outtakes and the last month of this year

I have a case of the Monday's. I probably shouldn't, but doesn't everyone after a holiday weekend. It's always hard to say goodbye to my mom. Some days Seth and I tease ourselves into day dreaming about living in the same city has her. But we know we can't go anywhere. At least for now. To many things, projects going, projects in the pipeline and projects in the dream line to pick up and go. But we still dream about it sometimes. Doesn't everyone?

I really enjoyed our vacation to Independence Missouri this past weekend for Thanksgiving. It was nice to get out of the city, reconnect with the land and be around loved ones and farm animals. It was, as it always has been, a very inspiring trip that had the gears in my head cranking. So many ideas and thoughts. I am looking forward to my next visit. Not sure when that will be, but hopefully soon.

Here are some images from a shoot that we recently did with Veronica Schaeffer, South Social and Home, Kate Weinstein, Joanna Bastermajian and Levinson Locations as well as some other randoms from last month. I look forward to sharing the final images with you soon.

Get into the Spirit

Happy Monday, dears.

Our wreath making workshop is THIS FRIDAY! Time sure does fly. We are going to show you how to make your own wreaths and swag for the holidays. Join myself and Claire from Humboldt House and not only take home some wreaths, but enjoy some snacks and drinks and a little pre game holiday shopping!
Grab a spot by signing up HERE and come get cozy with us and have a girl hang while making pretty things.

Spaces is limited so hurry hurry!

this week is...

I am finally sitting at my desk for the first time this week and it feels so good and kind of relaxing. Running on little sleep and energy, but super happy about all that is up this week. Just wrapped a shoot with the amazing Barkers . I love styling for them. They are so filled with fire and excitement, it's refreshing and inspiring.

Tomorrow I am super excited to be apart of my friend Heather Crosby's book release party for her book Yum Universe. I met Heather this summer at Art Camp and immediately connected with her and her way of eating and healthy living. A few months back she approached us about doing some florals for her book release and I happily said of course. 

If you would like to join us along with:

Owen + Alchemy

Rhine Hall Distillery 

Caroline Liu

we will be at Chicago Art Department from 6-9pm tomorrow to celebrate this amazing book filled with incredible information and recipes. 

P.S. Stay tuned for us gradually adding some new products to the online shop. They are coming from some of our favorite people and will be great for easy and thoughtful holiday gifts. We will be bringing one new product to you next week and maybe we will even give away a little Foxglove gift collection to one of you, so keep your eyes peeled.  Speaking of products, the brisk weather has started, so check out the Nourishing Facial Serum in our apothecary.  It will keep those rosy cheeks happy all winter long. 

thursday morning

I woke up this morning in a good mood. My finger itched a bit from a bee sting that I kindly received on the upper level of the Mariano's parking lot yesterday. It's been years since I have been stung by a bee, and frankly, I was a little nervous as my mother and brother are pretty allergic to the suckers. Then I thought about how I probably just killed a bee, and started feeling bad about slapping him.

I am prepping for our Humboldt House workshop that is this evening. Jeanie's delivery guy is going to be dropping off the flowers here at the studio any minute now. Can't wait to see them. I always get a little giddy when I know I will be in the presence of well grown flowers. 

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. About traveling, growing and starting new projects that are bigger then anything I think I could really launch. I guess that is how every new business venture starts. 

Oh, also bought tickets for Seth and I to travel West in February. Really happy because February in Chicago is brutal and sad, so I am going to be very happy to get to warmer lands. I have never been to Las Vegas, Joshua Tree or Palm Springs. Any places/sites/flower farmers that we should check out along our journey? Let me know, because I want to make this trip count. 

A new home to hang our hats...

Thank you thank you thank you Nitewerk for your help with the site!

If you even know me a little bit, I pretty much go with computers like oil does to water.
So a few months back I started designing Foxglove's new website. It was all good and dandy until a photo wouldn't align with text. I know for some of you, this is a no brainer. But for me, I have no patience with figuring this out. It's one of those things in being a business owner that I very happily pass on to someone else and trust them fully to just get done.

That is when Jordan and Monica came a knockin'. These two beautiful ladies helped me get our original website up a few years back. When they offered to help me with this new website and I immediately forked it over to them.

Now we have a comfortable place for us to rest our cyber hats. I am excited for the fresh start and for this site to allow Foxglove to grow in other directions to offer you more floral options, products, idea's and inspiration.

