Pretty Pretty Petals

Pretty Pretty Petals

January 27th, 2010 @ 3:35 pm by Miss Stripes

Lest you fear that I don’t have serious love for flowers of ALL stripes, I give you… The Tale of our Trip to The LA Flower Mart!

So, one day last September, the obsessive planner/crazy-bride-to-be in me had a brilliant idea: we should go to the Flower Mart to scout the types of flowers that would be available next year! (Did I say brilliant? I may have meant cuckoo…) But I didn’t stop there! Nope! I figured we could even make a few arrangements to test drive the milk glass that was already taking over our kitchen island. Yay! So I quickly threw together a flower inspiration board to guide our journey:

flower-board1

clockwise from left: source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source, source

The following day, in honor of our wedding being less than one year away and both of us having a surprise day off, we headed down to the LA Flower Mart to check out what was available. It’s a pretty quick walk from our house, and thank god, because the day was seriously TOASTY. The kind of TOASTY that LA could use right. about. now. You hear that, rain? Anyhoo.

It was nice and cool in the Flower Mart. We made a big loop and then headed back to the stalls we liked to grab flowers for our test centerpieces.

Here are a few shots of us with all of our loot:

**Note: if you’re allergic to pollen/flowers/all-that’s-pretty, suck back the Claritin/Zyrtec/Benadryl BEFORE you start this project. These beauties caused a full scale allergy fiasco for F Stripes and we’ll (I’ll) definitely be doing the pre-wedding arranging elsewhere. (Hint. Hint. J Stripe)

We made it back home, downed some water, started stripping leaves, and cut the flowers down to create these:

Allergies aside, it was pretty easy and only took about an hour or so. And the best part? All those beautiful flowers only cost $40. Yup. Serious pretty, serious cheap.

Next time I want to incorporate succulents/billy buttons into the arrangements, but all-in-all I’m pretty happy with the way they turned out! Now because it was so much fun the first time around and because we live crazy close to the Flower Mart, I’m thinking of doing another test drive some day soon…

Any words of advice, or are you leaving flowers up to a professional/enthusiastic friend or relative?

Tags: flowers |

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39 Responses to “Pretty Pretty Petals”

Member

krissycake (message) 4,105 posts, Honey bee

Wow! This could be your career, they look so lovely =)

1/27/10 @ 3:43 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sewing (message) 1,550 posts, Bumble bee

holy moly! such gorgeous arrangements! And seriously great price!

1/27/10 @ 3:45 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Spaniel (message) 5,119 posts, Bee Keeper

Wow, they are amazing! Can I hire you to do my flowers?

1/27/10 @ 3:45 pm (reply)

Member

Magenta (message) 1,163 posts, Bumble bee

wow!!! you guys are amazing! these looks so good!! you should make this a business… they look so professional

1/27/10 @ 3:56 pm (reply)

Member

suzanne1880 (message) 82 posts, Worker bee

Wow, I wish you could help me - I’m trying to tackle the same project adn am scarrrrrrrrrrred! beautiful job! Any tips??

1/27/10 @ 4:00 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Pudding (message) 991 posts, Busy bee

I love those! Please tell us more about the milk glass!

1/27/10 @ 4:03 pm (reply)

Member

timiny (message) 5 posts, Newbee

Wow, those are great and the price is fantastic…if only we had a flower market in Oklahoma!

1/27/10 @ 4:07 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Pug (message) 2,081 posts, Buzzing bee

wow, you guys did an amazing job. i love the volume of the arrangements and the colors. the la flower mart sounds so cool…

1/27/10 @ 4:08 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Cowboy Boot (message) 415 posts, Helper bee

Sooo lovely! Looks a lot like our flower color scheme. Me like.

1/27/10 @ 4:25 pm (reply)

10.

Member

Ms. Library (message) 612 posts, Busy bee

I love love love the middle photo! Those are so pretty!

1/27/10 @ 4:30 pm (reply)

11.

Member

Marinara (message) 247 posts, Helper bee

We’re going the LA flower mart route, too! Our first test drive is in a couple weeks. How long did the flowers last — I can’t decide if we should go the Friday or Thursday before our Saturday wedding…

You’ve got some skills!!!

1/27/10 @ 4:32 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

so pretty!
which flowers did you use?

1/27/10 @ 4:36 pm (reply)

13.

Member

rosie-wed (message) 5 posts, Newbee

these look amazing!! how long did it take you to do all of this? any tips for others who might be doing the same?

1/27/10 @ 4:48 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Rainbow (message) 1,235 posts, Bumble bee

I am so effing jealous of you! Why can’t Tampa have a flower market!?

1/27/10 @ 4:56 pm (reply)

15.

Member

Lo (message) 56 posts, Worker bee

I am obsessed with the blue mason jars! I am hoping to arrange my own flowers and you provided some great inspiration, thanks.

1/27/10 @ 5:00 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Miss Hamster (message) 2,377 posts, Buzzing bee

Wow, these look awesome!

1/27/10 @ 5:09 pm (reply)

17.

Member

AbbieOinCO (message) 164 posts, Blushing bee

LOVE the inspiration board! I had so much fun doing our flowers. We also used kale… big flowers=less $$!

1/27/10 @ 6:19 pm (reply)

18.

Hostess

Mrs. DG (message) 5,846 posts, Bee Keeper

We used kale too… So fun! (and bear grass and roses and mums and euphorbia)

What a forward thinking idea to go do that a year ahead. Very smart!

1/27/10 @ 6:25 pm (reply)

19.

