Fall Wedding Trend: Silk flowers

One of my favorite things about going to a wedding is getting to see the color scheme. It can reveal so much about a bride and groom’s personality and taste. It’s another chance for the happy couple to infuse their special day with their favorite colors, patterns and textures.

So you can imagine my excitement when Ash from Silk Plants Direct contacted me about the company’s line of silk flowers. These gorgeous silk flowers, she says, are the perfect complement to traditional wedding flowers and bouquets. Here are a few of my favorite picks from their collection…

*Gerbera Daisy Bouquet
*Pansy Bouquet
*White Hydrangea Bouquet
*Peony, Rose and Lilac Bouquet
*Dahlia Bouquet
*Daisy Bouquet

What do you think, friends? What are your favorite wedding colors? Are you into fall weddings? xoxo

(A post from the good folks at Silk Plants Direct, the Minneapolis-based leader in the importing, manufacturing, designing and installing of silk plants and trees in a variety of setting and for a variety of occasions.)

Tuesday Giveaway!

Today, we’ve got another awesome giveaway from Hilary from My Crafted Life, the Indiana-based Etsy shop full of gorgeous prints, like mixed media prints, personalized prints, matted prints and mini prints. Hilary describes herself as an artist, dreamer and heart follower! I especially love that last one, don’t you? Such great advice!

She’s giving away this gorgeous Sunflower print to one lucky reader. The 8×10 print features her original artwork, and nothing says summer like bright yellow flowers! Where would you hang this treasure?

For your chance to win, simply visit My Crafted Life, and leave a comment below, telling us where you’d hang the print. You can also LIKE My Crafted Life on Facebook, FOLLOW on Twitter, FOLLOW on Instagram and GET INSPIRED on Pinterest for extra entries — just make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry and include @melissablake in your tweet. A winner will be chosen at random next Tuesday, July 8th, so you’ve got a whole week to enter! Good luck, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner Kayla! Thanks so much! 🙂

Family Photos: Signs of summer

Summer, it seems, is popping up everywhere I look these days. No sooner had spring blown in then I began seeing glorious green grass and blues skies! And if you lived in the Midwest this winter, you know just what a beautiful sight this is. I thought it would be fun to share a few photos this afternoon to spread the summer lovin’…you know I had to kick things off with one of my classic polo shirts. I also took my first walk of the season last week. I’m the summer’s answer to Punxsutawney Phil. Translation: If I’m out tooling about, you know it must be warm…

Even Harry and Stella are loving this weather…

My mom and sister took a leisurely stroll through a local forest preserve a couple weeks ago. Isn’t my mom an awesome photographer?

I figure our “Midwest Cred” just skyrocketed with our latest purchase: A classic screen door.* We’re not the only ones who like it…look who’s peeking out on the bottom left. If Harry approves, you know you’re on to something.

Again, how amazing is my mom’s photography skills?

And of course, what burgeoning summer day would be complete without a pretty yellow flower and some lilacs?

Ahhh, yes, summer is almost here! Are you excited, friends? xoxo

*FYI: Am I the only one who automatically starts singing Bruce Springsteen‘s Thunder Road any time someone mentions a “screen door”? And if you don’t get what I’m talking about, shame on you…

Tuesday Giveaway!

Here’s some more spring inspiration, friends! Today’s giveaway is from Kari Herer, the amazing photographer from Maine whose Etsy shop is full of her work — from antler illustrations to animal and floral pieces to beautiful botanical photographs. Kari, who has a background in the fine arts and design, draws on her deep love of nature and infuses that into her work.

She’s giving away this 8×10 peony photograph to one lucky reader. I love the contrast of pink and white flowers against the dark background. Wouldn’t this look great framed above a desk, friends?

For your chance to win, simply visit Kari’s Etsy shop, and leave a comment below telling us where you’d hang this gem. You can also LIKE Kari on Facebook and TWEET about this giveaway for extra entries — just make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry and include @melissablake in your tweet. A winner will be chosen at random next Tuesday, April 15th, so you’ve got a whole week to enter! Good luck, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner Pat! Thanks so much! 🙂