Freytag’s Florist Blog

What are your resolutions for the New Year?

Will you add to your workouts? Restrict your diet? Call your Grandma more? Get more organized… Around here we are in full on cleaning mode clearing shelves, reorganizing the shop and zhushing the storefront.

Of course that has translated at home into cleaning out cabinets and drawers! Now I have lots of little spice & sauce jars forsingle stems in the bathroom, on night stands or end tables…

I’ve been inspired by so many photos like this on TUMBLR that I’ve been buying products based on their jar’s beauty?*! The glass jars and bottles are kept out of landfills when we reuse them. This maybe turning into a REUSE resolution for 2012?

 

 

Mason jars are a favorite of mine as well and TUMBLR bloggers are in love with them too! They are so versatile that we have a range of sizes at home and use them for serving drinks, storing home made dressings and sauces, and for perfect little counter top arrangements!

How about a wall garden… this is brilliant and certainly could be done with reused materials.

Check us out on TUMBLR for more great ideas, our feed is full of amazing photos!

http://austinflowerblog.com/?b2494228

 

 

 

 

Decorating your windows and doors with festive wreaths can be a great way to celebrate the season. Our delivery counter FULL of beatiful wreaths heading out to customers:

 

 

 

Check out this house quite literally

wrapped in wreaths! The simplicity of the fresh green

 wreaths with wide red ribbon is an elegant clasic!

No blinky lights needed here…

 

 

 

 

If you Think hanging these looks like work

can you imagine getting these windows decked out?

Now THAT won’t be on the “honey do” list!

 

 

The smell of a fresh mixed evergreen wreath fills the air

as guests arrive at your home, making even a Texas door

remind visitors of forrests blanketed in snow.

Pretty sure this snow piled wreath isn’t from Austin?!*

 

 

 

These colorful yarn wrapped wreaths still host fragrant

branches of greens and can be made to match

this year’s fashionable colors.

Be warned, it takes FOREVER to wrap those wreath forms

and a whoooooole lotta yarn. I do so love the

sweet little birds nestled in, looking comfy cozy!

 

 

These ornament wreaths also take a year and a day to make,

but really bring the glamour. I did a few one year in greens and

the key is to mix in matt with glossy finishes.

A good sturdy box is important for storage if you are using

real glass ornaments! Mine were flattened boxes of glasss

shards the next year…

apparently the cat took a liking to the most delicate pile?!*

 

Wreaths are of course about the season,

not just Christmas!

This Hanukkah wreath is gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

 

Still feeling crafty?

How about button wreath ornaments for the tree?

This actually is a simple string of buttons,

a much faster, kid friendly project!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year I will be taking the easy approach

with my wreaths…

 

 

 

 

Bringing home three fresh 20″ wreaths tonight that will host birds and owls from last years aviary themed tree. Yellow is my porch color this year so to hang them I have selected a nice wide spool of ribbon, totally baffling the cashier with my choice of yellow for Christmas Decor (not to mention the bumble bees that are going on the purple tree- but thats a post for another day)

 

 

 

 

Easiest yet is to swing buy and purchase an already styled wreath, fresh or artificial. Treat yourself tosome holiday cheer every time you arrive back home!

Sometimes, it seems like the holiday magic has just disappeared.  They just don’t seem to sparkle anymore.  There’s the cold weather, and the hassle of buying gifts, and the travel plans or out-of-town guests to host, and the dinner to cook, and so much more.  Suddenly, the holiday season is just plain stressful!  If you’re feeling this way, it’s time to slow down and do what you can to bring the magic back.

Go outside with your kids (or nieces/nephews, friends’ kids, etc.) and have a snowball fight!  Help them build a snowman, create a snow fort, and make snow angels.  Kids always seem full of the holiday cheer, and it can be infectious.  Just be sure to bundle up!

Enjoy the holiday food.  Gingerbread, eggnog, candy canes, and other treats are often hard to find outside of the holiday season.  Spoil yourself a bit and have a snack or two while they’re here.

Go ice skating.  Many cities set up ice skating rinks for the holiday season.  Other areas may have permanent rinks that host special holiday events.

Snuggle by the fire.  If you have a wood-burning fireplace, there’s no time like the holiday season to get it going!  You can even roast marshmallows or make S’mores.  If you don’t have a fireplace, that’s OK—curl up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate or cuddle with your sweetheart while you watch a movie.

Speaking of movies, watching some of the classic holiday movies is sure to help get you in the spirit.  Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Charlie Brown Christmas episode, It’s a Wonderful Life…the list of great holiday movies goes on and on.  Pick your favorite and enjoy!

If movies don’t do it for you, see a live performance.  Many local theater and dance companies have holiday shows.  The Nutcracker ballet is often performed at Christmas; live performances of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol are also usually pretty easy to find.

