I put my growing flower knowledge to use recently by hosting my very first flower workshop! I focused on bouquet basics, offering entry level tips and tricks for flower arranging novices. We had 25 attendees and everyone walked away with an adorable centerpiece. Talk about a rewarding experience.

I still can't believe it and looking back at these photos makes me realize just how nervous I was because I don't remember any of it. I hosted the workshop as part of a lunchtime "Brown Bag" series at work. It's an opportunity for the different URBN brands and local business to offer up their expertise on a variety of topics to employees. The hour long break from the work week is often a welcome relief from the normal hustle bustle. Here's a look at what went down:

Because BHLDN is the special occasion brand it only makes sense that we would teach something having to do with entertainment and elevating the everyday. Flowers bring so much beauty and joy to life and it was thrilling to watch the "students" happily chat with one another, select their flowers and slowly create their mini masterpieces (you snap their vases here). Every so often I'd look out and see someone smelling the roses or grin uncontrollably at their creation. 

I'm honored that I was asked to host the workshop and more than one person asked when we would do it again. I'll take that as a sign that they liked it too. - b. 

My recent artistic endeavors are a collage created from several other paintings, which means for every painting I complete at least three “quick” paintings are required to assemble it. Did I just confuse you? Basically I create collages made entirely of original paintings by yours truly. Why? Because I love arranging flowers, and I love creating art and by combining these two things (twice over I might add) I’m sending a piece of my my heart out into the world to be looked at and hopefully admired by others. I'll share more on what the final images looked like soon (promise).

But I digress; you’re reading this because there are about 8 stunning photos of bouquets above this paragraph. When I’m creating the “quick” paintings that form the base of my final collage I draw inspiration from the endless wealth of floral still lives shared across the internet. From the flowers used to the backgrounds and colors, the expertise and artistry of the thousands of floral designers working across the globe astounds me. It must be shared. So here’s more about the photos you see above, and please click through and marvel at the other works by these great artists. - b.

image sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Spring has taken me to many new and exciting places this year, the most exciting of which was Copenhagen and it doesn't stop there! It seems every weekend brings a new experience in a new location, filled with endless hours of good times.

I have little time to sit and process all we've done but will as soon as I have a moment. There are photos to edit and stories to tell but first I have more important things to attend to... - b.