Saturday, January 15th 2007
Making A Statement : by David Gonczol, Ottawa At Home

Eric Cardinal, owner of Mood Moss Flowers on Beechwood Avenue, says you can give new life to a simple grapevine or redberry wreath by attaching a fresh evergreen wreath to the back.

“It will bulk it up and add a new dimension to an otherwise plain wreath that will last through the winter months,” employee Michelle Stenson says.

Michelle says creating an interesting centrepiece can be as easy as taking a glass container, either a large bowl or cube vase, add water, and a “wacky mess of coloured wire for a bit of glitz.”

Try adding flowers such as gerberas, roses, gloriosa lilies or orchids, cut them short and place them inside the container amongst the wire. Holly or other “Christmassy” foliage even Christmas balls, will add more colour to the centrepiece.

“Basically you want a layered effect. An arrangement trapped inside of glass,” she says.
Another option Michelle suggests is to use a fresh flower wreath on your table and fill the centre with a variety of fruit, nuts and other treats.
 

Saturday, December 9th 2006
Natural Diplomacy: by Karen Turner
Birch bark, cedar and pudgy swallows add earthy feel to holiday spread.

Quiet, understated elegance is how Eric Cardinal describes the festive ambiance he created in the Rockcliffe home of Austrian ambassador Otto Dietz and his wife Maureen for last month's Homes for the Holidays tour.

Rather than splash glitter and wrap rooms in flouncy red bows and bushy garlands, the owner of Mood Moss Flowers took a more subdued approach, dressing the official residence for the three-day house tour with fresh-cut cedar, birch-bark wreaths and a family of pudgey swallows.

“We tried to do what looked best for the house. We didn't want to overshadow its beauty,” says Cardinal of the sprawling red brick home built for Harry Southam in 1911 and bought by the Austrian government in 1968.

Cardinal, with the help of his two employees, Michelle Stenson and Renee Richer, incorporated natural, earthy elements into the festive spread using the home's decor as the inspiration.

For instance, in a sitting room off the main living room, 11 pots of red, pink and white cyclamens lined a deep ledge at the base of two soaring arched windows. The pretty colour palette was chosen to match the room's striped sofa and three comfortable easy chairs.

In the living room, it was the royal blue carpet and gold and blue striped couchs in front of the fireplace that set the colour scheme for the lush flower arrangements sprouting from tabletops throughout the room. On the mantel, nine chubby birds nested on a bed of fresh cedar and thick greenery weaved around stone cherubs praying on their knees on the windowsill.

To pay homage to the family's native homeland, Cardinal ordered edelweiss, Austria's national flower, from a grower in B.C. to make the dining room centrepiece. The delicate white blooms were combined with orchids and fresh cedar and set on a narrow wood plank in the centre of the formally dressed table. Cardinal says the arrangement was simple but elegant to complement the white china place settings. It was intentionally low so it didn't obstruct the view across the table, he says.

On a second round table in the curved nook, an evergreen wreath formed the base of the centrepiece then was filled with fragrant cinnamon sticks, dried oranges and nuts.

Finding a Christmas tree in mid-November was no easy task for the decorating trio. A trip to a tree farm netted three spindly evergreens which were sparsely decorated with gold ornaments, feathery sprays and tiny birds. Birch-bark wreaths were layered at the base of the trees on both sides of a hand-carved wooden nativity scene from Austria.

“We tried not to overdo it, but we wanted to add seasonal touches,” says the humble designer who even gave a nod to the Vienness Ball held every February at the National Gallery. In a corner of the music room, a white gown with snowflake beading doubled as a giant vase with boughs of cedar and pine brimming from both ends of the strapless debutant dress.

“The house has a lot of neat history and stories to it,” says Cardinal who favoured the less-is-more approach to dressing the home for the charity tour. “We didn’t go in wanting to make it look like Christmas. We wanted it to look seasonal and not overshadow its beauty.”
 

Saturday, December 17th 2005
Simple & Dramatic: by Sheila Brady
The simplest things are often the most dramatic. Consider seven ruby red candles sitting snuggly in a tin holder filled with nuts and wrapped with dogwood. The colour and textures were brought together by Eric Cardinal, owner of Mood Moss Flowers and the flower man behind dressing up the inside spaces in Michael and Betty LeClair's new bungalow near the Rideau River.

Griffin Kennedy Interiors also helped dress the LeClair home for the holiday tour.

The tall red candles sat in the middle of the couple's kitchen table, immediately catching your attention before turning to see a Christmas tree covered in small, white lights.

Across the family room, presents in colourful wrapping sat next to the fireplace and the mantel was covered in cedar, and vibrant lilies.

Cardinal was also the inspiration behind disarmingly simple, yet dramatic wreaths on each side of the LeClairs' front door, He started with an artificial wreath of cranberries and vines, added fresh cedar and pine boughs. Then he introduced a natural wicker cornucopia and filled it with sprigs of cedar and wooden roses.

