Wrapped in Wonder: The Art of Giving a Gift

The Gathering

There is something magical about receiving a beautifully wrapped gift. Before the ribbon is untied or the paper carefully peeled away, there is that little moment of anticipation. A glimpse of a favorite flower, a charming pattern, a thoughtful color, or a beautifully tied bow tells the recipient something wonderful: I thought of you.

At Studio Sprig, I believe that the art of giving begins long before the gift is opened.

Muted Slate Daffodils

Muted Yellow Daffodils

Muted Sandy Daffodils

From My Sketchbook to Your Gift Box

Every Studio Sprig wrapping paper design begins with my own original artwork. As an artist and surface pattern designer, I create patterns inspired by the beauty of nature, the charm of everyday moments, and the little things that make life extraordinary. I develop each design with care, transforming my artwork into distinctive patterns that bring personality and imagination to the things we use every day.

From whimsical Snowballs and graceful Leaves to cheerful Daffodils, elegant Lilacs, vibrant Zinnias, and my charming Little Visitor design, each pattern has its own personality. For spring celebrations, Easter bunnies and carrots bring a playful touch of seasonal delight.

These aren't just patterns on paper. They're little expressions of creativity, ready to become part of someone's special moment.

Little Visitor

Why the Presentation Matters

Think about the gifts you remember most. Often, it's not simply the object itself, but the thought behind it. The book chosen because someone knows your favorite author. The hostess gift selected with care. The birthday surprise in a color you adore. The Christmas present tucked beneath the tree in paper so beautiful you almost don't want to open it.

Presentation adds another layer to that thoughtfulness. It builds anticipation, creates a sense of occasion, and makes even a simple gift feel extraordinary.

Imagine a gardening book wrapped in my Daffodils design, a little treasure for a bird lover dressed in cardinal paper, or a hostess gift wrapped in exuberant Zinnias. A present for a new baby, a spring birthday, a wedding, or a holiday gathering becomes even more personal when the wrapping tells its own little story.

And why stop at gifts? These patterns can inspire beautiful packaging, stationery, journals, and other thoughtful accessories, too.

Snowballs Blue

Snowballs Blue, Khaki, Blush

Snowballs Khaki

Let's Create Something Beautiful Together

One of my favorite possibilities is creating something that feels uniquely yours.

Perhaps you have a favorite flower, a special color palette, a family tradition, or an occasion that deserves a design of its own. I'd love to hear your ideas! Because I design my own original patterns, there's an opportunity to explore custom wrapping paper concepts inspired by the things that matter most to you. Reach out to discuss your vision, and let's see what we can create together.

And there's so much more to discover at Studio Sprig than wrapping paper. My original artwork finds its way onto a growing assortment of thoughtfully designed products, from journals and home accessories to gifts that bring a little more beauty to everyday life.

Come explore Studio Sprig, discover the patterns that speak to you, and find something unexpected. Whether you're searching for the perfect finishing touch for a present or a distinctive gift in its own right, you'll find a world of color, creativity, and original design waiting to be explored.

Because the most memorable gifts aren't always the grandest. They're the ones that make someone feel truly thought of.

Wrap it with imagination. Give it with love. Make it a memory.

Explore the collection at StudioSprig.com and discover what a little artistic wonder can do.

Where Flowers Become Art, Experiences & Memories

Exploring the many ways I love to work with flowers—and all the places they can take us.

I’ve never really thought of flowers as something that belongs only in a vase.

For me, flowers are a starting point—a way into color, texture, art, memory, and celebration. Sometimes they become a bouquet. Sometimes they become something you wear, something you preserve, something you make with friends, or an entire experience built around gathering and creating.

That curiosity is at the heart of Studio Sprig.

I’m Kim, the designer behind Studio Sprig, and over the years my love of flowers has taken me into some wonderfully unexpected places. My background is in art and design, so I tend to see flowers a little differently. I notice their shapes, the way colors sit next to one another, the movement of a stem, the architecture of a leaf, and all of the little imperfections that make something feel alive.

And the more I work with flowers, the more I realize there really isn't an end to what you can do with them.

Flowers are a medium. And like any good medium, they invite you to experiment.

A Bridal Shower Bloom Bar, just popping up on the porch

Start With a Bloom Bar

One of my favorite ways to bring people together is through a Bloom Bar.

There is something wonderful about putting a room full of flowers on a table and letting people choose what speaks to them. A little of this, a little of that. Maybe an unexpected color combination. A flower you've never used before. A bit of greenery that suddenly makes everything else make sense.

Bloom Bars can be part of a wedding, bridal shower, birthday, corporate gathering or just a creative afternoon with friends. They can be polished and beautifully styled, or relaxed and wonderfully loose.

What I love most is that everyone walks away with something different.

The flowers become a way of expressing yourself.

And sometimes that's all a creative experience needs to be.

Signature Backyard Watercolor Class at Windy Hill

Making Something With Your Hands

That idea naturally grew into Studio Sprig Experiences—hands-on gatherings where flowers and the botanical world become the inspiration for making.

I've always loved the feeling of sitting around a table with other people and actually doing something. Making a wreath. Creating a terrarium. Working with moss. Painting. Arranging flowers. Learning something new.

There is a certain kind of happiness that comes from getting your hands a little messy and losing track of time.

These Experiences can be intimate or social, seasonal or completely unexpected. And I love that they can evolve. One year it might be a botanical workshop; the next, perhaps something entirely different.

That's part of the fun.

I'm always wondering, "What else could we make with this?"

Bridal Announcement framed with the pressed Bridal Bouquet

When Flowers Become Memories

Flowers also have a way of becoming attached to the moments we never want to forget.

A wedding bouquet. Flowers from a parent's garden. A special birthday. A baby's arrival. A garden that belonged to someone you love.

That's where Botanical Keepsakes came from.

I've always been fascinated by the transformation that happens when a living flower is pressed, dried or preserved. Something fleeting becomes something lasting.

A bouquet that once filled a room can eventually become artwork. A few meaningful flowers can become a framed botanical piece. Something that might otherwise have disappeared becomes a tangible reminder of a particular time and place.

I think that's one of the most beautiful things flowers can do.

They can hold a memory.

A darling, little Boutonniere

And Why Not Wear Them?

I've also always been drawn to the idea of taking flowers off the table and putting them somewhere unexpected.

In your hair.

On your wallpaper.

Around your wrist.

Or on a yoga mat.

Floral wearables allow flowers to become almost like jewelry—temporary, tactile, and completely unique to the person wearing them.

