Going on Record

 I have received several emails recently asking if the Rachael West Designs site which advertises weight loss products, dating sites, and other products is my site.  NO. It is not. The information relating to flowers, weddings, and contain my postings and images have been scraped and used without my permission.

I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused. I do appreciate the concern and the emails from my floral customers.  If you have any additional questions regarding this matter, floral design questions, or would like to request a floral consultation for your own DIY wedding, please feel free to contact me anytime.

~Rachael West

Fall Topiary

 
Fresh flower fall topiary!
A perfect arrangement for a business, kitchen, bathroom, or entry way.

      OnePerfectBlossom@gmail  

Featured Arrangement

One single HUGE Holland Hydrangea with georgous callas and pussy willow! Love!

Florals in Interior Design

I love interior design!! 

I started out in interior design school with my own interior design business,

 but when circumstances in my life changed, I switched to floral design.

Now, the best thing in the whole world is when interior design and floral design come together!! 

Above are pictures of swatches and vases from interior designers.  

While our main business is fresh floral design, we can, and will

do silk and other high quality artificial flowers. 

If you need some assistance with creating permanent or fresh flowers for your home or business, 

please email us at

OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com

Fall Flowers

It is hard to imagine since it is still hot outside that fall is sneaking up on us!

Next month school will be starting for the kids, moms will start decorating their homes,

and pumpkins will start appearing on porch steps. 

It's a fun time to bring the fall colors indoors with the use of leaves, branches, and berries. 

If you would like help decorating your home, or if you would like fall arrangements brought

into your business, please email us at

OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com

Wind Chime Funeral Arrangement Tutorial

Step One:  Attach wind chime to a stand.

Step Two: Add a floral foam cage and begin adding greens.

Step Three: Finish off by adding flowers.

 

 

 

 

Stage Arrangement

This arrangement was over 6 feet tall and stood on an theater stage next to a podium. The rustic fall colors, real pheasant feathers, contrasted fabulously with the worn vase.

Gloriosas and Peacock Feathers

Peacock feathers, gloriosa lilies, and red roses create a stunning pop for this bouquet

Alyssa's June Wedding

Simple green and white arrangement of white tulips, white larkspur, green spider mums, white alstromeria, wisps of green blades of grass, and a few turquoise blue gemstones really made this arrangement pop!

Detail of spider mum and gemstones

Green and white arrangement atop a chocolate brown tablecloth. Little clear gem details were added to the center of each arrangement.

Up close details

Alstromeria bud

Lots of twinkle lights, colorful ribbons, and photos of a beautiful bride really make this corner magical.

Bellagio

One of my favorite places to visit is the conservatory at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. I absolutely adore the wonderful colors and amazing beauty that their floral designers create.

I also love how they can take flowers that are already so wonderful and use them in a sculptural way. My newest favorite is how they used the painting (above photo) as inspiration for the piece in the picture below. Keep in mind the piece below is probably 6 feet long and 4 feet wide.

DIY Wedding Flowers/Florist Help

Due to the overwhelming cost of weddings, many brides are opting
for the Do-It-Yourself option.

As with everything, there are pro's and con's do doing your own wedding flowers and decor.

Obviously, the biggest pro is that you can save a lot of money by doing your own flowers.
If you, or a person close to you, has a floral background, is comfortable working floral materials, understands the use of hydrating and treating fresh flowers, knows some of the technical aspects of color, line, dimension, layers, and texture
then this option might be good for you.

If you choose to do your own arrangements, don't forget to ALWAYS do a practice run.
Sample arrangements give you time to perfect your technique and fix any problems you may run into. It also gives you a chance to make sure you have all the tools, supplies, and miscellaneous supplies you need to complete your wedding flower arrangements.

One of the biggest challenges, a con, to doing your own flowers is that you get into the project and realize it is more than you can do. Often brides are already frazzled and stressed with the many details of planning and coordinating a wedding leaving their creative juices drained.
Simple things that should be easy, become hard.

On occasion, flowers being shipped in do not always arrive as planned. Color and size of flowers are hard to control and last minute arrangement plans may have to be altered. If you are a diy bride and struggle with making last minute changes, this option may not be good for you.

Experienced florists are used to working under these conditions and with these challenges.
They have tools, supplies, and resources to help them when problems arise.
Florists are also not emotionally connected to the wedding so they only have the flowers to deal with....not the dress, the make-up, the photographer who showed up late, or the mother who is trying to take over the day!

