Journal

Journal

 

 
Heart Shape

The heart, a universally recognized symbol of love and affection, has intrigued historians and enthusiasts alike. Its origins remain uncertain, with theories suggesting it may have originated as a simple representation of our heartbeats or as comparisons drawn to various shapes, such as the fig, redbud trees, ivy, or the remarkable Hoya Kerrii vine and philodendron.

In Western art, the heart shape first appeared in a 13th-century illuminated manuscript, likely serving as a gesture of love. Today, we commemorate this symbol of love not only as a means of expressing affection but also as a testament to the freedom of love championed by St. Valentine. Since 496 A.D., February 14th has been dedicated to honoring St. Valentine’s legacy, celebrated annually as Valentine’s Day.

The Studio is pleased to announce its extended hours, operating from Tuesday, February 11th, through Friday, November 14th. During this time, we will be accepting Valentine’s Day orders.

Place orders on fleursBELLA.com or

Kindly contact us at:  info@fleursbella.com or call us at:
 (646) 602-7036 to place your order. 

We look forward to assisting you in creating a memorable Valentine’s Day.

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How to Choose The Perfect Flowers for Valentine's Day

As Valentines Day fast approaches, some may wonder where to start with ordering flowers for that special someone.   Perhaps you aren’t even sure they know your feelings,  aren’t flowers a big deal? 

Well yes, but it’s also all in the color.  

 If things are in the early start of a relationship, keep with YELLOW tones, a quintessential friendly color, bright, and lifting the spirits. Symbolic of new beginnings, and happiness, also a perfect way to rekindle a friendly relationship.

  PINK tends to land in the more playful, platonic relationship zone. Representing innocence, grace, and gentle feelings. 

 Where as RED flowers especially roses, are associated with romantic love, desire, and can be associated with passion. 

 PURPLE is admiration, respect and implies royalty, and success.  

 ORANGE represent joy and enthusiasm, and also often are used to cheer someone up through a difficult time. 

 WHITE symbolizes purity and honesty. They traditionally are used in bridal bouquets, but also are used for sympathy, and sorrow.

 BLUE flowers are hard to come by, but are outstanding when arranged together as a whole. The color often is associated with peace, and serene feelings, openness, and intimacy.  

   Imagine how your feelings could be contained in a particular flower color, or if there might be a message which could be gently expressed with a beautiful blend of complementary colors. The choice is yours.

  Flowers are such an ephemeral gesture, something so delicate and beautiful, but the act itself stays with someone. Some flowers last a few days after being cut like cosmos or chamomile , others last weeks, like callas, anthurium, and orchids. In that time they open and close, as if dancing and some like the tulip, even turn and grow towards sunlight. They demand attention when walking into a room,  either by fragrance or by their color. Something in the organic nature of flowers, changes the air in a space, purifying in a sense with its beauty alone. 

It doesn’t just have to be an expression of love, but also an expression of gratitude and friendship. Perhaps you have a friend who isn’t likely to receive flowers on Valentines Day. Imagine the surprise when that person receives such a gift. For well being, for a mental pick me up, or a just because. Or imagine if your wedding florals were recreated for a Valentine’s Day arrangement. What a detail for your spouse to notice.

 Really that’s just it, the details that go into the very thought of sending flowers. It’s more than a card, it’s more than some chocolates. Of course those are beautiful additions. But the texture of the petals, and the hues of feelings expressed are far reaching, and deeply personal.

  So whatever you choose for that particular someone, it is for your expression alone, and for them to receive. 


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Floristry Amidst A Global Pandemic

Like any other small business pushing through the rubble of 2020, the floral industry has developed strong roots.

Though much of the product was at a stand still towards the beginning of the pandemic, little by little flowers have found their way to those that need them. Be it a small Zoom wedding whittled down from a guest count that boasted some 300. Now the intimate micro-wedding is taking hold. The end result, an occasion less about the affair, and more about the couples vows, along with the small number of people standing just six feet apart. Flowers catch the camera eye, transmitting the video to the rest of the guestlist. All watching behind computer screens with champagne glasses in hand. People adjust, and love endures.

And as winter approaches, and cases increase, sending the world into a long isolated tunnel yet again, farmers will plant, seeds will be sewn, and bulbs will take root in full anticipation of next year. We have adjusted our studio hours, less foot traffic, and a smaller staff. But we still remain set on the purpose of beautifying. Flowers transform a space, they lift the air, and the gesture of giving flowers will always be an act of kindness and love.

