seminar</a> with the team of Waterlily Pond in February, and boy am I happy I did. I have since worked several amazing events with them this past year, and am looking forward to more in 2014. Here's one of my favorite arrangements from the workshop, "Black Swan":<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRHSa0jQs3XMMPIuEt7GZsQ0rPJwmNU4UuZg_t6ZVT86n_trEVvrevCwA09jniIXUFv53ynU6lmbAoGm1jBV3YYp4N-RG9KrcgxUe0ZXqbyLnB9owzl66OsWWrf4qRjVqPqDLSGpZhF8/s1600/130206_WLP_Seminar_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRHSa0jQs3XMMPIuEt7GZsQ0rPJwmNU4UuZg_t6ZVT86n_trEVvrevCwA09jniIXUFv53ynU6lmbAoGm1jBV3YYp4N-RG9KrcgxUe0ZXqbyLnB9owzl66OsWWrf4qRjVqPqDLSGpZhF8/s640/130206_WLP_Seminar_sm.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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That was February, in a nutshell. Only ten more months to go!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-6660031297450158362014-01-03T15:42:00.001-08:002014-01-04T17:53:01.473-08:002013 in review — January: There is sunshine after the gray<i>2013 was such an amazing year for me — crazy, busy, wonderful, but I didn't really <strike>have enough time</strike> make it a priority to keep up with my little record-keeping here. So I've decided to sit myself down and write a few posts about what happened last year.</i><br />
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</i> In January, I spent a week in Germany visiting my parents. It was seriously the darkest, grayest week of my life. And I'm not talking about my mood -- I had a great time and did lots of fun stuff with my folks. But, during the entire week I was there, I never saw the sun. It just barely comes up over the horizon that time of year anyway, but in January 2013, new records were broken and even at high noon everything felt dim. This was pretty much the color palette of my visit there:<br />
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So when I came back to California, and within days saw <i>this</i> growing on the side of the street, I was very, very relieved.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9imZLAD9mC7dgdr-vKyEHUCXvssQ1xxzRj8le3fthDvCWoj8uD4tzZrBdEjC8HrgJaQIgey_0EG8HgHpzgft7DWKfTPdtPKLQH4c1NguabkR_LjHekRLO4aWXnqCHNdq5YAz9Nqo6wk/s1600/20130113_110611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9imZLAD9mC7dgdr-vKyEHUCXvssQ1xxzRj8le3fthDvCWoj8uD4tzZrBdEjC8HrgJaQIgey_0EG8HgHpzgft7DWKfTPdtPKLQH4c1NguabkR_LjHekRLO4aWXnqCHNdq5YAz9Nqo6wk/s1600/20130113_110611.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Poppies are one of my favorites. They remind me of my Mom's garden in the summer, we always had some grow around the pond. And it is one of the most amazing things to see how those beautiful, large, vibrant petals emerge from the small, green, fuzzy bud of the flower. They are all crinkled up for a while, like tissue paper that was stuffed in a box. I think it's amazing how nature figures these things out.<br />
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The rest of January was pretty uneventful. Stay tuned for February!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-73441172833981721182013-06-20T13:54:00.001-07:002013-06-20T15:31:16.882-07:00Kitayama Brothers Gerbera Festival 2013I attended my first ever floral competition this past weekend! I competed along with some of my fellow <a href="http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Environmental_Horticulture_and_Floristry/fl/">CCSF floristry students</a> at the Kitayama Cup — a fun, not-too-serious competition these <a href="http://kitayamabrothers.com/">wonderful local growers</a> hold for their annual Open House and Gerbera Festival.<br />
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We got to choose from an amazing selection of cut flowers and foliages, and had to create an arrangement and a mixed bouquet in 60 minutes. It sounds like a lot of time, but it flies by much faster than you think — not finishing in time was my biggest concern. But I did, and while my designs didn't place, I had so much fun and was just happy for the opportunity. (And honestly, proud of myself for not being a complete nervous wreck walking into it: I usually don't handle pressure very well, to put it mildly.)<br />
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This competition was a trial run for our CCSF Floral Design competition team, as we will be competing next week at the <a href="http://aifd.org/upcoming-events/2013symposium/">annual symposium of the American Institute of Floral Designers</a> in Las Vegas. Almost a whole week packed with lectures, demonstrations, receptions and parties for all us flower geeks!<br />
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After the judging was done, the arrangements we made were auctioned off to the Open House visitors to benefit the Santa Cruz State Parks. Quickly seeing multiple bids for my designs was a great feeling, and I can now proudly say that I 'sold' my first floral creations. Onwards!<br />
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P.S. Many more pictures of the day and competition are on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.453958898027324.1073741827.163013657121851&type=3">Kitayama Brothers Facbook page</a>.Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-15174560583255392552013-04-01T10:17:00.000-07:002013-04-01T10:17:27.572-07:00The Bouquets to Art 2013 CenterpieceEvery year for <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/03/bouquets-to-art-2013-highlights.html">Bouquets to Art</a>, one lucky floral designer is chosen to create the exhibition's centerpiece, which is typically a large scale floral installation in Wilsey Court, right in the heart of the de Young museum. This year, the committee chose Svenja Brotz from <a href="http://chestnutandvine.com/">Chestnut & Vine</a> for this project, and commissioned her to create a piece inspired by the Dutch Golden Age, to go with their current exhibition of <a href="http://girl.famsf.org/">Dutch paintings from the Mauritshuis</a>, including the famous “Girl with the Pearl Earring.” Svenja created an amazing, 16-foot tall structure filled with the most beautiful yellow roses, gerberas, cymbidium orchids, anthuriums, football mums, carnations and craspedia, accented with gold-painted succulents. The piece featured a stunning solid slab of monkey pod wood on one side, and high-gloss polished metal on the other, and was a real show-stopper.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BSn2ubpIvoJHUbMgJQolIUigbjPcOWq_a4oO0uXc57O3ojcLChB_WmbmV46TjFZtg2Sw7-gz8DQ-J_IzqYXWaHwuewxNNaulczDJwZ17tzeQ0gAI1y52LF2hUISDZkvey8dOTxmU9Wk/s1600/DSC_7041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BSn2ubpIvoJHUbMgJQolIUigbjPcOWq_a4oO0uXc57O3ojcLChB_WmbmV46TjFZtg2Sw7-gz8DQ-J_IzqYXWaHwuewxNNaulczDJwZ17tzeQ0gAI1y52LF2hUISDZkvey8dOTxmU9Wk/s1600/DSC_7041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I had a wonderful opportunity to help Svenja and her team with this piece, and am still totally in awe about how smoothly it came together and how stunning it looked in the space. Below are a few pictures from the installation, and the de Young created <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_prWaduOccA">this cool time-lapse video</a> of the construction process.<br />
