Mar

08

THE BIG MOVE

Business Footsteps / Cirencester / Cotswolds / News

Well, I have some rather large news to tell you.

We’re moving!

moving-websizeIt’s been in the pipeline for a while. I’ve always known it might happen. It’s why I haven’t moved business forward as far as it could have done in Durham, as I knew at some point I might not be here. Well, that time has come! It has been confirmed that my wonderful husband will be working for Cirencester Baptist Church as the Assistant Pastor, and me, our things, my business and our dog will be going with him! We leave in May for a new venture down South, to the Cotswolds!

What does this mean for Floral Footsteps?

It will continue, hurrah! I am going to be a ‘Cotswold Florist’ or ‘Cirencester Florist’, I haven’t decided which yet, and I will continue to take photography bookings and illustration comissions as I have done so far. I’m excited about the opportunity to start again in a new place, and looking to form new connections in Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas.

It does mean that I won’t be taking any more floristry bookings past May for Durham-based weddings. Sorry about that.

It also means that if you want a family photoshoot or baby photoshoot, that has to be in my diary before the beginning of May.

I’m still interested in hearing about any wedding photography up North, and any illustration commissions you might have for me, so if that’s something you’re interested in, fire away!

Sorry to all those wonderful people who have enquired for bookings and I’ve already had to turn away. I haven’t wanted to do it, but I just wouldn’t have been able to fulfil your order!

Here’s to new adventures – I look forward to exploring my new surroundings and new connections on the blog from May onwards!

 

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Jan

14

The Truth

Business Footsteps / Change / Reflection / Rest

Sometimes, the truth hurts.

This week I’ve been delving into the world of vloggers, after a recommendation from a friend and found this post: http://charliemcdonnell.com/im-scared/. The honesty inspired me, and so, for the new year, I’ve decided to be truthful…

truth

Last year, this blog lost it’s pizzaz. Not that I’m saying it had plenty of pizzaz beforehand, but whatever it did have, it begun to lose it. The problem was that I was struggling with creativity because I overworked myself. Running a business, however small it is, is really a big thing. The responsibility of it all sits on your own shoulders, and it can feel like a large weight. Combining that with overworking can sap creativity, therefore leaving poor little blogs like this one a little neglected, and me in a rather dangerous situation health-wise.

me-with-camera-small

I have always been creative. I have always loved new projects, new ideas, drawing, sketching, planning, producing. Ever since I was a little girl, I never had time to ‘hug Mummy’, I was always ‘too busy’ with my various projects! My Mum taught me how to draw and I remember how amazed I was the day she taught me that arms didn’t come out of the side of people’s heads, but they had bodies, as well as heads when you draw them. (I blame Roger Hargreaves for this!)

 Last year though, I felt my creativity start to dissolve a little. I stopped taking photos for fun, and didn’t plan how to express my thoughts through a blog like I used to. And, as much as I love Pinterest, I found that I would spend all my time that I could do creative things, looking and ‘pinning’ other people’s creative things, and I had nothing to show myself!

 

I spent 3 and a half weeks in Australia and New Zealand in December, and I learnt to relax again, to enjoy life and to not plan too much for the future.

So, I’ve made a new years resolution (or two) – to BE CREATIVE. That’s to CREATE things. So, if I have an idea for a sketch, to grab my sketchbook and pencil and to draw it. And I vow to explore ideas on this blog, rather than to just document some of the happenings of my life working for Floral Footsteps. I also vow to take more time with my feet up, slippers on and a good cuppa tea, and I suggest you do too!

tea and slippers

So, I hope things will get a little more interesting around here.

ps – I’d love your thoughts and feedback if you’ve made it to reading this far.

