Every Bride is Royal for the day! Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery...

Wedding cake flowers - 8 tiers - you might have to size down a bit...

lily of the valley means "trustworthy", myrtle "hope and love", hornbeams "resilience", and field maples "humility and reserve".  lilac is for "youthful innocence"  - 

You can get the engagement ring here.

and go here to place an order for your Kate replica wedding dress - most are available in August -

So there you have it - do it yourself Royal!  

Hippy Chic - do it right with ratty jeans and sexy candy apple red sandals

Go gently into the "60's says the NYT's today - Also, check out their red sandals - here are mine with a much hipper silhouette - California Beach style...
Red sandals by Franco Sarto - get them at  Zappos (of course).

Spoonflower - create your own fabric

I LOVE this website - so fun to see what others have created and you get to vote on your favorite and best of all you can design your own and even choose your fabric type - silk, linen, cotton blends etc.
You can  purchase by the yard (no minimum) and order samples to see how it will look - How about a custom fabric apron for your friends or napkins for your home?  Endless fun!
Go here to create and evaluate.

Straw Hats - for Easter and beyond...

Great hats for spring and summer - I love that they are monotone and you could easily adorn them with brooches, scarves, flowers etc.  A simple shape that will look good on everybody.

The New York Times Style Magazine- A Diamond in the Roughage - Fashion and Flowers

To see more of these "green" creations go here.


For your own  "natural"  look... brooches inspired by the great outdoors...

Financial Times - How to Spend It... Anything But A Wallflower - creations by Damian Foxe

Please be sure to check out this weeks How to Spend It- Fabulous dresses made from floral wallpaper by Damian Foxe - to see these intensely creative pieces go here.  To check out the Financial Times Facebook page and "like" them click here.

It's spring - and I've been at Coachella ...

so no lengthy diatribes here - however here is some fun flowery things to look at and perhaps purchase...

Descanso Gardens - La Canada, Flintridge - Don't miss out...

Descanso Gardens is in bloom - camelias, daffodils, tulips and roses waft their perfume in the air.  Go now to see the best display of spring flowers.  

To get directions and find out what's blooming click here.

Fiore Designs on Abbott Kinney in Venice -

Inspired by the need of a small gift for a friend’s birthday I visited Fiore Design on Abbott Kinney Blvd.   Located in a tiny craftsman’s style home it is obvious that she picks and chooses carefully.  Not much meeting her exact specifications - but what she does choose is perfect.  The day I visited there were bunches of pale lavender hyacinths scattered about the "home".  Tiny aqua Moroccan votives, elegant bars of flavored chocolate and pretty dried bouquets of flowers also adorn.  When in Venice, California visit 1617 Abbot Kinney Blvd Venice 90291 or call (310) 230-5007. 

To see her jewel box of a store click here.

Ode to rose - French style - Au Nom de la Rose -

When in Paris last December a tiny little floral shop off the Place Vendôme captured my attention.  It was less a florist then homage to the rose.   Perfect bouquets of roses stuffed everywhere in the small quiet space.  It was bitterly cold and gray outside - snow was on the ground - to peer through the window at such vivid color and warmth etched a moment in my memory.  When in Paris phone 0 892 350 007 or visit at  46 rue du Bac.   To see more photos of exquisite roses click here.

Happy Hour! - Sakura Sofia - Sofia Coppola sparkling meets cherry blossoms - definitely NO translation needed

Simply the best...

1 can Sofia Coppola Sparkling Wine

fresh picked cherry blossoms

satin ribbon

assemble and drink!

cans come 4 to a pack so you can have a party

Japan - day 4 - Cherry Blossoms- Inspiration for food and drink

Cherry Blossom Cupcake created by

Crumbs Bake Shop.   Go here to find a location and taste one.

Cherry Blossom Lemon Spritz Cookies 

Magpies recipe blog - created for Japan Relief Bake sale

To taste these colorful cookies find recipe here.

and of course to wash it all down...

Japanese Cherry Blossom Margarita

the secret is in the Voodoo Tiki Desert Rose Tequila.  

To make this vivid cocktail please go here.

Japan - day 3 - Bonsai - not just for old men...Sinajina in Tokyo redefines the eastern art of Bonsai for a western interior

Kenji Kobayashi, a BONSAI artist in Tokyo shop Sinajina
"I wish to propose a new BONSAI style by conveying plants that fit well with not only Japanese style but also Western styles. My mission is not expressing BONSAI, but spreading the spirit of loving plants as a part of mother nature.” 

Please go here to see Kenji Kobayashi's artistry.  When in Tokyo call them at 
tel 03-3725-0303 or E-mail info@sinajina.com.

Japan - day 2 - Instagrams of cherry blossoms

Instagrams - they have a slightly tarnished and faded quality that makes them a bit melancholy which is probably the general atmosphere in Japan right now - hopefully these beautiful blossoms will cheer them up.

here is a beautiful Instagram of cherry blossoms taken by Blueclue in Tokyo.  To see more of Blueclue's 
instagrams click here.

instagram by mas

create your own instagrams by downloading the iphone app

REN design- Ikebana redesigned

This week dollFlowers will focus on our friends in Japan and their beautiful aesthetic that inspires the world. 

Day 1

“Ren” is a design project to provide a sense of Japanese beauty to the world, pursuing the universal beauty of botany with a concept of “Botanical Redesign”

When in Tokyo  please phone 〒108-0073 

click here to see more of REN's designs.

Emily Thompson Flowers

Emily Thompson's floral designs make you feel as though you have wandered into an enchanted yet slightly dangerous forest.  You can find her in Brooklyn, NY or call 323.896.1494.
To see her romantic gallery of floral creations click here.

Westwood Flower Garden

Our debut into the blogosphere should come from a place we literally haunt every day for wacky floral arrangements (photo) and a totally random collection of vintage items - Margie is truly an obsessive collector of all things obscure.

Courtesy of Westwood Flower Garden- we love them (we hope they love us!)  The website doesn’t come close to doing the place justice -