There is something wonderfully romantic about that. A flower doesn't have to last forever to be meaningful. In fact, perhaps part of its charm is knowing that it belongs to this moment.

Floral watercolor printed as a pattern on a Yoga Mat

Floral & Herbal Cake Wreath

Flowers and Cake

Then there is cake.

Because really, why shouldn't flowers and cake belong together?

I love creating Floral Cakes and Table Styling because it brings together so many of the things I enjoy: composition, color, celebration, food, flowers and the little details that make a gathering feel special.

A cake can become part of the floral story. A table can feel as though it has grown organically from the garden. Herbs, branches, blooms and unexpected botanical details can make even a simple gathering feel considered and memorable.

And this is another area where I think there are endless possibilities.

Flowers can decorate the table, the cake, the place settings—or become the inspiration for the entire celebration.

Weddings Are Their Own Kind of Garden

Of course, weddings have always held a special place in my heart.

My work with Bridal brings together so many of these ideas: flowers, paper, pattern, color, styling, keepsakes and storytelling.

I don't think of wedding flowers as simply "decor." They are part of the atmosphere of the day.

The bouquet you carry. The flowers at the ceremony. A boutonniere. A flower tucked into a place setting. The table arrangements. A floral detail on the cake. The flowers that eventually become a keepsake.

And because my creative background extends beyond floral design into stationery, illustration and surface pattern, I love thinking about all of those pieces as one visual story.

A wedding gives you permission to be wonderfully specific.

Why shouldn't every little detail feel like it belongs to you?

Bridal Bouquet Watercolor Keepsake

But I'm Not Finished Exploring

And that's perhaps the most important part of all of this.

I don't feel like I've arrived at some final definition of what flowers mean to Studio Sprig.

Quite the opposite.

I'm still curious.

I'm still experimenting.

There are so many directions flowers can take us.

Maybe it's a new kind of workshop. Maybe it's botanical art. Maybe it's a flower-filled dinner party, a garden-inspired installation, a floral fashion piece, a collaboration with a chef or baker, or an unexpected way of preserving something from someone's garden.

Maybe it's something I haven't thought of yet.

That's what keeps it interesting.

I've worked with flowers in weddings, celebrations, workshops, keepsakes, cakes, tables and wearable pieces. I've painted them, drawn them, photographed them, arranged them and turned them into patterns and products.

And I suspect I'll keep finding new ways to play with them.

Because flowers are never really just flowers.

They can be art.

They can be a memory.

They can be an experience.

They can be a reason to gather.

They can tell a story.

And sometimes, they can simply make an ordinary Tuesday feel a little more beautiful.

Homecoming Flowers: A Beautiful Tradition Then and Now

Football lights. Friday night crowds. A favorite dress hanging on the door. The excitement of the first big dance of the school year—and, of course, flowers.

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about Homecoming.

For generations, flowers have been part of the celebration, whether tucked into a corsage, pinned to a lapel, carried in a bouquet, or worn as part of an elaborate school-spirit tradition. And while the flowers may have changed—and the way young people wear them certainly has—the sentiment behind them hasn't.

Homecoming is still about marking a moment.

And for parents, especially, it can be one of those bittersweet milestones when you realize your child is growing up much faster than you thought.

Baylor Homecoming Queen Ann Davis, 1964. Photo courtesy of https://mumtasticspirit.com/the-history-of-homecoming/

A Little Homecoming History

The Homecoming tradition itself grew out of the football culture of American colleges in the early 20th century. The University of Missouri traces its Homecoming tradition to 1911, when athletic director Chester Brewer invited alumni to “come home” for the Missouri-Kansas football game. More than 9,000 people attended, and the celebration included a football game, pep rally, parade and bonfire.

There is some historical debate over which university can truly claim the first Homecoming—the University of Illinois and other schools have earlier versions of events that resemble it—but Missouri's 1911 celebration is widely recognized as an important early model for the modern tradition.

Eventually, Homecoming made its way into high schools, bringing with it the football game, school spirit, dances, royalty, parades and, naturally, flowers.

And Then There Were the Flowers

The original Homecoming flower tradition was surprisingly simple.

The chrysanthemum, or “mum,” was a natural choice because it is a hardy fall flower and was readily available during Homecoming season. Early Homecoming mums were essentially fresh chrysanthemum corsages, often given by a date for the girl to wear to the football game or dance.

Over time, that simple corsage evolved dramatically in some parts of the country.

Texas, in particular, developed the now-famous Homecoming mum—an elaborate arrangement of ribbons, school colors, charms, names, class years and decorations. What began as a flower eventually became almost a wearable scrapbook of high school life.

And that's one of the fascinating things about Homecoming flowers: the tradition didn't disappear. It evolved.

My aunt, Beth Lawrence, was crowned Homecoming Queen in the early 1970s.

Homecoming Then: A Family Memory

Here is a photo of my aunt, as Homecoming Queen.

There she is, sitting on the back of a convertible, with a giant Mum corsage, surrounded by a packed stadium. Her date is kissing her cheek, the crowd is watching, and for one little moment, you can almost imagine the noise of the football field around them.

Homecoming looked a little different then.

The flowers were pinned. The dresses were suits. The cars were longer. And there were certainly no phones in everyone's hands capturing every moment.

But the excitement?

That part feels remarkably familiar.

Homecoming Flowers Today

Today, there isn't one single definition of a Homecoming flower.

And that's what makes the tradition fun.

The classic wrist corsage and boutonniere are still popular in some areas of the country, but today's students have more choices. Floral designers are creating handheld bouquets, pocket boutonnieres, floral rings, flower crowns, and other small wearable arrangements.

Some recent floral trends have even moved toward small handheld bouquets, offering an alternative to the traditional wrist corsage.

And I think there's something especially beautiful about that change.

Instead of flowers being something prescribed by tradition, they can become an extension of personal style.

A bouquet can coordinate with the dress.

A boutonniere can echo the flowers in a date's corsage.

A few beautiful blooms can feel more natural and garden-inspired than a heavily constructed arrangement or an oversized mum.

And for the student who doesn't want a traditional corsage at all?

That's perfectly fine too.

What About the Flowers Growing Right Here in Bucks County?

Because Homecoming happens at one of the most beautiful times of the year for flowers in Pennsylvania.

September and October are prime months for dahlias, according to Penn State Extension, making them particularly well suited to late-summer and early-fall floral arrangements.

And Bucks County has local flower growers producing seasonal blooms during exactly this window.

That means a Homecoming bouquet doesn't have to look like something ordered from a catalog.

Imagine instead:

Dinner-plate dahlias.
Soft blush blooms.
Deep burgundy.
Creamy whites.
Bright oranges.
Golden autumn tones.
A little greenery.

