Should You Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet?
Deciding to preserve your wedding bouquet is often considered a “splurge” when breaking down your wedding budget. We frequently hear that the couple will reach back out if they end up having wiggle room in their budget. While we completely understand that this service is more of a luxury than a need when looking at […]
The Beauty of Rosewater
Each spring I am overjoyed as my rosa rugosa bushes explode with brilliant pink blossoms, sending their delightful fragrance drifting through the air. As the roses bloom throughout the summer, I never get tired of finding ways to use them. Rosewater is one of my favorites, as it captures the rose’s incredible beauty, amazing fragrance, […]
Whimsical Winter Styled Shoots
We are so excited to share this trio of whimsical winter styled shoots we were a part of with Julie Carroll Photography! There is so much that goes into planning a successful styled shoot, so we want to share how this process looked for us as dried flower specialists. We got connected with Julie Carroll […]
Tiny Flower Arrangement
As dried flower and floral preservation designers in Minnesota, we had to take a moment to celebrate National Floral Design Day! Flower designs come in a variety of forms. Whether they are fresh or dried, this day is to celebrate the art of floral designs and the happiness they bring to our lives! These pieces […]
Lilac Lemonade
After a long and flowerless winter, I am overjoyed when the lilacs burst into bloom. Since lilac season is incredibly short, I try to find ways to make the most of their incredible beauty and distinctive fragrance. I don’t especially enjoy the flavor of fragrant flowers, but after making crystallized lilac blossoms I had a […]
Beauty in the Present Moment
Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more. – Mother Teresa Some of my favorite memories are from my childhood; enjoying the wonders of the world – smelling the fragrance after it rained, watching the clouds float through the beautiful blue sky, and strapping a basket onto my […]
God’s Gift of Flowers
A breathtaking prairie meadow with its flowers blowing in the summer breeze, the splendor of your backyard garden in full bloom, or the first delicate tulip welcoming you into spring; all of these moments proclaim God’s glory in the world and bring joy to the heart. Flowers are a gift to us from the heart […]
A single flower can say so much
To your one and only, a single flower can say so much! It doesn’t have to take a lot to show that special someone in your life how much they mean to you – and sometimes less can say more!
Creating a Dried Flower Topiary
The word topiary brings thoughts of trees and shrubs trimmed into round or fancy designs. But you can create a long-lasting dried flower topiary quickly and easily with dried flowers. If you have flowers that are too small to be used for an arrangement, don’t throw them out. They are the perfect size for creating […]
Drying Hydrangea Flowers
Hydrangeas come in a large variety of colors. Drying hydrangea flowers to enjoy throughout the winter months is incredibly easy to do. Although hydrangeas almost dry themselves, it’s important to cut them before they have gone too far. The timing of when you cut them is the most important factor when drying hydrangeas. If you […]
Stop and Smell the Roses
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] I am so grateful to be featured in the fall issue of Stampington and Company’s Willow and Sage Magazine. My article, Stop & Smell the Roses, is focused on the benefits of the rose for the health of our skin. Stopping to smell the roses helps make us, and and our skin, happier. Check […]
Rosebud Valentine Cake
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may be thinking about what to do to show the special people in your life that you love them. Nothing says love quite like a favorite dessert decorated with rosebuds. The roses aren’t blooming here this time of year, so I used dried rosebuds to decorate this three-layer cake. Using […]
Prairie Dried Flower Crown
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text] Flower crowns are fun to wear for weddings, parties, festivals, and celebrations. A dried flower crown is a perfect keepsake from a special occasion, as it will look the same many years down the road as the day it was first worn. How long it retains its natural beauty depends on how well […]
The Healing Power of Calendula
The Healing Power of Calendula, was recently published in the fall issue of Stampington & Company’s magazine, Willow and Sage. In the article I explain how to make Calendula-infused sunflower seed oil, and tell of the many research based benefits of Calendula and sunflower seed oil for the skin. Growing Calendula, as well as creating […]
Candied Violet Cupcakes
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The violets are blooming in abundance right now. As they are one of the first flowers of the season, they seem to draw your attention and entice you to create something with them. They also come in a wide variety of colors. The simple beauty and small size of violets goes perfectly with cupcakes, and […]
Easter Egg Flower Vase
I love flower filled eggshell vases this time of year, as we are blessed with an abundance of eggs. With the Easter tradition of coloring eggs and the birds busy laying their eggs; it is a fun way to celebrate Easter and spring. If, like me, you don’t have any flowers blooming this time of […]
Everlasting Spring Flowers
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This wreath I recently made for a customer helped to bring some color to our world here in Minnesota. Even though spring is here, it will be a while before we see any spring flowers. Although I love to design for others, I also love to inspire others to create their own dried flower creation. […]
A Dozen Roses
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Happy Valentine’s Day! It was fun creating this Dozen Roses design for this special day. A dozen roses are often given as a message of love to that someone special on Valentine’s Day. By drying your roses after they lose their freshness, you will be reminded every day how much you are loved. You can […]
Our Relationship with the Earth We Live On | ACHS.EDU
[vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Flowers and people need many of the same requirements to be healthy. Both need water to live, require many of the same nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, while both have need of sunshine for photosynthesis. In plants, photosynthesis creates sugars and starches by the conversion of carbon dioxide and water using the […]
Flower-Filled Pumpkin
Pumpkins can be transformed into a vessel filled with nature’s bounty to enjoy throughout the autumn months. Dried flowers blend beautifully with natural material that is rich in abundance this time of year. Branches, wild grasses, seedheads, and pinecones; in their many shapes and sizes, can be found as you walk through the woods or […]
Focus on a Flower
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Flowers can bring a moment of stillness into our lives – reminding us to relax. Your mind escapes the hurried pace of this hustle-and-bustle world as you focus on the flower – admiring its beauty and contemplating where it grew in the sunshine and fresh air; swaying in the gentle breeze and soaking up the […]
Everlasting Summer Harvest
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4241″ img_size=”600 x 600″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] A reminder of the flower-filled days of summer After your berry basket is emptied of it’s berry harvest, it can get a second chance at holding another summer harvest – dried flowers! Berry baskets can be left plain or painted a variety of different colors to go with your […]
Reaping Happiness in the Garden
Whether you have a flower, vegetable, or herb garden, research is showing profound benefits we receive when working in and enjoying our gardens. Studies show that gardening provides a sense of fascination. It was observed that while people did basic garden activities from tilling to cutting flowers or harvesting vegetables, they also indulged in other […]
The Power of Calendula Petals for Beautiful Skin
Calendula officinalis is a beautiful golden garden flower that has been used for food, medicine and skin care throughout history. Calendula provides an incredible amount of therapeutic benefits, with being most known for its skin care properties. The flowers are used medicinally for the skin in the form of both oil infusions and tinctures, all […]
Floral Icecubes
Preserving flowers in ice is a fun way to enjoy the beauty of your fresh summer blossoms. Floral icecubes are pretty and easy to make. Although you probably aren’t going to actually eat them, it is important to use flowers that are safe to eat and free of pesticides. Common flowers such as violets, pansies, […]
Sounds of a Summer Daydream
Let the sounds of nature allow you to let go of the world around you as you picture a pleasant summer day with nothing but this moment on your mind. Breathe deeply, feeling your entire body relax as you listen to the sounds of a summer daydream. As you lie on the tender earth looking […]