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Bouquets

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    Friendship Bracelet Inspired Balloon Garland

    Brittany
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    Friendship Bracelet Inspired Balloon Garland

    how to make a flower balloon garland

    Friendship Bracelet Inspired Balloon Garland

    This year, we turned to our friend Wendy who has the most charming old white house (we’ve talked about her before here), which is a dreamy setting for her preschool.  We had aspirations of flowers and we wanted it to be BIG.  That’s when our friends at Anagram stepped in and gave us a hand with some of their balloons. My favorites are the purple/pink ombre ones, how about you? We knew with Wendy’s house and Anagram’s balloons we could pull off something really fun.how to make a flower balloon garland

    Midsummer decor idea

    Now, Wendy used to live in Sweden, so she was very eager to hop on the idea of Midsummer balloons. Did I also mention that Wendy is a BIG time lover of balloons!  Match made!  With the idea of greenery (read more about Sweden’s Midsummer traditions HERE) and flowers abounding, we got to work making some flowers out of balloons.

    Beaded Flower bracelets

    We were reminded of these popular bracelets that our friends at HonestlyWTF made and knew what we had to do. With some extra white balloons, we were able to make a chain and string the flowers together making the perfect balloon friendship bracelet.how to make a flower balloon garland

    Here’s how to make them!

    Materials: 

    Make a flower balloon: 

    1. Start by using a gold/yellow balloon for the center.
    2. Blow up 6 “petals” to go around the center. Use packing tape to secure together and to the center.
    3. Blow up 5 white balloons for the garlands. Use balloon tape to hold them together. Use packing tape to secure if necessary.
    4. To adhere the garlands to your structure, use gaffer tape.

    Tip: We found that packing tape is AMAZING for balloon to balloon adhesion and gaffer tape is great for balloon to other surfaces.

    how to make a flower balloon garland

    Recycling foil balloons

    Did we mention recycling?  Yes!  Anagram foil balloons can be used year after year. Or you can gift them to friends like we did to give them a second life. It turned out so cute and we can’t wait for her kids to see!  how to make a flower balloon garland

    This post is sponsored by Anagram but all opinions are my own! 

    DIY Grocery Store Flower Bouquet

    Brittany
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    DIY Grocery Store Flower Bouquet

    I love making grocery store flower bouquets. Before I learned a few simple flower-arranging tips, though, I used to buy pre-made bouquets from grocery stores, trim the ends, and dunk them into a vase as is. It looked decent and there’s nothing wrong with doing that, of course! But learning how to arrange flowers properly helped make a simple flower arrangement look like a professionally made bouquet.

    A bouquet made of eucalyptus leaves, chamomile, roses, and hydrangeas against a pink wall with a mint green jewelry box in the background.

    Buying a beautiful floral arrangement usually costs an arm and a leg. You can make a beautiful bouquet of your own with a fraction of that cost with flowers from a grocery store! Follow the step-by-step tutorial below to learn the tips and tricks.

    Detail shot of eucalyptus leaves, chamomile, roses, and hydrangeas against a pink wall with a mint green jewelry box in the background.

    Make Your Own Grocery Store Flower Bouquet

    When you’re buying flowers for a bouquet, consider a color scheme that you want to design around and look for a variety of shapes and textures.

    Detail shot of eucalyptus leaves, chamomile, roses, and hydrangeas against a pink wall with a mint green jewelry box in the background.

    There are four basic categories to look for when making a bouquet. First choose larger blooms that will be focal points (like hydrangeas, roses, peonies, zinnias, tulips etc.). Second, line flowers (like goldenrod, calla lilies, or other flowers that form a strong visual line) or accent flowers (spray roses, carnations, eryngium, etc.). Third, get filler flowers (like chamomile, wax flower, or baby’s breath). Fourth and finally, choose greenery or foliage for your bouquet.

    Choosing a vase for your arrangement is too-often overlooked. Whether you want something colorful or subdued, putting some thought into your vessel will elevate your bouquet. I put together a list of some of my current favorite vases here, or DIY a paper mâché or recycled egg carton vase with these tutorials!

    Instructions

    A person using a knife to trim the bottom of a stem next to some roses and a vase on a picnic table.A person removes rose leaves from a stem. In the background are rose petals, greenery, and a purple and white vase on a picnic table.A person arranges eucalyptus branches in a purple and white vase.A person arranges bright orange spray roses in a purple and white vase full of eucalyptus branches.A person places hydrangeas in a bouquet of eucalyptus and roses in a purple and white vase.A person places chamomile blossoms in a bouquet of eucalyptus, roses, and hydrangeas in a purple and white vase.