Flowers that actually look like September in Bucks County.

That's a very different—and very beautiful—way to think about Homecoming flowers.

A New Kind of Homecoming Bouquet

Over the years at Studio Sprig, I've created a handful of Homecoming floral bouquets. Not nearly as many as the prom bouquets I've made, but enough to remind me just how special these little arrangements can be.

Homecoming flowers don't have to be elaborate, but I think they should still be memorable. Personally, and because there is such a gorgeous abundance, I like to create stunning combinations of flowers, herbs and greenery for my homecoming bouquets.

Because They'll Remember the Flowers

Someday, your daughter may not remember exactly what she wore to Homecoming.

She may not remember which song played first at the dance or who won the football game.

But she might remember how it felt to get ready.

Her friends arriving at the door.

The photo op in her best friend’s backyard.

The excitement in the car on the way to the game.

The flowers someone handed her.

And you standing there, taking one more photograph before she went on her way.

That's the beautiful thing about traditions: they don't have to remain the same to remain meaningful.

Sometimes, all they need is a few flowers—and someone who understands how special the moment is.

Choose Wedding Flowers With Meaning: How to Create a Bouquet That Tells Your Love Story

There are so many beautiful flowers in the world that choosing the flowers for your wedding can feel a little overwhelming.

Roses or peonies? Dahlia or ranunculus? Wildflowers or something more formal? Soft and romantic or colorful and unexpected?

But before you start making a list of your favorite blooms, I would encourage you to think about your wedding flowers a little differently.

What if you chose your flowers for more than just how they look?

What if your bouquet could tell a little piece of your story?

Your Wedding Flowers Can Tell Your Story

Long before I opened Studio Sprig in 2016, I owned a freelance design business called Kim Bensing Design, where I created wedding invitations that told sentimental stories about my couples.

I loved learning about how two people met, the places that were important to them, the family traditions they shared, and all of the little details that made their relationship uniquely theirs.

That experience has stayed with me.

Because I believe the most memorable weddings aren't necessarily the ones with the most elaborate flowers. They are the ones where the details feel personal.

Your flowers can be part of that story.

Maybe your grandmother grew peonies in her garden.

Maybe your mother carried roses when she married your father.

Maybe you met your fiancé on vacation surrounded by bougainvillea.

Maybe lavender reminds you of a family trip to France.

Maybe your favorite flower is one your father brought home to your mother every anniversary.

Or maybe there is a flower that simply reminds you of being a little girl in your grandmother's garden.

These are the flowers I find especially interesting.

Not just beautiful flowers.

Meaningful flowers.

Think Beyond Your Wedding Color Palette

Of course, color matters.

You may have a beautiful palette of blush, cream and dusty blue or perhaps you've fallen in love with a more colorful garden-inspired wedding.

But your floral choices don't have to begin with a color wheel.

Instead, start with your story.

Ask yourself:

What flowers remind me of home?

Is there a flower associated with someone I love?

Are there flowers from a place that is meaningful to us?

What was growing where we met, got engaged, or spent an important vacation together?

Are there flowers that remind me of my childhood?

Is there a family garden, wedding, birthday, or celebration I would love to remember?

You may be surprised by how quickly a meaningful floral palette begins to emerge.

The Language of Flowers

There is also a long tradition of assigning meaning to flowers, known as floriography, or the language of flowers.

The tradition became particularly popular in Victorian England, when flowers and small bouquets could be used to communicate feelings that were difficult to say aloud. Flower meanings also appeared in books such as Le Langage des fleurs, published in France in 1819.

I love the romantic idea of this.

Imagine carrying a bouquet on your wedding day where every flower has a little story behind it.

You don't necessarily have to follow traditional flower symbolism literally. Think of these meanings as inspiration—a starting point for creating a bouquet that feels like you.

A few examples:

Rose — love and passion
Peony — love, honor and goodwill
Dahlia — commitment and kindness
Tulip — deep love and passion
Aster — love and faith
Gardenia — trust, hope and peace
Sunflower — loyalty and admiration
Hydrangea — gratitude, grace and beauty
Rosemary — remembrance
Sage — wisdom

And sometimes the meaning you give a flower is even more important than the traditional meaning.

A particular flower might mean Mom to you.

Another might mean France.

Another might simply mean the garden where I grew up.

That is where your wedding flowers become truly personal.

Imagine a Bouquet Made From Memories

One of my favorite examples of choosing flowers with intention actually happened years before I knew I would eventually work in the floral industry.

When my daughter Kate was graduating from sixth grade, I wanted to give her flowers for her ceremony.

But I didn't want to buy just any pre-made bouquet.

I wanted to give her something that felt like her.

So I went to a local florist and asked for a handful of specific flowers and sprigs that represented the things I wanted to say to her. I even made a little card explaining the meaning behind each flower and attached it to the bouquet.

It was a very simple gesture.

But it was personal.

And that little bouquet became one of the experiences that eventually helped inspire Studio Sprig.

I think weddings can work the same way.

Your bouquet doesn't have to be a random collection of beautiful flowers.

It can be a collection of little messages.

Create a Floral Story for Your Wedding

Imagine walking down the aisle carrying flowers that represent:

Your grandmother's garden.

Your mother's wedding bouquet.

The place where you met.

A favorite family tradition.

The season you fell in love.

A place you traveled together.

Something you want to remember forever.

Now imagine those same flowers appearing throughout your wedding—in the ceremony arrangements, reception flowers, cake flowers, table arrangements or even tucked into your stationery.

Suddenly, the flowers aren't simply decorating the room.

They're helping tell the story of your marriage.

And that, to me, is much more interesting.

Let the Season Become Part of the Story

There is another beautiful way to make your wedding flowers meaningful: let the season of your wedding influence what you grow and use.

A spring wedding might naturally bring in tulips, narcissus, sweet peas, peonies and other seasonal treasures.

A summer celebration might become a romantic garden of zinnias, cosmos, dahlias and other flowers at their seasonal peak.

An autumn wedding can embrace warm, earthy tones and the flowers and foliage that make that particular time of year feel special.

Instead of trying to recreate a Pinterest bouquet exactly, consider asking:

What is naturally beautiful right now?

There is something very special about using flowers that are actually growing in the landscape around you when you say your vows.

They belong to that particular place and that particular moment in time.

And you only get that moment once.

Choose Flowers You'll Remember

Years from now, you may not remember every flower that was in your centerpieces.

But you may remember that your bouquet contained the same flowers your grandmother grew.

You may remember the scent of garden roses when you walked down the aisle.

