I love setting summer tables!

A centerpiece can add a festive note to table settings and help the whole table to sing! Wildflowers and soft cultivated flowers like grasses, thistles, ammi, honeysuckle, and Queen Anne’s lace, add a soft and light touch to a table without detracting from your food and setting.

A wildflower centerpiece I created for our Flower and Garden Retreat. Tablecloth by KINDA, Napkins by Caravane.

Guests feel more comfortable sitting with a light and breezy centerpiece that they can see over or through! Sprinkling edible flowers into and on top of food can add the perfect seasonal brightness and color to outdoor meals.

A pretty table doesn’t need to be overdone but you can find joy in setting a simple table and adding these seasonal touches that aren’t so overdone that guests feel uncomfortable.

A few of my table setting rules:

-natural linens for table and napkins including 100% cotton or linen

-mix patterns and colors but stick to one to three colors if possible and always use a dominant color if you are using more than one color.

-keep flowers casual, low, and loose!

-include edible flowers or herbal garnishes

-don’t use formal or cliched table accessories like placemats, napkin rings, chargers, or other decor that doesn’t feel necessary or useful

-you don’t need to follow rules about utensils as long as you include the utensils needed for that meal and each course.

-setting food on a counter or table near the seating or in the middle of the table, family style involves guests in the process and helps you enjoy the experience of the food which should be the main focus!

I loved our outdoor meals  shown here in Portugal for our Flower and Garden ​Retreats this past May! Join us next May for a week of flower arranging, garden touring, and soaking up the best of the landscape in Portugal with garden-loving people! Check out the details here.​

​Chelsea

Working your way through your floral education to become a florist or floral designer can be overwhelming. For the student who wants a guide for each step of the process, you can now sign up for a one to one mentorship with Chelsea.

Chelsea will be with you every step of the way to build your dream flower business! 

-Chelsea will be your guide, mentor, and consultant to help you build each step of your dream floral design practice.

-Build your floral design portfolio with professional photography geared towards the clients you want to attract

-Create one-of-a-kind sustainable floral designs in your signature style

-Build an online and local presence

-Price your products for long-term sustainability 

-Find your dream clients

-Build out your systems for a beautiful, fulfilling, and sustainable floral design practice

-Create branding that sells your floral designs

-Identify your most profitable and enjoyable products

-Troubleshoot mechanics, photography, pricing, and more with Chelsea as your guide.

Floral Design Mentorship

Sessions 3 x per month

Availability for troubleshooting throughout the month

We work step by step to build your business starting with where you are, whether you are building your business from scratch or rebranding. 

Chelsea will be your mentor to help you grow your dream floral design business!

3 students a year are accepted to this mentorship program by application. The program requires a minimum 6 month commitment and is only available through an application process. Mentees should be committed to completing homework assignments and creating their floral business. 

SEND CHELSEA A MESSAGE HERE TO APPLY

P.S. Are you looking to trouble shoot just one issue or problem? Sign up for a flower session  right here.

Current flowers inspiring me from foraging adventures and my small little garden. Honeysuckle, comfrey, camphor basil, fig, geranium, cat grass. Taking a few moments to play with color and seasonal blossoms can re-inspire you for the season!

It took three tries to get this photo the way I wanted it to be! This is the part of styling and composing that is often ignored or shamed. Embrace play. Embrace starting over!

This is the number one step you need to take to start getting in your flow with styling flowers and photographing them. Embrace that it’s going to be a process, like every creative endeavor.

After working as a stylist for over 15 years (for clients like Kinfolk, Williams Sonoma, and more!) I’ve learned quite a few tricks to getting just the right photos that feel visually effective. I’d love to share my top tips with you and guide you into creating a collection of summer flower photos.

Learn about how to photograph flowers for your floral portfolio in our class that starts on Saturday! You’ll have creative space to play and compose and capture it all on camera! Book your spot in the FLORAL PORTFOLIO BUILDER right here !