    1. Prepare all your flowers and foliage by trimming off the ends with a sharp, clean knife or some clean flower pruners. Take all the leaves off the bottom of the stems. You don’t want leaves to sit in the water, because then they’ll rot!
    2. Your flowers should have come with a little packet of flower food. Pour this, along with some water, into a vase.
    3. First place your foliage in the vase. Think about the ways that foliage can frame flowers or provide a more neutral backdrop for them. I’m arranging with willow eucalyptus, which has long, elegant leaves, so I’m also considering how they drape. Hold a few branches back to add in at the end.
    4. Next place your line flowers or accent flowers. I used spray roses here.
    5. Arrange the focal flowers in the vase. The stems from your foliage and accent flowers will form a sort of lattice that makes it easier to get your focal flowers right where you want them.
    6. When you arrange your focal flowers, think about how tall you want them and what direction you want them to face. If they’re too long, trim the stems a little bit at a time, because you can all ways take away more stem but you can’t make them grow taller!
    7. Arrange your fill flowers around the focal and line/accent flowers.
    8. Add in any foliage you held back.
    9. Place your bouquet somewhere in your home that you’ll see it often so that you really enjoy it! To keep it fresh for as long as possible, pick the flowers up and trim an inch off the stems every few days. When you do this, make sure there’s plenty of water and it’s clean.

    Arranging flowers is a skill that comes in handy all the time, especially if you love having fresh flowers around as much as I do! I would love to see your bouquets at #LarsFlowerMonth

    beautiful bouquet made from grocery store flowers

    Summer Paper Flower Wedding Bouquet Kit

    Brittany
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    Summer Paper Flower Wedding Bouquet Kit

    A couple years ago, we posted a number of DIY paper flower wedding bouquets. Some of our past ones include this colorful Cinco de Mayo bouquet, a stunning white peony bouquet, and the royal wedding inspired bouquet. It was time for another wedding bouquet, as well as a kit! That’s right, you can buy all the materials in one place–our shop!

    close up of a paper bouquet made of dahlias, roses, shamrocks, Mexican jasmine, and foliage.

    Wedding flowers are usually HUGELY expensive. They are gorgeous and undoubtedly worth the money if you can afford it. HOWEVER, not everyone has the cash for lavish floral decor, accessories, and bouquets. Then, at the end of the big day, most of the flowers get tossed and the ones you keep fade away much too quickly. I have even heard brides talk about coming home from a honeymoon to wilting flowers and feeling all the wedding and honeymoon hype slump down into post-wedding blues. How sad!

    close up of a paper bouquet made of dahlias, roses, shamrocks, Mexican jasmine, and foliage.A bride in a white dress against a pink background holds a paper bouquet made of dahlias, roses, shamrocks, Mexican jasmine, and foliage.

    But why not make something that will be just as beautiful and will last so much longer? Our paper flower wedding bouquet kit is unique, breathtaking, and won’t wilt. Honestly, if you keep it away from water and out of flames, this baby should last forever!

    close up of a paper bouquet made of dahlias, roses, shamrocks, Mexican jasmine, and foliage.

    Make Your Own Paper Wedding Bouquet

    We have the perfect paper wedding bouquet kit ready for anyone who wants to make their own flowers. To help you get started, we gathered the materials for you (including a lovely ribbon to tie everything together!) so that there’s one less thing to think about as you plan your wedding.

    close up of a paper bouquet made of dahlias, roses, shamrocks, Mexican jasmine, and foliage.

    We understand that it’s not easy to find the right materials in the correct colors and amounts. It turns out that lots of these materials (I’m looking at you, crepe paper) only come in bulk! Getting started and gathering the materials is probably the hardest part, so we took care of that for you! By buying our kit, you’ll save a lot of time, headache, and money, as well as templates and instructional videos.

    A bride in a white dress against a pink background holds a paper bouquet made of dahlias, roses, shamrocks, Mexican jasmine, and foliage.

    If you’re not confident about how your paper flower wedding bouquet will turn out, ask a friend and/or family member for help and have a bouquet-making party! The point is, enjoy your time planning while making something meaningful for your special day. This bouquet will become such a meaningful memento of your wedding and the memory of making it will be even more meaningful!

    Look for this kit in our shop to make your own, and tag us with #LarsPaperFlowers

     

    DIY Dried Flower Pumpkins

    Brittany
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    1
    DIY Dried Flower Pumpkins

    Today we’re bringing you a DIY fall project with dried flowers, but this one is a little different than our DIY Rainbow Pumpkins we posted last month. However, both projects could be left up year-round to add a little charm and cheer to your front porch.

    I love our pumpkin projects because they involve no carving. That’s right, no scraping the inside of a pumpkin for hours until your arm gets numb. No sifting through pumpkin goop to get out the seeds for roasting. And no more planning out an elaborate design, only to accidentally cut off a huge piece of pumpkin and ruining the whole thing! I’m really making a case for a no-carving Halloween, aren’t I? Well it turns out, there are other ways to dress up pumpkins, and I’d argue they let you be even more creative than a carving set!

