Weihnachtsmarkt, What and Why...

Weihnachtsmarkt translated from German means Christmas Market. 

At this time every year, there is a Weihnachtsmarkt in New Braunfels Texas to benefit The Sophienburg Museum and Archieves.  Treat yourself to a shopping extravaganza with unique decorations, specialty items, fabulous gifts and antiques. Select from a wide array of retail merchants and artisans.

http://www.sophienburg.com/weihnachtsmarkt
WHAT IS THE SOPHIENBURG?


In 1845 Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels and a group of emigrants set out from Germany to find a new home in Texas. The Prince chose a site on the Comal River because of its abundant water, lush vegetation, and "a good omen." There he and his band of pioneers founded New Braunfels.

For his personal home Prince Carl chose a hill overlooking the beginnings of the town and began his plan to build a castle on the site. His home was to be called Sophienburg — Sophie's Castle — for his fiancée, Lady Sophia, Princess of Salm-Salm. However, when he returned to Germany to bring Sophia to Texas, she refused to leave. In a move that baffles native Texans to this day, Prince Carl chose his fiancée over Texas and stayed in Germany to marry Sophia. He never returned to Texas.

Today, the Sophienburg Museum and Archives resides on the hill chosen long ago by Prince Carl.

For the last couple of years at the Weihnachtsmarkt, The Sophienburg Archieves group has started a competition.  They asked all of the local flower shops to donate centerpieces to decorate Sophie's Cafe.  The attendees of the Weihnachtsmarkt are able to vote on their favorite centerpiece.  The centerpieces are then auctioned off at the end of the Christmas market.  This year not only are attendees able to vote, but Facebook friends can cast their votes as well.

There are our designs....
Design Number 1

Design Number 6

If you're interested...  Copy this url into your browser.   http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.259669170747650.63151.100001137086203&type=3.   Check out all of the designs and vote for your favorite.  We hope you will select ours, numbers 1 and 6. Voting ends Sunday, November 20th at 5:00 p.m.

Taylor McDonald and Joseph Gajan 11.26.11 Wedding

 I have another great story to tell....  We are so lucky in our industry as floral artist's to be able to meet great people in love and help them create an atmosphere with floral that will reflect their style and personality on their spectial day.  Taylor and Joseph's upcoming wedding is going to be a FUN, whimsical and PLAYFUL theme.  Taylor has a great love for birds.  And they will be displayed throughout the entire day.

Taylor decided that she wanted to bring in props and accessories for us to incorporate into each of her table centerpieces.  All of it is bird themed related and each table will be different.  We are going to embellish all of her fabulous accessories with floral and foliages....  hocus pocus roses, winter berries, red hypericum, red gerberas, verbascum, burgundy scabiosa and MORE....  Taylor even made her own Bride and Groom Birdie cake toppers.....  They are soooo cute and creative.    

Find out more about Taylor and Joseph here....  http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleid=9322306822982080&pid=15533671.   You will see how special this couple truly is. 

ONE last funny story that we will have after Taylor and Joe's wedding......  some of you know that we at blumen-meisters Flower Market have a shop cat.  Her name is Slidder..  Slidder is a 3 legged manx calico cat.  To those of you who know her...  she's a pretty special cat.  We've had Taylor's accessories stored in our studio for a while now...  One night, Slidder decided to dig though our bag of red birds and successfully place a fatal blow to one of them..  The puncture wounds from her fangs went right through the styrafoam red bird...  When we discovered it, we laughed so hard.  Now, my delima..  do I discipline Slidder for her bad behaviour???  We are thankful that only one of Taylor's red birds was damaged...  Silly cat...  Unfortunately, I'm not able to post of picture of slidder or the wounded red bird at this time.....  We have since stored Taylor's birds in a more secure location..  NO MORE ANGRY BIRDS HERE..

Josh Crumpton and Jeanie Flohr's 11.11.11 Wedding

 

Last week, an old friend of mine called and asked if I would be available on 11.11.11 to provide floral for his upcoming wedding.  Of course I said YES.  Since then, its been a bevy of activity.  Consulting, multiple trips to San Antonio, researching, procuring containers, floral, accessories, votives, candles, glassware that will compliment the wonderful couple and fantastic venue.  I am so excited to be working on this project.  You just never know what will come your way.  I have serviced this venue before, many many years ago.  Since that time, The Havana Hotel was taken over by Liz Lambert and Bunkhouse Properties.  I have been a fan of Liz's since I found one of her properties in Marfa, Texas.  I have followed her work since and see that she has continued to incorporate her style into the Havana.  Hotel Havana is the perfect venue for Josh and Jeanie's laid back sophisticated style.  I am looking forward to accenting this fabulous jewel instead of covering it up.  I can't wait for all of you to see the wonderful photos that Josh Huskin will no doubt create.  And if you get a chance, take time to stop at the Hotel Havana in San Antonio... you won't regret that you did.     



Danny Engesser and Kari Bassett

I met with the greatest couple today...  say Hello to Danny and Kari!!  They are in town meeting with vendors for their upcoming wedding...  Congratulations and welcome to New Braunfels!!!! It was so wonderful that Danny was part of our consultation.  In my experience, it is rare that the groom-to-be has time or wants to be part of the wedding planning.  I was tickled when he said that he was having a great time running around with Kari and her Mom, Kathy.  Danny and Kari are coming to us from Iowa...  OMG... tons of snow to the heat of South Texas....  All should be comfortable with an early March 2012 wedding.  Once we started talking, I was soooooooooo happy to discover that Kari is going to be one of my "outside the box" brides...  We love those kinds of brides here at blumen-meisters...  Wait until you see what we came up with.  A one of a kind bridal bouquet for sure.  Danny and Kari got engaged in Dublin, Ireland.  It was a very exciting story to hear.  Talk about one of a kind, take a look at Kari's engagement ring.  WOW... Beautiful....  I will keep you posted as we continue to plan for their March 3, 2012 nuptials.