Yes currently it seems we all are living through some kind of Twilight Zone episode, but the fact is we are 'living through". And just like Spring, returning like clock work, adding color and texture to the world around us. We will grow. The gesture of flowers will continue to be a human tradition, and something very much needed through times like these."

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FLORAL ART FOR INTERIORS - Pratt Class with Bella Meyer

This November we had the pleasure of hosting the first of a three part series for Pratt’s new certificate program, Floral Art for Interiors. Our very own master florist Bella led the discussion, drawing inspiration from Chopin’s life and lover affair with George Sand. Instructing the class on interpreting the understanding of color within music, and how to translate that into their designs. Please see our gallery below of the work that these very talented students created.


Bella Meyer
Chagall & Flowers with Bella Meyer

What a fantastic night we had with all of our students for our Chagall & Flowers workshop this past January. We are so thankful for everyone who participated and made the workshop a huge success! We enjoyed how each student had such different background and how that translated into their designs, such talent from these students! Please view some of the photos from that wonderful night.


Bella Meyer
How Florists really feel about Valentines Day

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It’s that day of the year that you’ve preordered so many varieties of red roses, that you hardly see the difference between the shades. You hope to God you didn’t overbuy, or worse yet, under-buy. A mandatory day of expressing your love. Chocolates and teddy bears, dinner reservations, and grand gestures. A flower fridge full of every color, ready and waiting upon request. 

 I have always found it intriguing writing the cards out the night before. Some quickly scribbled, “I love you’s”. Others attach treasured poems, but it’s the cards that are prewritten or the people who take a moment and sit in the shop to reflect. You see it in their faces,  pens gripped tight between their fingers, straining to come up with the words to express.  It's those clients that you are able to design a little something extra. Because they have given you that glimpse into what it means to them to be in love. They shared a little bit extra with us and told a little of their story. That's what helps an arrangement to truly becoming alive with their color of love. It's a rush to be in such high demand. Esp. as the day draws to a close, and then the scrambling begins. Flustered and pale they come in having fully forgotten what day it is. But putting all the ribbons and wrappings aside, every day you should express and shower love on the one you're with. That's what colors your every day, the love we share.

Upstate Local Flower Farm Visit

Recently, the fleursBELLA team took a trip upstate to meet some of our local flower farmers. We enjoyed meeting the wonderful folks from The Flower and The Leaf and Rock Steady Farm & Flowers. We learned what they are doing to help our planet and still provide gorgeous and sustainable flowers to the industry. We also learned the steps they each personally take to give back to the community. We had a blast with them and came back truly inspired. Take a look at our photos and see all the local beauty….

 

 
Brooklyn Botanical Spring Gala 2019

On June 4th, 2019 Brooklyn Botanical Garden celebrated their annual Spring Gala. The honorees were Donnel Baird and Keith Kinch, Cofounders of BlocPower. BlocPower is a startup that markets and finances the installation of energy efficiency and renewable technologies in religious institutions, small businesses, and non-profits in under-served communities. A well deserved reason to celebrate. Keeping in harmony with the honoree and BBG’s own sustainable practices, Bella’s designs were free of floral foam. An initiative close to Bella’s heart. Please view the photo gallery, to see our process. 

Evolving as a Floral Designer...

One may ask what inspires someone to seek work within the industry of floral design. Perhaps it's the love of nature, the feeling of stems and leaves between fingers, or creating a small contained bit of color. For me in particular, it was the desire to have flowers everywhere. When someone would send flowers to the house, no matter how beautiful the arrangement, I would take it apart to touch, inhale, rebuild. A vase in the kitchen, a small bud vase by the bathroom sink or to the side of the bed. This placement always added so much joy! A spark of color is the perfect accoutrement. It may also have been sparked by the love of climbing trees, making more than just tents made of blankets, but creating arches of pine, and garlands of marigolds. Flowers should be everywhere.

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Our Upstate Team Escape

Every once in a while even Team fleursBELLA needs to take a break from our NYC oasis to replenish our wonderland and ourselves, so we recently arranged a little retreat upstate. It’s such a wonderful experience to be smelling the leaves of the forest, sinking our toes into the pond and foraging for milkweed, grasses, and branches side by side. The dappled sunlight of a forest carpeted with ferns, or just watching, breathing and reconnecting. Bella, our creative director, teacher( the list goes on and on) spent the weekend leading the way in what truly is her natural habitat. Foraging natural elements is our favorite way to enhance fleursBELLA signature one of a kind creations. Creating a bit of our own moss covered oasis right in the the heart of the cities, Greenwich Village.  After the foraging was finished, we spent our evening around the fire pit swapping stories and laughs, sipping on red wine… 


Share in our experience and see our photos below.


 
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