Christmas Flowers in Austin, Texas.

So you lucked out and got multiple invites for Turkey this year?

Grateful for no brining, baking, or stuffing …

Greet your hosts at the door with something that goes well with everything (even with Tofurky… I promise!)

Flowers are a great way to say thank you right at the door (just in case you fall asleep during the game and don’t get to those dishes)!

Do your hosts have a green thumb? Blooming and green plants of all sizes will remind the chef this time next year what a generous guest you were! You’ll never have to cook again…

Have you done any decorating for the big Thanksgiving meal?  If you’re hosting the dinner, you might want to add a bit of Thanksgiving flair to your home.  Here are some simple ways of adding a big of holiday cheer to your home.

Get a Thanksgiving centerpiece.  The meal is the center of the holiday, after all, so you want your table to look great.  A centerpiece for Thanksgiving can come in many forms.  Pumpkins, gourds, candles, fall flowers, a ceramic turkey, pilgrims…there are many options out there.  Find something that fits nicely on your table.  If your table is small, go with something simple so you’ll have plenty of room for food.

Don’t forget the Thanksgiving linens:  a tablecloth and napkins are a must-have for a nice meal, so you might as well make them decorative.  You can go with a solid fall color (orange, red, brown) or pick something with turkeys or other Thanksgiving images.  Napkin rings are another nice accessory that can add to your décor.

The real treat at Thanksgiving is the meal, of course, so add a bit of decoration to your dishes.  Use decorative platters and bowls or ones that match your tablecloth.  Even dishes with a fall color pattern on them can help accent the meal and bring a cohesion to your overall décor.

These are just a few simple things to make Thanksgiving decorating quick and easy.  There’s a lot more you can do, of course.  You can pick up some small turkey and pilgrim figures, add a fall wreath to your front door, or find some other fall items to place around your home.  How much you do is all up to you.  Get creative, and make your Thanksgiving decorations something special for your guests to enjoy.

Thanksgiving Flowers in Austin Texas

 

 I adore the simplicity of these hand stenciled bottles full of wheat stalks because it incorporates reuse, and adds warmth with texture and color to the room.

 

Even if you bake your desserts from scratch these vintage looking  cans make perfect containers for simple DIY arrangements. Multiple containers of the same size creates a nice focal point for all your guests at a long, narrow table.  

 

 

I am in love with all the DIY ideas out there but tend to gravitate towards wedding designs, probably because I see so many beautiful photos showcasing weddings every day. I find it leaves my decorating options open and I always throw a little tribute in to celebrate that particular holiday. The bright, cheerful palette from this wedding translates for any festive event and the grass runner is just brilliant.

 

 At Freytag’s we love to see you in our shop! If you select individual blooms that you arrange yourself we give you 1/2 off, really boosting that DIY budget! Something as easy as these mixed goblets with blooms and candles can dress a buffet, dessert or even dining table up for any occasion.

 

…a truly INSPIRED idea from One Fine Day Events in Lake Tahoe:

For Thanksgiving I would try oranges or tangerine under the glass, maybe even apples or pomegranates. I have the perfect desk with a glass top that already doubles as a serving station…

Use risers not the fruit to support the glass to avoid a disaster!

 

By now hopefully you are all familiar with the breast cancer awareness movement led by our very own Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Did you know that thanks to last year’s fundraising efforts, the Komen Austin Affiliate will provide its largest single community investment of $1.139 million in local community grants for our five county service area this year. In addition, more than $450 thousand will be directed to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Award and Research Grant Program?

Freytag’s works with the foundation on many levels, including our Helping Hands program and donating flowers for events. Today we are gearing up for Sunday’s big race preparing roses for participants and girl howdy there are a LOT of you!!! Check out the tip of the iceberg in our coolers today:

Since 1999, the Komen Austin Affiliate has provided more than $10.5 million in funding to LOCAL community clinics, hospitals and health care organizations for breast screening, diagnosis and treatment, and research for the cures.

Seventy-five percent net funds raised LOCALLY stay LOCALLY. The Komen Austin Affiliate provides funding to LOCAL non-profit healthcare organizations for breast health services for the underserved men and women in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties. The remaining 25 percent funds the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested nearly $1.5 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

This year’s race is this Sunday, November 13th but you can STILL REGISTER TO RACE THROUGH 10pm TONIGHT! Start here to be a part of something spectacular this Sunday:

http://austin.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/AUS_AustinAffiliate?fr_id=2282&pg=entry

So far there are 16,547 participants including teams, individuals and families. The Race is a 5k (3.1 miles), and also offers a 1 mile family walk. Not into the running/walking aspect but still want to get involved? There are still volunteers needed this year! Sign up here to get involved this weekend:

http://austin.info-komen.org/site/PageNavigator/AUS_volunteersignup

 

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has a special spot in their hearts and on race morning for Survivors!

