Springtime Showers and Dainty Fresh Flowers /  by Julie Greco

Hard to believe that just one week ago today I was amongst my Family and Friends celebrating my Bridal shower. The memory fresh as If I was still living the day; a day in which I will never forget.

Being a florist I had a dream of the prettiest daintiest bridal shower I could think of. 

The Theme: Chanel with an intense side of floral extravaganza.

The Games: Guests enjoyed the build a bouquet station filled will an abundant array of flowers and fillers. Not to mention the Chanel inspired fragrance bar where guests got to build a signature scent

The Flowers: All flowers were provided by yours truly #petalsandstems, from processing to placement to sheer enjoyment of being able to love my work, I could not have been more pleased by the outcome. 

Thank you to everyone who made this day as special as it was. I could not have dreamed it up any better. Big thank you to my friends, family and "My Mother" for creating an amazing everlasting memory for me. 

Peace, Love and Florals, "Always", 

Jules xoxo

Graciously Ranting the Good Rant /  by Julie Greco

So, I don't blog, but from time to time I guess a few neat things happen that I want to share with my lovely following and a blog post (more like excited rant) seems fitting. This my friends is one of those times!

Over the past few weeks, I've gotten to do a number of arrangements. A few were for love and a few for just because, all made with one objective in mind...the recipient. I am happy to say that I put so much thought and effort into my work that when the Fl'art (floral art) gets delivered, and I see the look on the recipients face, I then know I've been successful in making something truly special for my clients.

Oh boy, if my flowers could talk, I wonder what they would have to say lol...probably that I'm slightly neurotic and extremely process oriented. Yes people, flowers are a process. You didn't just think those pretty little things last as long as they do without a ton of TLC. That would be a nugatory!

I am excited every time I get to create something and get to be a part of the special moments in peoples lives. I know I've said it many times before and I'll probably say it many times more that I am truly blessed to have such an amazing following, but I am. The fact that people actually care what Petals & Stems is up to, is A-mazing!!!

I am super stoked for this weekend in particular. On the roster for this weekend are a few arrangements, crowns and bouquets for a wedding scene in a cute upcoming indie film...thanks to @shopbicyclette who presented this fabu request to collabo with her on this awesome opportunity. I can honestly say that I've been obsessing all week over what flowers I'm getting, how they will be placed, the vessel they will be held in and how it will all come together in the end.

Is this still a blog, or borderline novel?!?! Sadly I feel like I'm still ranting the good rant lol but I thank all who are taking time out of their schedules to read along and share in my excitement with me.

I'd also like to note that one of my very good friends and her husband became first time aunts and uncles this week and I could not be more happy for them! Congratulations are in order @alkerr and @ivykerr. So in addition to all the movie madness I will be working on something super special for little baby Eva. I'm thinking something that says welcome to the world little one, you're going to love it here :)

Stay tuned this Saturday to see what the end results are!!!

Peace, love and flowers always!

Jules xoxo

Kumquats come all /  by Julie Greco

Spent the afternoon this past Sunday with my best friend, shared the week’s news while walking around the city sipping our large coffees. Coffee is key my friends!!

Found ourselves at the local floral market admiring the vast variety of February fresh local flowers. Before I knew it, sitting in the corner of the shop were a bucket of freshly cut kumquat branches. The instant urge for vitamin D struck me and all of a sudden I could swear the kumquats were calling my name. It was a done deal, kumquats it was.

I knew I had to have them. I started creating designs as I was standing there in the market. I grabbed the kumquats and continued to peruse the isles. The children's classic "Stone Soup" by Ann McGovern came to mind.

The story was my inspiration. For those of you who aren’t familiar of the children’s story: it’s about a lady who created soup from a stone and a pot of boiling water. By the end of the story the lady has created a beautiful vegetable soup. The whole point of my entry was, just like the lady, I too was going to create something from nothing. Inspiration from a little old kumquat.

As I was piling my arms with beautiful Iris, Viburnum berries, Spray roses (which I like to call mini garden roses) and Italian Ruscus, I couldn't help but feel like the lady in the story(pretty sure it’s just one of those things you just had to be there for). To say the least, I got a wide variety of goodies at the market and it all started with that lonely little bunch of Kumquats and they were mine, all mine!!

Here’s what became of my market finds:

Florals  & Foliage used for this shoot (Mini Garden Roses a.k.a Sprays, Snap dragons, Casablanca Iris, Berzelia galpini, Wax flowers, Pittosporum variegated, Kumquat branches, Italian ruscus and Viburnum dentatum).

Jules XO