The Shop Is Now Live!

Of course all of the live events were canceled this year. I love participating in craft sales. I love seeing all the people -- the shoppers and my vendor friends.Out of all of the things I am missing this year, craft sales top the list.

Like many of my crafty friends, 2020 meant bringing it all online. So, I set up a little shop.
Here’s a little look at some of the things I’m offering. Please visit HERE to see more!

I hope you all are safe and well. I miss your faces. X, Laurie

Merry and Bright!

This is my fourth year creating florals and décor for this wonderful holiday party which is held in the Presidential Suite at the downtown Seattle Westin hotel. The suite is on the 47th floor, and the view it offers is expansive and amazing. From here you can see the neon sign of the Pike Place Market, the ferris wheel, the Sound, the Macy's star and all of the twinkling lights of the shopping core. The view from the bedroom includes the Space Needle.


It's a company Christmas party, the guest list is always less than 20, so it's it intimate affair.

Though some of the elements we use are the same each year, we're always editing and expanding and trying hard to create an experience that's a little different each time for the guests. It seems the level of detail increases, as does the amount of stuff, too. It just keeps getting more and more elaborate and festive!

My client has a wonderful collection of holiday decor pieces, candles, containers, and glittery things. I pull from this collection, shop for a few new elements to add, create many handmade pieces, and, of course, arrange lots of fresh flowers for this party.  It takes weeks to prepare for it, but the set up happens in just one day, and it's a mad scramble to get everything done before the guests arrive.

The table "centerpieces" are built first so the hotel staff can get the tables set, then I move on to create all the vignettes and place flowers around the room.

One of the tables is a woodland theme. In the center of the display is a icy acrylic tree, and the rest of the scene is built around that. There are many layers of bottle brush trees, live cypress trees, LED trees, logs, birch tubes, bark-covered containers,  pots of live moss, and small, dense flower arrangements. Tucked into all of this you'll find little woodland creatures. Some of these critters are interacting with others and exchanging gifts by their own tiny, lit christmas trees and other's are hiding in their dens. It's always my goal to create a view that delights from every seat at the table.























The second table is a glittery holiday town. I decorated the little houses a few years back, and we've been incorporating them into a table display ever since. The layout changes and the other elements do too. and I try to make it a different town each year. Like the woodland table, it's very detailed. There are icy trees, bottle brush trees, lots of live potted trees and moss, many flowers with glittered pinecones and Christmas balls tucked into the arrangements, mercury glass, lots of candles, tiny presents waiting on porches and wreaths on doors,  and lots of little paper critters living in this town. The houses have faux votive candles inside, so they have a nice warm glow.















I absolutely loved our linen selections this year from Choice Linens. We used a rich and luxurious blue velvet which looked incredible in the room and under our tablescapes. We rented their gold-rimmed chargers and some very lovely gold striped napkins. We also brought in gold flatware from another local rental company, which added a lot to the place setting. We found new chairs to rent too, which were perfect in the room.



Instead of a place card, I made a personalized ornament for each guest.  It served as a practical thing, but it was also a gift for each guest, and a memento of this lovely event.



Also for the guests, their own little copy of the Christmas Story.



Every surface of the room is adorned with flowers, sparkly deer and trees, topiaries, and candles. Each vignette is full, and like the tablescapes, there are details to discover within. The flower arrangements are all lush and full, and there are poinsettias scattered all offer the room.

Once everything is in place and any messes we made disappear, we light the candles, switch on the LED trees and votives, and it all comes to life.



The sun was setting as we were finishing up this year, which created a pretty spectacular view for us, and a very nice endnote for this chaotic day.


During the party set up, we always get lots of visits from hotel staff. This event has developed a reputation, and so many like to come visit the suite and soak up the holiday spirit. It really is pretty wonderful seeing the joy on everyone's faces as they explore the room.  "THIS is Christmas", they often exclaim.

I've done events in  many venues over the years, and I have to stay the staff at the Westin is as good as it gets. They're all such kind and accommodating people  who take such good care of their guests, and also folks like me, who are just there working.

This party is a lot of hard work, but every step of the way it's enjoyable. In the event world, it's so rare to have the creative freedom that I do with this event, and I'm so grateful my client has the trust in me to allow me to really run with it.  It's so creatively fulfilling, and I appreciate the opportunity so very much.  I feel lucky having someone so wonderful to work with and I'm proud of the what we create together.

As we breakdown the event the following day, we always talk about how we can "up" our game next time. My head is already spinning with ideas, and I'm looking forward to next year's party!





I've posted a lot of photos here in this post, but if you would like to see more, you can visit this album on Flickr. Thanks!

One More Show!

The holiday season is winding down, but there's still one event on the books.  Moss + Mineral, the shop I created the window display for, is hosting a holiday open house. I'll be there all eve, and I'm bringing along a few new things, like these bird and ball ornaments.

