Celebrate the joys of your life with Joie de Vivre.

Joie de Vivre brings freelance floral design to your Northshore, New Orleans and Baton Rouge events. We meet, discuss your vision and collaborate to make your floral idea a reality.

No storefront means no overhead for me and better prices for you. It also means that flowers are purchased for you and only you, allowing you to benefit from the freshest possible product. Attention and creativity is poured into making your event a memorable one, not just some pretty flowers in a vase.


While Joie de Vivre is my business and design is my passion, it all starts with the flower. Hope you enjoy my many ramblings.

Monday, August 18, 2014

The Evolution of a Design

 
I recently had a request to create a floral piece to complement an artist’s work for her opening. What an honor!  Of course I was thrilled at the opportunity to stretch my creative wings, but of course it had to be just right.  In viewing her work, I saw that she loves color and whimsy.  Lots of color. 

Typically when I design, I prefer to use one to three colors.  Given the rainbow of colors in her work, this presented a new challenge for me.  I knew I wanted to use some tropical flowers to give structure and color, but not so many tropicals that it screamed “aloha y’all”!  I also know that for a last minute project that if I really wanted something, chances are, that it will not be available.  I visited my supplier with my wish list in hand and an open mind.  Good thing I had the later, because I needed it!

When it was all said and done, I had an interesting collection of blossoms (antherium, allium, kangaroo paw and sea holly, to name a few).  Color, texture and wow—it was all there.  Now it was the challenge of what to do with it all to complement this amazing artist’s work.   

After visiting the gallery and seeing the table it would adorn, my plan was to go horizontal.  I ripped a burlap liner out of a chicken wire type container and then turned it upside down.  That would work.  I could weave flowers in all sides to create an interesting horizontal piece.


After many, many insertions, the creation started to take shape.  Given the variety of colors, I had to be careful not to create a “salt and pepper” effect with the petite blossoms.  Doing this would lose the visual impact of the colors.  That said, I opted to create textural canvases of color by grouping individual blossoms.  Vivid in color, with bold mix of flowers, crowned with a touch of whimsy—this piece was ready to take flight.
 After studying Jacquie’s work, you can’t help but notice her playful use of dolls and other unique objects.  Feeling inspired, I decided to take a gamble (with my 4 year old daughter’s blessing) and top it with a small blue Pegasus.  That small detail made a huge statement.  I’m so glad my daughter was willing to donate her toy for the cause of art.
To see Jacquie’s work, follow the link below: