[this week design writer leilani labong will be joining us for a few guest posts on the main blog. welcome, leilani!]

i would like to take a quick poll of all grooms-to-be, tux-wearing prom dates and other men bound for black-tie events: which would you rather…a generic rose boutonniere with the tired spray of baby’s breath, or a bespoke fritts rosenow boutonniere by san francisco floral designer erin rosenow, which uses miniature toys in place of traditional blooms? (hint: if you have any sense of individuality, go with fritts.)

from croquet mallets to cuckoo clocks to musical instruments and even one very cute mini mounted deer head for the taxidermist in your life, erin designs the boutonnieres to be expressions of personality; inspired versions of the ubiquitous floral lapel pins; an imaginative variation on the “hello, my name is…” sticker.

due to their tiny proportions, each boutonniere is a labor of love, a much different experience compared to erin’s more organic, freestyle approach to floral arrangements. she explains, “the bouts are so teeny i have to wear my glasses when i make them.” (cue vision of gepetto.) “they make me wish i had teeny tiny hands.” that’s funny, they make me wish i lived in a dollhouse. -leilani labong