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The 16-foot tall golden column really stood out in the restrained architecture of the de Young's central foyer, and created a focal point opposite Gerhard Richter's huge black-and-white mural “Strontium.”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvQt5lnQg4cCuJ_oDkNgM3lhxwK0DQGmtFMaABcQmx3pCoLppi6KZbXOIfFmAnTBwBv5CIQM-UhCQy5n07rTqh8apkTBHMR__8qZQAfMt3qk-AT0092DnoYZ4wQp_I0uf94T6CXSVbM4/s1600/DSC_7145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvQt5lnQg4cCuJ_oDkNgM3lhxwK0DQGmtFMaABcQmx3pCoLppi6KZbXOIfFmAnTBwBv5CIQM-UhCQy5n07rTqh8apkTBHMR__8qZQAfMt3qk-AT0092DnoYZ4wQp_I0uf94T6CXSVbM4/s640/DSC_7145.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5bO_MweiydoVoSsLWjpACJ_eXUJyTJLKHmE92t-2QwME-ZIXfgDkLFFDUDJ7hzX3D-gpeqYMPR2wO0LcjdkqmbRXZiXk3CLUuQadyR0wCQ-GsakUHM9iJYXhVXXLYiecF1Gof_Cuias/s1600/DSC_7148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5bO_MweiydoVoSsLWjpACJ_eXUJyTJLKHmE92t-2QwME-ZIXfgDkLFFDUDJ7hzX3D-gpeqYMPR2wO0LcjdkqmbRXZiXk3CLUuQadyR0wCQ-GsakUHM9iJYXhVXXLYiecF1Gof_Cuias/s1600/DSC_7148.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQcsQG_72wUZyDCsoS1Vh29FiJEhwRrDsVh3PBkBYc3938DC6Wr_Ce9GIZ-Lmtfmiy9W_VV57uKs5cLaLaoLFGQmw5hyphenhyphenFlN1jDzBB7X22gxi3H-Y6KOW5qxkr5uvdaKP7uXRu9BQyInM/s1600/DSC_7055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQcsQG_72wUZyDCsoS1Vh29FiJEhwRrDsVh3PBkBYc3938DC6Wr_Ce9GIZ-Lmtfmiy9W_VV57uKs5cLaLaoLFGQmw5hyphenhyphenFlN1jDzBB7X22gxi3H-Y6KOW5qxkr5uvdaKP7uXRu9BQyInM/s640/DSC_7055.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
During the opening gala, the piece was artfully illuminated and glowed like a beacon of yellow golden light. It also cast really interesting-looking shadows on the museum foyer's dark floor.<br />
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I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to help out with this breathtaking arrangement, and watching visitors marvel at it on numerous occasions throughout the week was just too fun. Have a good week, everybody — perhaps think about your own larger-than-life creative ambitions!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-13325912020965793072013-03-27T07:52:00.000-07:002013-03-27T07:52:48.194-07:00Bouquets to Art 2013: HighlightsThis week is Spring Break and I don't have any classes, which is good, since it gave me some time to sort through all the pictures I took at <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/03/coming-up-bouquets-to-art-2013.html">Bouquets to Art</a> last week! I will do a separate post about the fantastic arrangement I got to help out on, but here are a few highlights from this year's exhibition. I just love the creativity that so many of the designers used to interpret their artwork, and the skill involved in creating these pieces. There are more pictures in a Flickr album <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inekemoss/sets/72157633099758490/">over here</a>, if you're interested. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIYlv2fqKVF_fN2aZFcrSyIaRsWlPsVa8Dy6Kaf-YWAxNziguQCSG1pfwM0YEcd7Av-WVEWTj8w6MKWqY1VKLcv_YXQJkNONn3ycC3XSNw_yDOl7crgHJA7eF69gECDbNpZtkV5iCMrY/s1600/DSC_7022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIYlv2fqKVF_fN2aZFcrSyIaRsWlPsVa8Dy6Kaf-YWAxNziguQCSG1pfwM0YEcd7Av-WVEWTj8w6MKWqY1VKLcv_YXQJkNONn3ycC3XSNw_yDOl7crgHJA7eF69gECDbNpZtkV5iCMrY/s1600/DSC_7022.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>I just love this interpretation of Manuel Neri's </i>Seated Girl II<i> by Michael Holmes Designs — great color, shape, and full of attitude, just like the original!</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OaH5IL_aYnw_WObj9JfFguaKU86vBPeL3urbRZH7MPN1KajfUeXt6IYfVbUH_8h91vmmwTBsAN2GOUUIPz-ErW2j3yDs6A97Mq6XCQUhSA7k-jdqGmIDiPVgmPeW-1Zj49n8dfo7FZA/s1600/DSC_7024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OaH5IL_aYnw_WObj9JfFguaKU86vBPeL3urbRZH7MPN1KajfUeXt6IYfVbUH_8h91vmmwTBsAN2GOUUIPz-ErW2j3yDs6A97Mq6XCQUhSA7k-jdqGmIDiPVgmPeW-1Zj49n8dfo7FZA/s1600/DSC_7024.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Yoko Klingebiel's design was one of my favorite pieces in the whole exhibition. She captured Dorothy Napangardi's </i>Sandhills<i> with such elegance and restraint (and not to mention skill!).</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtooylMeO8lFxONXAFOsiOYtefjQ-l-SdrCvZdt7zPvIUM_xLYZBHGMJNv9abZfsZGRZHMkkY-74z1EunzZ9Hf2EMg3BmnjVIBqTmT6bS3opD74vZHh3wPIJiZYGXnzbQhMW3QlDsdE7k/s1600/DSC_7029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtooylMeO8lFxONXAFOsiOYtefjQ-l-SdrCvZdt7zPvIUM_xLYZBHGMJNv9abZfsZGRZHMkkY-74z1EunzZ9Hf2EMg3BmnjVIBqTmT6bS3opD74vZHh3wPIJiZYGXnzbQhMW3QlDsdE7k/s1600/DSC_7029.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Nathan Oliveira's </i>Weaver<i>, brought to floral life by Michiko Shimoda. I like how they relate to each other, as if they're in a conversation.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0-KJq9yMxbqTv77LF9cJpDlh6v_frIGagEuE8KRvvNpPpCyyoVPIw_dyJ9AZioiUNz0_aInysfr1ypaG9BopS4EihQG32BqIG_u5KzK4iSgU8r5Kn5jOZVoe4h2f5Dy8LVwry_ovmEA/s1600/DSC_7063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0-KJq9yMxbqTv77LF9cJpDlh6v_frIGagEuE8KRvvNpPpCyyoVPIw_dyJ9AZioiUNz0_aInysfr1ypaG9BopS4EihQG32BqIG_u5KzK4iSgU8r5Kn5jOZVoe4h2f5Dy8LVwry_ovmEA/s1600/DSC_7063.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Thomas Hovenden's painting of an </i></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>abolitionist leader on his way to the gallows, </i>The Last Moments of John Brown, </span><i style="font-size: 9pt;">and the brilliant interpretation by Neil Hunt. Genius!</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVEfij5UQqOkW-fMvxSuU2cxQpV31G1w0MftfWo9Ae8hWVnk7g6tPfBl2bIUn3uFSNJWHMWFwHHYo28W6zSp845bT-b9dkfMuhGtNnguT_7U6l9DYV1dfHsL7G3NMQRSOFchc520OzYE/s1600/DSC_7086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVEfij5UQqOkW-fMvxSuU2cxQpV31G1w0MftfWo9Ae8hWVnk7g6tPfBl2bIUn3uFSNJWHMWFwHHYo28W6zSp845bT-b9dkfMuhGtNnguT_7U6l9DYV1dfHsL7G3NMQRSOFchc520OzYE/s1600/DSC_7086.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>The team of Poppy's Petalworks came up with this pretty design for David Regan's </i>Cod Tureen <i>(not pictured). I love the color, and the contrast in texture between the cork bark and the flower petals. </i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS4jVWH6KwLpKF9dJl-iUz9Pb9qPC_xYCidcZinmsaOw8oYr5HYN-zL4dO6arlsyElyf8A3TBiDPFTLoGMGFgZvzsr0Us1kee4W64g8MU8ezhKgcWJPe3QyqDowD4ouUiUxKxc4tIsN8/s1600/DSC_7083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS4jVWH6KwLpKF9dJl-iUz9Pb9qPC_xYCidcZinmsaOw8oYr5HYN-zL4dO6arlsyElyf8A3TBiDPFTLoGMGFgZvzsr0Us1kee4W64g8MU8ezhKgcWJPe3QyqDowD4ouUiUxKxc4tIsN8/s1600/DSC_7083.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Friends of Filoli's version of William Joseph McCloskey's </i>Oranges in Tissue Paper<i>.</i> Great choice of materials!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfcMx7OwbrRzrXm_PuhbCwjJFI6hG46dkmiw8s5fYCLQb9tSJIbOi5fzokLTxzCSKrfkJaGxxEZm4pRpTdBv3qc42GPU19LSLkbBHt72o1r4Gg9H5My1nWLC2sJYcRYhet7_Jjbdq4Rs/s1600/DSC_7074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfcMx7OwbrRzrXm_PuhbCwjJFI6hG46dkmiw8s5fYCLQb9tSJIbOi5fzokLTxzCSKrfkJaGxxEZm4pRpTdBv3qc42GPU19LSLkbBHt72o1r4Gg9H5My1nWLC2sJYcRYhet7_Jjbdq4Rs/s1600/DSC_7074.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Jessica Rao captured the earthy and rustic feel of George Fuller's </i>Girl and Calf<i>...</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv84C4ZJpTw5tRXBARsG4Q77sfWfgDwmuVD9LTLOffnyT-0orbjjJdLr7e6UevVPrUDQbd7Vk7JQb6Nxlw7vfdVA1hfr1rU8gNhOZr8EDn_HTcq_ZYBVCQDLnaNiuzumdIM7zwsmN3Ls/s1600/DSC_7105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizv84C4ZJpTw5tRXBARsG4Q77sfWfgDwmuVD9LTLOffnyT-0orbjjJdLr7e6UevVPrUDQbd7Vk7JQb6Nxlw7vfdVA1hfr1rU8gNhOZr8EDn_HTcq_ZYBVCQDLnaNiuzumdIM7zwsmN3Ls/s1600/DSC_7105.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>...while Yukiko Neibert embraced the striking elegance of Robert Henri's </i>Lady in Black with Spanish Scarf.