If you still think you are up to the challenge to create your own wedding flowers, but have a few questions OR would love someone to bounce ideas off of, please email us at

OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com

DIY Wedding help: One hour wedding flower consultation which may include pictures, sketches, how-to, tips, suggestions, ideas, and support making sure you have all the information you need to create your own DIY Wedding flower arrangements.
(Email OnePerfectBlossom@gmail for prices and availability)

DIY Wedding Flower Samples/Mock-up: Work side by side with an experienced florist to teach you all the tricks, tools, supplies, and knowledge you need to do your own DIY Wedding flowers. Leave with finished projects to take home and enjoy.
(Email OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com for prices and availability)

Meet Desi

We are so excited to welcome Ms. Desiree Parker as our friend and partner. She will be over-seeing our North Carolina weddings. Desi is not only super sweet, but she is out-going, full of creativity, and cares about the littlest of details.

Click HERE to visit Desi's website OR feel free to contact us at OnePerfectBlossom@gmail for information about our floral services. Currently serving clients in Salt Lake City, Utah and the Hickory, North Carolina and surrounding areas.

New Email Address

Our new email address is:

OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com

We would love to hear from you in regards to your upcoming floral design events!
Remember, we specialize in large scale wedding events and corporate accts.

Wedding and Event Photos

By request, I am re-posting pictures of some of our projects.
It is hard to tell from this photo, but these centerpieces stood about 6 feet tall.
They are the perfect design for a bride on a budget who wants to make a BIG impact!

The long head table consisted of a tall arrangement along side a coordinating small arrangement. Another great way to create the look of a lot of color and flowers and still keep the room visually open. There was a wall of windows over looking a country club golf course...
didn't want to block that amazing view!

This wedding consisted of an all white calla lily bouquet for the bride while the rest of the wedding party carried brilliant blooms that were nestled inside a bed of greens like the centerpieces.

Do you have questions about flowers? Our services?
We would love to help out.
Please send us an email at: OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com

UTAH Weddings and Events

Many years ago, in my small Orem Utah kitchen, I decided I wanted to learn how to make beautiful bridal bouquets for no reason other than to learn how. My curiosity turned into a small hobby business and finally branched out to owning a shop in North Carolina.

After many years of countless weddings, many wonderful and beautiful venues, and making a lot of great friends along the way, I thought about retiring, but nope!! RWD is expanding!

Flowers bring me peace and pure joy! I just can't imagine a week going by and not being able to be surrounded by them. As we branch out and open again in UTAH I look forward to working with some familiar faces and hopefully many new ones.

We still have a great design team in Hickory, North Carolina and look forward to a year full of blossoms!

For questions about our wedding/event floral design services, please email us at
OnePerfectBlossom@gmail.com

Christmas Decorating

Where has all the time gone? Can you believe it's a week into December already? Seems like Christmas really is coming fast this year. So, if you want to do a little holiday decorating but just don't want to take the time, don't have the energy, or money to do a big project, here are a few easy ideas that will make a big impact!

~Towels: Swap out a dish towel or hand towels for some inexpensive holiday ones. Not only will they be new and fresh, but they will add a little pop of holiday color. Can't afford new ones? No problem! Just tie a holiday ribbon around your hanging towels. A fun holiday bow is definitely a sign of Christmas.

~Evergreens: Any type of evergreen, even a sprig from a tree in your yard, placed in a vase on a counter, lined across the mantle, or hanging with a bow on the door not only creates the look of Christmas, but also the smell.

~Ball ornaments: Simple ball ornaments can be hung not only on your tree, but placed in a bowl on a table, piled high inside a large vase, hanging in a window, from a tree/branched or tucked in a wreath. Not only do they come in fun patterns and colors, but they are super inexpensive. Check your local dollar store!

~Flowers: While times are tough right now in our economy, fresh flowers still had a touch of elegance and ambiance that no other decoration can provide. If you can't spend a lot on a flower bouquet for your holiday table, try floating some blooms in a bowl, tuck one red rose and a sprig of evergreen in a small vase, or even some poinsettia plants. Also, most hardware stores carry a kit complete with everything needed to grow a beautiful Amarylis or Paperwhite bulbs, both amazing for the Christmas season.

Don't forget, if you have a good local florist, they will be great at working within your budget to come up with some inexpensive and beautiful ideas to help decorate your home. Many florists will even come in and decorate your tree for you.

Some of our most memorable experiences have been in our clients home, helping them make the simple and elegant touches they need within their home for the holidays or even on a weekly schedule.

Please email us at Rachael_West_Designs@yahoo.com to set up a
custom designed scheduled perfect for you and your home!

Bringing Nature Indoors

Today on the Nate Berkus Show, Nate took simple natural elements like some twigs and tied them around the base of a lamp. It gave the lamp a great new look that could be used for fall or even a beach themed room. Birch pieces used as vases and holders for balls of moss created an amazing contrast of colors and textures. He also took some branches and placed them in a vase. Simple!