You may remember the wildflowers from the farm where you chose them.

You may remember that your bouquet contained rosemary because you wanted to carry a little remembrance with you.

Those are the floral details that become part of your family history.

And perhaps that's the real reason to choose your wedding flowers with intention.

Flowers are fleeting.

But the memories attached to them don't have to be.

A Very Special Way to Choose Your Wedding Flowers

If you are planning your wedding far enough in advance, there is another possibility that I absolutely love.

Choose your flowers before they're even grown.

If you live in the Eastern part of Pennsylvania and begin planning approximately a year before your wedding, I can take you on a private flower farm tour where we can walk the fields together, talk about the flowers you love, and explore what will be growing during your wedding season.

From there, you can work with the flower farmer to determine which flowers you'd like to have grown specifically with your wedding in mind.

There is something incredibly romantic about that idea.

A year before you walk down the aisle, you could stand in a field and say, "I want those flowers at my wedding."

Then, when your wedding day finally arrives, those blooms aren't just flowers you ordered.

They're flowers you chose.

Flowers that grew through an entire season alongside your own love story.

And I can't think of a more meaningful way to bring a little piece of the garden into your wedding day. Read more about that here.

The Pre-Prom Tradition Every Mom Should Try: Host a Backyard Bouquet Party

There is something about prom that makes time feel like it is moving a little too quickly.

One minute you're helping your daughter choose a dress, and the next you're watching her get ready to walk out the door looking completely grown up. There are pictures to take, hair to fix, flowers to pick up, dinner reservations to remember—and suddenly the evening you've been imagining for years is here.

But what if you created one little moment before all of that?

The night before the dresses go on and the heels come out, invite your daughter and a handful of her friends into your backyard for something simple, pretty, and memorable: a Prom Bouquet Party.

Instead of ordering everyone's flowers from a florist, create a little flower bar where the girls can choose their own blooms and make their own bouquets or posies. It doesn't have to be elaborate. In fact, the beauty is in keeping it relaxed and letting the girls create something that feels like them.

My original {DIY Prom Bouquet Guide} is filled with the practical details for creating the flower bar and making the bouquets. But this post is really for the moms—the ones who want to turn prom day into a memory their daughters will still talk about years from now.

Make the afternoon about more than flowers

The bouquet is almost beside the point.

What you're really creating is a little gathering before everyone heads off to the big event.

Set up a long table in the backyard, on a patio, or even in an open garage. Fill galvanized buckets or simple containers with an abundance of flowers, greens, herbs, and interesting little fillers. Let everything feel abundant and slightly wild.

The girls can wander around the flower table with their friends, choosing what catches their eye.

Maybe one daughter chooses soft pink roses and delicate white flowers. Another gravitates toward bright yellow blooms. Someone else creates a completely unexpected combination of lavender, greenery, and tiny wild-looking flowers.

That's the fun. They don't have to match.

In fact, they shouldn't.

The flowers can become another little expression of each girl's personality—and they can be chosen to complement rather than disappear into her dress.

Start with beautiful, seasonal flowers

If you can, buy your flowers locally.

A local flower grower or flower farm can be a wonderful source for a beautiful assortment of seasonal blooms. Rather than buying a dozen identical bouquets, look for buckets of mixed flowers that give everyone plenty of choices.

This is one of my favorite parts of creating a flower bar. You don't know exactly what the bouquets will look like when you begin—and that's what makes them interesting.

Think focal flowers, smaller blooms, airy fillers, interesting foliage, and plenty of greenery.

And don't overlook herbs.

A few sprigs of lavender, mint, rosemary, or other sturdy herbs can add fragrance and an unexpected little touch to the bouquets. You might even ask another mom to bring herbs from her garden.

It's these little details that make the flower table feel special.

Let the girls make their own choices

As a mom, it can be tempting to want everything to look perfect.

Resist that urge.

Give them the flowers and let them play.

Put out a few examples or inspiration photos if you'd like, but don't make everyone follow the same recipe. Some girls will naturally create a structured, symmetrical bouquet. Others will make something loose, wild, and completely unexpected.

Both are beautiful.

The goal isn't to produce professionally designed bouquets.

The goal is for each girl to look at what she created and think, “This feels like me.”

Create a little backyard setting

This doesn't need to become another event that requires weeks of planning.

Use what you already have.

A long outdoor table, a few simple tablecloths, galvanized buckets, garden clippers, ribbon, and some pretty glasses for lemonade or iced tea can be enough. If you need a few supplies, I’ve curated some items to help you.

If you want to make it feel extra special, add a few simple touches:

• A pretty tablecloth or vintage runner

• Small jars of flowers scattered around the table

• Chiffon or satin ribbon in several colors

• Handwritten place cards

• A pitcher of lemonade or iced tea

• Floral ice cubes

• Pretty cookies or small desserts

• A speaker playing everyone's favorite music

And don't worry about making everything perfectly coordinated.

Flowers are already doing most of the decorating for you.

Don't forget the moms

This is a beautiful opportunity for the moms to be part of the afternoon, too.

Some mothers may want to help with the flowers. Others may simply sit nearby with a drink and watch the girls laugh and create.

And that's okay.

There is something really lovely about watching your daughter surrounded by her friends, knowing that this particular group of girls—and this particular moment in their lives—will never happen quite this way again.

Let them make the bouquets.

Let them take over the table.

Let them laugh.

And take pictures.

Lots of them.

Make the flowers part of the photographs

Before everyone disappears into cars and heads off to dinner and dancing, gather the girls together with their finished bouquets.

Take photographs of them holding their flowers. Take pictures of the dresses. Take pictures of the bouquets lined up on the table. Take pictures of the girls making their flowers, laughing with one another, and helping each other tie their ribbons.

Some of the best photographs may not be the posed ones.

They may be the ones where nobody is looking at the camera.

Years from now, those photographs will probably mean more than you expect.

Give yourself permission to enjoy it, too

As moms, we're often so busy making sure everyone else is ready that we forget to experience the occasion ourselves.

So pour yourself a glass of lemonade—or something a little more celebratory—and enjoy the afternoon.

Prom doesn't have to begin when your daughter walks out the front door in her dress.

Let it begin in your backyard, surrounded by flowers and friends.

Because someday, the dress will be packed away, the shoes will be forgotten, and the flowers will have faded.

But she may remember sitting around your table with her friends, choosing flowers, laughing, and making something beautiful together.

And you may remember it too.

Ready to make your own Prom Flower Bar?

If you'd like the practical step-by-step instructions for choosing flowers and preparing your workspace, visit my {How to Host a Flower Bar} blog.