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtBTcl3sghJWyvWeAAja4otD8SJ8gA9_in025ADZxwZH5u7yd5VutGMLRWUFkPE5bEQwwU9rzqa665fCRNNT8J6__uWajkDx062cyTKklkQ3kga14zqz9j2Wbm_FWK3QYeHoMmcfvBKg/s1600/DSC_7132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtBTcl3sghJWyvWeAAja4otD8SJ8gA9_in025ADZxwZH5u7yd5VutGMLRWUFkPE5bEQwwU9rzqa665fCRNNT8J6__uWajkDx062cyTKklkQ3kga14zqz9j2Wbm_FWK3QYeHoMmcfvBKg/s1600/DSC_7132.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>An arrangement and its muse: Guy Pène du Bois' </i>Seated Nude<i>, interpreted by the team of Lavender in Sonoma. The skin tones in their flower selection were delicious.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqvd91NWPqG5PyQD-5PtXlC79aSUK0nwkryZcXLjVVe3iUo0-NLlZoFd-KPrPD3qmaOBh0o4raVTRuUug3OJk4thaI3rk6RhTPH-T6y-UMPy0Xnv4wKcly1DFD48AT1OUHwcR35CR4Hg/s1600/DSC_7070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqvd91NWPqG5PyQD-5PtXlC79aSUK0nwkryZcXLjVVe3iUo0-NLlZoFd-KPrPD3qmaOBh0o4raVTRuUug3OJk4thaI3rk6RhTPH-T6y-UMPy0Xnv4wKcly1DFD48AT1OUHwcR35CR4Hg/s1600/DSC_7070.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Another female-inspired design: Sunshine Flowers' take on Eastman Johnson's </i>Woman in White Dress<i>. Now who wouldn't love a dress made from the loveliest selection of white flowers?</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM0MnhYTaoJpPFF6RHf1knPGswFFLfgjVfCvVDbQPixLUepvMU07Ivgx3ROuMwS-tT8w01LzAg0pu9L_JWCk0b2i0zFPmYLeRV9XgZ8kr4x4ShrAhENyGq9alYCvTyPtwQnypFZCEzUw/s1600/DSC_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM0MnhYTaoJpPFF6RHf1knPGswFFLfgjVfCvVDbQPixLUepvMU07Ivgx3ROuMwS-tT8w01LzAg0pu9L_JWCk0b2i0zFPmYLeRV9XgZ8kr4x4ShrAhENyGq9alYCvTyPtwQnypFZCEzUw/s1600/DSC_7092.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Books and flowers? Heck yes! Main St. Floragardens shows us how, with their detail-rich interpretation of John Frederick Peto's </i>Job Lot Cheap<i>.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHd_zTaVjez8TrhobrQRGQiDq6pLjPL3X3jpjetIRb_hJI_Fn7VXCmif36cW-yl3AqnsThx1L01FIesN_LGUJFrX36jx9zJGde2Vn4wXBAAK84nrcfRjn1mEF4B8UKza6hZh6KmpMtj0/s1600/DSC_7138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHd_zTaVjez8TrhobrQRGQiDq6pLjPL3X3jpjetIRb_hJI_Fn7VXCmif36cW-yl3AqnsThx1L01FIesN_LGUJFrX36jx9zJGde2Vn4wXBAAK84nrcfRjn1mEF4B8UKza6hZh6KmpMtj0/s1600/DSC_7138.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Soft textures and earthy tones in Joan McLellan Tayler's version of </i>Figure of an ancestor or deity.</span><br />
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Swing on over to my Flickr album for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inekemoss/sets/72157633099758490/">more pictures</a> of Bouquets to Art 2013, and check back later this week to learn more about the design I got to work on!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-46753731214531782422013-03-17T13:54:00.001-07:002013-03-17T13:54:33.616-07:00Coming up: Bouquets to Art 2013How I have lived in the Bay Area for almost nine years and hadn't heard about Bouquets to Art until last year, when the instructor of my floral design class encouraged us to visit this fantastic annual exhibition, I will never know. You'd think that an event combining art and flowers would have been on my radar all along, but it wasn't so. If you have never heard of it either, here's the long and short: Over 100 Bay Area floral designers choose a piece of artwork from the collections of San Francisco's esteemed de Young museum and create an arrangement, drawing inspiration from that particular piece. The arrangements are then put on display alongside the art that inspired them, for a special five-day exhibition. <br />
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<a href="http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/bouquets-art-2013">Bouquets to Art 2013</a> is coming up next week, and I am extremely excited to be able to say that I helped to work on one very special piece for the exhibit this year. Here are a few impressions from last year's exhibition, and I can't wait for this year's show to open to the public on Tuesday!<br />
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Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-64537936171903487252013-03-08T16:18:00.000-08:002013-03-09T09:38:08.923-08:00Floral Design Seminar with Natasha LisitsaNatasha Lisitsa of <a href="http://waterlilypond.com/">Waterlily Pond Floral Design</a> is one of the first floral designers whose work I ever registered as something uniquely different and beautiful, more art than craft, and distinctly recognizable. I first saw her work at a bridal show years ago, and have since seen it at weddings and events and of course at the DeYoung museum here in San Francisco, where she is one of the truly memorable contributors to the annual <a href="http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/bouquets-art-2013">Bouquets to Art</a> exhibit. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Wouldn't you love being greeted by this fantastic arrangement in your entryway?</i></span></td></tr>
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I had the wonderful opportunity to assist Natasha and her team at a 3-day floral design seminar a few weeks ago, and between the days that I helped to prep and pack and set up for the event, and the time I got to spend watching her demonstrations and lectures and helping out the participants in the design studio, I had the most amazing time. Not only did I get a peek into how she finds her inspiration and goes about executing her ideas, but it also turned out that Natasha and her team are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. (And let's face it — nothing is sadder than to find out that somebody whose work you admire is impossible to be around.)<br />
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In the mornings, Natasha and her head designer Carla would demo some of their fantastic arrangements, talk about where the inspiration for each piece came from, and how they executed it. Natasha likes to work with unusual materials and isn't shy to incorporate rattan caning, metal mesh or paper filling material into her arrangements to create intriguing mechanics that don't need to — and shouldn't be — disguised (unlike traditional materials, such as floral foam or tape). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>A couple of the designs Natasha and Carla presented on the first day, incorporating ratting caning and paper mesh.</i></span></td></tr>
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In the afternoons, the seminar participants got to work on their own creations in the workshop studio, and were able to try out many of the materials Natasha and Carla had introduced in the morning sessions. Dye baths for rattan caning, power tools for drilling and screwing, and branches the size of small trees were all lined up along with the more usual floral tools and supplies. None of the students seemed intimidated in the least, and everybody went straight to work. Towards the end of the day, Natasha critiqued every arrangement, and offered candid and insightful advice on how a piece could be improved.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>A couple of the students' designs from the first day of the seminar. Aren't they great?</i></span></td></tr>