Please join us on Race Day at the Survivor Tent for a delicious breakfast buffet, fun giveaways, as well as other great activities and goodies. The Survivor Tent is open from 6:30AM until 11am. Survivor breakfast is from 6:30am-9:30am. Hey Cupcake! will be serving from 9:30am-10:30am. Entertainment is at 7:30am and 9:30am. The Survivor Committee respectfully requests a limit of 1 guest per Survivor in order to accommodate as many Survivors as possible for a special Race Day breakfast in our tent. Survivor group photos will be taken at 7:15 and 7:45am.

Freytag’s is in complete awe of survivors, families, supporters, racers and volunteers. The Komen Foundation’s devotion to bringing the community together around such a worthy cause humbles us, and we are so grateful to them that we get to be a part of this tremendous event. Thank you!!!

All photos are our own.

All information taken directly from: http://www.komenaustin.org/

What will grace your table this Thanksgiving?

We know you’re already thinking about ingredients but

are you planning a spectacular table setting too?

A warm cozy palette to go with that oh-so-full feeling…

 

 

 

 

Actual food items from the menu like apples,

pears or wheat husks…

 

 Cube and Bubble Bowl designs keep the floral focus low and compact allowing guests to easily converse over the arrangement.

 

For a longer table you can opt for a longer,

more oval  centerpiece,

…adding elegant taper candles to light the table with a warm friendly glow!

 

 

Traditional Cornucopia arrangements allude to the bounty of harvest season and the overflowing generosity of the chef.

 

 

 

 

For the kids table a cornucopia of treats encourages clean dinner plates!

 

 

 

 

 

Dia De Los Muertos has it’s root in MesoAmerican culture, incorporating Spanish Catholic customs(associated with All Saint’s and All Soul’s Day) . The rich, celebratory traditions honor the planting cycles of the Earth and create a time when families can gather to embrace the”circle of life”. It is seen as a time to honor the departed as “they make their journey to be back with the living each year”.

 

 

 

 

The Ofrenda (altar) tradition starts as early as summer when money is set aside for offerings such as Marigolds and pan de Muertos. The Cempoalxochitl, or Marigolds, in deep gold tones,  grace altars and burial sites and marigold petals are strewn around altars from Oct. 28-Nov. 2 in ancient rituals that honor the spirit world.

 

 

 

The spirits return, enticed by the smells of cempoalxochitl and their favorite foods … Ofrenda welcome back the souls of departed loved ones by honoring them with items that invoke treasured memories. Praying, singing, dancing, laughing, eating and drinking ensues as families enjoy the spirit’s visit thoughout the night. Later, “food believed to be kissed by the departed is eaten and candles are blown out” … 

 

 

 

Ornate costumes abound as the living gather together at cemetaries and at homes around Ofrenda. Flowers are also integrated in costumery as the living emulate La Katrina, one of the Mexican popular names for death, and the marigold is her flor de muerto, the “death flower” that actually celebrates life. Lady Death is often depicted with a flower in her Victorian hat.

 

 

Here a designer has made head dresses out of flowers emulating the wide brimmed hat from more traditional La Katrinas. As the Dia De Los Muertos traditions cross cultures and adapt to changing  times, modern interpretations take hold. One of these is the wildly popular celebration held at Hollywood Forever, Los Angeles’s oldest memorial park.

 

  

 

 Spooky is usually reserved for this time of year. Martha Stuart always seems to lead me into this season with her elegant but clever projects…

DIY couldn’t be more complicated, but at the same time so worth it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Halloween that sparks our dark-side-designs and lets us play with a theme not normally reserved for flowers. 

Dark and spooky color palettes reign!

Carve a stylish pumpkin basket and fill it with deep toned fresh flowers from our carry out cooler…

you’ll save %50 on all loose stems… ALWAYS!

 

 

 

 

Also a signature Freytag’s deal is our dozen cash & carry roses for $10.99.

With a quick trip to our shop and then down the street to Hobby Lobby you can create this creepy crawly arrangement that makes my skin crawl just looking at it!

Usually I make a point to stop and smell the roses, but I might just pass them up this once!

 

 

 

While Martha is Queen of collections (and obviously has tarnished silver vessels to spare) you can find containers of distinguished discard at most thrift shops or my favorite, the local Antiques Mall. 

The little dish garden with the green plants is my favorite here and the first project on my Halloween to do list, I’ll post some pics of the masterpiece later this week for a treat (hopefully not a tricky one…)!

All pics are pulled from various years of LIVING at : http://www.marthastewart.com/