Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Wedding and Event Pictures

2020 has got off to a busy start! Last week, we had several events, all happening at the same time. It took lots of planning and coordinating, but we pulled them all off, with help from our friends! The Mineola Antique Fair was Friday and Saturday, with us having to put the finishing touches on our new space on Thursday morning. I also had funeral flowers to deliver on Friday and a wedding on Saturday. I did as much advanced prep work the week before, since I knew it was going to be a busy weekend.   

We finshed setting up Thursday, then I picked up all the flowers and started the prep work for Friday and Saturdays arrangements. I opened Friday and closed on Saturday in Mineola, and in between made lots of pretty floral bouquets. This large arch was one of our favorite things to make. The Spencer Wedding was held at Dove Hollow Estates in White Oak. Madison's colors were white, black, silver, and burgundy. 



wedding arch with fresh flowers
 The view from the second story...
The bridesmaids carried bouquets of burgundy roses and callas.

 The front entrance of the elegant barn.
entry way flowers

 Hydrangeas and iced branches comprised the entryway arrangement, where guest would sign in.
wedding entry table
 Sharlette helped me with the on location work at Dove Hollow.

 The bridal bouquet was a cascade style arrangement with white roses, callas, and orchids. (Can't wait to see a picture of the bride carrying the bouquet, since I didn't get a great pic of it.)
 Always have my scissors nearby! The arch was huge at about ten high, so we climbed up and down the ladder a lot.


 Friday night we had storms and a huge temperature drop. Saturday temps were definitely winter like, but the shows had to go on! As soon as we finished up with the wedding, we hit Highway 80 west to Mineola.  Many local schools and businesses closed early on Friday (in anticipation of a storm that didn't hit till after 10:00 pm Friday night. We certainly didn't close or stop work, because the shows had to go on. We are thankful that the storms weren't as bad as predicted.
Selbie was nice enough to help Angea, while I wasn't there. 
We are liking our new space in the building and heard lots of compliments on our new set up. One things for sure, one picture can't capture all the booth anymore, as you can shop from all the way around it. 


A couple of years ago, I give a presentation at a 4-H meeting. At the meeting, I officially met Mrs. Fite (although I had known of her for many years.) We talked and she ask for a business card. Later on, we discussed sewing machines, since she wanted to get one for her granddaughter. A few months later, she called me about flowers for her son's funeral. She had specific ideas and flowers she wanted to use and I was able to make the flowers for them. 

Last week, I got a call that she had died and left instructions for her family to call me and I would take care of it. They didn't tell me any colors, just that they needed a casket spray and an easel with ribbons on it (that was the only details that they give me.) That level of trust and respect for my work is truly humbling. I later talked to her sister on the phone and she said Mrs. Fite always talked about my work. 

I knew she had picked out a pink or red dress to be buried in, so I decided to go with a mixture of red roses, stargazer lilies, along with pink and purple mixed flowers. 

mixed flower casket spray
 Last week, I also wrote a blog post about living in small town America. The word "Community" was on my mind a lot last week. It was a community service type event where I met Mrs. Fite. It was a lady in our community that recommended me to the Spencer family, when they were wedding planning. It took a community of friends for me to pull off everything in three days. The best selling shirt at the fair last week was the "Rural Route" - it's a t shirt design inspired by our life and work in the rural community and apparently it resonates with many of you as well. 


My business depends on your referrals and an online community of support and shares. I am extremely grateful for all of you that are a part of our community! 

Here's to a great start of 2020! Looking forward to helping all of you in the coming year! 



Wednesday, January 1, 2020

The Season of Love!!

The Season of Love! Did you know more people get engaged over the holidays? With all the engagements and Valentine's Day coming up,  it just seems that we are in the season of love. 



Literally Christmas afternoon, I received a request for Valentine / Love themed shirts, so while everyone else was watching tv on Christmas night, I started designing new graphics and the day after Christmas, we started making new shirts. With all the engagements that happen over the holidays, wedding planning season picks back up and we start working with brides-to-be who are planning their upcoming wedding. In fact, we are getting ready for a large local wedding next week.... definitely a season of love, flowers, and hearts! 

We've added two new graphic tees and several upcycled shirts with love trucks. One graphic has a red vintage truck with buffalo plaid and leopard print hearts, a burlap pennant banner on the tailgate has the word LOVE spelled out. 


Graphic tee with Love theme and red truck with hearts
Loads of Love - the pink truck has a load of flowers in the back and several hearts on a leopard print background. A fun pink chandelier hangs over the truck. I'll really have a big truck load of flowers, when I go set up the wedding next weekend! 
Valentine theme tee shirt


valentine shirt with hearts and truck

tunic to wear with leggings and boots on Valentine's Day


leopard and pink Valentine graphic on flannel shirt

Valentine theme shirts


If you are indeed wedding planning, I would love to work with you to create custom fabric bouquets for your wedding! Stop by my etsy shop or visit our new website at www.rustandromance.com and we can discuss your ideas and needs or you can find the love shirts. Custom bouquets, boutonnieres, or corsages can always be made with your colors and numbers specific for your wedding party or you can pick from some ready made bouquets.

Burlap and lace bridal bouquets and flower arrangements for a rustic wedding

 Here's to hoping your year is full of love! Looking forward to helping you in 2020!

distressed flannel shirt with rustic vintage truck with buckets of flowers