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The second day focused on large scale installations, something Natasha is definitely known for. She generously shared information about her workflow, stressed the importance of proper lighting for any floral arrangement, and discussed considerations regarding materials, size and scale, restrictions and many other aspects of creating larger-than-life floral sculptures like <a href="http://waterlilypond.com/elemental.html">Elemental</a>, her 2009 Bouquets to Art contribution. (If you're interested, here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfWlRUy--Uw">fascinating time lapse video</a> of the installation of Elemental.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>The painted Manzanita branches in this gorgeous chandelier are somewhat of a signature feature in Natasha's work.</i></span></td></tr>
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On the third day, the group got a special tour of the San Francisco flower market, and then went on to visit Yerba Buena Gardens, armed with their cameras and sketch pads. The idea was to capture some of the many architectural and landscaping details of this urban parklet, which they were then asked to use as inspiration for an arrangement to complete that same afternoon (think Project Runway challenge). The results were as diverse as they were impressive, and really showed how much the participants had embraced Natasha's affinity for exuberant creative expression and bold use of unusual materials. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>During the critique for the Yerba Buena Gardens-inspired arrangements at the end of the third day.</i></span></td></tr>
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The seminar was hosted in a formerly industrial building in San Francisco's Dogpatch district, which is now home to mostly creative businesses — photographers, event planners, catering companies — and has sweeping views of the city and the East Bay. Natasha and her team had made sure that the seminar participants (some of them from places as far as Florida and Hawaii) got to take in as many of San Francisco's treasures as possible and didn't run out of energy, so they served up tasty breakfasts and lunches from hip local businesses like <a href="http://www.kitchenettesf.com/">Kitchenette</a>. We got to use the space of <a href="http://www.handsongourmet.com/">Hands On Gourmet</a> for our lunches, and ever since I'm thinking about possible opportunities to host a cooking class party there.<br />
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It was really fantastic to be part of the seminar, and I got a lot of inspiration and new ideas from it that I can't wait to try out. And judging by their enthusiasm, the participants from across the country all felt the same. Thank you, Natasha and team!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-43609073303464278972013-02-09T11:56:00.000-08:002013-02-09T11:56:56.916-08:00Super Bowl flower arrangementThe San Francisco 49ers may have lost the Super Bowl last Sunday, but it certainly wasn't for the lack of a good centerpiece. I made a football-inspired arrangement for a party at my friends' house, using a Mitsumata branch to suggest the shape of a goal, and a carnation-studded football propped up on an acrylic rod. I wasn't able to get rust-colored carnations for the ball like I had wanted, so I ended up going with 49ers colors: red, white, and a hint of gold. Not exactly what I had in mind, but I needed to improvise.<br />
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The grass was made from a variety of Dianthus barbatus, a cousin of the carnation, and the whole thing looked sort of cute surrounded by everybody's favorite Super Bowl foods. The Mister and I had made a batch of <a href="http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/Chilis-Southwestern-Eggrolls-Recipe.html">Chili's Southwestern Eggrolls</a> and <a href="http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/30/super-bowl-recipe-week-mini-corn-dog-muffins/">Iowa Girl Eats' Mini Corn Dog Muffins</a>, there was a three layer dip, and guacamole, and chips, and chili, and... oh, right, a football game on TV.<br />
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I thought Beyoncé's fierce halftime show, the excitement of a 34-minute power outage, and the 49ers' thrilling comeback after said power outage made for a really entertaining Super Bowl. And didn't you just love all those animal commercials? <br />
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This was my first-ever floral 'sculpture', and while it didn't exactly represent my usual design aesthetic, I was very happy with it. It was a challenge in materials, stability, and balance, and I had such fun making it. It came out looking fairly similar to my early sketch, and with the help of some casting plaster and floral foam, the structure easily survived transportation to my friends' house (I added the football once we were there). Now if only the 49ers had won.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPuQIICK5Xv7Rvo-yMETBMUb2f_1fLo9WIwjGa-bZsYt0LARfeF2N2xvbpru0ERWGaqYLbBTS1hnq1mswav-wFYk5KtNPQV-SjUIRz-muauS4gjNzcT0XOAr02ol8Q2DDI9i0jg7X_o4/s1600/130203_Superbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPuQIICK5Xv7Rvo-yMETBMUb2f_1fLo9WIwjGa-bZsYt0LARfeF2N2xvbpru0ERWGaqYLbBTS1hnq1mswav-wFYk5KtNPQV-SjUIRz-muauS4gjNzcT0XOAr02ol8Q2DDI9i0jg7X_o4/s1600/130203_Superbowl.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-70324911258445818992013-02-01T13:53:00.000-08:002013-02-01T13:53:57.079-08:00Boutonnière and corsage roundupSince I mentioned <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/01/garden-inspired-pew-decor-and.html">the other day</a> how much I enjoy making what is often called 'personal flowers' or 'body flowers' in floral design terms, I thought I could do a little roundup of some of the corsages and boutonnières I made in class during the past year.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>This is one of the boutonnières I made to go with my <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2013/01/garden-inspired-pew-decor-and.html">garden-inspired pew décor</a> last week. Just a single orange tulip, backed with a folded tulip leaf, some filler, and a raffia wrap for a pop of color.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Another take on the garden-boutonnière: a lavender blossom on a gardenia leaf, supported with a loop of angel vine. This one smelled great, too!</i></span></td></tr>
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Making a corsage was actually the very first thing we did in the first floral design class I ever took. We started by learning how to make a florist's bow, and how to wire and tape different types of flowers and foliage to create the elements that would then be assembled to make up the corsage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>These were the first corsages I ever made — not bad, but certainly some room for improvement.</i></span></td></tr>
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While some of the techniques you need to learn for making corsages or boutonnières are fairly specific to creating personal flowers (namely wiring and taping flowers — that is, replacing the natural stem of the flower with one consisting of wire and floral tape, which allows you to bend the flower in whichever way you want it to face, secure it permanently in the miniature arrangement, and lock in some moisture), other aspects are more general and apply to arrangements of any size and style (think of balance, harmony, and transition, which are as important in a tiny boutonnière as they are in a huge arrangement). Hence, learning how to make a boutonnière or corsage is a great starting point for studying floral design, albeit on a really small scale. I happen to love miniature things (Mini cupcakes! Tiny hats! Kittens!), which is probably why personal flowers are right up my alley.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>I love the vibrant colors in this corsage made with a single rose, freesia, wax flower, ivy and seeded eucalyptus. I'm pretty sure I had summer on my mind when I made it!</i></span></td></tr>
