We had a ball setting up a mothers day lunch for THE LADIES at crown metropol last week. It was BRIGHT. If fact too bright to photograph..and with the very very early morning start we forgot the camera.

There is absolutely nothing better that when the event designer arrives and jumps around and claps with glee….’ Its perfect! It’s just like the good old days…. in the 80′s’ Quote of the month me thinks.

Anyway. I’m packing my bags and heading north. It’s kind of sabbatical, kind of resting, kind of creative retreat, kind of yoga retreat, Kind of slowing down and getting some perspective and inspiration for cecilia fox. It is most definitely hanging out with my friend Ruth and doing her wedding flowers and getting to go to a Jewish wedding!!! I’m so excited I finally get to do the dance. This trip will also include..long walks, swimming, tropical fruits, talking to my belly. It’s a lot I know. My last proper holiday was to Greece it was amazing but it scarred me, it made me different. It is also on the other side of the planet. Thats really far. I have done A LOT of flowering between then and now and it will be nice to reflect. I am also a little scared to stop. You know how it is.

parrot tulps by lindsey

These photos by Kasi Metcalfe were for a super gorgeous couple at the most perfect venue Cibi. Cibi is a cafe tucked away in Collingwood  run by husband and wife team Zenta and Meg. With an aesthetic and philosophy after my own heart, head and hands. It’s always a pleasure to work with them….and drink their coffee and eat their delicious Japanese inspired food. Yum

How about these zingy summer colors to brighten up your autumn day! Check out Kasi’s new blog too.

These were some flowers we made for an afternoon tea, way back in October last year. Lindsey took these gorgeous shots of some of our favorite spring blooms along with bits and pieces we scoured Brunswick laneways for.

Today I fear my brain has entirely left my head. I’m trying to work but the fog has set in. Maybe the day was meant for tacos in the sun and snoozing on the couch. When things start to slow down here I always wonder how it was that we were so busy. How did I do it? Was it really that busy or did I imagine it? I feel guilty that i have time to myself, I worry about not having enough work to see us through the winter, I procrastinate looking at new vans that have more seats, I spend time in the garden, I dream up new projects like pop up shops and winter flowering classes (this is going to happen by the way) I have time to cook. Pretty good eh?

Our days are getting quieter as we slow down for the winter. We are all looking forward to taking things a bit easier over the chilly months and preparing ourselves for next spring. We will be having some exciting winter warmers, open studios, flowering classes and look out for our spring cecilia fox pop up shop…whoop!

Not often on a Sunday do we get to spend an long afternoon of eating drinking and walking it off with friends. This Sunday with no weddings we hung out with our good friends at their amazing home in the Dandenong ranges. Steph’s Hydrangeas are amazing and huge. Bigger than me as you can see. She picked some for us to take home.

Look, the flowers were really pretty for this wedding at fortyfive downstairs but the wow was really our streamer installation. We were pretty proud of ourselves.

Thanks to the one and only Ed Dixon from EDFD for the great photos.

I really LOVE Autumn…i may have mentioned it before. It was Easter this weekend and I was envious of those who had 4 days off…..we had weddings. Two days off in a row for us seemed like pure luxury. Sunday AND Monday, no phone calls and no emails It was heaven. We had a gorgeous day in the garden yesterday, it had really got out of control. An amazing Autumn day pulling weeds, harvesting potatoes and discovering beetroot beneath the weeds that i had forgotten i had planted. I’m so excited to plant up some winter crops and put inn a autumn winter green manure crop….I’m going to wait until after the new moon to do the planting though…we need all the help we can get. I’m going to plant all the native grasses i used for the Flower Show in my front garden..it’s just succulents and grasses and the odd bit of geranium….Any day now our magnolia tree will shed it’s leaves and reveal those silky buds…it’s about august that they burst into mauve bloom. I expect i will be quite fat by then and spending much time in the front room staring out at it.

Anyway i’m way behind on the photo stuff. This beautiful wedding was in Philip island for Georgeous

yes we did thread all those leaves it took many days and many hands…a labour of love and worth it…there is some more photos here This leafy installation looked great at night.

Some pics for you, what a very nice spot for a wedding, yes. It was just glorious setting up this day albeit a little warm beneath the clear roof marquee.

Last week was probably the busiest craziest week that we have had at cecilia fox. We made some pretty amazing flowers. ( photos to come but there are some up on my facebook if you want to have a wee look  ) I’m so proud that we did it, we made it. I managed to hold my self together under vast amounts of stress. Somehow i seemed to take it in my stride!?$% This time last year i would have totally had a break down. So, i think I’m getting better at this game….at least now i don’t doubt myself so much. Every time i learn so much, being pushed to your limit mentally physically and emotionally opens you up in ways you can never quite imagine.

I can’t possibly thank my girls enough for all their hard work. All the lovely work experience girls we had too, we just couldn’t have done it without you. Blood sweat and tears and a hell of a lot of love.

This year I’m suspecting will bring many changes and challenges. I’m incredibly excited and I think I’m actually ready for them.