Le Bouquet Olympique

Le bouquet Olympique aux Jeux de Vancouver 2010

Les Olympiques de 2010 étant presque terminées, je croyais approprié de discuter du fameux bouquet Olympique et du méga-contrat que 2 femmes comptant ensemble 100 années d’expérience et ayant décidé d’unir leur forces, Margitta Schultz et June Strandberg, ont réussi à obtenir!

Mme Strandberg est directrice générale de Just Beginnings Non-Profit Society, un magasin de fleurs et une école de conception florale qui offre une formation aux femmes ayant de la difficulté à intégrer le marché du travail. Bon nombre d’élèves se réhabilitent d’une dépendance, rentrent de prison, tentent de quitter le milieu du commerce du sexe ou sont victimes de violence. Mme Schultz, elle, propriétaire de Margitta’s Flower Boutique à Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver.

Un grand défi attendait les partenaires, soit la satisfaction des critères de durabilité pour les fleurs : production certifiée biologique, choix d’une espèce non-invasive et d’une espèce indigène au Canada. La satisfaction de ce critère posait un problème. Presque toutes les fleurs qui composent le bouquet poussent ici pendant l’été, mais pas en février. De plus, les bouquets devaient répondre aux attentes en matière de conception et de durabilité de l’équipe de conception du COVAN.

À l’issue de trois mois de discussions avec le COVAN et de recherches exhaustives sur la conception, le groupe a choisi d’utiliser des fleurs cultivées localement sous serre et des feuillages provenant d’exploitations agricoles durables en Équateur. Le programme de gestion du carbone du COVAN permettra de neutraliser les effets du transport aérien nécessaire à l’importation des fleurs. Même l’emballage et les rubans respectent certains principes de durabilité.

L’utilisation de chrysanthèmes fujii verts et de baies d’hypericum vertes accompagnés d’une finition de feuilles d’aspidistra vertes, de fougère et de de bear grass, fait de ces bouquets une grande réussite considérant la liste infinie de contraintes pour la conception.

Le contrat d’une vie! Bonne chance à toute l’équîpe de fleuristes qui auront travaillé sur 1800 bouquets offerts aux athlètes, un défi Olympique en lui même!

Sketching away!

Les sketches de Stephanie { O.xide, Floriste, Montreal }

I can tell you that my markers have been going at it the past few weeks! I have been sketching away, creating proposals for many brides and grooms to be and the creative juices are flowing!

We have been receiving lots of requests for purples and blues, here is a tiny sneek peak at some of these wedding flower designs.

From projects being quite simple to others more intricate, 2010 is looking good and Gen can’t wait to bring my drawings to life, we also of course can’t wait to share these projects with you guys! Got to get back to my sketches!

Les sketches de Stephanie { O.xide, Floriste, Montreal }

Les sketches de Stephanie { O.xide, Floriste, Montreal }

Nicole Dextras’s Wearable Designs

Nicole Dextras wearable designs

Nicole Dextras is an ephemeral and environmental Vancouver artist who uses nature but with a twist.
She creates wearable designs strictly from nature: grass, flowers, twigs and leaves.
Her work has been used by professionals such as Jordi Sancho from “Eco-Man” and Nita Bowerman from “Invasive Species”.
I feel Nicole has a fascinating approach towards the use of nature. Her wearable pieces are creative and intricate. A great deal of time and patience is required to put these pieces together.
I’m impressed Nicole!

Nicole Dextras wearable designs

Nicole Dextras wearable designs

Nicole Dextras wearable designs

Enrich your Place with Yeffet’s Designs!

Dan Yeffet's vases

Dan Yeffet's vases

I would like to introduce you to Dan Yeffet a talented modern furniture designer. His limited collection caught my eye! He features space, furniture and lighting accessories accessories for homes and offices. Dan is the man behind JellyLab design studio currently located in Paris. He is an artist that “puts a piece of himself into every work he does.” He considers himself to be a explorer and adventurer and I find his designs exemplify that.

His uniquely designed vases sharpen the character of a room. I would display these pieces as unqiue stand alone decoration or as a centerpiece with flowers. Yeffet’s talent brings decor to another level. Express yourself, would you decorate your place with Yeffet’s designs?

