As the grape vines continue their long winter’s rest on these cold winter days, before their first day of growth on April 1st, we take this time to catch up on blog posts of Kate’s Blossoms’ California Wine Country Weddings. We are delighted to share the story of Bethany and Kevin’s special day at Cline Cellars, as told by the talented Lori Paladino, Lori Paladino Photography. Special thanks to Park Avenue Catering, Flour Chylde Bakery, and Little Blue Box Weddings.
Happy New Year, a year which has begun well. We hope it the same for you! Our travels yesterday took us to the de Young museum for the 2013 Bouquets to Art selection day. Heavy scrutiny of line and form, along with a color or element which knocked our socks off, helped us narrow our submission to the Bouquets’ auxiliary, our top five choices. The auxiliary, in turn, will identify our piece in mid February, for our install on Monday, March 18. Waiting is kind of tough. Each afternoon the van has been loaded with fresh floral designs, for birthdays, new babies, and other occasions. Our newest migratory visitor to the 40 acres of wetlands behind the studio is a White Tailed Kite. Spectacular to watch and I am glad I am not a mouse. Cheers! Kate
Brilliant botanicals to further cheer a winter day, to further brighten a winter night. Delivered with joy, received with joy. Merry Christmas.
Tonight, as I gather photos for the post of Stella and Phil’s wedding this past August, I sit back and smile at this thought: we had a whole lot of fun. Planning, sketching, site visits, coordination, and the celebration of bright, citrus colors. The groom took lead of the cigar box succulent planters, Bishop’s pine rounds were carefully cut and sanded by Artstruct in Mendocino, some painted their toenails, perfectly blue, like a robin’s egg. Stella and Phil, your joy and love for each other, amongst your wonderful family and friends, there is a lifetime of happiness ahead of you. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day.
Special and continued thanks: Nicol, Little Blue Box Weddings for her remarkable and perfected wedding planning; Quarryhill Botancial Gardens, Glen Ellen, California; Wine Country Party & Events; Stella and Phil, for the select, artistic images included below!
Cooking classes for young and old, birthday parties, baby showers and corporate events, rehearsal dinners, catering at sites all over the great Bay Area, this guy can do – Doug Eng, founder, chef, director, and overall, executive ring leader of ITK Culinary (In The Kitchen Culinary). Located next to the public boat launch in the northern part of downtown Sausalito, California, at 300 Turney Street, in the same building as Jeremy’s fine wine room, Wellington’s Wine Bar, ITK Culinary “provides a venue to learn the history and preparation of various cuisines, hold parties/events, enjoy something different besides the dinner and movie thing, or make personalized gifts for your friends and family.” I personally have taken a class there, and did well in this unexpected and most welcome turn of a private party. Doug’s spirit, talent, magic inspires you to get right in there and try. If you’re kind of lacking the confidence, he’ll jump in and get you started with your measuring, whipping, pouring. And, I have had the true pleasure of working with Doug, being his flower girl, at a wide variety of events in his kitchen, at sites, and in people’s homes. Doug, Cheers to you! Katie
It was a pleasure, an honor, and a delight for those of us working with Angela and Ben this past autumn at Cavallo Point. A candlelight ceremony in the Mission Blue Chapel, beverages on the patio by the fire hearth, dinner and dancing on the Callippe Room. For your family, all blessings and the great things in life…continued love, happiness, good health.
Special Thanks:
Sarah Peet for her inspiring enthusiasm on site and these beautiful photos sharing the story of the day; Lisa McNichol, ….and Something Blue for her zest, creativity, spirit, and keen attention to detail; the endlessly talented Jessica Winthrop and all the pros at Cavallo Point; La Tavola Linen, for covering all things right.
Back to The Bloomisphere…
It’s a good day in the studio to work on a variety of tasks, it’s a day on which one can truly see the change of seasons in Northern California. The wet morning fog is now mixing it up with sunshine. The trees next to the studio are filled with migratory fly catchers, white breasted nuthatches, and brown creepers, seeking the best piece of lichen, the fattest bug they can muster. No radio music necessary with their songs filling the air. And tomorrow, on October 31, the official grape growing season concludes. The GDD (Growing Degree Days) summation between April 1 and October 31 has been used for some time, to predict the grapevine’s ability to mature a high yield crop. It sounds so scientific, and is, but I find something rather magical about grape science, aka viticulture, setting its two, pivotal marks between April Fool’s Day and Halloween. I think there is a sense of spirit happening here. It is also the day on which we shall get back to doing one of the most helpful things we can provide and share with our clients and friends: close up photos of our flowers, and how they look on site. So all can see. Our hope, so we may remember and celebrate the wonderful events we together styled. So we can help folks imagine and celebrate their future events. Below, just a few photos to start things off.
Cheers, Kathleen-Kate
Photo directly below, courtesy of Curtis Myers, Perfect Circle Photography. October, 2012, Simi Winery
Photo directly below, a Kate’s snapshot. A wedding reception at Wellington’s Wine Bar,… thank you Jeremy. Catered by the lovely and talented, Doug Eng, ITK Culinary, Sausalito
A big pop of corporate color at Cavallo Point in the Verbena Room
Timeless, elegant, classic, and beautiful are just a few words which come to mind when describing the loveliness of City Hall, San Francisco. These are also words I would pick to describe Janee and Daniel, who traveled from afar, to the City by the Bay, for their wedding weekend with family and friends. Continued love and happiness to you both. Special thanks to our friend, Nima Salimi, for sharing these endearing, wedding day images.
As shared with me the morning after her daughter’s wedding this past weekend, Barbara described our connecting, and our work together as “Beshert.” She helped define to me that this word is from ancient text, it’s a Yiddish term, and means “meant to be.” Our paths to one another, included paths between Novato and Glen Ellen, CA, Southworth, WA, New York City, and Australia. Our conversations and coordination, inspiring. The welcome extended by Barbara’s extended family to the Kate’s Blossoms group on wedding day and evening, will always be remembered in our hearts. We thank you, with joy and with gratitude.
Thanks also to following folks: The keepers of the wedding garden, MB & CS; my pure, eager and enthusiastic nieces, Mariah and Cheyanne for their help building our new Kate’s Chuppah; Catherine Venturini, Olive and Vine; Eileen, La Tavola (very fine) Linens.
This past Saturday, we had the pleasure and the honor of helping two spirited and enthusiastic “girls” honor and celebrate their beloved family member — a member of their family who welcomed and marched proudly forth into her 80th year. Family and friends gathered in the Cavallo Point Verbena Room, and on this room’s deck, for a special luncheon. Champagne, music, a slide show….lunch, cake, & love, and a view of the Golden Gate. Our thanks to this family for sharing their photos of the day, and for their kind wishes-
“Hi Kate,
Just wanted to say thank you again for your wonderful work. The flowers were perfect and exactly the way I had envisioned it.
Here are some more pictures just in case / please feel free to use for your portfolio”
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The Bloomisphere... 