“You usually think of a cornucopia at Thanksgiving because they symbolize plenty," says Cardinal. "It worked for us,"

“It also works to blend artificial and natural flowers," says the florist, noting there is a trend to using a natural wreath as a backing and then adding an artificial one at the front. There is lots of colour and a feeling of weight, he says.

It's also easy to add natural elements, including roses, throughout the holiday season, to keep the arrangement looking fresh.

Cardinal went the natural route in the LeClairs' spacious bungalow, weaving cedar and dogwood through light fixtures in the hallway and in the dining room. Instant warmth and smells of the holidays.

You can achieve the same warmth by using artificial greens and not worry about petals and leaves falling on the Christmas turkey.

Downstairs, Santa sat in a white wicker chair beside a mural of a tropical beach and pots and pots of colourful cyclamen which surrounded the lap pool which is a favourite play area for the LeClairs' 30-month-old granddaughter, Emma Avery.

The couple decided on a lap pool after going on a cruise. "There was a pool on the cruise ship," says Mike LeClair, who confesses the road to the edge of the pool and a regular exercise plan are paved with good intentions.

"The house felt so full and warm," says his wife, who opened her home to the public because the Hospice at May Court is an essential part of the community and deserves support.

MoodMoss Flowers is at 186 Beechwood Ave. Call 741-1774 or visit www.moodmossftowers.com. Griffin Kennedy Interiors is at 1 Beechwood Ave., 747-0155.
 

Monday, November 29th 2004
In The Mood: by Stacey Acker
Take a stroll down Beechwood Avenue and you'll discover that most of its business' are run by members of the community. People who, being intimately in tune with the needs and desires of their neighbours, have developed personalized and unique services that cater specifically to this area. Mood Moss Flowers is no exception.

On August 19, 2004 Eric Cardinal realized a dream, and opened the doors of Mood Moss Flowers for the first time. Eric had chosen the name long before venturing into his own business. Named after a tight, thick moss which grows in mounds whose surface has the look and feel of velvet; a versatile plant which now shares its name with an equally versatile business.

Mood Moss' warm, inviting, organic atmosphere was created in just 17 days. No interior designer, just an artistic soul and a whole lot of grit! (An amazing wife and great friends and relatives didn't hurt either.) Indeed. store displays (which include items purchased from local business Electric Street Studio, tree stumps and a dead weeping Mulberry tree) are just as beautiful as the distinctive items which they hold.

Local artists' artwork and photographs adorn the walls. There are carved wooden panels on the main counted! The store itself is a work of art. Then you add the flowers, some supplied locally, others from more exotic locations: all breathtakingly beautiful, and many not commonly seen in other floral shops.

When you look at the arrangements they make you smile; as do his wonderful staff, all of whom possess the same twinkle in their eye when they reminisce about the past year. All agree it has been a year of learning, of geltlng to know the community. Eric contributes the positive journey largely to the publicity that "word of mouth" has created and to the fellow business' that promoted him by carrying weekly floral arrangements. They are constantly surprised (and delighted) by the number of people who go out of their way to pop in and say thank you; impressed as well with the number of clients who actually supply the vessel themselves, items that have special meaning. It means a lot to everyone in Mood Moss and their admiration for this is obvious.

When asked to reflect on his first year and cite a particular arrangement or memorable moment Eric couldn't choose. Neither could the girls. Instead they all agreed that there are too many. Whether it be an Embassy function, a wedding or a social event, each allowed them to go above and beyond, led them to create amazing, beautiful things that were enjoyed by many people.

Eric has created "Mood Lights" (a floral lantern display featuring two softly glowing red and green structures encircled by stylized floral arrangements) for the Lumière Festival. The event is a favorite of Eric's and he's looking forward to the amazing talents and creativity that emerge from throughout the community. Then this coming November 18, 19 and 20th, Mood Moss is really looking forward to being a first-time decor participant in the 3rd Annual Homes for the Holidays by The Hospice at May Court. A goal he is happy to have achieved. Beyond thai Eric simply wants to keep it like it is. He enjoys being able to add the personal touch. Be it traveling to his clients, or staying open the odd time to accommodate a busy bride to be or hostess. Knowing his client is happy is important.

Congratulations Mood Moss on your one year anniversary! You are in a most notable profession... making people smile.
 

Monday, November 29th 2004
Mood Moss Flowers is a proud sponsor of "Cocktails for Cancer" held at the Meseum of Nature in Ottawa. With over $20,000 raised so far and voted The Best Charity Event of 2004, Cocktails for Cancer is continuing in its dedication to help eradicate this deadly disease. Visit www.cocktailsforcancer.com for more details.

Tuesday, November 23rd 2004
Owner of Mood Moss Flowers, Eric Cardinal, appeared on a live broadcast for Breakfast on the New RO. Filmed on location at the Courtyard Restaurant, Eric was interviewed along with Genevieve Rochon, the restaurant's Event Manager, by New RO reporter Angie Poirier. The segment focused on wedding trends and was in collaboration with the surprise renewal of vows by Susan & Carlos Fisher, who were celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary that day.