Christmas @pink poppie 2010

Christmas is just around the corner - 9 weeks!!!! Time to start thinking about your decorations for this year ..... pop in and check our gorgeous range! Have a chat to us about your christmas table, how you would like it to look and the centre piece for this year! we have some awesome idea's.
Christmas is such a special time to spend with family and friends why not make it extra special.
P.S We can take your order for Christmas lilies anytime you like to save you missing out!

Best Apprentice Florist in NEW ZEALAND!!!

Aroha started here as my good friends little sister needing an after school job, she was great at processing the flowers and changing the water etc (she had the work ethic lacking in most her age) so when a position of a full time apprentice came up I offered Aroha the position, Her reaction "Nooooo I couldn't do that" mine "are you sure, go on I think you could" Her's "Noooo" so I went ahead and employed another girl and within a few days Aroha popped into the shop to say that she wished she had taken up the job offer!!!!! I nearly donked her on the head!!! well as it happened the new apprentice decided floristry was not her thing and Aroha began as my apprentice soon after.
From not knowing the difference between a Gerbera and a Lily - Aroha has come such a long way and three years later an a few competitions has been awarded NZ's best apprentice florist at the World skills Competition.
Next step the World Competition in London next year..... we'll keep you posted

Hi.... ooops haven't blogged in a while! here's whats happening at pink poppie!!

Even though we are currently in the middle of a storm the size of Australia! the flowering plants are blooming as if we were basking in beautiful sunshine!
Hydrangeas, Bromilides, Gardenias & Phalenopsis Orchids and all stunning at the moment and are a nice reminder that we are supposed to be experiencing Spring! shhhh ..... the cut flowers don't seem to have noticed either and are stunning, all the beauty's of Spring and early summer are just gorgeous and are just getting on with flowering even though we have had more rain than anyone can believe for this time of year!
Kimberley and I have been so inspired by all the gorgeous flowers arriving daily, the colours just seem so vivid and we have just had a new shipment of glass wear and fabrics, ribbons and beautiful papers to enhance our designs, such fun! oh and we have just had in a fresh range of Rima Herber cards that are proving so popular, this lot is even more gorgeous than the last!
Whats been happening at pink poppie??? well Aroha is due back from a two week Holiday on the Gold Coast ( she will freeze when she gets off that plane ) We hope shes had a lovely relaxing time because she is straight back into the big National World Skills final Competition to determine who will represent NZ in London 2011 ... we are so excited and will keep you posted!
Rosie and I are off to do a gorgeous wedding down the sounds next weekend, I will be sure to get some pictures but I will give you a little hint - think, whimsical/elegant fresh, spring butter / lemon yellows and crisp white at a beautiful resort and very intimate! eeek can't wait!!!!
So many stunning weddings coming up ......watch out for pictures.

Daffodil Day ....... we need to fight back against cancer!

At the end of this week - on Saturday the 28th August is Daffodil day!!
We are ALL effected by Cancer and this is the day that we ALL need to dig deep to donate what we can!
pink poppie will be donating 10% of every sale this week!!!

For flowers - This is MY FAVORITE time of year! We have got through those horrible winter months where the flowers are in short supply, they are over the top expensive and variety is non existent! Winter is when our years of experience and creative skills are needed most to make every special bloom shine! Now that the days are are warming up,the spring flowers are becoming more available and the prices are coming back down to planet earth it's time for the blooms to do some work themselves...... simplistic little posies of Early Cheer, Bouquets of the brightest yellow Daffodils, Bowls brimming with perfumed Daphne, Tall glass vases of Iris's .... it all screams SPRING !!!!
It's time to treat yourself!!!
For all of you that would like a chance to win yourself or a friend or family member that lives in Marlborough a beautiful spring handtied - share this blog post on your facebook page. Leave us a little message on our facebook page so we know you have entered. Winner drawn 18th August - we will post the winners name on our facebook page. Good Luck