    Unlike our colorful painted gourds, this pumpkin DIY relies on natural adornments—preserved flowers, to be precise! You don’t need a perfectly round pumpkin for this DIY fall project with dried flowers. In fact, you could even dress up some acorn or butternut squash if that’s what you have on hand. How gorgeous would these pumpkins be as a Thanksgiving table centerpiece?

    Even though we’re using preserved flowers for this project, that doesn’t mean the colors have to be tone down. You know which blog this is, right? Bring on the brightness! Choose jewel toned flowers that hold onto their hues after drying, like dried globe amaranth or strawflowers. How perfect is the name “strawflower”?! It evokes those beautiful red berries we all know and love and the “straw” makes me think of fall harvest.

    Here are some of our favorite preserved and dried flowers from around the web!

    DIY Fall project with dried flowers and pumpkins!

    Materials:

    See above!

    Instructions:

    1. Pick out your flowers (we got ours from Terrain) and pumpkins. We went with a monochromatic scheme because…elegance!
    2. Plan your pattern.
    3. Start gluing! Use extra glue to make sure they stay on!

    That’s it!

    It’s really an easy project, but you can get super intricate with the design and style of the pumpkin. Again, how lovely would it be as a wedding centerpiece. I’m definitely showing these off ASAP!

    Yes, summer is over, and it’s taking the beautiful flowers with it, but don’t fret! This DIY will help you preserve the colorful blooms all through the fall season.

    Thank you Terrain for providing the beautiful preserved flowers! You can shop their collection here. 

    Memorial Day Paper Poppy Pin

    Brittany
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    Memorial Day Paper Poppy Pin

    How to celebrate Memorial Day

    What are some of your Memorial Day traditions? Here at Lars, our holiday plans usually include hot dogs. After that, maybe a dip in the pool, and lots of time with family! We are also sure to take the opportunity to remember the sacrifices people have made out of love for their country. 

    DIY paper poppy pin for memorial day

    In addition to roasting up some hot dogs this Monday, consider adding this paper poppy pin to your list of family activities! Not only are these paper poppies super easy to make, but the pin is so sweet you’ll want to wear it all summer long! We love the way these turned out and can’t wait for you to make your own paper poppies!

    Poppy Symbolism

    Since the end of WWI, the red poppy has come to symbolize remembrance, hope, and peace. Its symbolism came about when the bright red flowers began blooming during the spring of 1915 through a battle-scarred land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium). A Canadian doctor named Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae saw these bright red poppies amidst the battlefield’s chaos and bloodshed and was so moved that he wrote his now-famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.”

    Inspired by McCrae’s poem, scholar and humanitarian Moina Michael decided to make and sell silk poppy pins in order to help raise money for veterans who were returning home from war. Our girl Moina eventually campaigned to make the poppy the official symbol of remembrance in the United States and worked with various countries and governments around the world to help people recognize this special flower’s significance. Moina eventually came to be known as the “Poppy Lady” (a title we LOVE) and spent the rest of her life championing the poppy!

    Nearly a century after WWI ended, millions of people across the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand wear the red poppy every November 11, known as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, to commemorate the anniversary of the 1918 armistice. In the U.S., the tradition is slightly different because we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th to honor all living veterans and Memorial Day on the last Monday of May to commemorate all those who died fighting for their country. This cute DIY paper poppy pin is a fun and easy way to bring the red poppy to your Memorial Day celebrations!

    How to make a paper poppy pin for Memorial Day

    Supplies needed:

    All supplies are linked on Amazon Prime so you can make your pin in time for Memorial Day!

    Instructions:

    1. First, download and print the paper poppy pin templates
    2. Cut out three “petals” from the red” template.
    3. Cut out a circle from the black using your template. This is your stamen. Make tiny incisions into the circle as close to each other as possible all the way around the perimeter. Curl the edges of the stamen with a pencil and cup them so that they are as vertical as possible.
    4. Make the center that goes inside the stamen by gluing the four corners together. Also, glue the bottom to the inside of the stamen.
    5. Add embroidery stitches to the inside of the petals and to the leaves.
    6. Glue the petals together so that they evenly overlap each other.
    7. Glue the center onto the top petal.
    8. Add the leaves to the underside.
    9. Finally, add a pin backing to the back.
    10. Start a new tradition and wear your poppy pin this Monday!

    Other poppy projects

    paper poppy cake toppers for summer party decor paper poppy background for DIY party decor paper flower corsage for prom or high school dance ideas paper summer garland for DIY summer party decor how to draw a poppy drawing tutorial

    As self-proclaimed “poppy ladies,” we think poppies fit in ANYWHERE. As cake toppers, in a summery flower garland, or even covering an entire wall! You can make paper poppies as intricate and life-like as you choose. To use the poppy emblem for your own remembrance this Memorial Day, click on any of the projects above to find the perfect one for you! Some are simple enough for the entire family to help with, like these, and some look real enough to add to a bouquet. You can also teach your kids about the sacrifices we honor on Memorial Day with the help of this poppy coloring page.

