Notes

Holly + Sarah at Scribe Winery

It’s a dream when our clients trust us to create florals deeply inspired by place and season. When Holly and Sarah asked us to participate in their wedding at Scribe Winery we couldn’t have been more thrilled. It’s a place with soul, with heart, with time worn details and new life, with magical light and a historic Spanish-style Hacienda and rolling vistas. Holding that place in our minds and channeling Holly and Sarah’s gracious, loving spirits we created in celebration of summer in Northern California.


 

Wedding collaborators:
Venue – Scribe Winery 
Planning – Events by O’ccasions
Photo – Hugh Forte 
Hair/Makeup – Nikol Elaine Artistry 
Dresses – Sarah Seven Trish Lee 
Rentals – Encore Event Rentals Theoni Collection 
Paper – Paper by the Bay 
Cake – Forget Me Not Cakes 
DJ – Love in the mix 
 

Franchesca + Che’s wedding featured on Brides!

Trust, faith, and confidence can go a long way in relationships and also in planning a wedding. Franchesca and Che exude these qualities. They booked the modern loft space, The Pearl before it was finished, based on renderings alone. They trusted their team to be inspired by the space and create installations and moments that reflected a contemporary, fresh and fun gathering. Rito-ito was thrilled to have the couple’s trust and confidence to create flowers for their special day. We’re honored the full wedding was recently featured on Brides! Check out the full details here

All photos by Jenn Emerling

A Cove of Light

There are many things to love about Cala, Gabriela Cámara’s restaurant in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. They include: trout tostadas, perfectly pickled onions and chilies, an incredible selection of mezcal, the fact the restaurant goes out of its way to employ formerly incarcerated individuals who are rebuilding their lives, and the energy and vision Cámara’ herself brings to every detail. One of those beloved details is the Oaxacan, hand-built, custom, ceramic light fixtures that radiate pebbles of light throughout the space.

Recently Cala hosted an event to bring awareness to ceramic artisans and craft-women of Oaxaca, Mexico. The event aimed to share their knowledge and talent and ask the community to support the vital expression of culture. Designers and community activists, Collectivo 1050 shared their insights from working with the women throughout Oaxaca and their experience with a rich history of ceramics. Gabriela Cámara’, Alice Waters, and Steven Satterfield were invited to talk about their experience with food culture, craft, and holding strong to values that may seem in peril.

Cámara’ spoke about growing up in Mexico City and remembering the effects of the devastating earthquake in 1985. With physical ruin, infrastructure collapse and tragedy, it could have been remembered as bleak time. Instead she recalled, in the wake of the disaster, the ways the shortcomings of an authoritarian government gave rise to a new community activism, progress and even political revolution. With the destruction, came a sense that anything was possible. It was from this place, she talked about standing up for what is right, and holding on to the light especially in dark times.

I was honored to be able to provide flowers to both Alice Waters and Gabriela Cámara’ as part of the event that day. I created for them a mix of the most radiant blooms even during a dark winter. Each time I have the opportunity to visit Cala, I’m inspired by those lights.

Holiday Workshops & Experiences

4 Upcoming Holiday Workshops & Experiences!

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Rito-ito in partnership with Blue Bottle Coffee

Thanksgiving Centerpiece + Chemex Brew Class
Tuesday November 22,  at Blue Bottle Morse
5-7pm
TICKETS $125/person

Learn to create your own centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table. Color, form, texture, and beautiful botanicals, celebrating the fall season will be topics of exploration. Each participant will have a centerpiece to take home. No experience necessary. While building your work of art, enjoy a Chemex demo with Decaf Noir. And bring home a 1/2 lb. bag of Decaf Noir for your gathering.

Holiday Wreath Making + Pour over
Sunday December 4, at Blue Bottle Webster Street
1pm-3pm
TICKETS $75/person

Join for a hands-on class on modern wreath making. A variety of seasonal, textural, wild, materials will used and we will play with shape, scale and color and the idea that wreaths do not have to be traditional. Each participant will have a finished wreath to take home and enjoy all season long. Plus learn to brew using the same method Blue Bottle Coffee uses in cafes and take home an envelope of Blue Bottle Perfectly Ground.

Kokedama + Pour over
Saturday December 10, at Blue Bottle Morse
2pm-4pm
TICKETS $40/per person

We'll gather for a hands-on class making Kokedama, moss covered hanging plants. These playful, quirky plants are a perfect gift for any interior space. Learn the technique, and take home your finished Kokedama. Plus learn to brew using the same method Blue Bottle Coffee usese in cafes and take home an envelope of Blue Bottle Perfectly Ground.

 

Rito-ito in partnership with Katie Powers Catering

Creating Modern Rituals: A holiday workshop with Katie Powers Catering
Wreath making, specialty cocktails, dinner and entertaining inspiration!

Wednesday, November 30 at SummerSchool 1217B Fell St. San Francisco
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
TICKETS $180/person

Join us for an intimate evening as we share some new holiday rituals and encourage you to create your own!
Part I: Modern Wreath Making – Demonstration and hands-on making
Part II: Holiday Cocktail How-To – Demonstration and tasting
Part III: Family-Style Winter Feast – thoughtfully prepared, seasonal sit down dinner to enjoy
Part IV: Pocket Guide – tips and suggestions for beautiful holiday hosting

 

Favorite field: feeling fall

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I have a favorite field in the open spaces in Marin, near my house. It is enclosed by trees and brambles and it has a kind of secret garden feel when you enter. But rather than manicured or planned, its wild and overgrown with native herbs, grasses, wild roses, buckeye, eucalyptus, and oak.

On a recent afternoon walk with the dogs, I noticed the changing light, the colors and the signs of fall. Inspired by the textures and amber colors, I foraged a few things (wild sage, rose hips, and oak) and added flowers from the studio (ranunculus, dahlias, and french tulips) to make a quick spontaneous arrangement, marking that autumnal afternoon.

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Beach Altar

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Growing up in Marin, I was surrounded by people collecting pelican and hawk feathers, small smooth stones, sea-finds, special leaves, and other found trinkets. It was an almost unnoticed ritual that accompanied any walk in nature. These objects would make their way onto informal altars of sorts. Altars to nature were made on bookshelves, dashboards, window sills and were added to over time. These were the collections that made dusting hard, but seemed of value. They taught me the importance of small treasures and appreciating beauty in the bits as you discover them. 

The ritual of collecting worn stones, and special shells helps you slow down, take in all the textures, patterns and forms, hidden below a quick glance in the wild. The collections provide a reminder to the beauty of the outside world, once back home amidst the more prevalent human made objects, artifacts and clutter.

On a recent trip to Muir Beach, the protected yet rugged little beach close to our house, I gathered some new beach objects and added some long-held. I created an altar to the natural world, to good spirits and to to treasure. Inspired by the beach outing and by the energy of the Pacific, the wind whipping, and the fog creeping, I created an arrangement full of movement and texture. In contrast to the washed out grey of the beach that day, the flowers celebrate vibrant color and early fall.

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