I think the reason his ideas really speak to me is because they match my own personal style. Many years during the fall season I have placed a vase of branches in my home. I love the natural element and the texture they bring into a space.

If you haven't watched his new show, definitely check it out at www.thenateshow.com

Floral Design Question

Question: I have seen arrangements with fruit mixed in with the flowers.
Is that ok to do for a wedding?

Answer: Yes! Of course you can mix fruit with fresh flowers!

The great part about wedding and floral design right now is that the sky is the limit.
The only thing that limits your own custom floral design is your own imagination.
A good florist can help you pull all the elements together, coordinate the colors,
and the other finishing details for your wedding.

Because both fruit, veggies, and flowers all come from nature, they are a perfect compliment for each other. They also come in almost every color and vary from season to season, just as flowers do. When creating a lot of arrangements consider using produce and flowers that are in season. The colors of the produce will not only be at their peak, but the cost will be less as well.

Fall is a great time to incorporate produce into your arrangements...in fact, pumpkins, squashes, and ghords can BE the container for the arrangements!

Consider using rich purple eggplants or plums in the wintertime to get that rich elegant look.
Sugared fruit is also very elegant and stunning way to create the lush look of rich elegance.

Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and limes are incredible ways to create an intensive pop of color in and inexpensive way any time of the year. Not only can you tuck them into your custom designed arrangements, but you can fill your vase with them as well.

Don't forget veggies like artichokes, brussel sprouts, asparagus, and even carrots with their green leafy tops are wonderful accents to tuck in arrangements as well.

And if you like a hint of green with a lot of aroma, don't forget herbs are a small detail that can be tucked into any bouquet or arrangement.

Timeless & Classic

Calla Lilies are a great flower because they are so simple and yet so elegant. They have such a clean line and simple shape to them that can be used in almost any type or style of arrangement.

Calla lilies come in the large open cut style (shown in picture above) and also in a smaller miniature size. Calla lilies also come in many different colors as well but usually only in the miniature size.

Do you love calla lilies? What is your favorite?

Fall Colors

I LOVE Fall flowers and weddings!!
The colors are so rich and alive.

Book your free wedding consultation with one of our talented
floral designers.
Rachael_West_Designs@yahoo.com

Travel/Restaurant

Counter Arrangement
Market Street Grill Restaurant
Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah

Travel

Lobby Arrangement
Grand America Hotel
Salt Lake City, Utah

At this time, RWD is currently
accepting ONLY wedding or large event orders.

If you would like to book a free consultation with one of our talented designers,
please send an email to:


Rachael_West_Designs@yahoo.com

Upcoming Children's Class for Mother's Day!

DADS:
Pre-register your children for our
Mother's Day Craft Class

on May 8th, 10 am

Your child(ren) will go home with a handmade craft to give to their mother
for Mother's Day
and you will get to go home with happy children and a bouquet of mixed flowers!

Class is $14 per child/craft only
or $26 per child/craft and bouquet.

Pre-registration is required.

Yay!! It's wedding season!!

We are so excited to have so many incredible brides right now. What a fun time of the year!

When you come to Rachael West Designs for your wedding consultation, there are several things we recommend you bring.

~PICTURES!! if you have them, bring them!
~NUMBERS of tables, centerpieces, parents, grandparents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any other people participating in your day, numbers of pews/chairs are just the beginning.
~SWATCHES of your colors are very helpful.
~CONTACT INFO for your venues.

The more information you can provide, the better or clarity is for your vision. We look forward to meeting with you and can't wait to help make your fairy tale wedding come true!

To book a wedding consultation, please send and email to Rachael_West_Designs@yahoo.com or call 828.326.7100 and leave a detailed message.

Todays Feature Arrangement

Look at this super cute summer mini arrangement we made for an anniversary today!!

We helped a romantic husband by delivering these to the restaurant he will be taking her to tonight....so sweet!!

We used soft orange tulips, bright baby pink spray roses, green fujis, purple veronica, and a lime green wire detail to hold it all together in a simple 4 x 4 glass cube vase.

I know she is just going to love it!!

The Idea Room: Wedding Shower Advice Book

The "Idea Room" is one of my favorite blogs that I follow. She has a super cute idea for making a wedding advice book that you can make and give to the bride and the groom. If you want to see her post, click below!

The Idea Room: Wedding Shower Advice Book

Are you interested in learning the in's and out's of the floral design business, please send us a detailed email....we just might have something perfect for you!

