Learning to Design

Recently, our Menomonee Falls location of Bank of Memories & Flowers hosted a few hands-on events.  These design classes are held in the shops new upper space nicknamed "The Studio".  This newly renovated space is located on the top level of the store and gives us a place to host larger classes and events, and more room to design large wedding and event flowers.

I assisted Melissa, our shop owner, in the most recent design event.  Participants learned about the history of the shop, a bit about fresh cut flowers, and step-by-step floral design.  It was an amazing evening and so much fun!

Each of the ladies who attended got to make their own fresh flower arrangement, which they took home with them.  Some planned to enjoy their creations, while others had plans to give them as gifts.
The evening started with a tour of the shop, originally a bank in the early 1900's.  Everyone learned a bit of history about the building, as well as fun facts about fresh cut flowers including where they come from and how they are handled.

Melissa started the design portion by explaining the basics of flower design including greening and flower prep.  Next, the focal flowers, and then accents and filler flowers.  Although everyone had the same flowers and container to work with, each arrangement looked different and unique.

 

Everyone had a great time and many gals asked when the next class was going to be...so I think its safe to say that there will be more fun with florals to be had in the future.  Keep an eye out on Facebook and in the shop for more information on future design classes!

Wendy Walker
Floral Designer
Bank of Memories & Flowers

The Club at Strawberry Creek

Lauren & Dan
Ceremony & Reception: The Club at Strawberry Creek, Kenosha, WI
Florist: Bank of Memories & Flowers, Menomonee Falls
Month: April 2016

Lauren and Dan couldn't have asked for a more beautiful sunny day for their wedding in April!  The wedding and reception were held at The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Lauren's love off all things garden helped set the stage for a springy tulip-inspired wedding.  Her bouquet was very unique; designed to have an upside down cascading look.  Lauren carried a delightful mix of spring blooms including tulips, rice flower, freesia, and lush peach garden roses.  The rich greenery used gave it a fun textural look the bride had in mind.

I couldn't get over how cute and unique the bridesmaids dresses were.  The gals carried tulips bouquets in soft peach and pink that complimented their dresses perfectly, and the burlap handles gave them a gardeny feel.

The reception was adorned with vintage bottles filled with greenery and spring blossoms.  Moss was added to each table-scape to complete the garden look.  Even the fireplace mantle was dressed up with fresh florals designed in antique frames.

We used our long grey wooden trough for the head table decor.  It was filled with a mix of large succulent plants, mosses, rich lush greenery, and long stemmed votives with floating candles, and vases for the bouquets mixed in.  It was just magical!

Best wishes to this sweet pair!

Krista Roskopf
Menomonee Falls Manager
Bank of Memories & Flowers

Beauty in Bloom

Back by popular demand, the innovative floral fashion show Beauty In Bloom returned to Art in Bloom at the Milwaukee Art Museum.  With it's over-the-top gowns and accessories created entirely from flowers and foliage, this show is a runway attraction all it's own. Bank of Memories & Flowers was chosen to participate for a second time this year along with some of the best designers from Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.  There were 21 designers in all who traveled with their fresh gowns for this Saturday night extravaganza.  This event sold out, with 400 guests in attendance!

It was amazing to see the Museum transformed into a secret garden.  Lights lit up the Calatrava and large curtains painted by hand of large trees flanked the models entrance.  Live music pumped up the crowd from DJ Jai and the emcee for the night was Elizabeth Kay of the morning show "Wes & Elizabeth: on 99.1 The Mix.

Our inspiration was the a warrior fairy.  The croton leaves took over our inspiration as the colors and layers transformed the dress.

Highlights with brass and copper completed her look right into her hair and makeup.  Flax leaves were woven to create her skirt.

We are so proud of our model Kristin Reidelberger, who not only was a beautiful and stunning but she brought life to the gowned.  She owned it!  When she stepped in the dress her confidence took over and became our warrior fairy.

When Kristin is not being fierce on the runway, she is a full time florist at our Menomonee Falls location at Bank of Memories & Flowers.

We are proud to say we took 3rd place from the night!

~Melissa Maas
Owner
Bank of Memories & Flowers

Art In Bloom

Every year, I have the opportunity to participate in the Milwaukee Art Museum's "Art in Bloom".  As an artist at heart, this is a dream come true.  This event brings out some of the best floral designers in the Southeastern part of Wisconsin.  There was 41 designers in all who participated this year.

Back in January, we had a day at the Museum called "Lottery Day."  The art pieces are hand picked by the Museum on what they would like to see interpreted into flowers.  When we arrive, we are handed numbers.  The Art Museum will pick your number at random to go along with the artwork.  It is always fun to see your challenge.  This year I was paired up with Homage to the Square, by Josef Albers.  What a challenge, with a yellow box!

Over the weeks I collaborated with my dad, Norman Ball III, who is a Iron Worker.  It was amazing to see my vision of taking the square painting and taking it outside the box.  I wanted people to see the cube from all sides and make it dimensional.  My dad welded the yellow box and engineered a way to nestle the cube in the tree.  The tree gives the illusion that it is holding up the cube like it landed there and is now growing.  

The flowers in the cube were yellow oncidium orchids and blue tinted button mums.  In the white box base holding up the branch was yellow roses, ruscus, succulents, tricillium, leucadendron and green moss.

This was a very special piece to me this year, not only was it a challenge but I had an amazing experience making memories with my dad.   He was able to share his amazing engineering talent with me and I was able to show him what I love to do.
Thank you dad, couldn't have done it without you!

-Melissa Maas
Owner
Bank of Memories & Flowers

A Day For Mom!

Mothers are the hardest working, least appreciated people in our lives and Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity to show them just how much they mean to all of us.  Flowers help express our gratitude and thanks to the most important women in our lives, our Moms.

Ever since we were little we have given Mom flowers,  either the freshest dandelions from the lawn or the first bloom from her prized rose bush, flowers have been a mainstay in Mother's Day gifts.  Your local florist can help you choose the floral gift best suited for your mom, grandma or other special woman in your life. The staff at Bank of Memories & Flowers has many combined years of experience in choosing appropriate Mother's Day presents. 

Mom might like a simple  glass vase of flowers or she might like exquisite floral designs in a ceramic container, our designers can create exactly what your Mom prefers.  Perhaps Mom would like something living?  Our stores are stocked with a large array of green and blooming plants from peace lilies to kalanchoes, african violets to begonias.  Our orchid plants have just arrived and are absolutely gorgeous.   Air plants and succulents are currently very popular, we have a whole tree filled with glass globes filled with either of them.

You may say, "My Mom is not that interested in flowers".  That's fine, our Pewaukee location is filled with many other gifts.  Since our store is less than a mile from Pewaukee Lake, we have great lake gifts, signs, vases, mugs and even a boat to keep your drinks on ice.

Happy Mother's Day!

Luan Kurriger
Manager, Pewaukee Store
Bank of Memories & Flowers