Paulie Antiques Floral Design Workshop

 Today I taught a floral design workshop to two amazing humans and it was so fun! I bought some of my favorite "wildflowers" like this red bottle brush fuzzy protea and pink scabiosa as well as fluffy tree fern and these amazing purple tulips I've been obsessed with lately. I found a gorgeous and full pink wax flower that smelled so amazing and finished it off with peach hypericum berries. Teaching them to cut stems and strip leaves before putting them into the arrangement was fun and I wish I could teach classes like this every weekend! They also brought mimosas and I bought goat cheese with strawberries and pretzel chips with hummus. What a great Saturday! Thank you so much E & S!

love, polly

Paulie Antiques April Floral Designs

 Yesterday I searched two floral wholesalers for some gems to give to my friends Austin and Delaney. Austin's mom Chris is a doll and commissioned me to design them this little gem! Their apartment is painted pink and purple so I knew these colors were going to be a great in their space. Of course I had to include a king pink protea as the focal point of the arrangement per usual. I also found some really beautiful light purple (strangely metallic-looking) tulips and pink tulip/peony hybrids which I had no idea existed. Wax flower gave it a nice fragrance as well as palm fronds which made it look exotic. My favorite part is being able to put blooming branches in there, as well. Happy Tuesday!

love, polly

Recent Floral Work

 Locally grown ranunculus! 

love, polly

Paulie Antiques Fall 2015 Look Book Featuring Rachael Soglin

Meet my new model, Rachael! She lives right in my neighborhood in Chicago and she's adorable! We met one night a few months ago while at a bar. I couldn't stop noticing how cute and fun she looked from across the bar so I went over and asked if she'd like to model for me. There were no ifs, ands, or butts- Rachael was on board! She's down for anything I love that about her! I am excited to hang out, again, Rachael! 

In these photos, she's wearing a yellow dress and bow tie that I designed, patterened, and sewed from scratch! 
*Thank you to Anna Longworth who bought this orange fedora for me :)

Here is Rachael wearing a skirt I made and a sheer dotted -swiss short sleeve top I stitched.

All photos taken & styled by me, Paulie Antiques

Model: Rachael Soglin

love, polly

My Designs with Flowers for Dreams

Blush Bouquet: Cockscomb Celosia, Eucalyptus Gunni, Blush Dahlias, Lily Asiatic, Snapdragons, Pink Hypericum, Snowberry

Lilac Arrangement: Limonium, Stock, Alstromeria, Aster Motsumoto, Allium, Baby Blue Eucalyptus, Aster Montecasino, Snapdragons, Eucalyptus Gunni, Pittosporum

Sky Arrangement: Iris, Delphinium, Queen Anne's Lace, Limonium, Agapanthus, Alstromeria, Lily Asiatic

Fall Arrangement: Seeded Eucalyptus, Celosia, Cymbidium Orchid, Baubles, Pomp Mums, Solidago, Agonis, Bupleurum, Curly Willow

Sky Flower Crown: Hypericum, Eucalyptus, Delphinium, Thistles

Blush Arrangement: Cockscomb Celosia, Montecasino Asters, Snapdragons, Eucalyptus Gunni, Pink Roses, Stock, Pittosporum

"Cane" Corsage with Blushing Bride Proteas & Seeded Eucalyptus

Blush Bouquet: Pink Roses, Pink Celosia, Alstromeria, Salal, Buplureum

Blush Bouquet with Orange Added: Larkspur, stock, Celosia, Snowberry, Alstromeria, Eucalyptus Gunni, Heather & Pittosporum

Lilac Arrangement: Alstromeria, Mokara Orchids, Limonium, Aster Matsumoto, Lisianthus, Stock, Trechilium, Eucalyptus

Fall Arrangement: Cymbidium Orchid, Solidago, Calla Lilly, Amaranthis, Liquid Amber, Hypericum, Mum Pomps, Broom Corn, Celosia, Eucalyptus Gunni, Buplerum

Roses, Seeded & Gunni Eucalyptus, Pittosporum, Alstromeria, Lily Asiatic, Aster Montecasino

Lilac Arrangement: Allium, Alstromeria, Dendrobium Orchids, Lily Asiatic, Snapdragon, Eucalyptus Gunni 

Holiday Arrangement with Winterberry, Hypericum, Cedar, Agonis, Pine, Pine cones, Seeded Eucalyptus, Mums, Dahlia, Leucadendron, Mokara Orchid

love, polly

My Designs with Flowers by Stem

 Stephanie and I set up a wedding at Bridgeport Art Center the other month, and then I used the left overs for my Paulie Antiques Summer 2015 lookbook shoot! Designs created by me, designed by Stephanie Stopka of Flowers by Stem.

Another successful wedding with Flowers by Stem! Thanks, Stephanie, you're an amazing boss!

love, polly

My Floral Wedding Work with Flowers for Dreams

Last week I created centerpieces and bud vases for a wedding held at Revolution Brewery. The venue was breathtaking and I personally loved the designs for the flowers! Here are the centerpieces I created with the guidance of Jellie Hennessey, a designer at Flowers for Dreams. XO

 Penny-cress & Dahlia Bud Vases

love, polly

Paulie Antiques Chicago Summer 2015 Lookbook

This was quite the crazy weekend and week. I almost can't believe I wrapped this photoshoot the next day after striking these flowers from a wedding. Hannah, Peyton and Jennifer were all such amazing sports and down for anything. As I made the flower crowns, they warmed up, touched up their make up and chatted, getting to know one another. I love bringing people together in one creative art form. I would love to one day make a shoot like this a public performance. Anyway, here are the photos, taken by (of course) Nathan & Sarah Adhikari.

 photographed by Adhikari Photography

Styled by Paulie Antiques

Models: Jennifer Shanahan, Peyton Stewart, Hannah

love, polly