Send serious emails only, no spam please, to Rachael_West_Designs@yahoo.com

Simple Church Dinner

We used bright yellow tissue paper and bright yellow tulips carefully tucked into bright blue gift bags to accent the theme for this church dinner. The arrangements were simple, but with just a few strong bold colors, they really make an impact.

Centerpieces

Here are some sweet and simple cube centerpieces we did for a wedding dinner.
The bride found a picture in a magazine of a similar arrangement
and we re-created it to fit her budget.

It was wonderful to take simple elements and create something so sweet.
A perfect February arrangement!

Glass Projects

So, I have been seeing all over craft blogs these past few months how to make your own hurricanes to use as candle holders, vases, and holiday decor. Some of them have been so absolutely adorable, that I just had to try them myself and see if they were as easy as all these cute crafters claim to be.

I picked up some glass "odds-and ends."

I glued a flower to a base and came up with these cute little stands. I can't wait to set
candles on them, candies, soap,
or I'm toying with even using it as a place to set my jewelry....endless ideas!!

Here is a close up!
The hurricanes in the top picture were just as simple!
I just glued the two pieces together, VOILA!
I can't wait to float flowers or candles in them,
holiday candies,
or use them as vases in a wedding for one of my brides!

If you would like specific information on how to make these,
OR come take a class and make these along with an incredible flower design project,
please feel free to contact us at 828.326.7100.

Follow Me!

We just re-added (it was there...but got lost!)
to our blog a "Follow" me button!!

Click on it, follow us! Each month we will be giving away
FREE prizes, have drawings, and lots of other great things like wedding promotions, and free class registrations just for
following along with us on the great adventure we are on.

Make comments on our posts! Maybe answer a question or two along the way....

We may have a guest blogger or two,
and it just might even be you!

Q & A

Question: Will you travel to Charlotte to do a wedding?

Answer: YES! Of course!!

Over the past few years, we have been privileged to do projects in many of the surrounding areas to us. We have had clients from Boone, Lenoir, Hudson, Granite Falls, Lincolnton, Gastonia, and many more. We are thrilled to travel from Charlotte to Asheville and everything in between. Last month we even had a bride contact us about helping with her event in New Orleans!

So, yes, if you are looking for a florist who just loves to help make fairy-tale wedding dreams come true, give us a call. We are always thrilled and honored to participate in any special event.

We look forward to your call. 828.326.7100.

Spring Classes

We are so excited to be working on our new class list for the spring. We have received several requests for specific projects for our flower classes. We are working on our schedule and will have it posted hopefully soon.

So, if you are like me, and get a little bit down on these cold rainy days, give us a call to book a flower class. Scientists have proven that being around even one live flower will lift your mood, boost your spirit, and makes you feel more productive.

Who wouldn't want that?!!

DIY Wedding Flowers

1. Keep it Simple: The last thing a bride needs, is to be worrying about wiring and taping flowers on her wedding day. Pick arrangements that create an impact, but require minimal labor and preparation time.
   
2. Be Organized: Make sure before you begin you have all of the materials and supplies you need. Check your vases carefully to make sure they are clean and any price tags have been removed. Create a plan for transporting your arrangements to and from your venue.
   
3. Classic Flowers: Pick flowers that are easy to acquire and even easier to work with. Roses and lilies are often times good choices.
   
4. Practice, Practice, Practice! The morning of your wedding is no time to be experimenting with new flower designs.
5. Have FUN!
   

Hickory, Flower Classes

We are getting ready to launch our schedule for our Spring Flower Classes!!

But, before we do, if you have a special request, please do let us know.

We can tailor our classes for both adults and children.

We also small group instruction as well as private instruction for those who do not wish to participate in a class or prefer the one-on-one training.

Wedding Show

The wedding show at the Mosteller Mansion was so much fun!
A big thanks to all those who worked so hard to make it so special.
I personally met so many wonderful vendors that were really kind and generous. I look forward to working with them in the future to help create
truly wonderful and unique weddings here in Hickory.

Mosteller Mansion Wedding Show

This beautiful spring arrangement sits well over 4 feet tall.
The base below contains a sweet little bird sitting on a branch while up above 3 shades of tulips and snapdragons reach out to welcome any viewer. Rising up above are branches
with sweet spring blossoms
and little birds resting on them.

This weekend the Mosteller Mansion will be hosting a wedding show. The above arrangement has been made and will be featured at the Mosteller Mansion in the booth for Village Kitchen. I

We absolutely love Paula Shelley, owner of Village Kitchen, and her staff. She has a beautiful place located on 127 in Hickory. Not only do they serve breakfast and lunch, but she has art classes once or a month or so in the evenings along with dinner. If you have not yet tried Village Kitchen or have not yet met Paula Shelley, you are really missing out!!