    If you make any of these poppy projects we would love to see them! Tag us with #LarsMakes. Happy crafting!



     

    In the Mood For: The Royal Wedding Anniversary

    Brittany
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    In the Mood For: The Royal Wedding Anniversary

    More than knowing how to throw a party, they know how to show love and respect for one another and people around the world. Aside from all of the drama, Harry and Meghan have been busy running their non-profit organization, Archewell. I did a little digging and learned that they chose this name because the Greek word “arche” means “source of action” (Archie = Arche). Aside from that, Meghan recently teamed up with Save the Children and did a fantastic story-time segment available on instagram. We are donating the proceeds from our Picture Hope coloring book to the same organization! That makes us just like Meghan, right?

    Okay. Now that I’ve talked about how wonderful Harry and Meghan are for humanitarian reasons, I can talk about what we all guiltily came here for: FASHION. 

    Since joining the royal family, Meghan has become an icon. And in the months since Megxit, she has stepped up her wardrobe in a big way. I’ve been feeling a little tired of my same two house dresses and have spent a fair bit of time looking at pictures of Meghan and Kate for fashion inspiration. You’ll love what I found!! The mix of classic elegance with modern, playful touches is perfect. Truthfully, that’s what I hope Lars makes you, dear reader, think of. I’d like to think Meghan is a Lars girl. 😉 

    Two years ago, we wrote about the wedding and made a mood board! If you want to see their wedding style synthesized, try this out! You probably have one friend who is a big time fan of all things royal (mine is named Dana). Send her something from our Royal Weddings collection!  

    (I won’t tell if you make a purchase for yourself.)

    royal wedding stationary to celebrate the royal family

    Keep on scrolling down to see some pieces that are a perfect fit for a royal-loving Lars girl. When you’re ready, head to our instagram today to vote on your favorite royal wedding fashion items. Which wedding was your favorite, Meghan’s or Kate’s? 

    Now that’s the tea – don’t spill.

    Everyday style inspired by the Royal Family

    How to plan your own royal wedding

    If you are day dreaming of your very own classic wedding, inspired by Meghan and Harry’s big day, we have all the resources to help you! We are in full support of you going all out for the classy, iconic wedding of this decade. Visions of pastel colors and big hats are dancing around our heads. If you can picture it too, keep reading! After all, your deserve to feel royal on your wedding day.

    paper wedding bouqet meghan markle's wedding bouqet from the royal wedding

    You can find the templates needed to make your own paper version of Meghan’s wedding bouquet in our new paper flower e-book.  Start the theme with your bridal shower, with the help of these printable invites the queen herself would approve of! Click here to see the royal wedding inspired tea party we held, for inspiration for your bridal shower or the reception itself!

    Explore the links below for fashion inspired by the personal styles of members of the royal family. Imagine your guests donning classy pastel attire for the garden wedding every one will be talking about. Below you’ll find dresses, spring blazers, heels, and even hats the royal family would love any excuse to wear

    Royal Wedding Fashion

    Royal Wedding Accessories

     

    This post is part of our “In the Mood For” series, where we highlight the taste of famous people and characters we love. Click these links to be inspired by kindred spirits like Anne of Green Gables or Jo March, or to learn how to re-create the iconic styles of real life heroes Iris Apfel or Alexander Girard. 

    When Life Hands You Lemons care package and tablescape with Spoonflower

    Brittany
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    When Life Hands You Lemons care package and tablescape with Spoonflower

    My favorite Mother’s Day inspired Spoonflower patterns

    I spent a good amount of time going through the Spoonflower Marketplace, which is thousands and thousands of independent artists and great designs. Yes, it took awhile, but I came upon some really beautiful options and had a hard time narrowing it down. I saved my favorites in this collection on their site.

    Which ones are your favorites???

    There are a lot of good ones, right?! I was going for a springy, floraly vibe that also felt refined and could be used throughout the year. Here were some alternative options I was eyeing:

    Citrus fabric tablecloth with Spoonflower

    Ultimately, I ended up going for this Multi Citrus Grove Toile by Danika Herrick. It has the right touch of deGournay with its chinoiserie feel. Plus, I always love some good citrus–it makes everything feel instantly refreshing.blue and orange table ideaCustom Home Decor Options

    Perhaps you remember when I redid my bedroom in all Spoonflower? Right–so not only can you order fabric by the yard, but you can order things for your home to be made in the fabric of your choice and it’s all sewn right here in the United States. For my bedroom it was the wallpaper, duvet, pillow cases, curtains, and this time around I ordered a tablecloth for the Party-For-Mom that I will be throwing. I paired it with this Indian print inspired marigold print by Andrea Lauren because I loved the contrast of the yellow to the blue in the main selection and decided to use them for the cloth napkins.Indian block print napkins

    Visualizing the process

    What I find useful in their new home decor option is the ability to see them on a variety of products. You can do that by selecting Home Decor in the “Also available in” section to view all of the different home decor products and then it automatically shows you how it will look.