And Thank you thank you thank you Nathan Michael for the Logo design!

A few newbies:

We are offering subscriptions and deliveries. We wanted to be able to create arrangements for your everyday life (in edition to your parties, weddings and events!) Just let us know when and where.

We also started a small curated online Apothecary + Supply. It's a baby now, but keep checking back because we will always be adding new products and exclusives that we love and use ourselves.

Please, take a look around here.

Fall Floral Workshop ◊ Brightflower Farm + Humboldt House

Claire, from Humboldt House contacted me awhile back asking if I would be interested in getting a drink and discussing some possible options on workshops that Foxglove could lead in her space.  Of course I said yes and we had the best evening at Rootstock (just around the corner from where we live and work) not only dreaming up workshop idea's, but also talking business, buying houses and girling out on dogs.

We talked about leading a workshop that focused on the splendors of what the Midwest can offer by way of branches, berries, blooms and vines in the fall.
So we connected with Jeanie at Brightflower Farm . Jeanie grows 100% organic plants and flowers out in Stockton, IL for urban markets. We were so excited when she agreed to lead a discussion on Midwest flower growing and then she would bring her flowers for a Foxglove floral arranging workshop!

 So, now I am super excited to announce that we will be leading this workshop on Oct. 2nd at Humboldt House! To find out more please visit our workshops page on our new website!

I went out to Jeanie's farm a few weeks ago and here are some snaps of her slice of heaven.

Monday Morning

I took my time getting out of bed this morning. It's been awhile since I have done that, and there is something quiet, reflective and calming about taking my time in the mornings. Did a few things around the apartment, took Huxley for a walk and had a cup of coffee leisurely at home, rather then the usual pick up and go routine.

Finished our Monday weeklies and wrapping up a styling job and felt like taking some pictures of the space. It is coming along nicely and I feel like we are almost there. Just a few more things... so I think. But I suppose every space always has a laundry list of things to get done. We are hoping to have a studio opening at the end of October, maybe the day before Halloween? Might as well make it spooky.

Looking forward to this week. Catching up on office work, cleaning, arranging, and organizing. I really need to utilize these down weeks to get stuff like this done both at the studio and at home. Because when we are in production for styling or flowers, it is always the last on our list.

I pulled one Tarot card from my deck this morning. It was the 4 of pentacles. Something in the saying for this card has stuck with me through the whole day. Wealth is a concept. I like this idea and am going to try to always remember it. Wealth is not money, it is what surrounds you, make you happy, guides you, elevates your life to a higher happiness.

Happy Monday.

Cold and Rainy September

Well, it looks like we went straight from summer into fall. Im not giving up on warm weather yet, but that tends to be how it is here in Chicago. No in between.

I just sat down with some really old wine that doesn't taste so good, but will surely get me through the rest of the Friday work day. Thought I would share some of the Midwest's bounty for the last days of summer and beginning of fall, with you. My heart melts when I see beautiful berried vines and the slight change of color on the local grasses and branches.
The colors are definitely changing. I feel like the local flower markets colors changed from brights and summers to oranges, gold and reds right when September hit. Im not complaining, I love fall and all of the foliage, blooms, branches and vines that it brings.

Looking forward to our fall weddings and for nesting before winter hits. Been ready for soups, socks, sweaters and the brisk breeze for a few weeks now. Just wait though, come 2 months from now, I will probably be cursing what I just said.

Crafted in Carhartt

I have been prepping for a workshop at the Soho House and a wedding at Salvage One this weekend and hadn't looked at my computer until just a few minutes ago. I am so happy that I stopped because my brother pointed out that the Carhartt feature had posted. 

Have mercy!

Nothing better then showing someone the local flowers at the Green City Market and then sharing an afternoon showing some tips for arranging them. 

That's exactly what I did with Jennifer from Crafted in Carhartt. I am so honored to be one of the many extremely talented women that Jennifer has profiled on this blog. 

Check out more here. 

Now back to prepping and shlepping. 

Photos by Jennifer Martinez

Chatting about Weddings

Here comes the bride and about a years worth of organizing, stress and planning. Weddings can be fun to plan, but they are also a lot of work. I sat down with Kristin Larson from Bridentity Crisis a few weeks back and talked about everything flowers when it comes to planning a wedding.

Check out more on her website here!