This morning I went to the garden to cut. As I gathered my blooms in this incredible heat, I shed tears of true joy.  New ideas are forming and taking root in me. I hope they flourish and grow.

For the last two weeks designer friends have been joining me here at my home or in DC. We have been designing together and it has been incredible. All of these designers are part of the group the Chapel Designers, which is the organization of wedding experts I started two and half years ago. Together we have done some amazing things. Because of the relationships I have developed with these designers I am growing, learning and evolving. This growth is not only as a floral designer but as a person, a mother and a business owner. As many of you know I proclaimed this year, my year of learning and education. I have traveled to the Caribbean to celebrate 25 years of marriage, to NYC to be with my Chapel Designers, to Holland and Belgium to study design and recently to California to study under one of my all time favorite designers, although I have traveled many places this last year what I learned right here in my own back yard may be the post powerful of all.

Growth, change, and attitude are my responsibility. I gotta make it happen and I have to have the courage to leap!!

Many thanks to my wonderful friends and designers that visited or designed with me and my family over the last few weeks.

 

Courteney Lambert of Courteney Lambert Florals.

Isha Foss of Isha Foss Events, Daevid Reed of Daevids of Norfolk.

David Beahm of NYC who tried to teach Sam how to draw a covered bridge and who was willing to climb into the cooler with us in spite of the fact that he is one of the top designers in NYC.

Trish Van De Merkt of Grape Vine Floral,  Sam Chapple of Holly Chapple, Alicia Schwede of Bella Fiore Events, Alexandra Jusino of Exquisite Designs, Me, Chuck Graham, and David Beahm.

A visit to Heiders Farm Market owned by my daddy!!

Chuck, Alexandra Jusino, and Alicia.

Alicia Schwede from Bella Fiore Events and the Flirty Fleurs Blog.

Chuck Graham Editor of Flirty Fleurs and floral designer at Blooms and Grace of Holly Chapple.

A special thanks also to designer Laura Ritchie from Events In The City who allowed me to have one of the most beautiful and real conversations of my life today.  I am so thankful for my designer friends and for the encouragement and support they continue to give me.

Laura Ritchie, Christie Mcquire, and Megan Pollard from Events In The City.