To say it’s been a strange and crazy year would probably be a bit of an undistatement. Living through a global pandemic has certainly been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs! However it hasn’t been all bad. As we come to the end of the year I’m feeling reflective and deciding to focus on all the postive 2020 highlights that have happened this year. It’s made me realise that there have actually been quite a few! Grab yourself a cuppa, I hope you enjoy our whistle stop tour of 2020!

Workshops

Despite the lockdowns we have been lucky enough to host some one to one floral workshops (a couple have unfortunately had to be postponed until next year but at least it is something to look forward to). Where we created an array of different designs including this foam free hanging insallation and arch. Both made up mainly of beautiful British blooms. Working with the summers finest varities. It’s always such a privilege when fellow florists would like to spend the day learning with me and I absolutely adore teaching, it’s when I am at my happiest passing on my knowledge and meeting new people.

There were laughs and plenty of cake enjoyed along the way too. Everyone created such gorgeous designs too, really hope 2021 we will be able to teach even more workshops.

Book Feature

A huge personal achievement this year was having my work featured in this stunning book, Wedding Floral Design. The book features not one but three of my weddings! A definate pinch myself moment seeing my work in print, sold in Waterstones!

Weddings

Sadly due to Covid most of our weddings this year have been postponed, I really feel for all our couples that have had to put their special days on hold and also for my fellow wedding suppliers, it’s been a very tough year indeed. I was however lucky enough to flower a couple of intimate weddings that did still go ahead. Isobel and Geogrge got married at the breath taking St John’s Hyde Park. After already changing their date and plans twice already. They were due to marry the first weekend in October, when Boris halved the number of wedding guests from 30 to 15. They decided to move their wedding forward by a week and I was so pleased that we managed to turn everything around for them within just a few days notice.

I also had the privilege of creating Linny and Stewarts wedding flowers at the stunning Langham hotel. The colour pallet was colourful yet muted with a late summer/early autumn feel incorporated with the hints of burgundy. Linny’s bridal bouquet even included some of my very own home grown Daucus Carota, which I was rather proud of as well.

Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival

When the incredibly talented Leigh Chappel and Janne Ford asked if I would be interested in being part of this year Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival, of course I jumped at the chance! The festival had to be moved online for obvious reasons. Leigh and Janne did a fantastic job of creating a super inspiring and engaging virtual festival and it was an honour to be part of it. I demonstrated how to create a foam free summer compote arrangement (pictured below). Creating an arrangement live whilst explaining what I’m doing and answering questions was rather nerve wracking! I’m so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone though. I was completely blown away by everyones lovely comments and feedback.

Lockdown Bouquets

Spreading a little joy and love earlier in the year with our lockdown bouquets is definately a 2020 highlight from this year. It was heatrt warming sending flowers to peoples loved ones for all sorts of reasons; birthdays, new baby arrivals, missing you flowers, anniversay flowers or just as a treat to themself. Delivering them was so special and having socially distanced chats on peoples door steps really brightened my day. It reminded me too that flowers really do come armed with a super power, never failing to spread happiness.

Growing Flowers

2020 is the year that I embarked on having a bash at growing some of my own flowers! Being a complete newbie I was learning as I went (and there was A LOT to know too!) but I absolutely loved it! What amazed me the most was how much you could grow in a relatively small space. We managed to grow (it was a team effort as my husband also helped) four varities of David Austin Garden Roses, Sweet Peas, Cornflowers, Daucus Carrota and Cosmos. Apart from the Daucus it was all a success too which I’m thrilled to say! During those hot summer days watering the flowers became part of my morning ritual. It kept me sane and grounded during this uncertain year and nurturing my flowers and watching them grow from seed brought me so much happiness.

The pandemic has definately made me appreciate all the little things we perhaps took for granted before. Apart from the strawflower and veronica in the above arrangement all the other flowers were gown in my garden. All the flowers in the arrangement below are from my garden and I am very proud of that.

Webshop & Note Cards

Two huge projects I launched this year, the first being my new webshop, which means our classes are now even easier to book online and every time I get an order confirmation email I do a happy dance (no joke!) A lot of work went into it but it was all worth it. Becky did such an amazing job I’m absolutely thrilled with it! The other was the launch of our brand new note cards! I have to admit I was a little nervous about venturing into new product territory but I received such a wonderful response about them and they are a lovely addition on the webshop too, definate 2020 highlights

David Austin Roses

Last but by no means least the perfect way to end the year, working with the talented Amy from the Timeless Stylist, to create the floral designs for David Austin Roses new branding content for their website. It’s no secret that I am a HUGE fan of their roses! Being able to work with so many of their gorgeous blooms for the editorial shoot really was a dream come true, and certainly makes the 2020 highlights list! I’m excited to share more of this beautiful shoot with you in the New Year. However for now I shall leave you with these stunning roses, if only you could smell them!

There you have it, our 2020 hightlights in a nutshell! Don’t get me wrong it hasn’t been all roses (a rather approproate anaology!) Although it has been lovely to reflect on all that I have achieved with the business during this turmoil year. This year has definately reminded me to count my blessings and to be grateful for all the little things.

Here’s to 2021 being a much brighter one for us all, to health and happiness.

Keep safe and well