Mother Nature & I

It can have you on the edge of you seat sometimes ........ organizing flowers for big corporate events! In the past month we have been contracted to do some amazing projects!
Coming up with a concept - selling it to event coordinator's, ordering the flowers, vases etc, and then creating the picture that you have in your head! if everything you have organised goes to plan it's great but when dealing with flowers - you basically have to rely one one lady whom from time to time can have little mood swings..... Mother Nature!!!! most the time she's really good to me and we are the best of friends.... that is until last Wednesday.......
There was a little glitch a spider had decided to hitch a ride with these stunners and fancied a trip to NZ (who knows why in this cold weather) -and this resulted in the imported Purple Orchids held up at MAF for a few day's I am sure is just another little way way that Mother Nature was letting me know who's boss! They arrived - They were Gorgeous! and well M.N and I we're OK - still friends ....till next time she has a little tantrum!

Ball Season

Today for us is the beginning of the Ball Season. We are having so much fun with the different colour combinations, wristlets, hair flowers and buttonholes, matching them to fabrics or themes, we love the chance to be creative with these and have so many ideas, feathers, beads, sparkle wire, big statement corsages or dainty little clusters!
We want to wish all attending the Picton School Ball a wonderful & fun night on Saturday and a sneaky reminder to all those attending the Marlborough Colleges Ball or any other Marlborough Ball to pop in and order flowers to enhance your look for your big night!
I Remember my school ball like it was yesterday & we had so much fun, it's just one of those times in life that you never forget - so make it special!

DETAILS !!!!!

This design is full of little details and lots of texture!

Creations

We have a tiny wee break (until July) from weddings and have started to put into practise some of our idea's that we just haven't had a chance to get to! We all keep a sketch book and when those ideas start flowing we quickly sketch them and keep them until we need inspiration!or until winter comes along and we have time to play! This is my favorite part of being a florist, getting to create and design without any restrictions!

TULIPS!!!

It's so miserable out there and flowers have the power to brighten up one's day!
With the change in season we have a whole new range of beautiful flowers - Including the Tulips - Best (in my opinion) a big bunch in big glass vase full of water all on their own! Tulips will continue to grow in the vase and love to be left to do their own thing, and will last really well if kept cool (not difficult at the moment) and if the water is changed and the vase is cleaned regularly.

Pure Simplistic Elegance!

This wedding was pure simplistic elegance and we loved every minute of designing the flowers! the STUNNING photography is by Fiona Andersen - www.fionaandersenphotography.com -

Don't forget mum ......

It's Mothers Day on the 9th of May and I know all these commercialised days get a bit much some times but I really do believe in Mothers day!! Mums do so much for us, they are the person you call if your stuck or need help, they nurse us back to health, they loan us that hundred bucks if we're short, they cook the best Christmas dinners - they are just there no matter what!!! Mother's day is the one day when we can do something little to say "Thanks Mum"

A Happy Bride.....

Hello Nina,

JC and I wanted to thank you again for the amazing floral arrangements – they were works of art. I thought the bouquet and poises were gorgeous and then we walked into Wither Hills and saw those arrangements, they were beyond stunning. Neither of us have ever seen anything like them before and we had numerous comments by our guests on how spectacular they were.

I also wanted to thank you for delivering them on after the event. Louise, Stephanie and especially the lovely Sarah deserved them and we’re pleased that they can be wowed by them as well while they last.

You’ve been absolutely fantastic to deal with from start to finish and we would recommend you to everyone and anyone, your passion for what you do shines though from your attitude to your end product. Wow.

Thanks again,

Josephine Mangano

What a wedding season !!!

It's not quite over yet and infact we have a few lovely weddings this winter but really this wedding season has been one of our biggest ever and to be honest it's been so much fun! So many lovely brides with some really beautiful stylish ideas that we have been able to build on and really turn some dreams into reality!
We are getting booked up so quickly for 2011 and even have several bookings for 2012!!! Here are a few pictures from a few different weddings, I will keep adding them as brides start sending them into me!

Just In !!!

Have you ever had flowers delivered to a little girl? you should see their face light up at having the "lady" deliver flowers to them!!! I thought these gorgeous Dolly's were perfect to go with a little glitter laden, butterfly adorned posy! Dolly's starting from $23

Slipper Orchids would have to be one of my favorite's and we have some stunning plants in this week, guaranteed to last weeks and hardly need any attention - fantastic for a simplistic modern room or office.
Only $35

French Country Antique Bird Cages - Gorgeous!! and so decorative, they come in 3 sizes price starting from $38

See you soon!

