60th Birthday Party

Two years ago, I gave a birthday party for my mother. Her actual birthday was on December 23rd, but with the chaos of moving into a new house, hosting Thanksgiving two weeks later, flying off to Texas for Christmas with the in-laws, we opted to have the party at the end of January. Given my predilection for white flowers post-Christmas, I stuck with white hydrangeas, white calla lilies, slightly green chrysanthemums, white roses, eucalyptus leaves and berries, and from my garden jasmine and ivy vines. I wanted this arrangement to be wild and slightly over the top. So, I peeled off bark from a large log and put it inside the glass vase to create the illusion of a "log vase." Unfortunately, I should have put a few drops of bleach in the water or rinsed off the bark, as it turned the water a dirty color. (Live and learn.) I then used a grid of floral tape across the opening of the vase, put int branches as an anchor, and worked my way up. The hydrangea went in first. Then, I used floral wire to anchor several long stemmed flowers to the branches to create height, and finally I filled in the middle region of the arrangement with flowers. Unfortunately, the arrangement was a bit difficult to photograph, and I used a flash in one of the photographs. I also should have purchased the day lilies a few days ahead to give them a chance to open.

Texas Christmas Past

I found a couple of photos from two years ago when we last spent Christmas in Texas. Here is a pair of bouquets I did for the dining room mantel, and another tall arrangement I did for the living room. Both have white lilies, two types of red carnations, and from my husband's family ranch in the hill country- Texas cedar branches. Over the mantel is a plein air painting of a classic Texan landscape of rolling hills, prickly pears and oak trees.

To heighten the living room arrangement, I used floral wire to attach a few long stems to the upper parts of the branches. For vase arrangements, I use a grid of floral tape across the top of the vase to act as a "frog." I put the branches and greenery in first, and finally the flowers. Unfortunately, when I took the photos, I used the flash and an unsteady hand.

Christmas Brunch and Dinner

I especially enjoy going to my mother-in-law's house in Texas because she and my father-in-law spent years antiquing and collecting wonderful things. It is quite fun to "play" with their dishes, vases, sterling pieces and plates. My mother-in-law serves a simple Christmas brunch on these wonderful blue and silver art deco plates with matching cups & saucers and sugar & creamer. The flatware is called "Six Fleurs"and was first produced by Reed & Barton 1901. It's an extremely ornate pattern with flowers literally popping out of the handles. At dinner, she used jewel-toned napkins and place mats- green, purple, navy & maroon. I don't know the name of the dinner plate pattern but they are a lovely rusty red with hand gilted edges. The candleabras are Mexican sterling, and I believe in a commonly produced pattern called "Desert Rose." The house was full of flowers from my sister-in-law's wedding five days before, so I just did a simple pair of arrangements on the dining room mantel of tulips and greenery from outside.

A Texas Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas in Texas with my in-laws. All of my husband's siblings live within walking distance of my mother-in-law's house. So, Christmas is a lively affair. The family house was built in the early 1900's and has stately rooms, perfect for holiday celebrations. On the front door was a spineless, prickly pear wreath. (Very Texas appropriate.) The staircase was decorated with long bows of magnolia leaves and red wired ribbon. In the stone walled, and slate floored den was a 12 foot tall Christmas tree covered in large, multi-colored lights. (Notice the wrought iron agave chandelier and agave sconce to the right of the tree. The fireplace screen and fireplace tools also have the agave motif, though I some how managed not to photograph them.)

Winter Brunch

My sister-in-law was married just before Christmas. A group of female family members threw her a brunch the morning of her wedding. Here is a centerpiece I did for the table. I was very excited to finally be able to do a nice tall arrangement, since no one was going to be sitting at the dining room table. I used a footed punch bowl filled with cranberries to conceal the oasises. The arrangement is a mix of white roses, white lilies, white tulips and several types of eucalyptus.


We served punch in a wonderful Heisey glass punch bowl with matching cups. In the center of the punch is a giant frozen ice cube with cranberries in the shape of a heart.