gratitude

the handwritten note.  such a wonderful, thoughtful tangible gesture of thanksgiving.  i teared up when i read it, not only because of the sentiment behind it but because it also perfectly embodies why i am so grateful.

this life of mine is an incredible blessing.  here's some of what i'm thankful for today {not necessarily in order}:

1. my family.  without them, i really would cease to exist, like poof, gone.
2. my grandmother.  she's 94.
3. my brother.  yes, i know that he's referenced in #1 but he really deserves his own line.  he's a great man and good at everything he does, including being a brother.  i admire, respect and love him.  i would walk into traffic, a bullet or any other peril so that he would live.  for real.
4. my immune system.  it's pretty incredible and makes life so much easier.
5. the sun.  after a few days of rain, it's nice that sunny skies are in effect mode.
6. kat flower.  i am my own boss and my business is designing with flowers.  that's pretty dope.
7. my body, particular my eyes, hands arms, back, feet and legs.  lots of lifting, running, schlepping in this line of work and like my immune system, it makes life so much easier.
8. speaking of body, i'm thankful that my internal clock allowed me a few extra winks this am.  so not the norm...
9. my friends.  all special, all loved and appreciated by me.
10. nature.  despite how much we abuse it, it continues.  and it manages to produce such amazingly beautiful plants and flowers {with a wee bit of help}
11. that i have cereal and milk in the fridge.  i eat steel cut oatmeal with blueberries most mornings but today, i want a quick brekkie.
12. kindness.  i have been shown an inordinate amount and it makes my heart happy when i witness it.  let it reign always.  
13. music. 
14. social media.  le blog, twitter and yes, even fb, has afforded me the opportunity to communicate and share my work, my life, my journey with you.  pretty self-indulgent but i am very grateful nonetheless.
15. extra flowers. gonna throw something together because i didn't cook and i can't go to thanksgiving dinner with long arms...
16. today.  not just because it's thanksgiving but more so because it's another day that i get to participate in my life.  every day is a blank slate, a do-over and another shot at getting it right.  i love that and i am beyond grateful.

happy thanksgiving friends.   love and be thankful.  x

manic monday

i never liked that song but since i find myself writing a post after 8pm on a day that started at 4:30am, it seems kind of fitting.  and i don't mean manic in the crazy sense, not that there is anything wrong with crazy...okay, what the hell am i talking about?  oh yes, monday.

i am working on not one but two events for this wednesday, both corporate, one big.  i've planned many a big event but being on the floral side of things is a whole 'nother animal altogether.  for reals.  testing all my skillz but i'm reveling in the challenge so much so that i haven't had time to share the huffington post piece on me at the flea with y'all until now.  okay, it only came out on sunday but usually i'm more on it.  anyway, it was all about ideas for thanksgiving florals and the above is the 'kat flower special' {their moniker, not mine}. 

these photos were taken last sunday.  took the arrangement outside for more light and a photo shoot ensued.  decided that i'd like to invest in a fancy camera for christmas.  might also need to take a workshop or two.  right now, all i do is hold the camera still and press the button...

i guess i should let y'all know that i'm taking thanksgiving flowers orders.  let me try that again...I'M TAKING THANKSGIVING ORDERS!  oh, that was loud.  anyway, would love it if you made room on your bountiful table for a kat flower special.  and it will be special for sure.

saturday at the flea

happy monday groove bunnies.  so this past weekend is always my favorite new yorker weekend as sunday was the annual new york city marathon!  always an epicly gorgeous fall day full of inspiration, solidarity, community and fun.  BIG congratulations to all the runners!  but back to the matter at hand...

after a long hiatus, the flowers and i returned to the flea.  again, it was a beautiful day and my blooming friends were in magnificent form.  we're talking peonies, kumquats on the vine, anemones, ranunculus, amaranthus, garden roses, pincushions, bittersweet and more!  AND as i've shared recently, i'm now blogging for the huffington post and they stopped by to shoot my booth for an upcoming lifestyle piece on simple holiday arrangements.  anyway, here's what i was working with..

these mums scream fall...

ranunculus

peonies

pincushions and parrot tulips

anemones

garden roses

gomphrena

nandina, the star of saturday's show

bobby from the huffington post in action...

the outdoor brooklyn flea ends on november 19th and sadly last saturday was my swan song until 2012.  but please continue to come out and support all the great vendors!
p.s. BIG up to the newest members of team kat flower, linda and adriana!  thanks so much ladies! x 

feeling fall

i am.  especially today.  there is something about fall that is kind of fantastic -- dry and crisp air {my hair is very happy}, sunny skies, foliage, gorgeous saturated colors, the fashion {who doesn't love a tall boot and a yummy knit}, apples, squash, pies and of course flowers...

went to market this morning and after w.r.e.a.m. october, it was good to check out the goods without having a particular palette or flower in mind.  just drank it all in. 

sharing some photos of an arrangement i delivered this morning.  i was given complete artistic license and felt very inspired by so much...kumquats on the vine, mini charlie brown cymbidium orchids, ranunculus, nandina, garden roses, amaranthus, spider mums of all things {i was all about the color} and this purple-tipped oregano.

i love when i can't wait to start making an arrangement.  sounds corny and a bit contrived but i always to try to go with flow of the flowers.  and i was really into making this arrangement.  just felt right.

took it outside to see it in natural light and it became a photo shoot.  i kind of love it.  but parting really is sweet sorrow and all that...hope my client's wife enjoys it as much as loved making it.

UPGRADE me!

so if you've been reading my blog since at least the summer, you'll notice that there have been some changes, like the new header, the name, the 'you might also like' suggestions, etc.  but did you notice that handy dandy link on the upper left, the one that says visit MY WEBSITE?!  well, ladies and gentleman {that means you daddy}, i finally have a site!  yay!  cue dancing muppets!  it's been a long time coming.

building a site in this calendar year was definitely a goal {remember this post?} but i'm not going to lie, i wasn't sure where to even begin.  enter you + me design.  i met with miya and elizabeth, the dynamic and talented duo behind you + me design back in july to discuss it all.  i'm a simple girl when it comes to these sort of things so i just wanted a place where people can see some of my work.  my approach was akin to a photographer, i.e. the emphasis would be on the images -- after all, photos are my currency.   and i've been fortunate enough to have worked with some really great photographers.

we worked very hard to make the site clean, beautiful and functional so pretty please, visit it frequently.  and tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, frenemies, the cable guy, your local barista...everyone!  i want servers to crash, like when missoni launched on target, because y'all just can't enough of katflower.com!  okay, i don't want them to crash per se, but you get where i'm going. so if you're curious, let your fingers do the swiping, typing and clicking.  and as always, would love to hear what you think so please comment away!  
{bridal bouquet from september wedding in nashville, photo by stephen jerkins}