Thompson Candle Company - New!!

Due to the recent closing of Alene's Candle and Crafts we had been approached by some customers to carry wax crumbles for tart burners. One of our employees found that Thompson Candle Super Scented Wax Crumbles is a high quality and long lasting fragrance. We are now proud to be carrying the Wax Crumbles and through the fall and winter season the scents will permeate the store. Today we tested Apple Dumpling - I was surprised, the scent carried outside the store. Our selection of fragrances include Grandma's Cookies, Balsam and Berries, Evergreen Wreath, Harvest Spice and 5 other scents. The bags hold 6 ounces of wax crumbles - enough for many nights of simmering in the burner and retail for $6.95. If you are in the Fairless Hills neighborhood - stop by and test some scents.

Hitomi Gilliam at Dillon's Floral Open House

Sunday September 14th, Kelly and Heather traveled to Dillon's Floral Corporation in Bloomsburg, Pa for their 34th Annual Open House. Part of their open house is to feature a well known designer and educator in the floral industry. Hitomi Gilliam, AIFD was the Educator for the day. She shared for 5 1/2 hours in three segments encouraging the floral industry to set themselves apart from the mass marketer and grocery stores. Hitomi is currently an educator, coach, designer, event planner, creative director and a driving force in the floral industry. She also won the prestigious AIFD (American Institute of Floral Design) Design Influence Award - she is only 1 of 5 who have received this award. The photo to the right is a picture of Hitomi (left) and Kelly Buck (right) on the stage at the design show.

Her designs were inspirational taking their cues from the fall and winter seasons. Natural color schemes and solid color blocking is setting the trend in the fall with accents of orange. For the Christmas and winter season lime green is making its way into the lime light! The color creates a wonderful contrast with the traditional red and adds lightness to the deep greens of pines and fir foliage that is popular from December to January. On the left is a close up picture of a garland that she created for a mantle.

The arrangement by Hitomi Gilliam in the picture at the right is a large 4 foot piece in red and gold designed in a 6" ceramic container. It was created in silk to be offered in the silent auction later in the afternoon. The leaves and berries sparkled with glitter under the lights. The armature was formed from tall gold stems with the berries and branches intertwined and tied into place for stability.

We were able to browse Dillon's floral and supply departments and purchase new products as well as ate a delicious lunch in their working greenhouse filled with tropical and blooming plants. A friend in the floral industry who recently moved to the Pocono Lake area (not far from Dillon's) joined us at lunch. The employees at Dillon's were helpful and offered us suggestions throughout the day.

Although Dillon's was a 2 1/2 hour drive from Fairless Hills - it was well worth the trip. We were not the only crazy florist traveling on a Sunday, there were over 200 florists from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Maryland. This will be something to visit again next year. The more design shows and floral educators we can learn from the further we can strive with our design skills and talents.

Dinner Impossible and Teleflora

Michael Symon and Dinner Impossible were asked to prepare a Mother's Day picnic for 150 mom and their families - a total of 500 people. Because Mother's Day celebrated it's 100th anniversary in 2008, Teleflora's Marie Ackerman AIFD, PFCI, AAF collaborated with Michael Symon to provide floral decorating and event planning tips.

Marie Ackerman, AIFD, PFCI, AAF, of Oklahoma City, OK is a former retail florist who is currently a sought-after motivational speaker and educator. She has managed the Teleflora Education Center in Oklahoma City for the last 22 years. Heather Towne of Flowers by Jennie Lynne won a scholarship to the Teleflora Education Center in Oklahoma City, Ok and studied under Marie Ackerman in August 2007 during a Business Success Summit.

Dinner Impossible's Mother's Day Madness. Catch Marie and Michael's episode this Wednesday September 10th, 2008 at 10pm eastern time on the TV Food Network Channel.

Here are additional air times:
Sep 10, 2008 10:00 PM ET/PT

Sep 10, 2008 1:00 AM ET/PT
Sep 20, 2008 3:00 PM ET/PT
Sep 20, 2008 10:00 PM ET/PT
Sep 20, 2008 1:00 AM ET/PT
Sep 21, 2008 11:00 PM ET/PT
Sep 21, 2008 2:00 AM ET/PT

The Language of Flowers

Customers are always asking what is the meaning behind a specific flower. There are some generic meanings such as, red roses stand for love and white for purity - hence the popularity of red roses for Valentine's day and white roses heavily used in bridal bouquets. But the meaning go deeper than that. A red rose can also mean passion, victory, desire, joy, charm and pride; while a white roses can also conjure the thoughts of beauty, innocence, I am worthy of you and respect. So much to say with one flower!

Centuries ago dating back to the Victorian Era flowers were given as tokens or gifts using the flowers as the symbols or code to a message for the recipient. A young lady certainly would know what her suitor meant when he sent a bouquet of tulips, rosemary and astilbe - which stands for consuming love, your presence revives me, and I'll be waiting. How breath-taking is that! If only young men were that creative in this day and age.

On the other hand if your date has offended you, a bouquet or posey of yellow carnations, purple roses and scots thistle - sets the tone of: rejection, sorrow and retaliation. One better beware!

We keep a list of the common roses meaning at the flower shop, stop by or call anytime. But if you'd like more information on the meaning behind more flowers than just roses, here is some research material for you. One author: Geraldine Adamich Laufer has done extensive research on the topic. Her book entitled Tussie-Mussies: The Language of Flowers captures the essence of floral symbols with large photos of poseys and their meanings, as well as an "Index of Sentiments".

Society of American Florists has also posted an abbreviated list of common flowers readily available at your local flower shops. Follow this link to their Flower Library.