Creativity + Positive Attitude = SUCCESS!

Have you ever known anyone who’s really creative, who also has a negative attitude?  Probably not.  But many creative people are plagued with doubt and fear, which limits their ability to visualize possibilities and achieve the best results.

My dear friend, Katya, was planning her June wedding, and asked me to help with the flowers.  Okay, no problem.  I’ve been arranging flowers most of my life, since my godmother introduced me to this wonderful hobby around the age of seven.  Proud to say that I’ve won many blue ribbons for my floral creations over the years, including several  “Best of Show” ribbons. So making arrangements for the reception tables wouldn’t be a problem.  I agreed, before I learned of several challenges:

• Katya’s favorite flower is hydrangea.  For an early June wedding, the selection of these flowers was limited, especially for the blue and purple colors that she wanted to use.
• The reception hall has a 14-foot ceiling.  Low arrangements of hydrangeas would be out of proportion.
• The wedding budget was very tight.  The allowance for all the flowers was around $300. Tall glass vases were available at my wholesale price for an average of $25 each, which would leave  only $125 for all of the flowers and other supplies.
• Katya wanted me to do ALL of the flowers, including bouquets and cake toppers.  Geez, I’ve never made bridal bouquets or cake toppers before!

Two weeks before the wedding, I took Katya shopping at the Portland Flower Mart.  Immediately, she went into sticker shock, and admitted that she now understands how our clients feel when we tell them how much their remodeling project is going to total.  Fortunately, we found two wholesale growers who could supply hydrangeas and irises for a very reasonable price.  The 9″ tall hurricane containers that Katya bought at the Dollar Store wouldn’t  hold arrangements  exceeding four feet, but  Katya didn’t let it stop her.  After we parted, she went to Home Depot, and called me, all excited. “I’ve found the perfect solution!  Plumbing pipe!  My vases fit inside, and we can cut the pipe to any length!”

The “can do” attitude kicked in for all of us, and we worked together as a well-oiled machine.   Katya and her fiancee, Robert, attached the pipes to square MDF bases with construction adhesive. At that point, we called them rocket launchers.  My husband, Jay, filled the bases with sand, so the top of  each  vase was level with the top of the pipe.  Katya and I found beautiful “champagne” satin fabric at the Mill End store (less than $3 a yard), then Jay and I wrapped  the tubes and covered the bases with the satin, using a full roll of Gorilla Tape.  The transformation was astounding!  Together, we created seven beautiful containers for about $40 total.

Online searches yielded great information to help me create the bouquets and cake topers.  What would we do without the Internet?  One of the sites warned about not using toxic flowers in or near food.  Of course, hydrangeas are on that list.  I used a small plastic bouquet holder, and made a ring of curly lettuce (Jay’s suggestion) to assure that none of the hydrangeas touched the cake or the frosting.  

All of the flowers and paraphernalia to make the arrangements and bouquets came in a little over budget — about $310.  It was a great experience, but Jay made me promise not to do any more wedding flowers. He also made me promise to unsubscribe from all of the wedding sites that think I’m a bride-to-be; they’re clogging my e-mail with information and “special” offers!

I approached this project as I approach every project: Creativity plus a positive attitude does achieve successful results!

Blessed with creativity, a positive attitude, and over 28 years of experience, I can help you achieve successful remodeling results!  Call today (503-632-8801), or send an e-mail inquiry (diane@dp-design.com). I look forward to chatting with you — and helping you!