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Etsy Finds: Orchid Oasis

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Orchids are some of my favorite flowers and make beautiful houseplants. But their delicate shapes and colors also translate really well to housewares and artwork, making an ideal purchase for those lacking a green thumb. From orchid pillows and paintings to orchids made from felt and recycled materials, check out my slideshow to see orchids in every form.

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Do You Decorate With Cut Orchids?

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:02 -0700

When it comes to floral arrangements, i rarely think about buying cut orchids. My potted orchids usually last for months (and I've been lucky enough to have one blooming continuously for 16 months!). Still, the blooms are absolutely gorgeous, and I can see the appeal of cut orchids.

Source: Photo by Andrew Grinton

Mango Orchid Bouquet: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:00:23 -0700

I wish I had discovered this Mango Orchid Bouquet ($12.95) a little bit sooner, as it would have made a fun gift for Mother's Day. What do you think, would you buy these chocolate dipped mangoes on a stick?

Mark's Garden Adds Floral Drama to the Governors Ball

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:15:51 -0800

When I walked into the preview for the Governors Ball, the suspended globes immediately caught my eye. However, once I was able to pull my gaze down, my eyes became lost in the drama that is the floral arrangement.

There are over 15,000 roses, in 15 different shades of red, and they're accompanied by golden orchids imported from Thailand several days before the event. The cocktail tables are dotted with bouquets of roses, the dinner tables are huge, tall red and gold bouquets, and the food stations are littered with petals. The staff at Mark's Garden have created a beautiful arrangement that is dramatic, and somehow over the top and subdued at the same time.

I had a chance to talk to Mark Held - he and his staff have been doing the flowers for the Governors Ball for the past 13 years - about their floral decisions. To see that, and even more pics, read more.

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Love It or Hate It? Orchid Urinals

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:00:54 -0700

After seeing the two person toilet and the toilet/washing machine, and even Leonardo DiCaprio's eco-fabulous toilet, I didn't think there could be any more innovation in the bathroom. But, that's just silly, right? Of course there could be. San Francisco artist Clark Sorensen's Orchid Urinal Sculptures ($7500) are innovative, one-of-a-kind, beautiful, and fully-functional! Beat that.

Love It or Hate It? Orchid Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:15:35 -0700

Design Milk posted a photo of the Orchid Chair (contact company for price and availability) on her site last week. I love its sleek lines and bright finish, but I can't help but think I'd topple it over, given my grace issues.

Walt Disney Launches a Wallpaper Collection

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0700

From silent films and gloved mice to Arabian nights and amusement parks, the Walt Disney Company has covered a lot of bases. But never ever did I think the media conglomerate would get its feet wet in the world of wallpaper. I was wrong. York Wallcoverings and the lifestyle brand Walt Disney Signature have teamed up to debut an upscale wallpaper collection inspired by original artwork from the Disney archives of the 1940 classic Fantasia. The collection includes 12 prints with graphic and botanical motifs derived from specific scenes in the animated film, such as the dancing thistles and orchids, frost fairies, and milkweed ballerinas in "The Nutcracker Suite."

The verdict? I am really impressed. When wallpaper samples arrived at my desk and I saw the words "Disney" and "wallpaper," all I could think was, "Oh no." But the designs are sophisticated, modern, and hip! My two favorites are Allegro, a Moroccan-style fretwork pattern, and Shimmer, a grasscloth that's very subtly woven with metallic gold, but there are a few others I'd definitely use, too. The only downfall of the collection are two wallpapers, Pixie and Sparkle (at left), which have glass beading and sparkly sand on them; from a tactile perspective, they are cool, but the shimmer is just tacky.

See the other wallpapers in the collection when you read more.

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What do you think? Would you like to use any of these in your home?

Tom Ford's Decadent New Fragrance

FabSugar — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:01:32 -0800

As part of his new Tom Ford Beauty line, the designer has just released a fragrance, called Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, that's as exotic and decadent as the flower it's named after. The spicy, sexy scent contains top notes of black truffle and bergamot combined with hints of patchouli, deep florals, vetiver, and incense.

Since the black orchid is one of the most elusive and unattainable hybrids in existence, Ford's perfume has a fitting air of mystery, packaged in a black-glass bottle with gold engraving. You can buy a 50-ml bottle for $90 or a 100-ml bottle for $135 here. Or, if that's not luxurious enough for you, Neiman Marcus is also offering a Limited-Edition Black Orchid Perfume, which comes with a collectible black-crystal bottle created by Lalique, a gold funnel used to pour the fragrance into the carafe, and a black-velvet pouch. You can get it for a cool $600 here.

The "Lost" Dharma Video From Comic-Con, Plus the "Lost" Video Game

BuzzSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 08:30:00 -0700

In her awesome coverage of this year's Comic-Con, Team member Phasekitty described a new Dharma video that screened during the "Lost" presentation, and it sounded spooky. Now that it's available online, I'm not sure what to make of it.

The guy presenting the film is Dr. Marvin Candle, who has usually been featured in the Dharma orientation films, though he introduces himself using a different name: Dr. Edgar Halowax. It seems like Halowax/Candle was in a similar situation to that of Juliet, since he snaps at the people behind the camera about having to wear makeup when he's a scientist, making me wonder if he's on the island somewhat against his will. Then there are the bunnies with the number 15 printed on their fur that all the people in the room seem to fear. And creepily flashing in between takes with Halowax/Candle are the words "God loves you like he loved Jacob" (the same words were flashed during Carl's brainwashing session), along with other various images that don't seem to go with the doctor's orientation speech for the Orchid Station.

Halowax/Candle also starts to explain that "the unique properties of the island" cause a kind of "Casimir effect," though he's quickly cut off just as he's about to say what this allows them to do. Wikipedia describes the Casimir effect as "a physical force exerted between separate objects, which is due to neither charge, gravity, nor the exchange of particles, but instead is due to resonance of all-pervasive energy fields in the intervening space between the objects." So... there's that.

In addition to this video I came across the sneak peek of the "Lost" video game, which looks so silly I don't even know what to say. To check out both videos, read more

The Orchid Station Video:

Sneak peek of the "Lost" video game:

Halle's Success Is Sure To Bloom With Pure Orchid

BellaSugarUK — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:00:00 -0800

We're merely weeks into 2010 and already we've heard of three new celebrity fragrances set to launch later this year. First came the news of Beyonce's Heat, then Eva by Eva Longoria Parker. Now Halle Berry is gearing up to launch her second scent called Pure Orchid since her first fragrance Halle by Halle Berry was such an enormous success. In fact, Halle spent spent six months at the top of the women's fragrances charts and is still selling extremely well.

Pure Orchid, a woodsy floral juice is a blend of lemon, papaya nectar fizz, cactus flower, blackberry creme concentré, star anise, sequoia, patchouli leaf, tonka bean and a heart of Masdevallia orchid. It's due out in the US this February in two sizes (.5 ounces and 1 ounce), and is scheduled to arrive in the UK, Australia and the rest of Europe in March.

Halle told WWD,

"Pure Orchid feels like a natural extension of my first fragrance and it’s a welcomed next step in my relationship with Coty. The new fragrance allowed me another opportunity to create a scent that is reflective of who I am and in doing so I’m able to offer the consumer something a bit different as I move into my second year with Coty."

Hail Halle - not only am I excited to smell what seems to be a mix of a feminine, yet rural aroma, but I can't wait to see her present at the Golden Globes on Sunday! I wonder if she'll try to plug Pure Orchid. Are you interested in getting your hands on Halle's latest fragrance?

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