"Hey hey mama, gonna make you move."

I write to you as I listen to Led Zeppelin's Black Dog... hence the title of this post. And as the title might suggest, we have indeed moved.  But that's not the only change that has been made in these here parts. Oh yes...we're going places. 
First and foremost, you might be wondering where we moved to... So here's your answer.  While all of the creative work at Margot Blair Floral is still done off sight in various Bat Caves and castles, all of our client meetings and hobnobbing is now taking place at Posh Bridal Lounge.  In short, what this means is that we are now a featured vendor at this new one-stop-shop for all things wedding.  To learn more about this amazing concept (that we are so proud to be a part of!), check out the site.  http://poshbridallounge.com/

Some other exciting news is that we are participating in this year's Engaged! in Austin, put on by Austin Wedding Day and being held on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at the Westin in the Domain.  We'll be doing a post about this soon, so I won't ruin the surprise.

We're also completely changing our branding so be on the lookout for our new website, business cards, and even (gasp.) blog.

And one last thing...We need interns!!  If you know of any spectacularly amazing and awesome people who are not yet ready to be paid for their greatness...please have them email me at carly@margotblairfloral.com

Talk soon,
Margot

Austin City Limits.

No, not ACL.  Even though, I do love ACL so very much and will be posting much about that as it approaches, I assure you.  But the Austin city limits that I am referring to are the actual Austin city limits...And here's why.

I recently took a trip out to California with my good friend, Vonne.  And somewhere between driving up and down the coast to see Big Sur and eating our way through the streets of San Fran, I started to notice the "weeds" on the side of the road.  But these weren't actually weeds to the average (normal) human being... They were calla lilies.  Now here's the thing, I make it no secret that I'm not a big fan of calla lilies.  I think they have become too "popular," and you know how I feel about doing things like everybody else.  But to see them growing on the side of the road, so effortlessly, so nonchalant, I couldn't help but marvel.   Do you know the lengths that some people have to go to get these flowers?  Lots.  And yet there they were, in copious amounts.

But it wasn't until I went to the farmer's market one morning that I truly started to get the point.  There in the sea of organic artichokes and home grown carrots were tents containing buckets upon buckets of some of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen.  Ranunculus in every color imaginable, sweet peas in the deepest, most gorgeous shade of eggplant (Have you ever seen eggplant colored sweet peas??  No, I didn't think so!).   But the real shock value of the deal was that the growers were practically giving them away!  It was then that I started to realize that the flowers that we pay big bucks to have shipped to us are common place and disregarded by the people who see them everyday.  This was shocking... and rather jealousy provoking, I must say!  And if it would have been possible for me to get them home alive, I would have left behind all of my clothes and carried as many of them as I possibly could back in my duffle bag, trust you and me...

But, alas, I couldn't.  So instead, as I sat there on our flight home, with my luggage intact, I began to ponder...  Is it possible that I take our very own "novelty" flowers for granted?  Are the weeds growing along my street worth a second glance?  And so I was inspired.  It is now my goal to make a series composed solely of the flowers I can find walking the Austin City Limits.  This shall be my weekend project.  I'll report back on Monday...

First Thursday: Round 1

This is the first post about what is hoped to become a regular thing here at Margot Blair Floral.  But to get to that story I first have to tell you that we got a shop.  So...

WE GOT A SHOP!!
That's right, a real life, bonafide shop.  And what's more, it's on South Congress!  (For those of you that are not familiar with Austin, TX, South Congress is the immortal street that runs straight through town and is riddled with the best shops, art, food, and weirdness that Austin has to offer.  And we're right in the thick of it.)

Now back to the original point... South Congress has what is called "First Thursday," where on the first Thursday (imagine that) of every month all of the stores stay open past their bed times, street vendors set up to sell their goods, and the city comes out to play and support the arts.  It's fabulous, and oh so very Austin.

So on this last First Thursday, actually on the first Wednesday, I had a breakfast meeting with two of the most lovely and wonderful women I know: Carli Kiene of InkedFingers Fotography, and Jessica Maurer of Three Little Birds Catering.  It was at that meeting that we decided we were going to join forces and take over First Thursday.  And so we did.  We had only 24 hours to plan, yet the result was magnificent.  With the help of Tonya Thomas of The Good Flour, we had ourselves a party that pretty much amounted to awesome people hanging out together drinking champagne, eating glorious food, and taking goofy pictures at the photo booth, all while sharing our passions for our respective professions and giving the world just a glimpse of what we have to offer.  Here's a picture by the wonderful Carli as proof...

**Come out and see us next First Thursday, because there is much more where that came from!**

Laura Bora

I first met Laura on a hot summer day in Austin, just after my big transplant to the city. We were both there to meet a mutual friend. I watched rather captively as she sacheted through the parking lot with her Jackie O sunglasses and rather large hat, which was promptly removed to reveal her effortlessly haphazard hair (hair that she cut herself...of course.) While at that very moment it was evident to me that this woman standing before me was not your average creature, it was not yet apparent that she would soon become one of the dearest and most impactful people that I ever called "friend."

