One of the most important aspects of wedding decor is the flowers. In most cases the bride has her favourite flower picked out because that is what she wants as her bridal bouquet, and thus the decor usually coincides. The origin of a floral bouquet began with ancient Greek and Roman tradition of having the bride and groom wearing circular garlands around their necks. These were made of fragrant herbs and sprinkled with spices that were meant to ward off evil spirits, ill health, and bad luck. As traditions changed and evolved people began carrying bundles and bouquets instead of the wreaths. Then came the Victorian era, where the Queen forever changed the bridal bouquet when she married Prince Albert in 1840.  She clutched a small collection of snowdrops, said to be Prince Albert's favourite flower, surrounded by the normal greenery. Another interesting fact about Victoria, is that she reportedly planted myrtle (a green shrub) in her garden at the Osborne House after the wedding. Since then, it has become a royal bride tradition to pluck a sprig from the same bush and carry it in their bouquets. It was the public use of flowers in the royal bouquet that quickly started the floral trend.

Now, 171 years later that is still the normal dream for brides. Whether silk or fresh, flower bouquets are a timeless tradition. Like most traditions though, some people want to be unique and stand out. Within the last few years, unique bouquets of different natural elements and more crafty materials have made an impact on wedding bouquet design. Do-it-yourself solutions to the bouquet have become popular because the very low price, creative freedom, unique look, and the benefit of  it being everlasting. Below I have collected some of my favourite unique bouquets to share what is happening in the world of weddings.

The biggest unique bouquet trend that I have seen as of late is that of one made of brooches. A brooch bouquet can include many different elements such as fabric, lace, buttons, paper, beads and clips. What I find so intriguing about some these bouquets is the emotional and loving stories attached. I have read of women having brooches that once belonged to a dear Grandmother or Aunt, even a Mother who died while the bride was a child included within the arrangement. This can allow the bride to feel a connection and presence of the people that passed on. These pieces of art are can also be made with such differing styles that it can suit many personalities and wedding themes. Depending on the texture, colour, and size of the elements these bouquets they can be fun and quirky, glam vintage, sweet or edgy. The possibilities are endless!

The more crafty bride may choose to make one of these unconventional but fun bouquets. Some arrangements combine felt, brooches, and buttons, while others are for the majority just buttons. These are very inexpensive to make and are truly one of a kind creations.

In recent years, feather centrepieces have become a popular replacement for the classic flower display. Feathers are also often seen in hair accessories and with birdcage style veils. Most recently, I have found that feathers have moved into the bouquet department. With an abundance of colours, shapes and sizes they can make a normal arrangement into something spectacular. Whether in combination within a conventional floral bunch, or on their own with accented beads a feather bouquet is a soft and elegant choice for an original style.

I have found the trend of lanterns in place of flowers only recently and it is incredibly intriguing. Most DIY arrangements still resemble flowers and the basic shape of a classic bouquet, but this breaks the mold completely. This idea is really thinking outside of the box, but I can imagine how beautiful it could be if the lanterns were glowing at an evening wedding. The image of the sun setting in the background of an outdoor wedding or the lights dimmed with glowing candles inside a church is breathtaking.

With the current green movement and rediscovered love for the outdoors, natural weddings are very popular. Within this theme I noticed a few things that are used: Butterflies, wheat, lavender, and twigs.These are a few different examples of unique nature themed and natural element bouquets I have come across.

There are people throughout history that make such an impact on fashion and pop culture it is hard to measure. When listing some of these people you are completely remiss if the name Audrey Hepburn does not pop into your mind. In my opinion Audrey Hepburn is the first on that list. What is it about Miss Hepburn that has had generations enraptured? She embodies everything that is classic, chic, and honest. There has to be a reason why photographs of her have been put on so many different products, those of which I couldn't possibly list. When describing current style, Audrey Hepburn has become more than just a person, she is an adjective. Who can forget the white and black dress/hat/umbrella that transformed her in My Fair Lady? Her meek black turtle neck, slacks, and ballet flats in Funny Face? And no one can deny that she made the little black dress what it is as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. In saying that, it was not just her costumes and style while playing characters on the 
big screen that makes her an icon, it was how she presented herself day to day. 

Her big doe eyes, porcelain skin, and shy demeanour captured the world, and no one wanted to dare look away for a moment. Miss Hepburn was America's and the world's sweetheart during the height of her fame. So it came as such a shock when she chopped off her hair to the short pixie style. Much like her transformation in Roman Holiday, the cutting off of her hair seemed to allow her to come into her own. While she was a very private person and was often camera shy, she exuded confidence wherever she was. Audrey Hepburn was photographed the world over, and those prints are just as popular if not more so today than the day they were taken. Personally, I have a plaque, calender, mug, journal, a movie poster and more.

As I mentioned earlier, Audrey Hepburn was honest in her style, and by that I meant that she chose to wear what was comfortable. Her personal style came through in everything that she wore whether it was slacks and a knit sweater while at home, or an evening gown to the Oscars. She was never overdone, and that I believe is one of the secrets in getting her 'look'. Simple and timeless pieces in classic lines that flatter the body. Everything that Audrey Hepburn was, in my opinion, was style simplicity in its best form. Below I have included some of my personal favourite photographs of Miss Hepburn that showcase her style and personality.

Different opinions may state that there are more influential, ground breaking, and original people in history, but to me there is none as grand as Audrey Hepburn.  She will forever be a canon of beauty, a legend, an inspiration, and an icon.

After falling in love with the craft of quilling back in October I couldn't wait to receive my official quilling tool and papers! I was using different papers that were just around the house. These included everything from plain white computer paper to thicker scrapbooking card stock. Using these materials did work, but it was incredibly time consuming because I needed to cut the strips before being able to begin. In quilling there are different widths of the paper strips depending on the project. The most common being 1/8", which is what I was replicating in cutting my own. I was elated when my quilling supplies finally came in the mail! I ordered a multi-coloured pack of the papers and the 'twirly-mo-bob'. The actual tool is known as a 'slotted tool', but I just find my name a tad bit more fun.

I have been a little busy with life these last few weeks and haven't been able to experiment as much as I would like to. So this evening I decided to get back to it and create a little something. Below is a flower that took me about half an hour to make. It consists of 6 of the teardrop shape, 1 loose circle, and 3 leaf shapes. I am still getting used to using the actual quilling tool and pinching the paper correctly, but it is surprisingly easy to master. What I find great about this type of crafting is that it is incredibly easy to just make. By this I mean that ones you know the basic shapes and techniques you can create any shape, object, or design. There is no need to follow a pattern or instructions, though there are many available if you are trying to make something specific. Playing with the swirls and arranging them in different ways until something appears to you is just so calming. I speak for myself in this, for I know that not everyone would love to spin strip of paper. But I do hope that anyone reading this just takes some time to pursue there passions and what puts a smile on their face. As an artistic person I love the escape that a craft or piece of art can offer. I personally can just play my favourite music, grab some paper and glue and put my love into the swirling of the rainbow.
Enjoy the little things and get a lil' creative!