Full details are below - I hope to see you all there!













JOIN US at Moss + Mineral's Holiday Open House this Thursday, Dec. 18, 5-8pm! Start your Third Thursday Gallery Walk with a stop to say hello and refreshments - we'd love to see you!


Check out new work by local furniture maker, Steve Lawler, whose modern op-art designs in reclaimed wood are the bomb; paper artist, Laurie Cinotto, who created our quietly beautiful window display accompanied by tiny woodland artscapes; and jewelry artists, Regina Chang, Jennifer Lawrence Bennett, and myself - we've been working our little elves overtime to have just the right choices for you this evening!

We also have juicily colorful ceramic objects by well-known Seattle clay artist, Kristin Nelson; original art by Jeremiah Maddock and Ohm Cederburg; vintage barware, one-of-a-kind terrariums and select pieces of mid-century modern furniture.

 We're at 305 South 9th St., one block up from the Pantages Theater (and the downtown Christmas tree); 253.961.5220.

More information at www.mossandmineral.com.

OH, and while you're on the block, be sure to visit our friends at Mod Curio. They've got a holiday happening too, and will be featuring the work of local crafty gal, Ember Carroll.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Each December, I have the extreme pleasure of creating florals and decor for the most amazing holiday party. It's hosted by Paul and Linda, who are two of the kindest people you'll ever meet. This event is their annual company holiday party,  and they put much thought and detail into creating a memorable time for their guests.

I remember Linda once told me that she thinks of parties as being one giant gift for those who attend. I think for her, it's not just about entertaining, it's about creating an experience, and a beautiful, uplifting, joy-filled moment that will linger in the guests' minds long after the party is over. It's also a way to show people she cares about them.  

I've worked with her on events for over a decade now, and this is the fourth year we've collaborated on their company holiday party. We work with some of the same elements each year, but build upon them to make it a little bigger, brighter, and more interesting for the guests each time. 

The party takes place in the Presidential Suite of the Seattle Westin, which offers the most spectacular view of Downtown Seattle. As shiny and sparkly as it is out there with the lights from the big city and the holiday season,  this little town created on one of the dining tables offers some big competition!

The townscape is packed with glittered houses, bottle brush trees, cypress trees, moss, and floral arrangements. It's populated by deer and other creatures. It's rich with details, and there are many surprises hidden within the display.

Inside each house, there were flickering faux votives that added warmth and light to the display. I used polka-dot velum on the windows to create the illusion of falling snow.



To add a little dimension and depth to the scene, I built the town on styrofoam risers and covered them with sheet moss. Once the city was built, and all was in place, the scene got a light dusting of artificial snow.







We rented our linens and chargers from Choice Linens in Seattle. For this tabletop, we selected a linen with a really beautiful texture and weave - it was like a very polished burlap, with thread of silver running through. The chargers were an icy glass with a pewter edge.



The second table had woodland theme. In the center of the table stood a tall acrylic tree, and it was surrounded by a dense forrest of cypress trees, birch trees, moss, many flowers and critters.



Because this spot of the room was a little darker than the others, we used lots of artificial light and candlelight to illuminate the table. The pistachio and lime green flowers and metallic accents brightened the table, too.





Tucked into the scene were bears, deer, birds, foxes and other animals. I positioned them to illustrate a story or show a dialog between the animals.  Foxes exchanges presents. Bears warmed their paws by the fire.











The vases on the tables were packed with flowers. Included in the arrangements were lots of hydrangea, ranunculus, and roses.



Glass bells with tiny bottle brush trees inside hung from the acrylic tree in the center of the table.



Like the table with the townscape, there were many details for the guests to discover.






 

At each place setting, there was a gift for the guest and a copy of The Christmas Story.



On all the tables and surfaces of the room, many vignettes were created.  Linda and I collaborate on these vignettes - she finds these pieces, puts them in place, and I add the details.











Flower arrangements and poinsettias filled the room. Candles were everywhere!






















It's a fair amount of work making all of this happen in the time that we have to do it, but it's all worth it when you see the reaction of not only the guests, but the hotel staff, too.  All of this holiday ambiance truly makes people happy.

Out of all the crafty things I do, this is always the highlight, and the most rewarding project of the year. I'm so grateful that Paul and Linda let me contribute to this event - it is always a thrill, and I love the creative challenge. I can hardly believe that it's even a "job" because it certainly does feel more like a dream.

I'm thankful for Sarah, who helped me set up and break down the event, and Harriette, Claudia, and all of the lovely people at the Westin who were so helpful and supportive.  You all made a hard weekend easier!

Thank you for taking the time to scroll through all these pictures! There are a lot, I know, but it's so hard to share this party in just a few.  Should you care to see more, I've got an album posted on Flickr!

Happy Holidays, friends.