    And the marigold:

    Because of that, I was able to visualize what it would really be like. And it was going to be GOOD!

    Pattern on pattern advice:

    Pairing a pattern on pattern can be tricky, but there are a few ways to make sure it works:

    1. Identify the colors of the palette. The first pattern I worked with has a lot going on but I drew out the main colors: blue, yellow, orange, and green.
    2. Along the same lines, draw out the colors that you’d like to highlight more. If there’s a color in the fabric that you don’t necessarily love, don’t highlight it! On the flipside, if you like a color more than another, bring that color out more.
    3. The two fabrics should be of different scale. The first pattern has a very large scale so I knew I needed to go smaller on the second.blue and orange table idea

    Citrus tablescape

    To go with our Mother’s Day party, we created a centerpiece of citrus–grapefruit, lemons, and oranges, to sit atop the tablecloth. We matched with with some yellow plates, blue bowls, and goblets to tie it in with our beautiful fabric. Plus the pretty chargers that add some depth. And a dash of flowers to keep it fresh!

    Mother’s Day Care Packages

    Because we are keeping friends and family at arm’s length right now, we have been brainstorming DIY ideas of how to share uplifting moments with our loved ones near and far. We decided to make a tote from Spoonflower’s Linen Cotton Canvas –it’s the perfect thing to fill up with goodies and send along to someone who needed a dose of joy. A handpicked, handmade gift for someone you love can be the best surprise!oranges table idea

    To match the amazing fabric, we made our gift bag lemon themed! You know, the classic, “When life gives you lemons”. With everything life is throwing at us lately, let’s just say we have been making A LOT of metaphorical lemonade. We filled our gift bag with lots of lemon themed hand soap, lotion, candles, and more. Everything our loved ones need to make this extra hand washing fun!

    When Life Hands you Lemons Care Package

    Additionally, I wanted to create a care package to send along to my mom as Mother’s Day approaches. Social distancing could have interrupted the celebration of such a special holiday, but instead it turned into something that lets us show our love for our mothers in a new way. After turning the beautiful fabric from Spoonflower into a tote (the tutorial is now available in the Lars shop!), I wanted to fill it with goodies that were fun and practical. So, candy was a must (der!), as well as hand sanitizer and other necessities. Paul and Jasper joined in as well to create a tote-turned-gift-basket for Paul’s mom too to send to her in Denmark.

    Follow these simple steps to make your own gift tote bag:

    DIY Tote bag

    (inspired by the famous Baggu tote!))

    Materials:

    Instructions:

    Step 1: Print off our tote bag template found here

    Step 2: Cut your bag pieces out of the fabric using the pattern, making sure to note which part of the fabric you want to highlight on your bag and which direction it will face when complete

    Step 3: Starting with the main bag piece — face right sides together

    Step 4: Sew the sides with a single stitch (and finish off the edges with a zag zag stitch if desired)

    Step 5: Pull the edges of the notched part of the cut fabric, on the bottom of the bag, together to form the flat bottom of the bag. Sew a single stitch straight across these edges you have pulled together

    Step 6: Turn your main bag piece right side out to prep for future steps. Now to move on to the handle straps!

    Step 7: Take one of the cut handle strap pieces and fold the long edges in a quarter of an inch. Use your fingernail to crease the canvas fabric fold well.

    Step 8: Once both long sides are creased, fold the entire strap in half so both folded edges meet

    Step 9: Pin and sew a single stitch down both long sides of the strap. This will flatten the strap and make both edges look the same.

    Step 10: Repeat steps 7-9 for the second handle strap. Next for the shoulder strap!

    Step 11: Repeat steps 7-9 for the shoulder strap — to repeat, crease in the long sides a quarter of an inch, then fold the entire strap in half so both folded edges meet. Sew a single stitch down both long edges of the shoulder strap.

    Step 12: Now you will attach all straps to the main bag piece — to do this, make sure your bag piece turned right side out

    Step 13: Position the handle straps in the center on the bag opening, on either side, facing down towards the bottom of the bag with the short edges aligned with the top opening edge of the bag. Pin them in place and sew them on.

    Step 14: Attach an end of the shoulder strap piece to both edges of the bag, with the strap facing down just like you did with the handle straps, and sew them in place.

    Step 15: All straps should now be sewn on the outside of the bag, facing downwards, so they when folded up inside the bag to face up the seam will not show. You are almost done!

    Step 16: Take your facing pieces, on both pieces, crease one long edge in a quarter of an inch.