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Preparation is key when making a boutonnière or corsage; you want all of your elements clean and ready to go. Assembling the often tiny pieces can be a challenge to your fine motor skills, and you don't want to have to put everything down and start over just because you forgot to properly prepare one of your elements.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>The different textures of green blackberries, seeded eucalyptus and sea holly make for a pretty backdrop for the agapanthus floret and buds in this corsage.</i></span></td></tr>
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We have been practicing making corsages and boutonnières quite a bit in several of my classes, mainly to become faster at it. After all, they are a fairly small item in a wedding order, and you should be able to put them together efficiently. At the same time, they shouldn't only be pretty but need to hold up and be comfortable to wear: no exposed wires that could catch fabric or skin, and well balanced so that they sit correctly against a lapel or wrist.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>During a critique with one of my instructors, </i></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i><a href="http://www.jennytabarracci.com/">Jenny Tabarracci</a>.</i></span><i style="font-size: 9pt;"> Don't the corsages look pretty all lined up like that?</i></td></tr>
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We also made corsages to learn about how to handle special flowers like stephanotis and gardenia. Gardenias do well with a backing of leaves to protect the delicate petals, which will turn brown upon contact with our skin's oils. Try making a corsage without touching the main flower!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>Gardenia blossoms and stephanotis florets are highly fragrant, so this corsage smelled heavenly. I wore it going out the evening after class as a perfumed accessory. Who says corsages are just for weddings and prom?</i></span></td></tr>
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If it were up to me, wearing a boutonnière or corsage on a regular basis would undergo a huge revival. Flowers are such a pretty fashion accessory, and you can tailor them to any outfit or occasion. And what's not to love about carrying a lovely scented, miniature flower arrangement with you all day?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>I made these Bavaria-inspired boutonnières for a birthday party at a German restaurant during Oktoberfest. Guinea fowl feathers are a lovely stand-in for the tufts of animal hair traditionally worn on alpine Trachten hats.</i></span></td></tr>
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P.S. If you're not tired yet of looking at miniature flower arrangements or are looking for more inspiration on boutonnières and corsages, check out my <a href="http://pinterest.com/ineke/body-flowers/">Pinterest board of body flowers</a>. Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-13559518604596900332013-01-27T12:29:00.001-08:002013-01-27T12:29:54.781-08:00Garden-inspired pew décor and boutonnièresSchool's been back in session for two weeks now, and it took me a while to readjust, but I'm slowly settling into my new schedule and am excited about the classes I am taking. One of them is a wedding design class, and our first project was to create an aisle or pew décor: a small arrangement that can be produced in multiples and would be attached to the sides of chairs or pews lining an aisle. Given that it is an accent in the overall decoration rather than a focal point, a pew arrangement should typically contain a limited amount of flowers to be economical, and ideally it should be possible to create the mechanics of the arrangement in advance, and then add fresh flowers on the day of the event, or even on-site.<br />
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We were given a piece of aluminum mesh to work with for our base, and I tried to offset the industrial feel of the metal with a garden-inspired selection of flowers and a somewhat organic-looking design. I like the contrast between the manmade, metallic, rigid mesh and the curvy lines of the tulips and lavender and the softness of the geranium leaves and the moss. I wrapped the mesh cone in angel vine to tie it all together. I think this would look great for an outdoor wedding!<br />
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We also practiced our boutonnière-making skills in the same class session, and I had fun creating two boutonnières to match my pew décor. I love making boutonnières and corsages — it's fun to work small scale, and it really brings out all the details of whatever plant material you use.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGXdrlyL5ass_YTfYfcYc-Mf1kk1tkl8l1KFx-MTaMstQv-ozdRtCNSbe9pSPeoAtr2R-8IK4JrG8YC1U002NQtzr5Fx4T5w6dQ9n2_v1uPzS4PoeNccO77K5PmXr7fAQY-_CmWJRubo/s1600/DSC_6575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGXdrlyL5ass_YTfYfcYc-Mf1kk1tkl8l1KFx-MTaMstQv-ozdRtCNSbe9pSPeoAtr2R-8IK4JrG8YC1U002NQtzr5Fx4T5w6dQ9n2_v1uPzS4PoeNccO77K5PmXr7fAQY-_CmWJRubo/s1600/DSC_6575.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-21896676518353644892013-01-12T10:34:00.000-08:002013-01-12T10:34:50.613-08:00Craving SpringtimeAre you ready for Spring? I know I am. I love the holiday season, but as soon as New Year's is over, I'm ready to ditch the Christmas decoration and start making plans that involve outdoor activities and bright spring colors. <br />
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I spent the last week back home in Germany, visiting with family, and while it was a lovely time, I am seriously daylight-deprived and can't wait to get back into the California sun. I always forget how few daylight hours there are in the winter in Northern Germany, and how low the sun sits even around noon. <br />
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Classes start again next week. I am excited to continue my floristry education and see what other new ideas Spring may bring. Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-26741200249137846842013-01-02T08:16:00.001-08:002013-01-29T08:22:11.653-08:00Happy New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkHNxPvvre5s23zhpsuf6IQdGt2YGRxr6DP_kWSUs3UnouQosMt8mshzkio4I5LR5zpG1LHe8tObm0m6zWLhIhbMVUcB2PU3PPrA9SUVSIL__-boQ03h3pO8pOYIog5jJcs27ze3pEZk/s1600/268461_4281278544273_1924930808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkHNxPvvre5s23zhpsuf6IQdGt2YGRxr6DP_kWSUs3UnouQosMt8mshzkio4I5LR5zpG1LHe8tObm0m6zWLhIhbMVUcB2PU3PPrA9SUVSIL__-boQ03h3pO8pOYIog5jJcs27ze3pEZk/s640/268461_4281278544273_1924930808_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
May 2013 be a happy, healthy, crafty year for you! A fresh start can be exciting, and I wish you the best of luck with your plans and resolutions for the new year. <br />
