Busy with BBQ and Wedding Flowers

Spring has been very good to us here at the Martin home.
Trailhound Smokers BBQ has been busy with catering and drop off orders, along with some pick ups. The pit has been more than busy and full.  Thank you's go out to Advanced Pro, Martin Harris, Coronado HS Band, Canyon Ridge Church, First Congregational Church, and more.  We hope y'all have had full bellies of delicious barbecued food when you left your events.

Flowers have also kept me busy...it's wedding season before it gets hot here in Vegas.  

Yes, it's been busy around here...and we truly appreciate all the support.  

Chris and Bri's mountain wedding

On Saturday, January 11 our youngest son, Chris married his fiance, Bri at 

The Lodge on Mt. Charleston outside of Las Vegas. 

It was a beautiful day and the bridal party was looking fabulous. 

I feel very blessed to say Chris'  Uncle John (from Washoe Valley) performed the ceremony.  He just seemed like the perfect man for the job since he was involved with the engagement.  Chris and Bri were staying at his home for the weekend when Chris asked her to marry him at Lake Tahoe.    

Bri is an animal lover and works as a vet tech.  Her dog, Titus was the ring bearer and did a great job. 

Chris and Bri wrote their own vows.  The words that came out of my son's mouth were pure love and poetry.  Who knew that was in him!  Many tears were in the eyes of the guests at that point.  I think her expression in the photo says it all. (She swore she wouldn't cry...but she did)

This is me...mother of the groom.  I made all the floral arrangements, bouquets and decorations.  

I used pine for all the greens since it was a mountain wedding.

What a great looking bunch of guys!  

Scott (brother and best man), Chris (the groom), Chris Russell (best friend), Charles (cousin)

The happy couple!

Flowers for Mom

This week I'll be working at French Bouquet creating arrangements for Mother's Day.  They are long days but it's nice to work hard for a week and pick up a check for the holiday.  They just moved their shop so they aren't expecting a lot of walk in traffic but they have a buy wire service.  So all you moms out there, have a great day, enjoy your family, flowers and gifts.  I'll talk to you again next week.

Another Valentine's Day Full of Flowers

Since Sunday, I've been working at a local floral shop for Valentine's Day.  This is always a long week for us around here.  It's nice to hear that orders were up 15% by Monday...bad news is we were down 2 designers from last year.  This made for some extra long hours for the rest of us.  My longest day was 16.5 hours, most were 8-10 hour days.  One day I counted 68 arrangements that came across my table.  

I'd like to say I am enjoying a few days off but I picked up flowers for 36 arrangements for an employee appreciation dinner Saturday.  I think I'll take Sunday off  for myself.  

I hope all of you enjoyed your flowers and Valentine's Day.  It's great to serve others, especially when they appreciate it. 

Show and Tell Friday

I've been pretty much in full wedding mode around here the last month....meeting with brides, weddings, and painting some doors for a her daughter's wedding.  I'm not always really good about getting photos of the flowers.  But I thought I'd share some of what I did get pictures of. 

Loved this tulip bouquet!  Had to add freesia to get the magenta color.

This bride had some fun, funky centerpieces with feathers and rock candy.

Another bride had blue and white (big Dallas Cowboys fan).

Forgot to get a picture of the bouquets...:0(

Grooms boutinierre

Father's boutinierre

Mother's corsage...love the blue thistle (it's soft, not pokey)

Silk centerpieces...hydrangia, rose, tulip

A friend's daughter is getting merried this month.  We painted some new doors to look old and worn and then I painted quotes on some of them.

What's with the fork?  Hint...the best is yet to come.

These and several others, many are plain will serve as backdrops around the room for the reception.

Happy Friday everybody!

White Hydrangeas and Vendela roses for the birde.

Bridesmaids...calla lilies, roses, coffee beans and preserved oak leaves

Centerpieces...mini pumpkins, bittersweet and curly willow

Head table...three arrangments with roses and preserved oak, vases for bouquets

A new blog site

Stop by and visit Florals by Crystal to see what's happening for me when it comes to flowers, weddings, and anything floral.  It's still a work in progress but it's up and running.

Bridal Bouquets

As if I'm not busy enough, I'm now an independent contractor for a local reception/event hall as their florist.  It's been good so far, only part time but that's okay.  I need to get better about taking photos of completed work.  I thought I would share some of the one's Idid remember to photos of.