And if you love the idea of creating a Flower Bar for another celebration, visit the {Studio Sprig Bloom Bar Shop} for supplies and inspiration.

Sometimes the simplest celebrations become the ones we remember most.

Lambertville’s Halloween Magic: A Funky, Creative Rivertown Comes Alive

Photo by John Arehart

A little spooky, a little strange, and wonderfully artistic — why Lambertville is one of my favorite places to visit at Halloween.

If you think Halloween is all plastic skeletons, inflatable pumpkins, and a fog machine or two, you haven't experienced Lambertville, New Jersey in October.

The Whole Town Gets Into the Halloween Spirit

I highly recommend crossing the Delaware from New Hope and exploring this wonderfully funky little river town during Halloween season.

I've lived in this region for years, and somehow I didn't discover Lambertville's elaborate Halloween displays until a few years ago. Once I did, I couldn't believe I had been missing them.

There is something about Lambertville in October. The historic Victorian homes, enormous old trees, winding streets, and artistic community make the perfect backdrop for Halloween. And the displays aren't your typical pumpkins-and-plastic-skeletons variety.

They're imaginative. They're theatrical. They're sometimes downright bizarre.

And I love them.

A Halloween Tour of Union Street

My introduction to Lambertville's Halloween magic came when my husband, Michael, and I were taken on a private little Halloween tour by our friends Stacy and Bill. They had been strolling around Lambertville — particularly Union Street — for years during Halloween season and couldn't wait to show us what we had been missing.

We were so glad they did.

Almost every house along Union Street seemed to have its own wonderfully creepy interpretation of Halloween.

One house was projecting Edward Scissorhands onto its front porch, while other Victorian homes had sinister, red-eyed ghosts and goblins peering from their upper windows.

We found the Friendly Witch House, massive trees filled with flying ghosts, and all sorts of clever, unexpected displays tucked into gardens, porches and windows.

And then there was the upside-down stripper skeleton dangling from a pole.

Yes. You read that correctly.

It was weird. It was hilarious. And somehow it fit perfectly into the wonderfully eccentric Halloween landscape of Lambertville.

Walking from house to house, I kept thinking how unusual it was to see so much creativity concentrated along one street. Every display seemed to have its own personality, and you never quite knew what you were going to discover around the next corner.

Lambertville is definitely spookier-than-average at Halloween — and it's also one of the most artistically inspiring rivertowns I know.

The Halloween House

And then there's Dolores Dragan.

For more than 20 years, visitors flocked to North Union Street to see what became known as The Halloween House, the extraordinary annual display created by Lambertville artist and retired art teacher Dolores Dragan.

Dolores began creating her fantastical figures in 1998 while she was still teaching art at Lambertville School. What began as a theater project for children grew into an elaborate Halloween tradition that attracted visitors from far beyond Lambertville.

Her hand-crafted figures were unlike ordinary Halloween decorations. Ethereal, theatrical, slightly macabre and wonderfully expressive, they felt more like characters from a strange little dream than store-bought decorations.

And when they were illuminated at night, they were absolutely magical.

The original Halloween House became so popular that visitors would line up down the block to see Dolores' sculptures.

Photo by John Arehart

Meet the Memory Maker

What I find most wonderful about Dolores' story is that she wasn't simply decorating her house for Halloween.

She was making memories.

After retiring from teaching, Dolores embraced what she called the role of a “Memory Maker.” Her idea was to create something children would remember for the rest of their lives.

And she certainly did.

She spent her summers and early fall creating new figures and repairing older ones, building a fantastical cast of characters year after year.

Some of her sculptures are reminiscent of the wonderfully strange characters you might find in a Tim Burton film. But Dolores has said that her figures loosely represent people in her own life.

In other words, this wasn't just a Halloween display.

It was her own little world — a collection of characters gathered together once a year to “spook out” Lambertville.

Photo by John Arehart

From One House to a Trail of Magic

The original Halloween House has now evolved into something much bigger.

After decades of the labor-intensive work of creating and installing the display at her home, Dolores invited the Lambertville Creative Arts Fund to help carry her work into a new chapter.

In 2025, her creations became part of the Memory Maker's Trail of Magic, a month-long Halloween celebration that brings Dolores' artwork beyond a single house and into Lambertville's business district.

And in 2026, the tradition continues.

From October 1 through October 31, Dolores' whimsical and eerie creations will be displayed throughout Lambertville's business district, appearing in shopfronts and community spaces. The Trail is free and self-guided, making it easy to wander through town and discover the artwork along the way.

I love that the tradition has grown this way.

Photo by John Arehart

What began with one artist creating an extraordinary Halloween world at her home has become a community-wide celebration of art, imagination and memory.

Instead of visiting just one house, you can now wander through Lambertville and encounter Dolores' characters throughout the town.

It turns Halloween into a treasure hunt.

The Magic Is in the Details

That's what I remember most about my first Halloween tour of Lambertville.

It wasn't just one spectacular display.

It was the accumulation of all the little surprises.

A ghost appearing in an upstairs window.

A movie playing across a porch.

A tree suddenly filled with flying spirits.

A witch waiting outside a house.

A skeleton doing something you absolutely weren't expecting a skeleton to be doing.

Every few steps brought another discovery. And because Lambertville is filled with historic architecture, old trees and wonderfully individualistic homes, the setting itself becomes part of the experience. It's almost as though the entire town becomes a stage.

Make a Night of It

If you're coming from Bucks County or New Hope, Lambertville makes a wonderful fall outing.

Cross the bridge, park downtown, and give yourself plenty of time to wander.

Explore the Memory Maker's Trail of Magic, browse the shops, visit the galleries, stop for a drink or dinner, and simply enjoy the atmosphere.

The Trail of Magic is free and self-guided throughout October, so there's no need to rush.

And bring your camera.

Between the Halloween installations, Lambertville's historic architecture, the eccentric, theatrical costumes that blur the line between costume and art, and all of the autumn color, there is plenty to photograph.

Explore the Memory Maker's Trail of Magic →

Why I Love Lambertville at Halloween

I think what makes Lambertville so special at Halloween is that it doesn't feel manufactured.

It's creative.

It's personal.

It's a little weird.

And it's clearly made by people who enjoy making something memorable for other people.

That's my favorite kind of Halloween.

Not necessarily the scariest.

Not necessarily the biggest.

But imaginative, handmade, unexpected and a little bit magical.

So this October, grab someone you love, cross the Delaware and take a walk through Lambertville.

Look up. Look in the windows. Look into the trees.

And definitely look around the next corner. You never know what you'll find.