I would spend the next few months helping her to paint her kitchen walls black, being lovingly heckled by her while she taught me to climb rocks, and eventually being taken in by her during my time of need. It was during these times that I was privileged to truly discover all that Laura encompassed, while at the same time discovering all that encompassed her.

This is why after our first meeting I felt comfortable telling her that the white hydrangea and orchids that she originally envisioned for her wedding were, shall we say...stupid. "They're just so 'I'm getting married in the Hamptons.' Not that there's anything wrong with that...It's just not YOU," I told her. And then after she gave me her contemplative glare (the one where for a split second you're not quite sure whether or not she's really mad) she gave me a simple, "I agree." And that was that. The classic, refined perceptions she once had were given a bit of edge and earthiness. Two qualities that so embody Laura, it seems almost a crime to exclude them. And this was the result...

Laura and Sean- October 30, 2010

True story.

So look down an entry or two and you will find a post about the option of exchanging your vows at the never-goes-out-of-style, eternally fabulous City Hall. And now, entering stage left, is our very own, eternally fabulous Vanessa, who did just that. That's right, a real life Carrie Bradshaw.

MBF had the privilege of working with Vanessa in providing the flowers for her prenuptial photo shoot back in April. Her keen eye and easy-going spirit made our job a breeze. And with the help of her equally fabulous sisters, the result was a photo gallery of a beautiful woman adorned with a lovely bouquet...on a beautiful and lovely day.

Simple is Good.

Who says that every wedding has to be a show stopping affair fit for none other than Princess Di herself. Many brides today are opting out of such fussiness and are instead taking the much simpler route that goes by the very simple name of...City Hall. Now I know what your thinking, but you should stop thinking that! I'm talking less shot-gun-y and more "Marilyn Monroe marries Joe DiMaggio" chic.

But just because you're keeping it simple doesn't mean it has to be ordinary. You can still go out and find the perfect dress, have the pretty pictures, and, for the love, don't forget the flowers! After all, not having to outfit an entire wedding party is all the more reason to adorn the bride. So with so few details to worry about, take the time to really make the ones you do have shine in all their glory. Here's some inspiration...

Pink...It's the New Pink.

Pink. The color has been a staple of all things love since the invention of color. And while it never really went out of style, it's definitely made a resurgence. Use it as you wish, and don't be afraid to play around...same flower, different shades...same shade, different flowers...or different flowers in different shades. Really, it's hard to go wrong with something so right!

Who is this Margot Blair?

Margot Blair. The Margot Blair. The Mrs. Margot "I-don't-know-your-middle-name" Blair. Quite the mystical creature, if I do say so myself. But she, as fabulous as you may have pictured her to be, does not actually exist. That being said, Margot Blair has been around for many years. You see, this was the name given to all of my dolls when I was a small child, the name of the movie star I would practice being in the mirror, and even the assumed name I would claim when speaking to people I didn't want to know. I believe this to have actually started after my reading The Diary of Anne Frank, Margot being the name of Anne's sister. (While the story may have broken my heart, the name made my day.) As for Blair...well that really is my last name, so no real explanation needed there.

Thus, Margot Blair came to life, and since then she has been my constant companion. So it seemed only natural that she have a part in this adventure I now find myself embarking on, this floral business. And just how did this adventure begin, you ask? Well, that too has a story.

It all started when I (real name: "Carly") developed a very special fondness for all things wedding. Perhaps it was because of all the wedding magazines I poured over for hours at a time, or maybe it was Jennifer Lopez's fantastically JLo-esque portrayal of Mary Fiore in The Wedding Planner. Or maybe it was simply because I'm a girl. I'm not sure, but whatever the case may be, it happened. And once it did, it was somewhat of an obsession. An obsession that would eventually bring me to this great city of Austin where I was offered an internship as, you guessed it, a wedding planner.

So there I was, sharing a ridiculously small efficiency with my sister and her two cats, and eating a lot of boiled chicken. (That's another story that will one day have to be told, but until then, let's just except the fact that it was funny.) The internship was wonderful, I couldn't have been more in my element. But like most internships, it didn't pay. So, what was a girl to do? I had chicken to buy! Well, I did what any other girl would have done...I begged my family members to give me a job. It just so happened that one particular family member was the proud owner of a very new flower shop (surprise, surprise) and was looking for help. I didn't know a thing about flowers, but at this point, we were both pretty desperate.

It was there that I learned much about the world of flowers. Things such as..."Million Star" is just a fancy name that florists use to disguise the fact that they just sold you Baby's Breath, as well as the ever important lesson that the thorns on a rose will ALWAYS win. It was also at this point that I became convinced that flowers are quite possibly the most wonderful creation known to man. More than all else, I soon came to realize that it would be an experience that I would always cherish, both for the memories with my family and for the doors that it would eventually open. If it weren't for that opportunity I would have never discovered this trade that I now hold so very dear to my heart...and (gasp!), I dare say, there would be no Margot Blair Floral. A very sad thing, indeed.

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There's more to come, kids! I'll be posting pics and the like in the very near future. Until then, check us out on Facebook as, that's right, Margot Blair Floral... http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Margot-Blair-Floral/251656703855?ref=ts