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Aug

06

Avril’s Big Adventure

Business Footsteps / busy / Camper Van / Deliveries / Durham

Two weddings this weekend, both gorgeous. Both Durham graduates, living elsewhere, but returning to the homeland of their affections to seal the deal. Both weddings, surprisingly, had beautiful midnight blue bridesmaids dresses. One wedding was at Durham Castle, the other at the Cathedral. Snazzy. You’ll just have to wait for the lovely shots of those flowers, but if you’re desperate for some, then check out these lovely images by Karen McGowran of Friday’s wedding.

So Avril the van has had an exciting time recently, travelling around the county delivering flowers. Usually, I persuade the ‘handy man’ to do the driving, but this weekend, I drove her myself. Why I chose the weekend to drive through the town centre and up the narrow streets of the busy Bailey, I have no idea…

As I drove along, shrieking slightly, somewhat calmed by my helper for the weekend, Bryony, we wiggled our way along the streets, and onto Palace Green. We enjoyed a brief lap of honour around the Cathedral grounds before squeezing our way through the Castle gates, whilst onlookers laughed, and whipped out video recorders to capture the sight of a neon-yellow van driving prestigiously through to Durham Castle Keep. I wound down the window (squuuueaaaak squeak) and leaned out to say to the groom “I always like to make an entrance”, before parking the van in the courtyard. (Little did he know, as I stepped out of the van, shaking and pretty wobbly from the whole experience, I grabbed my camera in a matter of urgency and asked the lovely Bryony to take as many photos as she could, before cooly asking the chief usher where the chapel was and pretending that everything was completely normal.)

So here’s the shots of that memorable morning, and Avril’s great adventure to Durham Castle for the first time. For shots of the lovely flowers (including coveted David Austin’s) you’ll have to wait a few days…

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May

15

Investing in the Future

Business Footsteps / busy / Deliveries / Reflection

Sorry for the quietness of late.  I’ve been ‘investing in the future’; gathering, collecting, researching, ordering, sorting, planning, spending, saving and resting.  The busier ‘wedding season’ approaches, and I have been scurrying around behind the blog curtain preparing and collecting nuts.

I’ve recently invested in a new camera and some new equipment (currently on it’s way half way around the world!) and looking forward to the new climbs this could take Floral Footsteps photography to.  The new camera works a treat.  You might not be able to tell the difference… but here’s a few shots with the new Canon.  Yes, I’m a Canon girl.

This is my friend’s beautiful baby.  Here he is at 10 months having just woken from an afternoon nap:

This is what he used to be like at just 3 months; October Baby Photoshoot.  I love watching him grow up, he’s utterly gorgeous.

And this is my friends cat, Rhino:

Here he is sleeping on the freshly tumble-dried laundry.  Apparently it’s a pretty cosy place to kip.  I don’t think my friend is entirely happy that this is his new favourite thing…

And, because a Floral Footsteps blog almost wouldn’t be complete without some reference to flowers, it’s Peony season, yay!  Here are some beauties I’ve had in my home this past week:

Nature knocks my socks off.

Have you seen the latest baby photoshoot on the website?

Also – what have you been up to, this ‘rainy season’, people?  Have you too been collecting nuts for the Summer Season of business?

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Apr

16

It Started with 100 Oranges

Business Footsteps / Durham / flowers / For Sale

Well, I’ve got some exciting news to tell you.

It’s a story that started 3 weeks ago.

I ordered 100 oranges, 40 kumquats and 30 lemons for this zesty wedding, and I met Mrs Robinson of Robinsons Greengrocers in Durham.  She was lovely, and delivered my order for free at the ‘Floral Footsteps Studio’, aka – the garage.

The next day, she rang me and made a ‘business proposition’.

Then I went on holiday for two weeks.  Suspense.

When I came back, we met up and chatted and it’s now official that Floral Footsteps will be selling bouquets ‘to go’ in the front of their fantastic shop in North Road on Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays!  Having not had the opportunity to outlet bouquets of flowers in this way before, it’s really exciting that we’re branching into this.  The bouquets will be seasonal, wrapped with raffia (of course!) and mostly under £5.  Perfect for brightening up a corner of your home, and bringing a little nature inside.

