around here | shop grams

After what felt like the longest, snowiest winter, I am so ready for spring and this upcoming wedding season! We've been getting things ready around the shop, and are super excited. Lot's of spring cleaning, painting, potting, organizing, and we're just getting started. 

Here is a little preview of what I've been up to recently at the shop via Instagram. The first of many of our 'shop grams' 

And follow along with my flower adventures on instagram @joeybutta

jordana

happy birthday sweet woodruff

Today is my 31st birthday. And it's also Sweet Woodruff's birthday. The store is 2 years old today and this summer will be our 5th wedding season in business. I know I say it all the time, but it really is crazy how fast time flies.

Seeing as it's an anniversary of sorts, I thought it would be a natural time to reflect. Here are some thoughts on the shop, my evolving style, and being in my 30's.

the shop | I would never say that I have a "love/hate" relationship with the store, but some days I wish it was bigger. Some days when it's a huge mess, I wish it was a studio. Some days when I'm crouched on a stool with my laptop amongst buckets and piles of stems I wish I had a proper office to work out of. But then there are mornings like the one I had today, when I come in early to this peaceful, quiet space and it just feels right. Or someone walks in talks about sweet smell wafting over them and I can see the space new again, threw their eyes and I feel so much pride, so much love. Like everything else in my life, it's a work in progress. And I feel happy about that.

my style | I recently went through all my old blog posts. OMG. Its a bit scary back there! In a few short years I think I've come a pretty long way. And I have to admit I feel a little embarrassed looking back on some of the older stuff. But I guess that only means I'm getting that much closer to creating work I really love. It's been a journey for me. And I'm happy that my style is evolving as my skill evolves. For me, I want everything to be romantic and elegant and effortlessly beautiful. I think flowers should look like how they're found in nature, like a beautiful garden. That they should be arranged in a loose, natural, organic way. My friend Ashley puts it so well, "luxury is about comfort not crystals." I love this and I couldn't say it better. Embracing my style and continuing to strengthen our brand has taken a lot of effort, and sometimes even bravery. And it will be something that I continue to work at indefinitely.    

my first year of 30's | Turning 30 wasn't something that really freaked me out.  For me getting older has just meant that life's gotten better and better. So I really embraced 30, and welcomed it as just a cool milestone. 30 was a good year. The business grew, and I tried to find some more live/work balance, something I'm still trying to get the hang of. (I really want to start running again). Geoff and I took a lot more time just for us, and we traveled a ton. We went to Costa Rica, California, Chicago, Paris, Stockholm and Copenhagen (whoa... that sounds like a lot written down all together in one sentence). Having this chance to be away together was really special. And I feel so blessed that we got to do it. 

Turning 31 today doesn't feel weird, but writing it actually looks a little funny. Like WAY older than I  am, than I feel, but everyone says that. I have lots of hopes for this decade. I hope the rest of my 30's will bring us a baby (that's no hint, I'm not pregnant!) a house that we love, and more time with family. I'm so so excited. So far my 30's have been pretty good and the rest seem like they will be even better!

photos by MK Photographics 

meet cara

Hello! my name is Cara and I am the newest member of the Sweet Woodruff team! 

For as long as I can remember I've been drawn to beauty and creating with my hands. Flowers were no exception, but growing up with 3 brothers made me feel embarrassed about being a girl or anything that was considered "girly". So I pretended that I liked it when they cut my Barbie's heads off. At this stage in my life I was a closet florist, saving dandelions (which I was convinced were flowers) from the lawn mower and secretly talking to tulips in my mother's garden. This was up until Mary-kate and Ashley Olsen taught me that it was fun to be a girl! 

Thanks to MK&A you can still find me talking to tulips, just no longer in secret.

Sometimes I think as young adults we don't trust our gut enough. We end up doing what we think we should do instead of what we really want to do. So thats kind of what happened to me. When I confirmed that spending my days doing paperwork at a desk was not my life's passion, I finally listened to my gut and pursued floral design full time. Sweet woodruff was my first and only choice. Lisa's designs, shop and overall aesthetic were everything that I loved. I've been working at the shop for 6 months now and I've never been happier. Working alongside Lisa and Jordana I find myself constantly inspired and learning new things. The three of us still get starstruck with every new box of flowers that arrive. I cannot wait for this upcoming summer and all of the beautiful weddings and flowers we will get to work with.

Now if you would like to know more, I also really love my husband, traveling, killer whales and trying to be stronger than all the boys at the gym.

 Photos by Katya Leclerc