Challenge Us !!

We are so lucky that we get the opportunity to design an art piece with every order, doesn't matter if it's a single flower, a beautiful big hand tied bouquet or a corporate arrangement we love to be creative and are well known for our "little details" but we get really excited when we get to design a big piece to enhance a foyer and entrance way or a design that will will give your function the wow factor!! Give us a call - we look forward to the challenge!!

Aroha - Award winning Florist !!!!

Could we be more proud??? NO WAY !!!
Aroha Competed in the apprentice florist of the year competition (FLONZI)last week at the Ellerslie International flower show and got second!! She now moves on to the National competition where she will fight it out for a shot to represent our fine country at the world skills comp in London in 2011 - we believe she has the talent!! Go Girl !!!

All the hard work is worth it when you get a message like this one !!

On arrival to work this morning I received this email, now not to brag or anything but we often get lovely little thank you letters or emails but this one I thought was really special, we really enjoyed doing this beautiful wedding of all antique green and beige colours (I hope to get some pictures soon and will post them for you all to see) Just when I feel like I can't do another wedding!!!! - I get a message like this and now I can't wait for this weekend to get started on my weddings!





Dear Nina,

It seems like yesterday that we were all in Blenheim celebrating Victoria’s wedding. I am looking out of my windows in Connecticut to a beautiful scene of snow—rather different from the weather of February 6 for our celebration.

I so wanted to thank you for all your beautiful floral arrangements for the festivities. It was a pleasure to meet you, and I wanted to express my profound appreciation for lending your fantastic expertise to Victoria’s special day. Everyone remarked about how gorgeous the flowers were, and after meeting you, I know how passionate you are about your work to ensure that every bride is satisfied. Victoria, and I her mother, certainly were. You are to be commended for a most wonderful job providing us with stunning floral visuals. I truly loved all of your creations, and the colors and combinations were perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you, not only for your creations but for your accommodating way in dealing with all questions and requests. I now know why you are so highly regarded and come so highly recommended! With sincere appreciation for a lovely contribution to Victoria’s day. Sheila Far

Meet Aroha

Aroha has been here for 3 years full time and 2 years before that as our after school/Saturday girl. Aroha has developed a passion for the industry and has become an amazing florist in a very short time, with an eye for detail and a true perfectionist she is producing some gorgeous designs at a senior florist level.
Early next month Aroha will be competing at the Ellerslie flower show World skills competition - watch this space for pictures of her work, we will keep you posted,we know she will do well!!

Me !

Ok,so every one has been asking me about why there are no pictures of me on the pink poppie blog or facebook page and I my reply is that I am so extremely un-photogenic!However Jessica Jones ( Amazing Photographer ) was in the other day and took some shots of some flowers, my girls and yes she convinced me to have my picture taken too! Knowing of course how amazing she is as I stalk her blog and facebook page on a very regular basis, I knew she would do her magic and well as far a pictures of me goes she did very well indeed!... not too many chins, no eyes half shut etc etc. So if you are one of those people that have been nagging me about the fact that there are no pictures of yours truly .... you can now stop! cause here I am.
Nina Stanley (owner)

White Wedding

This particular wedding we had to do this weekend was stunning! White & Elegant were our instructions and when we took time to stand back and look at the finished result just before the guests arrived we were all quite proud of what we had achieved, the hours of hard work was really worth it!

The venue was amazing, the bridal party gorgeous and the rain stayed away - what more could we want!

I will beg the photographer and hopefully have some stunning pictures to post here soon.

Thanks to Rosie, Aroha & Kimberley - what a team we are!!!

This was a wedding from a few months ago, I was delighted when the bride and groom popped into the shop today to say thank you and had these lovely photos to give me especially as I have spent the day stressing about the weddings we have this weekend ( organising enough staff, making sure all the flowers are arriving when they should, the ribbons we have match fabrics etc etc etc ) Seeing the results in the pictures like this makes it all seem worth while!

Beautiful photos by Jacqui Leslie - thank you!