Wedding

"Hi Rachael,

Just wanted to say thank you..everything turned out beautiful!!!!"

Wedding Flowers

(This picture was taken at a wedding show at the Hickory Convention Center.)

"What would a wedding be without flowers?"

Wedding season is upon us and it is just wonderful! There is nothing more special that being able to participate in the simple beauty of a wedding ceremony.

Our calendar is filling up fast between now and September. Please remember, we only take one wedding per week to ensure we give it our best attention and the quality it deserves.
If you would like to contact us for a free wedding consultation, we would love to hear from you.

Some important items to know and to bring to a wedding consultation are:

date and location of event, directions and contact info for venue locations,
number of bridesmaids, groomsmen,
age/size of flower girl and ring bearer, numbers in wedding party,
colors of clothing being worn,
number of tables for centerpieces, guidelines relating to decor at church,
and any swatches or pictures you may have.

Don't forget you can always bring a friend!!

Olympic Flower Bouquets

Check out this link about the Olympic Flower Bouquets.

I never had any idea about about how they are picked or that they had specific size requirements.

Funerals

Funerals in Hickory, NC

We were asked today if we do funerals and the answer is YES!

We do funerals.

We generally promote our business as weddings and special events, but a funeral most definitely is a special event. While I don't usually post personal information, I have to say I have had some of the most special and incredible experiences helping a family with funeral flowers. I always feel honored and blessed to help mourn with those who are mourning and comfort those who are in need of comfort.

Often times funerals are unexpected and so we will always do our very best to provide the best care and materials possible. When we do have some time to prepare, we have had several funerals where we were able to completely personalize the arrangement.....flowers are symbolic and so are colors. Special items/objects can be incorporated into the arrangement such as a favorite toy or an object representing a favorite hobby (football). Recently we helped a woman create a standing easel arrangement with a beautiful metal wind chime that hung below for the family to then take home as a treasured keepsake.

So, yes, we definitely do funerals.

Flower Care Tip

Gerber daisies are another flower that sometimes droop easily, and of course, it's always at the worst time! So, few tips to keep your gerber daisies looking great.

First, they are top heavy, so make sure to give them plenty of support.

Second, gerber daisy stems not only drink up like a straw but they absorb moisture from the sides of their stems. Often times a droopy daisy that looks like it needs water can actually be suffering from too much water. (They remind me of gold fish....don't know when to stop eating until it's too late!! )

Third, you can soak them in a very cool-lukewarm bathtub. Lying down, with a stem clipped on an angle, will allow the water to easily reach the flower head with a little less effort.

Last, keep the water clean, low, and the stems clipped on an angle. Do this daily and you should have beautiful gerber daisies for your special event.

Flower Care Tip

Hydrangeas are one of the few flowers that pull water not only up from their stem, but also from moisture coming in through their flower petals. Often times at weddings or other events one hydrangea blossom in an arrangement will wilt and make the whole arrangement look bad. Before you stress or rip the arrangement apart, take a spray bottle and mist the flower head with some cool water. Often times the flower will perk right up.

Weddings!

Well, we survived Valentines!! Even with a snow storm!! Thanks to all of our wonderful Hickory friends who placed orders with us this year and allowed us to help make a part of their weekend special.

So now, we start looking forward to spring time and to weddings!!

If you are a bride looking for a florist, we not only provide wedding floral services to those located in the Hickory area, but we are happy to travel to neighboring areas. So, if you are in Asheville, Charlotte, or anywhere in between, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We would love to hear from you and see how we can make your fairly tale wedding dreams come true!!

Valentines Day or Single Awareness Day??

Years ago I heard a bitter, older single man say he hated Valentines Day because for those who were single it was the perfect reminder of how alone you really were. He called February 14th, "Single Awareness Day."

For those of us who are blessed to be in a wonderful relationship and are looking to purchase flowers for that special someone, I hope you will pause one moment and think about the other people in your life that you love that may not be receiving flowers this year.

At RWD, we will happily deliver mini-arrangements to
your children, your single friends, your mom, your husband
(yes! we do flowers and plants for men too!! yes! they do like it!),
your grandma, teachers, your minister, and your best friend!

We have mini-options starting at just $12 each which is a tiny price
to help bless someone's life or to take the sting, for some, out of
"Single Awareness Day!"

New Item!!

Stop in and see our cute little mini-terrariums!!

Perfect gift for a home, desk, or a little place in your life that just needs some life!


Located in the Harris Arcade Bldg.
Downtown Hickory