🎃 Happy haunting!

— Kim

How to Name a Farm: 10 Meaningful Ideas for Creating a Name With a Story

Choosing a farm name can be one of the most personal parts of making a place your own. The best farm names often come from somewhere real—a family story, the land itself, a favorite memory, an old photograph, or even a beloved book. Here's how I found the perfect name for our historic Pennsylvania farmhouse—and how you can find a meaningful name for yours. A Treasured Storybook

Start With the Story Behind Your Farm

When we decided to name our farm, I didn't want a name that simply sounded pretty. I wanted something that had meaning.

Our farmhouse is located in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by old farms, stone houses, and beautiful countryside. We moved here in 2007, after our family outgrew our first historic home.

The house we found was a wonderful old clapboard farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, a barn, enormous trees, and plenty of history.

But as much as I loved the property, it didn't have a name.

So, naturally, I decided it needed one.

Front View Windy Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of Kim Bensing Design.

How Do You Choose a Farm Name?

If you're wondering how to name a farm, start by looking around you.

Before making a long list of clever farm names, look for the stories that already exist on your property.

Ask yourself:

• What is the history of the land?

• Who lived here before you?

• Is there an interesting family name connected to the property?

• What natural features surround the farm?

• Is your farm on a hill, beside a creek, in a valley, or near a particular grove of trees?

• Are there old barns, stone walls, gardens or outbuildings?

• What animals, flowers or crops are special to the property?

• Is there a favorite childhood memory associated with the land?

• Are there old photographs, maps, letters or documents that might reveal something?

• Is there a book, song or story that has a personal connection to your family?

Sometimes the best farm name ideas aren't invented at all. They're discovered.

Windy Hill’s wrap-around balcony is not original to the farmhouse. We think it was added sometime in the early 1980s. It’s very nice and provides a great place to catch 9 simultaneous fireworks shows on the 4th of July.

Look to the Land for Farm Name Ideas

The landscape itself can be a wonderful source of inspiration.

Think about words that describe your property:

Hill • Hollow • Meadow • Grove • Creek • Brook • Orchard • Field • Valley • Ridge • Woods • Garden • Acres • Farm

You can combine these with something personal.

For example:

• Willow Hill Farm

• Fox Hollow Farm

• Meadow Grove

• Old Oak Farm

• Windy Hill Farm

• Rose Hill

• Bluebird Farm

• Orchard House

A good farm name doesn't necessarily need to explain everything about the property. Sometimes one evocative word is enough to create a feeling.

Snow covered little Cottage at Windy Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of Kim Bensing Design.

Look Into Your Farm's History

If you own an older property, spend some time investigating its past before choosing a name.

Old deeds, maps, photographs, newspapers and family records can reveal fascinating clues.

And don't overlook your neighbors.

Someone who has lived in the area for decades may know something about your property that you could never find online.

That's exactly what happened to us.

Walpole Lamppost and sign created by McElHaney Signs here in town.

The Story Behind Windy Hill Farm

For years, I had owned a little vintage children's storybook called The Ghost of Windy Hill.

It was one of my favorite weekly readers as a child, and somehow that little book stayed on my bookshelf throughout my entire life.

The book was written in 1966—the same year I was born—and the story takes place in 1851, around the same era our farmhouse was built.

I had never imagined that the book would eventually inspire the name of our home.

But then we discovered something about the property.

Our farmhouse sits at the top of a ridge, surrounded by enormous old trees. The wind moves through the property constantly, whistling through the original windows and across the hill.

When it gets windy here, it gets really windy.

Suddenly, the name seemed obvious.

Windy Hill’s side view with a big old tree. Photo courtesy of Kim Bensing Design

Windy Hill.

The old storybook gave the name a personal history, while the land itself gave it meaning.

And just like that, our farm had a name.

View of Windy Hill’s Barn behind a lilac. Photo courtesy of John Arehart Photography.

Sometimes the History Finds You

After we named the property Windy Hill, something unexpected began happening.

People started stopping by.

Over the years, approximately twenty people have told us that they had once lived in the house, visited the property or spent time in the old barn.

Then one summer day, an older woman named Dee and her daughter stopped by.

Dee told us that she and her cousin had spent summers here during the 1930s. The farm had belonged to their aunt and uncle, and the property held some of her favorite childhood memories.

A week later, Dee returned with her cousin.

They brought old photographs.

They showed us pictures of the property from decades earlier and even brought a hand-drawn floor plan of the house.

As we walked through the rooms together, they remembered where old doorways had been and explained why certain parts of the house seemed unusual.

Then Dee's cousin stopped before what is now our dining room.

He said there had once been a large hole in the floor for the heat.

We had always known there was something unusual about the floorboards, but we had never understood why.

Sure enough, there was a covered opening exactly where he remembered it.

It was one of those moments when a house stops being simply a house.

It becomes a story.

Dee, her daughter, her cousin, Kim & Mike Bensing.

Meaningful Farm Names Often Come From the Past

That experience changed the way I think about naming a property.

A farm name doesn't have to be clever.

It doesn't have to follow a trend.

And it doesn't have to be something you come up with in one afternoon.

The most memorable farm names with meaning often connect the present to the past.

Your perfect name might be hiding in:

• An old family photograph

• A childhood book

• The name of a former owner

• A nearby landmark

• A favorite tree

• A creek or hill

• An old field name

• A family tradition

• A local legend

• The history of the property

• A meaningful event that happened there

How to Choose the Right Farm Name

Once you've gathered your ideas, make a short list.

Then say each name out loud.

Does it feel natural?

Is it easy to remember?

Can people spell it?

Will it still make sense if your farm changes or grows?

And most importantly:

Does the name mean something to you?

A good farm name should feel like it belongs to the land.

You don't necessarily need the most unique name. You need the name that feels right.

Dining Room Floorboards at Windy Hill Farm.

Give Your Farm a Name That Can Become Part of Its History

After choosing Windy Hill, we installed a beautiful lamppost and sign at the entrance to the property.

That little sign became more than decoration.

It gave our home an identity.

Over the years, it has become part of the story of this place—and now, whenever someone asks where we live, I can simply say:

Windy Hill.

And somehow, that says so much more than an address ever could.

If you're trying to name your own farm, farmhouse, homestead or historic property, look for the story before you look for the name.

You may discover that the perfect name has been there all along.

Historic Images of Windy Hill Farm circa 1930s.

More Studio Sprig Inspiration

If you love historic homes, gardens, flowers and the stories behind beautiful places, explore more of Studio Sprig's floral art, surface patterns and inspiration from Windy Hill Farm.