Look out for the bouquets – starting this week!

 

Ps- the oranges were fantastic.  I ate some.

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Aug

23

In the Paper

Business Footsteps / Press

Your Page 22 Pin Up of the Day

In the Northern Echo!

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Aug

09

Camper Van Floristry

Business Footsteps / Camper Van / Durham Dubbers / flowers

So, I was asked to have my photo taken on Friday, for a mini press release on Floral Footsteps.  I was in the middle of creating beachy themed wedding flowers when they turned up, so we popped the wedding flowers in the van and made me (and the Spaniel for some shots) stand outside it!  Of all the weddings to photograph me in the middle of, the one with the blue and yellow colour scheme on a blue sky with our yellow van, was just about perfect.

These are just a few of our outtakes, I haven’t got the professional shots to hand yet, but they’re a bit of fun – and show off our lovely delivery van, Avril, who always seems to do a sterling job.

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Aug

01

Welcome to My New Home

Business Footsteps / Introducing

Hello and Welcome!

What do you think of the new Floral Footsteps website and blog?  It’s a bit snazzy, eh?  A bit different to the blogger one.  I’m sad to leave ye old floralfootsteps.blogspot.com , but it’s time for a new upmarket approach.  Are you with me?!

For now, all new Floral Footsteps blog posts will live here at floralfootsteps.com/blog/, and all the old posts have travelled over with me.  It’s lovely to see the fruit of my work (and a few others, particularly Kenrick (actual superstar!), Seymour and Phil) in action and finally visible for you all to see, enjoy and partake in!

If you have the old blog listed on your feed or linked to on your website or blog, please change it over as there won’t be any new posts on there.  This is where the action is!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments below – and fill in the contact form if you encounter any problems or bugs and I’ll endeavour to fix them.

Hope you like it!

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Jun

29

When I Had a Market Stall for a Day

Business Footsteps / Events / Floristry

So, being a relatively new business, I managed to get a market stall for the day at Grainger market in Newcastle, which was nice! It was a new experience for me, so I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I worked all day and evening on Monday getting my bits and pieces together and arrived on Tuesday to set up (a little late, as parking in Newcastle is a nightmare!). The tablecloth they provided me with seamlessly matched my choice of dark red gingham, and old wine boxes and scrounged crates formed the backdrop of my stall.

The number of old ladies that walked past and started “feeling” my flowers, presuming that they were fake was amazing. I think almost 70% of the people that passed me thought that the flowers were artificial. A number of those decided not to buy, because they would have preferred it if they were! This shocked me slightly.
I was next to a number of other small new businesses, including Anne from the Knit Studio, (who owns a knitting studio in the cloister of the 13th Century Blackfriars Priory!) and a number of people from Made in Newcastle. All of us were a little disappointed in the event – most of the people that came through the market were those looking for cheap grocery shops, not for handcrafted goods, so naturally, few of us made very few sales. The cake man next to me made quite a few sales, understandably….
I had a few friends who came to say ‘hello’, and to you folk – I’m really grateful for your support!
If I were to do this again, however, I would choose the following criteria:
  1. To not be in Grainger Market
  2. To not be in a place where you spend 1/2 hour trying to park…
  3. To not have flowers under a glass roof on a hot sunny day
  4. To not make quite so many arrangements
  5. To not be positioned opposite a man owning a stall who makes nasty gestures at you when you are having your photograph taken
Despite the tricky bits, the market stall was pretty fun actually, and I hope that everyone who came by enjoyed what they saw and would like to come back for more.
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Jun

23

The Opening of the Floral Footsteps Shop

Business Footsteps / Etsy / Postcards / Shop
I’m proud to announce the opening of the Floral Footsteps Online Shop!
I’m really pleased to let you all know that you can purchase Floral Footsteps products online, via Etsy.  I’m starting off by selling postcards, but who knows what will be next?

Be my friend and have a look around my shop, buy something if you fancy it, or just favourite it for later.

Woop!

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