    Step 17:  Face both pieces right side together and sew both short edges

    Step 18: Place the sewn facing pieces around the opening of the bag, over the edge of all the straps. Make sure the creased edge is facing down and the un-creased edge is aligned with the top opening edge of the bag.

    Step 19: Sew a single stitch around the top opening edge of the bag, attached the facing pieces to the bag

    Step 20: Turn the facing piece to the inside of the bag, making the straps fold upwards and the seams will all be hidden inside

    Step 21: Turn the bag back inside out for the final step – Sew around the bottom creased edge of the facing pieces to keep that inside edge from fraying.

    Step 22: Your bag is finished! Turn it back right side out to admire your work!

    Send a Mother’s Day care package

    What a wonderful way to send love when you can’t visit in person! Plus, who doesn’t love surprise presents in the mail? We think that, in lieu of a visit, sending gifts for Mother’s Day can be the next best thing! orange and yellow tableorange tablescape

    Mother's Day table ideaDIY Baggu bag templatehow to sew a baggu toteWe’d love to see your Mother’s Day party-for-ones or care packages. Tag us with #LarsLovesMamas so we can see them! 

    Discount for Lars readers

    Lars readers can get 15% off with code LARSTABLE15 for all Table Linens and Tea Towels.

    This post is sponsored by Spoonflower, who we love for their many home decor and fabric options. We love working with sponsors who allow us to create awesome new content for you!

    Women Who Work: Erin Benzakein

    Brittany
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    Women Who Work: Erin Benzakein

    When did you know that flowers and gardening were your jam?

    I found flowers through landscape design and my love was deepened through farming. As my understanding of flowers grew my desire to arrange them did too. I began with what I could grow in my garden, including many grown items that are not typically thought of when one creates arrangements. Herbs, vegetables, fruits, if I could grow it I was using it. I began to see the beauty in what each season could produce making each bouquet moments of captured time. I practiced and practiced and was constantly met with love,  support and positive feedback which kept me going on my journey and has helped me arrive where I am today.

    Why is it important to you to create?

    Creating is part of something much bigger than beautiful arrangements or design. Creating helps myself and others think ahead and pioneer new ideas. Creating is a chance to mark life’s greatest milestones and everyday events in a simple yet meaningful ways.

    What’s your advice to women wanting to pursue the same thing?

    It is all in the practice of your medium and finding what works best for you. I’ve found that everyone struggles more or less with the same things: how to approach color, basic mechanics, proper ingredient selection, and most importantly, confidence. Be gentle with yourself as you work through these things and thing the meaning in the work you are creating.

    How to get started

     

    You can find Erin here:

    @FloretFlower
    Floret Flowers site
    You can find her latest book, A Year in Flowers here
    Her first book, Cut Flower Garden here
    2020 Floret Farms planner here
    Her Garden Journal here

    Gardening Art Print

    You can find all of the Women Who Work here!

    If you are passionate about gardening be sure to check out Floret Farm’s A Year In Flowers and be sure to hang up the Gardening Print in your home to remind you of just how incredible you are at your work!

    DIY Paper Shamrock Plant

    Brittany
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    2
    DIY Paper Shamrock Plant

    DIY Paper Shamrock plant

    You can find the materials above
    Find the shamrock template here

    Directions: 

    1. Download the Shamrock Leaf PDF or SVG
    2. Prep your paper by following the white washing instructions (steps 2-5).
    3. Cut out the shamrock leaf file with craft cutting machine. This step can be done by hand with a pair of scissors if you don’t have a machine!
    4. Cut out enough pieces to create your shamrocks. We cut out somewhere around 120 pieces to create 30-40 three-leaf clovers and a few four-leaf clovers for luck!
    5. Once your pieces are cut out fold them in half to create a crease between the two arches.
    6. Mix acrylic paint with a few drops of water to create a thinner paint.
    7. Once thinned, gently paint the leaf from the stem up and out to thin points at the middle of the leaf. Repeat this action several times until you are pleased with the appearance of the leaves.
    8. Once all leaves are painted you will begin assembling them as clovers.
    9. Cut pieces of wire 3-5 inches long, we cut ours long and cut them to adjust height when we placed them into the plant.
    10. Once your wires are cut you will take a leaf and place it at the top of the wire, while holding the leaf in place you will take the floral tape and wrap down just far enough to secure that leaf.
    11. Cut the floral tape.
    12. Repeat step 10 two more times until you have three of the leaves attached.
    13. If you would like to make a four-leaf clover just add in an addition leaf and repeat step 10 again!
    14. Once you have your clovers made you can begin to place the clovers into floral foam until its full!

    Thank you to Terrain for providing us the most magical scalloped pot, we can feel our luck increasing just being around it! Be sure to tag us with #Larsmakes so we can see how you’re catching luck this month! Stay tuned for even more ways to make this St. Patty’s Day the biggest hit yet!

    Here are some more pots we love for this project!

