Pantone’s Color of the Year 2014

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It’s been forever since we’ve got an entry posted, but it’s a new year! No better time to get a fresh outlook on 2014. Our lovely friends at SAF (Society of American Florists) put out a blurb about Pantone choosing their “Color of the Year” for 2014, and oh–my–GOSH! If this isn’t a stunner of a hue, we don’t know what is! What we find so fantastic about this particular color is, it lends itself to nearly any season. A bride could easily work this beautiful shade of violet into a blue/purple wintery theme, a springy, pastel palette, an accent in a bright, summer spread, or even with deeper purples and reds for a dramatic autumn theme. So versatile!

Read Pantone’s press release.

LeVian Diamond Event – Mon., Oct. 7, 2013

Jared the Galleria of Jewelers in Fairview Heights, Illinois is hosting a fabulous LeVian Diamond Event that showcases local vendors related to the jewelry industry: florists, caterers, music professionals, planners, etc. We are participating in this event with a fabulous fresh flower display and an informational giveaway packet promo. We’re providing one our full-color, 12-month calendars, information regarding our shop, a wedding flower booklet brochure, a business card, and a “Like” Us on Facebook card, all contained in a personalized envelope. We’re pretty stoked!

What’s Happening Around Belleville?

Well, this weekend marks the 30th Annual Chili Cook-Off in downtown Belleville, IL. Believe it or not, this little town draws an enormous crowd for this weekend-long affair. The 3-day festival is full of activities to draw everyone of every age to the center of town. Between the 5K, a kid’s competition called “Junior Idol,” several big name bands including The Smash Band, lots of beer, a designated Children’s Area, and 60+ vendors, you’re bound to find something for everyone to enjoy. Sample dozens of different homemade chili recipes, as well as many from restaurants and caterers, from all around the country.

Chili not your cup ‘o tea? Well, that’s definitely not a problem. Along with over 70 varieties of chili, you’ll also find that vendors offer may other items like: pork sandwiches, bratwurst, potato cakes, hot dogs, Philly beef sandwiches, cornbread, ice cream novelties, cheesecake, “walking” tacos, deep fried Twinkies, nachos, root beer floats, hot chocolate, Frito pies, chili bellies, fried chicken, pork riblets, burgers, fries, Oreo balls, crepes, “voodoo” shrimp, corn dogs, lemonade shake-ups, apple cider, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Jamaican black cake, beef brisket, candied yams, coleslaw, Jamaican lemonade, Sky Juice, turkey legs, cornish hens, chicken breast, peanut butter sandwiches, cupcakes, funnel cakes, breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, pork steaks (a Midwestern delicacy!), Jell-O pops, kettle corn, and more. My fingers are tired of typing, but that’s is a mere sampling of what is available at the 30th Annual Belleville Chili Cook-Off. You don’t want to miss this fabulous event!

For more information, opening and closing times, vendor maps and more, visit: http://www.bellevillechili.com

Post-New York Fashion Week: 2014 Color Trends

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Now that New York 2013 Fashion Week has wrapped up, the Pantone Fashion Color Report is in. It looks like 2014 will be full of fabulously colored fashions, and of course, fabulously themed floral bouquets to match. Floral and wedding color schemes often follow the Fashion Week trend report, and it is no different this year.

MarthaStewartWeddings.com has already called the wedding color trends for the upcoming year. The most popular combinations are: Emerald & Jade, Cornflower Blue & Melon, Red & Camel, Lemon & Mint, Powder Blue & Nude, Aqua & Gold, and Purple & Silver.

We’ve seen brides heading in these directions already. Shades of green have been popular, as they allow virtually any color to compliment their semi-neutral tones. Red and Camel is a classic, yet slightly modern, combination. Camel offers itself as a rich neutral shade that allows the red to jump when paired together. Red is a classic representation of love and romance, and while it’s often paired with a stark shade of white, the camel softens the harshness of the color but allows a vibrant contrast at the same time. Purple and green has been a very popular color choice for weddings for the last few years with silver as a mere accent, but but incorporating silver as a main color, brides open themselves up to an array of fantastic, unique blooms and succulents that would be a beautiful addition to their wedding flowers.

We’re always seeing new combinations–even those that shy away from the Fashion Week trends. No combination is impossible when you have a professional florist on duty. We’re in the job of creativity and possibility!

BND Readers’ Choice Awards

In 2011 and 2013, we were nominated and placed in the “Best Flower Shop” category of Belleville News Democrat’s Readers’ Choice Awards contest. Our appreciation is immense. There are some talented designers in this city, and we are honored to be in the top three. We don’t stuff the ballot box or bribe our customers, but instead, let them vote as they see fit. We couldn’t be more humbled by the nomination and placement. Our customers are the very blood that keeps the heart of our shop pumping. We are honored to be your choice for flowers in Belleville and the surrounding area. Dill’s Customers Rock!

Flowers: The fat-free, calorie-free gift

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What we have today, I wouldn’t call a “health craze.” It’s merely a strong attempt to learn the truth about nutrition, not what we’ve been fed. See the pun, there? Forever, we’ve been told fat is bad! Carbs are bad! The knowledge and truth continue to build and reveal themselves, and for each person, it’s a different combination of the right things to reach optimum health and wellness.

Now, isn’t that something? Because flowers—even through all the different combinations that can be made, are fat/calorie/carb-free, and truly have measurable mental health benefits. So many of us strive to improve wellness, to be fit, to lose weight, to gain muscle, to lose inches, and none of that is bad. Do we, however, focus enough on our mental and emotional well being? Take time to smell the roses (another pun….tee hee), and bring a few blooms home for yourself. When giving a gift, go the floral route. You’ll save your friends and family, not only the unnecessary, more-than-likely unwanted calories and improve their health that way, you’ll also improve their health in the mental and emotional categories, as well.

Nope, not blowing smoke, folks. Rutgers University published an article in their April 2005 edition of Evolutionary Psychology after an in depth study on flowers and their impact on health and well being. This article, published via AboutFlowers.com, showcases just one instance of the positive attributes of flowers: http://www.aboutflowers.com/health-benefits-a-research/emotional-impact-of-flowers-study.html

Want to be happy? Want to make someone else happy…and not unhealthy? Flowers are the way to go.

Tinted Blooms—Tacky or Terrific?

 

This past weekend, we created a wedding that was full of stunning blue-tinted dendrobium orchids. Tinted flowers seem to be all the rage currently, but what’s your take? Rainbow roses, blue orchids, neon daisies—are they your cup of tea?

This wedding had a bold color palette of David’s Bridal “Watermelon”–a deep, rich pink, and David’s Bridal “Horizon”–a true, royal blue. It was the perfect compliment to a hot, Midwestern August afternoon.

Florists have come a long way from the days of airbrush tinting and typical stem-dying procedures. We no longer have to DIY our tinting techniques. Growers and wholesalers are doing it for us, and in our area, the demand had become rather high. We’re curious for your thoughts!