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I was so busy with work and school lately that I didn't find the time to keep things current around here. Hopefully a new schedule and a new year will give me more time and renewed motivation to keep the dust off this little space. I miss it when I don't get around to write about what I've been up to, it's always so nice to be able to look back on creative adventures.Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-83058352845181115002012-09-25T09:36:00.000-07:002012-09-25T14:18:49.745-07:00A visit to ribbon paradiseThe <a href="http://ribbonerie.com/">Ribbonerie</a> is one of those San Francisco stores that you have to see to believe. An entire store just for ribbon? You bet! Ribbon in every imaginable color, a myriad of patterns, dozens of widths and materials, vintage ribbon and newest designs — if you can't find what you're looking for here (or come up with ten new ideas for projects while you're browsing), you may have a real problem.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/stylemakerspotlight/article/Early-jobs-tie-into-career-in-Ribbonerie-3339830.php">Paulette Knight</a> has been importing ribbon from all over the world for more than 25 years. It all started with a couple of spools of wired ribbon that she brought home from a vacation in Paris. After she ran her import business out of her apartment for several years, she opened the store in 1997. Florists, event designers and needlework enthusiasts are among her most loyal clients, but a visit to the Ribbonerie is definitely worth it for anybody who can appreciate a beautifully curated collection.<br />
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I visited the Ribbonerie on a field trip with my floristry class, and judging by the "Oohs" and "Aahs" coming from our group, Paulette can count on a few new pilgrims headed for her ribbon mecca in the near future. Paulette is also a lovely storyteller and very generously shared her experience as a businesswoman and shopkeeper with us. Merci, Paulette!<br />
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Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-85799654669049284312012-09-07T11:25:00.000-07:002012-09-07T11:26:31.118-07:00Aneboda makeover: paper and glue to the rescue!Cleaning the kitchen isn't a fun thing to begin with, but when I embarked on that tiresome chore this week, I felt a real sense of procrastination-induced guilt. For one, I found a sizable amount of counter space under the growing pile of magazines and junk mail that I have been neglecting for weeks. And in my smallish kitchen, every square inch really counts. I also realized that I never did a post on a super easy, super quick furniture makeover project that has graced my kitchen for quite some time now. Apparently it's been so long that Ikea since discontinued the piece of furniture in question. Where "furniture" really is a bit of an overstatement, since the Aneboda dresser gives the term <i>lightweight construction</i> a whole new meaning — which I find okay, as long as the price and your expectations are in line with it. Not okay were the ugly plastic panels in the drawer fronts, I felt. But with a few sheets of scrapbook paper, some regular white glue and 20 minutes of work, the humble dresser suddenly looks all kinds of sassy.<br />
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A big plus: the decoupaged fronts perfectly hide the chronic mess that reigns inside these drawers, and which you could always somewhat make out through the semi-opaque plastic panels. In my defense, this dresser is the equivalent of what most people call their hallway, since our apartment opens directly into our kitchen. Hence, the three drawers contain a crazy collection of shoes, bags, scarves, plant pots, keys and screwdrivers. And really, nobody wants to see that, not even a little bit — and especially not in your kitchen. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc502Q5ROBRZFzoeGxGKaR8bW260KCXKupuRBSJFqHfeGHWKoWYF-9CKHg6r64754Lcmn5h6vA2sqQ7uCbW-IbfYAwyHzzQbh72M0YnrYUH-MB2sIAON2w1TTylE5_ucRl1oyeOnHYidQ/s1600/DSC_5909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc502Q5ROBRZFzoeGxGKaR8bW260KCXKupuRBSJFqHfeGHWKoWYF-9CKHg6r64754Lcmn5h6vA2sqQ7uCbW-IbfYAwyHzzQbh72M0YnrYUH-MB2sIAON2w1TTylE5_ucRl1oyeOnHYidQ/s1600/DSC_5909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-17348659398233394782012-08-28T16:08:00.000-07:002012-08-28T16:08:51.190-07:00My last minute date with Jean Paul GaultierThe week before last I visited the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the de Young Museum, just a couple of days before it closed and (hopefully) moved on to another town and another museum. If you ever have the chance to see it somewhere, you should, no matter how much, or little, you care about fashion. The exhibit is fascinating in so many ways: the mannequins come alive thanks to some seriously amazing video projections; sketches, photos and videos let you peak behind the scenes of Gaultier's work; and the breadth of his collections, from 1976 to now, is truly impressive.<br />
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To be able to take close-up looks at the details and construction of such iconic haute couture designs was amazing, and it really made the point that fashion like this has a well-deserved place in art museums like the de Young. The vision and creative drive of an artist like Jean Paul Gaultier, paired with his sense for details, courage to explore outside of the norm, and ability to balance beauty, shock value and humor is unique and admirable, no matter what role fashion plays in your own life. Merci, Monsieur Gaultier!<br />
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The art of Lei making has a long tradition in Hawaiʻi, and the details and designs of some of the more elaborate Leis are amazing (take a look at <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111336380839168135960/albums/5205703652400165857">these photos</a> from a florist in Honolulu to get an idea). We made our Leis using what is probably the easiest technique of stringing the blossoms on thread one by one. While you can cheaply buy Lei needles in many drugstores in Hawaiʻi, they're a little harder (and costlier) to come by in the rest of the US, so we learned how to make our own from floral wire. My Lei held up beautifully for days, and even dried up it continued to look nice for a couple of weeks.<br />
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Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-79832345845007323402012-08-21T12:16:00.000-07:002012-08-21T12:16:42.556-07:00Stone fruit cobbler in mason jarsIn the attempt to reduce my sizable <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2012/08/jam-session-peaches-with-thyme-and.html">peach loot</a> last week, I prepared a cobbler for a dinner party at my friends' house, based on <a href="http://www.eatthelove.com/2011/09/lsummer-stone-fruit-cobbler/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> from the sweet food blog "Eat the Love". The peaches were joined by a couple of apricots and a nectarine, which were left over from our camping trip and consequently impressed more with their inner beauty than their looks.<br />
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Instead of preparing the Cobbler in a large baking dish, I made individual portions in half pint mason jars. This way they're easy to transport and great for parties or picnics, since you can eat directly out of the jar, all you need is a spoon (well, and maybe a dollop of whipped cream). In addition, it keeps things exciting in the kitchen, since the manufacturer and lots of folks online strongly recommend against using mason jars as baking vessels, unless perhaps used in a water bath and below 325 degrees. Otherwise, you risk the jars exploding from oven heat, which could be dangerous and at the very least quite unpleasant (imagine trying to remove glass shards covered in sticky fruit juices from your oven).<br />
