National Flower Day

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For a florist, today is one of the best holidays ever... National Flower Day! Though, today is meant to celebrate the beauty of flowers, we know that many people appreciate the meaning of flowers and their ability to emphasize various feelings to many different scenarios. They have the power to make us smile, represent love, show sympathy for, apologize, and signify friendship. They come in all sorts of colors, scents, shapes, and sizes. They are grown all over the world, even in the most unfathomable places... they are everywhere and bring so much meaning to people across the world. Flowers are the frickin' best, and we love them so much!

photos by Nicolas Alexander

The Royal Palms :: A Mixed Metal Inspired Wedding

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Last month, we were approached by Desert Whim to collaborate on a styled wedding shoot with photographer, April Maura. The shoot was hosted at The Royal Palms Resort & Spa. Now, for those who have never been to The Royal Palms... it's a gorgeous, intimate resort with a Mediterranean vibe + luscious green gardens. It's really, really, really romantic. That's the simplest way to put it! Its surroundings transport you to another place, and it's easy to forget that we're still in Phoenix, Arizona. Countless events and weddings are held here every year, and the cool thing is that each event has a different look from the next. This venue can be transformed to fit many different styles, preferences and color palettes.

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For this particular shoot, the floral inspiration for the centerpieces and bouquet was heavy greenery + whites and creams + a pop of berry. We found some amazing kale with an ivory and blush center that we paired with an assortment of eucalyptus, white ranunculus, allium and lisianthus. To fill the small gaps, we chose to add in white wax flower with a berry-colored center that perfectly complimented the hanging amaranthus. We also couldn't pass up adding in some bigger, blush-colored ranunculus. We believe that there should always be a show-stopping flower in our designs, and these ranunculus were definitely it! We wrapped the stems of the bridal bouquet and boutonnière with a pale, eggplant-colored silk ribbon that matched the table-runner, tying in the bridal accessories with the table decor.  

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The overall inspiration of a mixed metal design (combining various vases, goblets, dinnerware and candle holders) with a simple and sophisticated color palette, plus a lovely couple, made for an elegant and cohesive design fitting to the venue's space. It was a pleasure to be a part of this collaboration! 

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Photography: April Maura Photography ❖ Event Coordinator: Desert Whim

Venue : The Royal Palms Resort & Spa ❖  Furniture Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Table Top Rentals: The Confetti Studio ❖ Florals: 1209 Creative ❖ Paper: Willemina Typography

Models: Andrew Weber & Melissa Nyland ❖  Makeup: Rebecca Rubinstein ❖ Hair: C. Rae Hair

Dress: Grace Style & Bridal ❖ Tux: Celebrity Tux & Tails

7 Reasons Why We Like Working From Home

Where is your studio? Where's your flower shop located? How do we find you?? Hey, where you at???

We'll never tell.

Just kidding.

We get asked those questions a lot. So, where does 1209 Creative do their work? Sherry and I actually work out of our Phoenix homes. We don't have a public studio or shop and cannot be pinned on Google maps. We do have plans of someday creating a space open to the public, but for now, we are happy and fortunate with where we currently are with 1209 Creative. There are so many positive reasons why working from home has its benefits for us during this newer stage of our business.

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7 Reasons Why We Like Working From Home

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1. No overhead cost for an office. This is a pretty big decision. Yes, I did say that we would like to have a space open to the public, but it's a smart move for our new business to save time and money where we can. We are two very busy gals with a lot on our plates, so managing a separate studio or shop would actually put us behind. We like having our ducks in a row as we expand. 
2. No need to commute. Bumper to bumper traffic, watching people text and drive, and the waste of time simply sitting in a car... no thanks! 
3. It helps us manage our time. We are in our own spaces where we feel most comfortable. And because of this, we are able to work better, achieve a longer list of tasks and maintain more of a realistic work-life balance (the best we can).
4. We can wear whatever we want. We do spend a lot of time outside our homes, but it's nice to feel comfortable on days that we're home catching up on emails or cranking out flower arrangements for an event or wedding. We don't have to worry about people popping in and out while we're in our stretchy pants and t-shirts... or maybe emailing in our undies (no lie, that happens).
5. Happy Hour is any hour. Enough said.
6. Don't have to pay a daycare. This is a pretty big deal with a two year old around. Playing Finding Dory or Zootopia on repeat with a bowl of popcorn and fruit keeps Sherry's little one pretty content. It also allows her to spend time with her son while still being able to get some work done. Being a mother and entrepreneur is not an easy thing, but it's doable! 
7. It makes us happy. We started 1209 Creative a little over a year ago. It's grown so much this past year. Working from our homes has allowed us to accomplish so much within our business, while still being able to focus on other things outside of this. We have learned that it is not easy starting a business of your own, and it takes a lot of time and dedication to grow it. But that's what makes it so rewarding. We are happy and thankful with the pace that we have been growing, and it makes it easier to have everything we need under our roof tops (for now). 