And if your property has a story of its own, I'd love to hear it.

View of Property from the Barn. Photo courtesy of John Arehart Photography.

---

---

How to Preserve Flowers for Creative Projects

Dried flower & Dried Lime Grapevine Wreath. This wreath features some Wooden Flowers.

After designing and creating something special with flowers, I always hate to see them wither and eventually fade away. Recently, I began preserving the flowers I love so I can enjoy and use them again in future creative projects. This year, I’ve been experimenting with one of my favorites—the beloved dahlia—and the results have been wonderful.

I’ve even been known to disassemble a special bouquet and transform its individual flowers into a small everlasting wreath, creating a meaningful keepsake that helps commemorate a beautiful occasion.

Preserving flowers this way gives them a second life, turning something fleeting into a lasting piece of art.

Different Methods for Drying and Preserving Flowers

There are several simple ways to dry and preserve flowers, and the best method often depends on the type of flower. When I have abundant, sturdy stems like lavender, I typically use the traditional method of hanging small bunches upside down to air dry.

For flowers such as hydrangeas and tiny spray roses, I’ve found that an even easier method works beautifully: simply place them in a vase without water and let them dry naturally. As they lose their moisture, many flowers take on a wonderfully sculptural quality, creating a beautiful piece of dried-flower art with almost no effort at all.

Experimenting with different flower-preservation methods is part of the fun. With a little patience, flowers that might otherwise be discarded can become lasting materials for wreaths, arrangements, crafts, and other creative projects.

Dried spray roses in simple vase.

How to Preserve Flowers with Silica Gel Crystals

One of my favorite methods for preserving flowers is drying them with silica gel crystals. Silica gel gently draws moisture from the flowers, helping them retain much of their original shape, color, and delicate details. It’s an especially effective method for preserving flowers for wreaths, floral arrangements, crafts, and other creative projects.

I like to begin by removing any excess foliage and stems using my favorite Micro Pruning Snips. If you’re planning a project that requires the stems, you can certainly leave them intact.

Next, add about 1 inch of Silica Gel Crystals to the bottom of a Rubbermaid container, making sure the crystals create an even layer across the entire surface. Carefully place your flowers on top of the silica gel, either face up or face down, depending on the shape and type of flower. Arrange them closely together, but make sure the flowers aren’t touching one another.

Once all of your flowers are arranged, slowly pour more Silica Gel Crystals over the top. Continue adding crystals until each flower is completely covered and the silica gel has gently filled in around every petal and detail.

Secure the lid tightly and place the container in a cool, preferably dark location for approximately one week. The exact drying time will vary depending on the type and size of the flower. Some delicate flowers may be completely dry in just a few days, while larger, moisture-rich flowers can take longer.

The wonderful thing about drying flowers with silica gel is that you can experiment with different varieties and drying times to see what produces the best results. With a little trial and error, you’ll discover which flowers preserve beautifully—and you’ll have a wonderful supply of everlasting blooms ready for your next creative project.

Delicate dried Dahlia Flowres.

How to Remove and Store Flowers Preserved with Silica Gel

Once your flowers have finished drying, it’s time to carefully remove them from the silica gel. For this step, I recommend using a small slotted spatula, which makes it much easier to gently retrieve smaller, delicate flowers without damaging the petals.

I carefully slide the spatula underneath each flower and lift it slowly, allowing the Silica Gel Crystals to fall back into the container. Once the flower is removed, I gently tap it on all sides to release any crystals that may still be tucked between the petals.

I then arrange all of my newly preserved flowers side by side on a tray and allow them to sit for a little while longer, making sure they are completely dry before storing them. This extra step is important because any remaining moisture can lead to mold.

Once I’m confident the flowers are completely dry, I store them in a container with air vents to allow for some circulation. Properly dried and stored flowers can last for a long time, giving you a beautiful collection of everlasting blooms to use in wreaths, floral arrangements, crafts, and other creative projects.

Gently scooping dried Dahlia Flowers out of the Silica Gel Crystals.

Creative Ideas for Dried Flowers

Once you’ve preserved a beautiful collection of flowers, the fun really begins! There are so many creative things to make with dried flowers, from everlasting wreaths and floral branches to small decorative pieces that can be used as table cards, place settings, or gift toppers.

I especially love turning little pieces of wood into unique dried flower decorations. They make charming table cards or thoughtful gift toppers and are a wonderful way to give preserved flowers a second life. Another favorite in autumn are dried flower pumpkins. Hot gluing your dried bounty to the top of a pumpkin is simple and it makes a great centerpiece.

Or, you can keep it wonderfully simple. I often arrange small groupings of dried flowers in a pretty vase and let their natural beauty speak for itself. Unlike fresh flowers, dried floral arrangements can be enjoyed for months or even years, making them a lovely way to preserve a special moment, bouquet, or season.

If you’re planning to make dried flower wreaths, floral decorations, or gift toppers, I highly recommend investing in a quality glue gun. Because I do quite a bit of designing, I purchased a professional-grade, cordless Ryobi Glue Gun, and I absolutely love it. It gets very hot, so be careful when working with it, but not having a cord to maneuver around makes creating so much easier. The battery and charger are included, too.

With a collection of preserved blooms and a few simple supplies, you can turn dried flowers into beautiful, lasting pieces for your home, entertaining, gift wrapping, and creative projects.

Mini spray roses glued to a tiny piece of wood.

I hope this inspires you to start preserving all the beautiful flowers you encounter and turn them into something you can enjoy for years to come. I’d love to see what you create, so feel free to drop me a line and share your dried flower projects!
Your Supply list:

Hearty Fresh Flowers (without a lot of delicate & loose petals)
Micro-Tip Pruning Snips
Rubbermaid Storage Containers with Lids
Silica Gel Crystals
Mini Slotted Spatula
Professional-grade Glue Gun

How to Host a Beautiful Flower Bar: The Ultimate DIY Flower Bar Party Guide

Sweet Occasions, Peddlers Village Flower Bar

A flower bar is one of the most beautiful and memorable ways to entertain guests. Whether you're planning a bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, Galentine's Day gathering, corporate team-building event, or simply a creative afternoon with friends, a DIY flower bar gives everyone the opportunity to design their own fresh flower arrangement and take home something beautiful.

Also called a bouquet bar, bloom bar, or flower arranging party, this interactive experience transforms a table filled with fresh flowers and greenery into a creative gathering your guests won't soon forget.

I've hosted and designed Flower Bar experiences for everything from intimate gatherings to bridal showers, Mother's Day celebrations, and corporate team-building events. The beauty of a flower bar is that you can make it as simple or elaborate as you wish. You can hire a professional florist to handle every detail, work with a local flower farmer, or create your own DIY flower bar from start to finish.

