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David Stark for West Elm

If you haven’t heard of David Stark, I’m sure that you have at least seen his work in one of the many magazines or television shows he appears in monthly.  New York event designer to the stars, Stark is known for his out-of-the-box approach to design. He often takes every-day objects and crafts them into amazing sculpture for such corporate giants as Louis Vuitton, Conde Nast, Target and MOMA.

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Now the rest of us can take home a little piece of Stark’s work courtesy of his new holiday collection for West Elm. The collection, which focuses on natural and recycled materials, features garlands, flowers and holiday trees made from newspaper and vintage gardening books and ranges from $4 to $39.

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To promote the collection, Stark and West Elm teamed up to create a paper flower shop in West Elm’s flagship store.

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Check out the video to see the enormous amount of work that goes into a production like this!

Winter Wedding Palette

I’m always disappointed that more people don’t get married in the winter in the Pacific Northwest. I love working with winter colors and coming up with creative ways to incorporate a warm, cozy feel to the day despite the gloom outside. Here are some of my favorite winter wedding palettes…

Navy and lilac with silver/gold accents:photo-43 {Lobster & Swan via Classic Bride}

Crimson, baby pink and gold with forest green accents:
Red-and-Gold-Wedding-Table {Sara Gray Photography}

Lilac, snow white and black:
Melissa2boquet {Suzanna Dodson Photography}

All white with lots of texture:

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{Clockwise from top left: The Knot, The Knot, Apartment Therapy}

Magenta, purple and chartreuse:
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{Via bradfordreformer.com}

Tiffany blue, chocolate and white:

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{Clockwise from top left: Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, The Knot, Petal & Bean}

Cake Toppers

The wedding cake is often the focal point of the decor at a wedding. If the invitation sets the tone of the day, then the wedding cake (or dessert display) is the sweet denouement. 

At Finch & Thistle, we are more than a little obsessed with the popular resurgence of vintage bunting in the last couple of years. Here’s a fun and unexpected way to incorporate it into your wedding cake.

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A paper wreath adds a sweet touch to a handcrafted, rustic wedding. This sweet wreath and garland comes with DIY instructions from Martha Stewart Weddings.

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Love birds have always been popular but these examples from Etsy are a little different from the white lace doves that adorned our grandmothers’ wedding cakes.

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Or how about no topper at all? These cakes* are so beautifully designed and decorated that there’s no topper necessary.

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{*All from Martha Stewart Weddings}

Gone to the birds

I have been a fan of local crafter Laurie Cinotto for years now. I recently saw her gorgeous bird cages at a craft show and almost bought up the entire stall. Wouldn’t these be perfect favors for a wedding or baby shower?DSC_0163
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DSC_0182You can see Laurie’s work at the Tacoma Holiday Craft Sale next weekend –Holiday Craft Sale

Fab Find: Milkpod Studios

These adorable handmade bouquets, boutonnieres and garlands are all made from fabric. They would be perfect for a rustic, hand crafted wedding or a bride who wanted a permanent keepsake of her big day.

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 { http://www.etsy.com/shop/MilkpodStudio/}

angela and evan, kirsten and mike

The details from this recent wedding at Sodo Park are absolutely divine and matched only by Angela and Evan’s gorgeous photography.  See the rest of the pictures here













In love: Miss Pickering

I recently stumbled across a blog written by an English florist, Simone Pickering and I am smitten. Miss Pickering, as she is more commonly known, is the owner of a “floral emporium” in Stamford and writes daily about her exploits with “the hound.”

By way of introduction her website states that,

“When not working Miss P likes to cook and wear slutty shoes.
The Hound is the resident shop dog.
He likes to greet customers, sleep, and eat roast chicken.
He loves Lily of the valley.
He hates gerbera.”

Her work is stunning, her wit pronounced and her English-ness undeniable. A daily dose of her blog is sure to amuse and inspire and serves to make this English designer a little less homesick.image imageimage image

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Miss P’s blog:
http://misspickering.blogspot.com/
The Hound’s blog:
http://www.shop-dog.blogspot.com/

Abbie and Matt


Palette: Lavender, plum and sage green
Theme: vintage, rustic, whimsical
Location: Golden Gardens, Seattle
Date: June, 2011

Inspiration Board: Josh & Lisa


Palette: pear, cement and rust
Theme: fresh, vibrant, modern
Location: Edgewater Hotel, Seattle
Date: August, 2011

Got Milk?

I got to use my collection of vintage milk glass vases and compotes for a recent bridal shower. You can find milk glass everywhere from Ebay and Etsy to your local thrift store. Collectors will buy them for anywhere up to $150 each but I got all of mine for about a dollar a piece at my local Goodwill!
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Milk glass originated in Venice in the 16th century and is still manufactured today. It is popular with collectors and designers because it’s relatively easy to find and makes a stunning display when grouped en masse.

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I particularly like how the cups and goblets lend a vintage twist to even the most modern floral arrangement and how dramatically colors pop against the stark white. The unique patterns on each one also photograph beautifully.
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Here are some pictures from the shower…  
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