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The two of us are both located downtown... we literally live down the street from each other (it's pretty awesome how that worked out)! We may work from home, but we are also always out and about. You can find us over at Be Coffee or The Dressing Room a lot of the time (owned by Sherry's hubby). They're our go-to meeting spots because they have all the goodies! So if you're ever in the area and want to get together, reach out! We love meeting new faces and making friends. 

photos by Nicolas Alexander

Christian + Meagan :: A Valentine Engagement

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A simple Valentine's Day inspired engagement shoot for this charming couple. 

"There is only one happiness in this life... to love and be loved." - George Sand

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Photography: April Maura ❖ Rentals: The Confetti Studio ❖ Coordinator: Desert Whim  

Florals: 1209 Creative ❖ Desserts: A Bake Shop

 Hair + Makeup: Kensington Makeup

7 Reasons Why Valentine's Day Is Cool

The month of February always brings out a little extra love. We know that people have a love/ hate relationship with Valentine's Day... some think it's solely a commercialized holiday... others have renamed it Singles Awareness Day... idk, maybe it's the red roses + baby's breath combo that really annoys some people (ok, that one we can definitely agree with, no thanks)! But Valentine's Day should be appreciated for what it is. It's a holiday that celebrates love. Now, who can hate on that?! Love should be celebrated everyday... and on Valentine's Day it's simply celebrated a little bit more, which is cool. And yeah, there will always be those people who don't see the relevance in celebrating this really old holiday (think The Middle Ages and Shakespeare era), but oh well! That's their choice. We're all about the celebrating! 

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7 Reasons Why Valentine's Day Is Cool

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1. It's a reminder to appreciate what you have. It's a holiday to let others know that you care about them, and also a reminder to you that others care about you. We get caught up in our busy lives and don't always share the love like we should. We are all guilty of this. Hearing "I love you" is a great sentence to hear, right? And if you don't agree, the holiday only lasts for 24 hours and then it's on to the next one. Sweet deal.
2. It gives you a reason to do something with someone you love... whether you get all dress up to go on a hot date with your man (or lady), or stay in for a movie night with your friends scarfing down cheese pizza topped with extra pineapple + ham + jalapenos, and wine filled to the tippy-top of your glass (both scenarios we could get down with)!
3. We get to see more of Cupid's tush! There's something about a cute, little booty that puts a smile on our faces.
4. Presents. We love getting them, but we also love giving them. To us, it's the thought that is behind a gift. Even something as simple as a handwritten note makes for a meaningful gift to give someone you love. And if you attempt writing a poem, well then, you went above and beyond and deserve a big, fat smooch!
5. It's an excuse for sexy underwear! We're 100% positive that your significant other will appreciate this... guaranteed smooching and more is to be expected. Someone can argue "but ladies, you can wear sexy underwear on any day of the year!" Yeah sure, that may be true, but ask yourself this... how often are you prancing around in your négligée? (Ummmm... that's what we thought). So go buy yourself something pretty for the holiday!
6. We're on board with all of the sweets and treats! Cupcakes, cookies, fun-size packs candy... bring it on! Just not the weird little heart candies. Never could get into those (especially the pink flavor, eww).
7. Flowers. Did you think we would forget about them? Oh no, no. There is something about them that brings a smile to our faces and hopefully yours too! They come in so many shapes, sizes, colors; their fragrance and beauty is very much appreciated. There is a flower for everyone... we're sure you have a favorite! A single stem can light up a person's day, which is very cool! Flowers are an amazing gift from nature, and this holiday allows us to share what we truly love so much with others. If you're still looking for a sweet gesture, click --> HERE <-- to give the gift of flowers to someone you love!

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"Love is the flower that is never out of season."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Love, 

Jihan & Sherry

Photos by Nicolas Alexander