Are you looking for watercolor painted invitations? Welcome and hello! As a slow flower florist, I appreciate the hard work to grow and arrange the fragile beauty of the blooms a bride chooses for her wedding. I’m also an artist that enjoys extending my creative abilities to the invitations sent for such a special occasion. Sketching … [Read more...]
Taking chances in art, life, and business
If you’ve been following my blog/journal recently, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’ve been taking chances with my art. All of the watercolors and sketching I’ve been working on recently are proving to be challenging and creative, both of which are necessary to keep my wedding business unique, different. In a cyber world where we all have our … [Read more...]
What growing chrysanthemums taught me as an entrepreneur
Growing chrysanthemums this year has taught me a valuable lesson as an entrepreneur. That lesson? Striving for a healthy business/life balance is the ideal but it doesn’t always happen when you own your own business. We have to grow with the flow. Learning to grow with the flow I love chrysanthemums and their beautifully intricate petal … [Read more...]
Aging gracefully and practicing self-care
It seems I've hit my midlife marker rather quickly and am thinking more about aging gracefully and practicing self-care. What makes a woman beautiful at our age? I take great joy at listening to the advice given to me by the many women that I find empowering. And still, I ask myself this question over and over again, almost as if a genie will … [Read more...]
What I learned from floral designer Ariella Chezar of Ariella New York
The Flower School of New York gave me my proper training in floristry, and it was there I first learned about floral designer Ariella Chezar of Ariella New York. My business instinctively lead me to grow flowers myself in my cottage style cutting garden. As my business grows (neither obsession or hobby - although it is a bit of both as … [Read more...]
The Big Magic of doing things half-assed and what I learned from Elizabeth Gilbert
“Just listen to your creative heart.” This message is what Elizabeth Gilbert conveys in her latest book, Big Magic. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but I’ve often noticed - as I’m sure you have - experiences in life that seemingly come out of nowhere. These experiences could be ideas, thoughts, or visions that come to you when you’re least … [Read more...]
Moving forward and slowing down
Why is it that moving forward and slowing down is not always easy? Self-care is a challenge for all business owners, and I am no exception. These past spring and summer months have left me feeling drained and exhausted and no opportunity for slowing down. I overlooked self-care and overdid it by pouring all my energy into growing my small … [Read more...]
Best Plants for a Summer Cottage Garden
July and August are a tricky time to hope for a perfectly manicured garden. I take my inspiration for my summer cottage garden from the designer Piet Oudolf and look for how I can incorporate a wild and less cultivated plantings scheme. When starting a wild, carefree cottage garden my advice is to purchase (if the budget permits) at … [Read more...]
How my cottage garden has influenced my floral design style
I find that my cottage garden has influenced my floral design style primarily because of my approach to gardening. My gardening style is loose and sometimes feels by conventional standards that I'm neglecting the garden when in fact I'm more negotiating with nature. The plants that choose to be there, thrive and I'm less rigid and … [Read more...]
Cultivating my cottage garden
Recently, the color of our home changed from a drab yellow to a brilliant bright white and accented with black shutters. I think we've managed to cultivate the perfect backdrop for future pictures of the seasonal flowers from my cottage garden. Cultivating my cottage garden My goal was to use our 1840's farmhouse as a backdrop to weave the … [Read more...]