     

    Interview with Sofia Vusir Jansson

    Brittany
    -
    3
    Interview with Sofia Vusir Jansson

    Interview with Sofia Jansson of Mokkasin

    What do you consider yourself? 

    I used to say that I’m a creator and a photographer mainly.  I’m not sure if creator is a commonly used word in English, but I am a person who does a lot of creative projects. My focus is often on prop/set design and DIY. And my job as a photographer, which I am almost exclusively doing these days, includes building the scene for the photos and hand making all of the props. Absolutely not a business person, that is the last I would call myself.

    Who helped you “become” who you are?

    I would say that my four kids have made me into the person I am. Their free way of seeing the world and their never ending fantasies have influenced me so much. In their minds they’re not so anxious about their worlds, it’s true and imperfect which, for me, is a very perfect way of being. 

    Do you feel like you’ve arrived at what you set out to do? 

    Yes I think so. Nowadays I do so many different things. No two days are alike, and I love it that way. It’s very easy for me to say YES even if I didn’t know if I could manage the project load. Maybe it is for this reason that I love my job so much, it is never boring and makes me stretch and develop every minute to meet the needs of each project. 

    What more would you like to “become”? 

    I would like to work more with set design. If I could do it all again I would probably go receive my education in art directing, that’s a dream of mine. Nowadays I work on projects within this spectrum, but I dream about the big traditional theaters and doing set design and art direction. It would also be very fun to be really good at building things, like a carpenter. Or a glass artist! Ohh there are so many things I would love to learn.

    Where did you study, and what did you study? 

    I haven’t studied more than high school, and after high school I studied to be a hairdresser. I worked in this field for 10 years and loved every day. But, one day I decided to quit, and I have never looked back. I think, if you do something creative you must have some fire inside you, you must love your work.  If you don’t, as it was for me that day, it’s better to find another path. 

    How did you get started doing what you do? 

    Actually, everything began when I started to run a little shop. I built all the marketing with my own pictures. The same day I started the shop I also started a blog, and THAT is where everything started. The blog transformed from a business blog that connected to the shop, to a lifestyle blog featuring almost exclusively my own pictures. People found me that way and the blog continued to live as a sort of portfolio. In that way, beside running the shop I got more and more assignments with focus at photography, styling and DIY. One lead to the other. 

    When did you discover your love for your work? 

    I think I have the blog to thank for that, I love the format. I love to tell stories with words and pictures. The blog has let me create my own universe that only my way of seeing things exists.

    Were you scared when you first started looking for jobs? How did you overcome this? 

    This sounds like some kind of humble brag, but I’m so lucky that the question of “will I have work?” crossed my mind but was never an issue, I have not had to ask or go looking for work. However, I’m not a nervous person in general and I say “yes” without thinking if I can really manage the job people are asking for. After I have said yes, I sometimes can doubt myself. But I’m lucky to have a husband that always gives me encouragement time and time again. 

    What’s your goal with your work? 

    To always do jobs that follow my gut feeling and heart. And to always have the work have as much of my personal touch on touch in it as possible, not to follow some others. To constantly be true to myself even in the work I do. 

    What are you most proud of in your career? 

    I am proud of many things! That Numero 74 chose me as their photographer many years ago and that I still get to work with them, they are always passionate their work and their way of seeing the world. This has helped me to develop myself and my vision.

    I am always proud when people ask for props/set design and use them in theater and books. These occasions make everything seem so real. That someone would choose the things you have made by your own hands to achieve their dreams.

    And, of course, I’m proud of the book Hidden Places. I’m so proud that that book is exactly as I want it to be. I wished to create a kind of book that hadn’t been done before. Something new and more than just a DIY-guide. During the whole process I wanted the book not to be anxious and stacked in norms and structures. I wanted the photographs to have big spaces and to let the text take space and be grounded in the amazing fantasies of my children. I wanted the illustrations and format to be skewed in a good way. When viewing the book you shouldn’t have the feeling that everything is perfect, things are not always but rather creative and full of fantasy and life. Every time someone gives me feedback about the book I’m so very proud and it makes me really happy!

    What is it like working with your family? 

    So many projects during the year have involved my family. My husband and my four kids. I really love this and for me it is a huge gift, that everything is like a family affair. My kids have helped me relax and let go of control in a very good way. Before, when I was younger, I was a person that wanted control of everything and everyone. When they were born, 4 kids in 4 years I couldn’t live up to this perfect surface anymore and I think that was my rescue. My husband always saves me, both in life but also with jobs and projects. When I am lost he always has a good idea. He is hugely creative and I trust him one hundred percent. I think many people perceive us as quite a messy family with a thousand projects that go on. And, maybe our house is a little bit different but I think it is only in a good way. 

    How did your childhood influence what you have become? 