A Green Month at O.xide Design!

Green month at O.xide

We are seeing Green this month at O.xide Design! Requests from clients are definitely in that color scheme, now is it for an environmental view or is it simply because we can’t wait for spring? No matter what it is we love it!

Working with greeneries such as accordion, salal or even anthurium leaves is a great subtle way to give volume to an arrangement, throwing tones of green dendrobium orchids is also awesome. Impact is what we want and it is what we will get with this very green arrangement.

Again a proof that simplicity works best, one color scheme with a lot of power!

Green month at O.xide

Flower Color Schemes: Pastels and Whites

Pastel Flower Arrangements

Pastels are a must for a soft and feminine look. The combination of pale colors is so light and aerie, almost like cotton candy!

White Flower Arrangements

The simplicity and elegance of white is a classic! It doesn’t mean that is has to be done in a traditional way, nothing says modern like white.

Another 50th Birthday Party!

Birthday with a modern feel

This year has been quite a festive one, with both my in-laws turning 50! A couple months ago, I showed you Lucie’s 50th birthday decorations, and now it is Joe’s turn to celebrate. My boyfriend and I LOVE entertaining, with him being a chef and my talent for design, it was only natural to have everybody over for a great looking feast!

I went for a very modern look, my decor being in the whites, blacks and grey, it was only natural for me to stay within those colors. I like an impact, so I decided to hang 30 silver balloons in a chuck around my chandelier, I love it! I don’t even want to take them down anymore! I particularly like how everything you see on my table comes either from Ikea or from Dollarama, who said you had to spend tones of money to achieve an amazing look…

After a 6 course Italian meal, champagne, wine, Sambuca and Porto, everyone had an awesome evening. The party was a true success and I wish Joe a year filled with joy and success, we love you!

Quelques idées de décoration de Noël

Mon " arbre " de Noël

Je voulais partager avec vous quelques unes de mes décorations de Noël!

J’adore ajouter des petites touches ici et là, un sapin ce n’est certainement pas assez! Par contre, le tout doit être moderne et élégant. J’ai créé ce deuxième ’’arbre de Noël’’ à l’aide d’un grand vase transparant, j’y ait ajouté des bouts de troncs de bouleaux au fond et y ait placé des branches noires maléables au dessus. J’ai accroché à celles-ci des étoiles vertes scintillantes, le tout entouré d’autres petites touches d’éléments festif.

Je suis prête pour les fêtes, il ne reste plus qu’à attendre patiement le grand jour!

The flower of December: The Poisonous Narcissus

The Poisonous Narcissus

While most Narcissus’s, like the Daffodil, bloom in the spring, there are several that bloom in the fall and winter. The Narcissus is mostly native to the Mediterranean region but there are a few found in Asia and China. Because of modifications there are new species being created in nurseries almost every year.

The name Narcissus is from the narcissistic youth of Greek mythology called Narkissos. Narcissus are often called jonquils in North America, but in reality that name belongs only to the rush-leaved Narcissus jonquilla and cultivars derived from it.

The Narcissus has a trumpet shaped corona that is surrounded by a ring of petals. They are also poisonous and can be fatal if eaten so no parts of the flower should be ingested.

When comparing the Daffodil, Jonquil, and the “Narcissus”, it is important to remember that both the Daffodil and Jonquil are a part of the Narcissus genus. However while the names “Daffodil” and “Narcissus” can be used interchangeably, a Jonquil is a completely different plant down to the shape of the petals and leaves.

La Flowerbox: idée verticale!

Des plantes à la verticale!

Sortir des conventions, aller là où on n’est pas attendu, surprendre tout en développant une esthétique, finesse et raffinement sont probablement les principes qui ont guidé Thibaut de Breyne et Philippe Tisserand, les 2 concepteurs de la Flowerbox.

J’adore la façon dont ces supports variés et originaux présentent les plantes sous un tout autre angle (c’est le cas de le dire!), le système d’arrosage perfectionné permet aussi de garder celles-ci en vie pour une décoration permanente des plus originales.

Ces arrangements se prêteraient si bien à mon petit chez-moi, Noël s’en vient … j’en veux un!