La Petite Fleur Blog

Below are 4 Christmas desk arrangement gifts, 3 funeral pieces, 2 work anniversary gifts, 1 “I’m glad you’re my girlfriend” bouquet, 1 “white elephant” gift, 1 birthday arrangement for G-G, and 1 “congratulations on leaving your loser boyfriend” flowers. Not shown in that particular order- see if you can guess which is which:)

Green and white is classic, timeless, and stunning. Even though this couple got married the day after Christmas, they didn’t want their wedding flowers to look “Christmassy”. Adding platinum colored ribbon to the arrangments was yet another classy touch.

Andrea and Joe were married at the gorgeous and historic Grace University Lutheran Churchin Minneapolis on the U of M Campus.  The bride carried a multitude of glorious white and ivory blooms including Dahlias, Roses, Freesia, Lisianthus, and Ranunculus and each of her attendants carried a bouquet of Roses, looped Bear Grass, and Variegated Pittosporum but they also had their very own “feature flower” showcased in the bride’s bouquet.  In turn, each groomsman had the same feature flower as the girl they were walking down the aisle with. 

They wanted to remember their loved ones who had passed with an arrangement featuring candles for each person.  They chose yellow and green because a grandfather loved John Deere. 

I know it sounds weird, but I LOVE doing funeral flowers.  I used to shy away from funeral work thinking it was too depressing.  That was true until I took a Sympathy Celebration Floristry class under the instruction of Master Florist and my mentor, Aridth Beveridge.  She made me look at funerals as a chance to participate in one’s celebration of their life.  I try to incorporate something personal to each piece, whether it be their hobby, life’s work, favorite flower or color, a piece of jewelry, etc.  That way maybe the guests will see the flowers and reminisce about their loved one and experiences with them.

Melissa came to me to create flowers for her mother’s funeral, Dieta.  Dieta was an avid gardener and one of her favorite pasttimes was to feed and watch birds.   Her husband, 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 3 great-grand children all loved her dearly, as did many other people. 

This first piece shown below was on the casket was from her husband.  He wanted the script (or special lettering on ribbon that says the relationship of the person who sent the flowers had with the person) to read not only “Wife” but also “Best Friend”.  This made me cry, but also made me stop and appreciate the relationship I have with my husband, who is also my best friend.  I tried to make the flowers look as if in a garden and using her favorite flowers and bright colors.  I added a blue bird in a little bird’s nest- can you spot him?  There is a closeup in the second picture.

The vase arrangement from the grandchildren included a figurine that they had given to their Grandmother.  I arranged the flowers so they arched over the figurine, the Bear grass sheltering the figurine to symbolize the protection and love Dieta had over her family. 

I hand-weaved ribbon onto a little pillow in colors that complimented the rest of the floral pieces (shown in the final picture) from the great-grandchildren. 

Thank you, Melissa, for allowing me to be a part of your very intimate time. I hope these pieces helped show who Deita was as a person and make her Funeral service a little bit prettier. 

I was asked to make some arrangements for my police officer friends, Annie and Cort. Cort’s Grandmother, Zita, had passed away.  They wanted to celebrate her life with fun, vibrant flowers because that’s the kind of lady she was.  They told me they would like script on one of the ribbons to read, “BIG MAMA”, as that is what the grandchildren lovingly called her.  One of the arrangements was to be a wreath that would encircle a picture of her. I got the picture early so I could design around it.  I laughed out loud when I saw it because “BIG MAMA” was the cutest little grandma you ever did see!  Upon delivery I was given a glimpse of her life through the many easels filled with pictures from her life.  It looked to me as she had a full, loving, wonderful life thanks to this wonderful family.

Sadly, my co-worker’s father passed recently.  Her relationship with her father was rocky (like mine) but she made amendments and spent some quality time with him in his last years.  The other gals at work asked me to do an arrangement for his funeral.  When I found out that her father had become very spiritual I knew I wanted to make this arrangement with the focal point being a cross I fashioned out of birch sticks surrounded by white flowers; Football Mums, Gladiolas, and Button Mums with greens of Wax Flower and Italian Ruscus.  Susan, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.