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However, with a bit of research I found quite a few success stories about using mason jars for baking in the oven (on both sides of the Atlantic, for example <a href="http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/cobblerbakedinjars/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://heatherbullard.typepad.com/heather_bullard_collectio/2011/08/recent-work.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.essen-und-trinken.de/rezept/116094/sauerkirschkuchen-im-einmachglas.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://bitavin.blogspot.com/2010/12/glaskuchen.html" target="_blank">here</a>) and got to work. I made 1/3 of the amount of the original recipe, and divided it into 7 half pint mason jars. I placed the jars on a baking sheet with a fairly tall rim, which should have contained any messes, and lined the sheet with a silicon mat to keep the jars from sliding around on their way in and out of the oven. I baked them at 375 degrees, which is a bit lower than what the recipe stated, but higher than what was recommended for the jars.<br />
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The cobblers came out beautifully, and positively free of any explosions, shards or cracks. The 375 degrees heat were enough to give the top a nice golden crust, with the sweet and bubbly fruit cooked perfectly right underneath. Since they were still a bit warm when we left for the party, I used parchment paper to cover the jars instead of the screw-on lids, to avoid condensation on the inside. Before eating, we put a bit of whipped cream on top of each: divine!<br />
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If you can't wait to try this yourself, please be advised: given the safety concerns about jars cracking from the oven heat, I can't generally recommend baking in mason jars. It should be done at your own risk and with caution. (Personally, though, I will definitely try it again.)Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-16928249207613378662012-08-16T11:09:00.000-07:002012-08-16T11:09:27.056-07:00Jam session: Peaches with thyme and almondsWe brought home about ten pounds of the most amazing peaches from our trip last weekend. They were sold by a cute lady straight out of her house, which was surrounded by nothing but orchards and beautiful rolling hills. I would have bought more, but I knew I would have to hold them on my lap the entire drive home since the car was completely stuffed with camping gear, so I limited myself to two flats. I knew they were good because our friends had picked some up on their way there a few days earlier, and we had eaten them all weekend.<br />
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Since we arrived back home, I have been busy devouring fresh peaches and figuring out how to preserve the rest of them. The other day I cooked up a batch of peach jam with almonds and lemon thyme, a recipe from Liana Krissoff's fantastic book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canning-New-Generation-Flavors-Modern/dp/1584798645">Canning for a New Generation</a>". I picked it up a month or so ago, and it's a great, fresh resource on the subject of canning, with a focus on techniques that require less sugar and no commercial pectin. The book is divided by seasons, and has lots and lots of great recipes for preserving fruits and vegetables, as well as ideas for meals that make lovely use of the canned goods, both in the sweet and the savory department.<br />
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The peach jam came together beautifully (the recipe has been published <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/recipes/ci_21045452/recipe-peach-jam-lemon-thyme-and-almonds">here</a>, if you want to give it a try), and I whipped up a batch of crumpets according to <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/crumpets-recipe">this recipe</a>. Together, they are a match made in (breakfast, tea time, or anytime) heaven!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yLTEAO_Wy1auF7l9dMMQip0aiiN07KRI1KAr12tcHWjEn_uaxsNgMwLIysfsxO_FEovQc3I-QE0x3W0CSJ7BBreU3AlDVhov5j3Jt8jACn_w354XtYNx53hS2pvzBwAvLvWI8gcsWRY/s1600/DSC_5830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yLTEAO_Wy1auF7l9dMMQip0aiiN07KRI1KAr12tcHWjEn_uaxsNgMwLIysfsxO_FEovQc3I-QE0x3W0CSJ7BBreU3AlDVhov5j3Jt8jACn_w354XtYNx53hS2pvzBwAvLvWI8gcsWRY/s640/DSC_5830.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-11012891709333994742012-08-14T14:23:00.000-07:002012-08-14T14:23:04.942-07:00Camping with peacocksI had the most wonderful weekend. For one, we went on another camping trip, which in and by itself is great. But not only did the campground teem with wild peacocks, but our neighbors decorated their camper with homemade paper garlands. Peacocks and paper garlands are two of my most favorite things, and to find them side by side in a campground made me feel like I had died and woke up in heaven. The campground was nestled alongside a beautiful creek, and the 104℉ weather was a perfect excuse for lots of R&R, and refreshing Gin beverages. We did another version of my <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2012/06/great-camp-food-part-ii-breakfast.html">Camper's Breakfast Burritos</a> from a few weeks ago, and returned home on Sunday with an array of peacock feathers that were strewn across the grounds, and a lap full of peaches that we picked up at one of the local farms. Again, it's almost too good to be true...<br />
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The Conservatory of Flowers is one of my favorite places in San Francisco, although it had been a while since I last visited. What I love about taking classes or learning new things in general is how you end up seeing a familiar place with a whole new set of eyes.<br />
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If you're not tired of them quite yet, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inekemoss/sets/72157630859480954/"><b>here</b></a> are more pictures of the visit in floral paradise.Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-69936991580794263972012-07-31T14:29:00.000-07:002012-07-31T15:19:05.210-07:00The Dahlia Garden in Golden Gate Park<div class="separator" style="display: none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nBBJKr0BS_lyS54l8oLFxZ_5cHTEbaQ3wPhiiw05T4GOQaOa3hX9EfPINURpJ3IC4oEjru-nxaYBNLmEBzncy_Mcg4Jxv1Ys_DHXU7jeG_n6j0ISzFVwMdW4KOWSe2HDnTRDTZkfm_k/s1600/Dahlia_thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nBBJKr0BS_lyS54l8oLFxZ_5cHTEbaQ3wPhiiw05T4GOQaOa3hX9EfPINURpJ3IC4oEjru-nxaYBNLmEBzncy_Mcg4Jxv1Ys_DHXU7jeG_n6j0ISzFVwMdW4KOWSe2HDnTRDTZkfm_k/s400/Dahlia_thumb.png" /></a></div>Did you know that the Dahlia is the official flower of San Francisco? It has been since 1926. And since right around then, Dahlias have been planted and displayed in a dedicated plot in Golden Gate Park. <br />