    I played a lot and fantasy was always intense, close and felt very real. I remember when I and one of my sisters ventured into imaginary lands years after our friends had stopped. We built our own worlds and a with games we loved we could continue for weeks, nobody was allowed to clean it away. Every summer we stayed at my parents little cottage in the woods, there was no electricity and the TV was from a car battery which meant that we just had TV for a short moment in the morning. We played from sunrise to sunset during those endless summers, our stick horses took us around in the woods. We had our own fun fair, where the old stroller doubled as the roller-coaster. 

    Did you feel pressured in any way to pursue a certain career path? 

    Not at all, my mom and dad have always encouraged me and my two sisters to go our own way and told us that the future is ours, exactly equal as it is for everyone else. 

    What’s your work space like? 

    We live in a big house built in 1913, the whole house is my work space. It’s my photo studio and it’s a space that makes it possible (for everyone) to be creative all over the house. Every part of the house, from cellar to attic, is filled with things and ongoing projects. 

    What’s a piece of advice that you’ve carried with you and who is it from?

     I think it comes from when I was little – to always believe in myself. Always go with your gut feeling and to follow your heart. And as I have grown up my husband has always supported me in this. It is so important to have someone by your side, that believes in you. I think one should “collect” people that follow their own paths in life, people that are beyond over thinking and that are not afraid to be themself.

    What artists/designers/creatives do you look up to?

    Both historical and present, my list holds so many but it’s always women and especially those that have always followed their own path and weren’t afraid to be different. One historical figure that inspires me a lot is Karin Larsson, the wife of Carl Larsson, who is Sweden’s most famous artist. Her way of looking at life and things is very inspiring, things don’t have to be so finicky “the hand should be seen” was one of her saying – that means that you should see that the craft is made by hand. She designed a lot of her own furniture that the carpenter thought was so ugly so he delivered in the night. Another inspiration is the illustrator of the book Hidden Places, her name is Maja Sten and I love her way of painting and her way of seeing artistry and creativity. She always makes everything by hand instead of using a digital program and you can really feel the life in her art. My Feldt – she’s a writer (and running a café, and a ecologic apple farming, and a TV personality ) soon releasing her second cooking book. I love her way of being herself , she is one of the most transparent people I know.

    How has social media influenced your work? 

    I think I can thank my blog for almost everything, and of course also Instagram in the latest years. I have used it like a portfolio and in that way it has been so important. And of course also the people who have I have crossed paths with on social media.

    Who is your work intended for? 

    I hope I can inspire people and give them another way to look at the world. Everything doesn’t have to be so perfect and correct. I hope people feel that and also are inspired to be creative. I think people have so much to win in being creative in different ways, everyone should be creative in the way that suits them. I think the future will require us people to be more creative, dare to think outside the box in so many ways. To use the creative part of the brain more often. Nowadays, when so many things are served in front of you is it so easy to forget that you have so much creativity inside yourself. 

    What’s inspiring you lately?

    Actually, Swedish glass. We have had a long tradition of glassmaking, with lots of glassworkers in a particular part of Sweden.  Unfortunately, this is a craft that is disappearing, more and more every year. That is really sad, so I am reading everything that comes around. I am also planning to visit one of the glassworkers that still practices the craft. 

    You can find Sofia:

    Instagram @sofiaatmokkasin
    Website of Sofia

    Photos of Sofia by Kristen Krickelin

    Valentines Baby’s Breath Heart Wreath

    Brittany
    -
    0
    Valentines Baby’s Breath Heart Wreath

    We took a few extra steps of DIY to make this wreath as cost effective as possible by making the heart shaped foam wreath ourself. With a handful of floral foam, glue sticks, string, live baby’s-breath (we use live and then let it dry itself out naturally), spray paint, and cardboard we set out to make our wreath!

    Valentines Baby’s Breath Wreath

    Materials: 

    See above.

    Please note: We’ve since done some research on environmentally friendly alternatives to floral foam and you can find them here!

    Directions: 

    1. Draw a heart on a piece of cardboard with a slightly smaller heart (about 2 inches apart) inside of it.
    2. Take a good pair of scissors and cut out the outside as well as the inside of the heart.
    3. Take your floral foam pieces and place them around your guide making sure all of the cardboard is covered. Note that some will need to be cut in order to fit all the way around it.
    4. Taking a glue stick spread a generous amount onto and secure each piece in place, this will need time to dry. You can use a glue gun, however, it does not stick as well but it will speed up the process.
    5. With a sharp knife, trim the floral foam according to your guide.
    6. Once you have the shape you want, take some twine and secure each piece in place.
    7. Take your baby’s breath and lightly spray it with spray paint until the color is as deep as you want it.
    8. Once the baby’s breath is dry cut the pieces off and start placing them packed tightly together onto the wreath.

    We are loving this wreath on our door this Valentine season and can’t wait to see it on all of your doors! Tag us with #larsloveslove so we can see these wreaths in all their glory!

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