Member

tea (message) 5,023 posts, Bee Keeper

$40 for all of those?! looks like i’ll be stopping by the sf flower mart myself. lol. which flowers did you get again?

1/27/10 @ 7:17 pm (reply)

20.

Bee

Mrs. French Bulldog (message) 6,767 posts, Bee Keeper

We left our flowers to the pros (or a pro & I use that term loosely, don’t get me started on her) and one of the many flowers we used were those billy buttons. I love them, they just make me smile Anyway, 5 mos later they look the same! You could totally buy those now and just hang on to them.

1/27/10 @ 7:21 pm (reply)

21.

Bee

Miss Nachos (message) 1,344 posts, Bumble bee

Those turned out so good and I can’t believe they were all only $40! And I love the headband you’re rockin.

1/27/10 @ 7:41 pm (reply)

22.

Bee

Mrs. Mouse (message) 5,625 posts, Bee Keeper

They look so professional! Dang, I love what you guys created!

1/27/10 @ 7:41 pm (reply)

23.

Member

EMARILU (message) 225 posts, Helper bee

Ms. Stripes u girls rock!!! seriously this looks so good n for only $40. I know for sure your wedding is gonna be the best.

1/27/10 @ 7:48 pm (reply)

24.

Member

amanda.lynn (message) 5,348 posts, Bee Keeper

Holy crap, that is seriously gorgeous. How do you feel about a trip to Austin to do all of my flowers for me?

1/27/10 @ 8:00 pm (reply)

25.

Guest

Sara

Ummm, can you please come with me on my first visit to the florist? Because I want to score serious pretty, serious cheap!!!! They are BBBEEAAUUTTIIFFUULLL — pat on the back!!

1/27/10 @ 8:17 pm (reply)

26.

Member

Aylee Bits (message) 64 posts, Worker bee

Those are beautiful flowers!! I can’t believe they’re all only $40!

1/27/10 @ 8:51 pm (reply)

27.

Member

lilyfaith (message) 3,339 posts, Sugar bee

I am insanely jealous of your artistic/crafting abilities! Those look amazing.

1/27/10 @ 9:03 pm (reply)

28.

Bee

Miss Pencils (message) 751 posts, Busy bee

these look fantastic! wowzers! I hope you’re doing your own flowers for sure!

1/27/10 @ 9:40 pm (reply)

29.

Member

jennybirdy (message) 315 posts, Helper bee

Not only are your floral arrangement skills amazing, but the milk glass and other vases are so beautiful! I’m another milk glass-lover bride and I just can’t get enough of them! Please do your flowers for your wedding. Please?!?

1/27/10 @ 10:08 pm (reply)

30.

Member

Golden139 (message) 642 posts, Busy bee

Wow!!! Your flowers look absolutely amazing. Love the shades of yellow and peach. And for only $40! Will you pretty please do my flowers? haha

1/27/10 @ 10:09 pm (reply)

31.

Member

xoxokristin (message) 140 posts, Blushing bee

Ummmm that is exactly what I want my flowers to look like… aaaaand bookmarked! For $40 too! Holy cow! Thank you so much for making this post! I’ll definitely be heading over there in the fall.

1/27/10 @ 10:10 pm (reply)

32.

Bee

Miss Stripes (message) 450 posts, Helper bee

@Miss Spaniel: But of course! Let’s do it! LOL.
@suzanne1880: Don’t be scared- it wasn’t bad at all. Just give yourself plenty of time to practice!
@Miss Pudding: I will absolutely write a future post devoted exclusively to our extensive milk glass collection!
@Mrs. Cowboy Boot: Yay! That makes me so happy coming from you since your flowers are some of my favorite ever!
@Marinara: They actually lasted a pretty long time- I’m thinking we’ll go thursday for our saturday wedding…although the “stock” and the gerberas didn’t hold up as well…..
@EVERYONE: Thanks for all the love and glad you liked our first go at this. I’ll be sure to document our next attempt and write a post/DIY about it!

1/27/10 @ 11:20 pm (reply)

33.

Member

lauralou852 (message) 442 posts, Helper bee

Gorgeous!! This makes me feel better about DIYing all my flowers - Yours turned out soo well!

1/27/10 @ 11:28 pm (reply)

34.

Bee

Miss Argyle (message) 1,652 posts, Bumble bee

Love the vintage-y, chic feel of your arrangements! They turned out great!

1/27/10 @ 11:30 pm (reply)

35.

Member

missvintage (message) 312 posts, Helper bee

I LOVE the milk glass! The creams and golds and peaches look lovely. And I love your idea for what you want to add to them.

1/28/10 @ 9:57 am (reply)

36.

Member

Miss Chicken Wing (message) 902 posts, Busy bee

Wow, you DIY diva, you!!! These look fab! I love the way they turned out and that is the type of flower budget I’m talkin about! LOL!

1/28/10 @ 1:07 pm (reply)

37.

Bee

Miss Scissors (message) 6,258 posts, Bee Keeper

Holy poop! You did an awesome job!

1/28/10 @ 3:30 pm (reply)

38.

Bee

Miss Buttons (message) 3,018 posts, Sugar bee

Soooo amazing! I am oh so jealous that there is not a flower mart by me so I could do this! You did a wonderful job!

1/31/10 @ 12:20 pm (reply)

39.

Bee

Mrs. Sprinkle (message) 484 posts, Helper bee

Is that kale?? We bought a ton of kale and succulents and such at the market. Also SAVE YOUR BILLY BUTTONS! Ours still look as perfect as they did they say we bought them (in September!)

2/2/10 @ 9:58 pm (reply)