I visited the Dahlia Garden last week, it is right next to the Conservatory of Flowers, and it is <i>stunning</i>. The colors, shapes and varieties of blooms are incredible. The Dahlias are being donated, planted, watered, and otherwise taken care of by volunteers from the <a href="http://www.sfdahlias.org/index.htm">Dahlia Society</a>. If you're in the area, stop by for a visit; it's free, and the Dahlias will be in peak bloom in August.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXVSxm3FD77EUKZZ5bfqlMIDV52yVey9o3NZ-C6a5zgQO5Dd11xYKUcMcADf_us-n10mHb2RPZFeQHqLnndeoBmKF4-G7OgYQwJLsBWRxvtKCzaWPKuFJeXV9R_v93TAxXfmTGJOEBvc/s1600/DSC_5388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXVSxm3FD77EUKZZ5bfqlMIDV52yVey9o3NZ-C6a5zgQO5Dd11xYKUcMcADf_us-n10mHb2RPZFeQHqLnndeoBmKF4-G7OgYQwJLsBWRxvtKCzaWPKuFJeXV9R_v93TAxXfmTGJOEBvc/s1600/DSC_5388.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-46943320614531764912012-07-27T13:34:00.000-07:002012-07-27T13:34:57.659-07:00Orchid feverOn the first day of the <a href="http://polkadottingmyis.blogspot.com/2012/07/orchid-class.html">orchid class</a> I have been taking at <a href="http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Environmental_Horticulture_and_Floristry/">CCSF</a> this summer, the instructor asked everybody for the number of orchids they currently own, to judge who may already be an "addict" and who had yet to get hooked. The answers ranged from "none" to "about 50", and he wasn't kidding about the addictive potential—after two weeks of class my orchid collection has grown from one to six; I stopped by the SF public library to browse and borrow from their selection of books on orchids; and I found a new subject for watercolor practice. Oh well, I guess there are stranger obsessions. (Then again: one of the books I borrowed from the library, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Orchid-Fever-Horticultural-Tale-Lunacy/dp/0679771832/">Eric Hansen's "Orchid Fever"</a>, an immensely entertaining tale of his 7 year-long investigation of the world of orchids and the highly politicized international orchid trade, had me completely baffled more than once at the peculiar traits of certain orchid species and the individuals involved with them).<br />
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Luckily, most of my new orchids weren't actually purchased (with one exception) but came home with me from school: on several days we got to take a plant home from the many that we divided and repotted in class. Like they say—the first fix is free... I guess we will see if I learned anything good by how long these babies will make it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1fdd4cghCiuMn-p7NVTigBX_Hrst4MdUTIgt73ImymHJwm8ZPjsupBvW_gIa5AmBFSrHLc2rYCVdTyIRKGhyZsNaLuEz4A_5pUW8Z9737m3Rw_fi0UnjDcPPjCmCQVPiuXzVAeWxPS8/s1600/DSC_5577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1fdd4cghCiuMn-p7NVTigBX_Hrst4MdUTIgt73ImymHJwm8ZPjsupBvW_gIa5AmBFSrHLc2rYCVdTyIRKGhyZsNaLuEz4A_5pUW8Z9737m3Rw_fi0UnjDcPPjCmCQVPiuXzVAeWxPS8/s640/DSC_5577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-92180964673261969412012-07-19T15:15:00.001-07:002012-07-19T15:15:19.671-07:00Orchid classThe Fall semester is almost here, and I can't wait to continue my Floristry education. To tide me over, I enrolled in a short-term summer class at <a href="http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Environmental_Horticulture_and_Floristry/">CCSF</a> on Growing Orchids. I think of it as making amends for the number of orchids I killed over the years. <br />
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We spent the last few days learning to identify orchids, how to control pest and fertilize, and got plenty of hands-on experience in dividing and repotting oncidium and dendrobium orchids. I hadn't been inside the CCSF greenhouses before, they are impressive! I wish I could live in a greenhouse.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNwgkj1TjA3PWCqk-6jjBrE9rJCUMUx-mSh6afxyf3FYpBKJX2LHhuYXXeLGhq_EmGmc5VyWzQmoufnLAEK4ojoEZH8ZNwVX3smel8YztqaeEjtcuFFWMqtUBPFKTOOhlnMgjMMRoklk/s1600/orchid_class_1_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNwgkj1TjA3PWCqk-6jjBrE9rJCUMUx-mSh6afxyf3FYpBKJX2LHhuYXXeLGhq_EmGmc5VyWzQmoufnLAEK4ojoEZH8ZNwVX3smel8YztqaeEjtcuFFWMqtUBPFKTOOhlnMgjMMRoklk/s640/orchid_class_1_01.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183588381258748614.post-79674574800121596462012-07-03T23:56:00.000-07:002012-07-03T23:56:20.326-07:00Last-minute 4th of July craftsHere's a quick and easy craft project to spruce up your 4th of July buffet or picnic basket: all you need to do is to download and print out the <a href="http://www.inekemoss.com/uploads/4th_of_July_art_ltr.pdf" target="new">template</a> I put together, then a little bit of cutting, folding, and glueing, and then you're off to enjoy the day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtEcuo3jLwba3Rem5tQn-kPmcoEr-PvGscycOERcRlpez0UuN5xW4XcPvQ-V5HzbAKvJI_Ktfeeys_om-CTtvIn9bg97RL3lNoYg05wBVjfJvTfnhcLQoS3RXyS9lWSr5h4NFdQg_DyM/s1600/4th_of_July_hero_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtEcuo3jLwba3Rem5tQn-kPmcoEr-PvGscycOERcRlpez0UuN5xW4XcPvQ-V5HzbAKvJI_Ktfeeys_om-CTtvIn9bg97RL3lNoYg05wBVjfJvTfnhcLQoS3RXyS9lWSr5h4NFdQg_DyM/s1600/4th_of_July_hero_v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The template includes bunting in two sizes for the banner, and a variety of stars-and-stripes inspired labels that you can use to mark wrapped food items and decorate utensils such as straws and picks. You can also use the labels as napkin rings and write your guests' names on them to use as place cards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd1Cc3KQ7ghsg8jIwpvzVkiCLpwDKS5if7zSPlPhr3TikkXo1GlQSIpwNsrzW_0fLug3eKPAJ-FeFv6mi9hSiAOjS-c_KXuq4lvSr-XP86_u0cdfHIAESVhbvoWdO2uF9CAra0Frxf_U/s1600/120703_4th_of_July_crafting-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd1Cc3KQ7ghsg8jIwpvzVkiCLpwDKS5if7zSPlPhr3TikkXo1GlQSIpwNsrzW_0fLug3eKPAJ-FeFv6mi9hSiAOjS-c_KXuq4lvSr-XP86_u0cdfHIAESVhbvoWdO2uF9CAra0Frxf_U/s640/120703_4th_of_July_crafting-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You will need:<br />
<ul>
<li>Printed <a href="http://www.inekemoss.com/uploads/4th_of_July_art_ltr.pdf" target="new">template</a> (ideally printed on a laser printer, to make the art moisture-resistant, but in a pinch your inkjet will do just fine)</li>
<li>Ruler</li>
<li>Craft knife (e.g. X-acto)</li>
<li>Xyron sticker machine or double-sided tape</li>
<li>Pens, scissors, yarn</li>
</ul>
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<b>For the labels</b>, cut out the template by lining up a ruler on the crop marks on opposite sides of the page. Cut along the ruler with a craft knife.</div>
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Back the cut out labels with adhesive — this is especially easy with a Xyron sticker machine, but double-sided tape works just as well. </div>
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Write on your labels with colored pens and adhere them to your food items, or affix the smaller flags to straws and toothpicks, then trim the ends to the desired length and shape.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJINfTVpxTSFHCtX6GeQOz1SFddJE-ctsGr7lj6kZdurqj7n26GRUquLJjdCJgRm6mcEAUUnNjg1gtgU7LbvXvm4SsT75SbwkBS2QVBskiUI-v8ww99qJxLneSmwRq0JLeqsCBnTdkuYA/s1600/120703_4th_of_July_crafting-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJINfTVpxTSFHCtX6GeQOz1SFddJE-ctsGr7lj6kZdurqj7n26GRUquLJjdCJgRm6mcEAUUnNjg1gtgU7LbvXvm4SsT75SbwkBS2QVBskiUI-v8ww99qJxLneSmwRq0JLeqsCBnTdkuYA/s640/120703_4th_of_July_crafting-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>For the banner</b>, print out the template (make as many copies as you need to get the desired length), then cut out along the dashed lines with a ruler and craft knife.<br />
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Fold the diamond shapes in half and adhere them to your yarn with double-sided tape (put some tape along the fold, and a little bit towards the point; fold over and press). Alternate sizes and patterns for a fun look.<br />
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That's it! Let me know if you come up with other fun uses for the template, and have a wonderful 4th of July!Inekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765961651576135215noreply@blogger.com0