Here's everything you need to know about how to host a beautiful flower bar party.

What Is a Flower Bar?

A flower bar is an interactive flower-arranging experience where guests choose from a curated selection of fresh flowers, foliage, and greenery to create their own bouquet or floral arrangement.

Typically, flowers are displayed in buckets or vessels and arranged by variety or color. Guests gather around a worktable, select their favorite blooms, and design an arrangement to take home.

A Flower Bar is a wonderful activity for:

• Bridal showers

• Baby showers

• Birthday parties

• Galentine's Day celebrations

• Mother's Day events

• Garden parties and brunches

• Girls' nights

• Family gatherings

• Corporate team-building events

• Wedding events and rehearsal dinners

The best part? Flowers naturally create a beautiful atmosphere. The moment your guests walk into a room filled with buckets of fresh, fragrant blooms, the experience already feels special. Here is a handy list of supplies to make it easy.

Gathering of Flowers

Should You Host a DIY Flower Bar or Hire a Professional?

You can absolutely create a beautiful DIY flower bar, but hiring a professional florist or floral designer can make hosting easier.

A professional can source the flowers, greenery, buckets, vessels, and supplies; prepare and process every stem; set up the flower bar; guide guests through the arranging process; and handle cleanup afterward.

For a more hands-on and budget-conscious event, you can create your own DIY bouquet bar. You'll simply need to plan ahead, source enough flowers, prepare your blooms properly, and create an inviting workspace for your guests.

Either option can result in a beautiful and memorable event.

Send Invitations and Build Excitement

Every special gathering deserves an invitation. For a casual flower-arranging party, a simple digital invitation works perfectly. For a bridal shower, baby shower, or more formal celebration, you might choose printed invitations with a beautiful design and envelope.

You can even decide whether to tell guests about the flower bar in advance.

Mentioning the activity builds anticipation, but keeping it a surprise can be equally fun. There is something magical about watching guests enter a room and suddenly discover a table overflowing with fresh flowers.

How to Set Up the Perfect Flower Bar Space

Choose a space where guests have plenty of room to move around, choose flowers, and create their arrangements comfortably.

A flower bar works beautifully on:

• A patio or deck

• A sunroom

• A dining room

• A garden or outdoor entertaining area

• A large kitchen

• A conference room or office

• A private event venue

• A flower farm

You'll need enough table space for everyone to work comfortably, plus a separate area for displaying buckets of flowers and greenery.

I love creating a flower market feeling by grouping flowers together in beautiful buckets where guests can easily see and reach everything. Think of your setup as a miniature Parisian flower market.

Mother’s Day Flower Bar, Peddlers Village

How to Choose Flowers for a DIY Flower Bar

One of the most important parts of planning a flower bar is choosing the right flowers.

For the best selection and value, consider purchasing flowers from a wholesale flower supplier or, even better, a local flower farmer. Locally grown flowers can be incredibly fresh, seasonal, and distinctive.

Ask your flower farmer what will be blooming around the date of your event. Working with seasonal flowers not only gives your Flower Bar a natural sense of place, but it can also help you discover varieties you may not find at a traditional flower shop.

For the best variety, include a mix of:

Greenery and Foliage

Choose several types of foliage to create structure and texture.

Filler Flowers

These smaller flowers help fill spaces between larger blooms. Baby's breath, small daisies, gomphrena, and flowering herbs can all work beautifully.

Private Bridal Shower Flower Bar

Focal Flowers

These are the stars of the arrangement—the larger, more dramatic flowers guests will naturally be drawn to. Depending on the season, consider tulips, peonies, dahlias, sunflowers, hellebores, ranunculus, or other statement blooms.

A beautiful flower bar should offer enough variety that every guest can create something unique.

How Many Flowers Do You Need for a Flower Bar?

Planning the right number of flowers is essential. I always recommend buying more than you think you'll need.

Start by choosing the vessels your guests will use. Create a sample arrangement using the size and style of container you plan to provide, then count the approximate number of stems you used.

Use that as your starting point, multiply it by the number of guests, and add extra flowers for variety and inevitable breakage.

Having too many flowers is much better than watching your last few guests arrive at a nearly empty flower bar.

Extra flowers also give guests more creative freedom—and you can always find beautiful ways to use the leftovers.

Mother’s Day Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions

Prepare Your Flowers the Day Before

Don't wait until the last minute to prepare your flowers. Ideally, purchase or collect your blooms the day before your event so you have plenty of time to process and hydrate them.

Start with Clean Buckets

Wash every bucket thoroughly with soap and water before filling it with fresh, cool water and flower food. Clean containers help keep your flowers fresher and healthier.

Remove Packaging and Ties

Carefully remove plastic sleeves, paper wrapping, and rubber bands. Handle delicate flowers gently and avoid excessive touching.

Process Each Stem

Remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline. Depending on the variety, you may also need to remove thorns or damaged foliage.

Give Every Stem a Fresh Cut

Using clean floral snips or a sharp floral knife, trim each stem before placing it in fresh water. Make sure no leaves remain submerged, as decaying foliage can make the water dirty and shorten the life of your flowers.

Let the Flowers Hydrate

Store your flowers in a cool, dark location overnight whenever possible. Giving blooms time to drink and hydrate before your event can make a tremendous difference.

Mother’s Day Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions

Set Up Individual Flower-Arranging Stations

Before your guests arrive, prepare a comfortable workspace for everyone.

You can provide matching vessels for a cohesive look, or invite guests to bring a favorite vase or container from home. If guests are bringing their own, give them guidance about the approximate size.

Cover your worktables with tablecloths or placemats to protect them from water and plant debris.

At each flower-arranging area, consider providing:

• A vase or vessel

• Floral snips

• Towels for spills and drips

• Fresh water

• Flower food

• Pre-cut chicken wire for floral structure, if needed

How to Create a Beautiful Flower Arrangement

One of the best things about hosting a flower bar is that there really are no wrong answers. This is an opportunity for your guests to relax, experiment, and create.

For beginners, however, a simple three-step approach can be helpful.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

Step 1: Start With Greenery

Choose several stems of foliage and cut them to fit the vessel. Arrange them first to create the overall shape and structure.

Step 2: Add Filler Flowers

Use smaller flowers to begin filling the arrangement and adding softness, texture, and movement.

Step 3: Add Focal Flowers

Choose several of the larger, more dramatic blooms and place them throughout the arrangement. Odd numbers often create a natural, pleasing composition, so three, five, or seven focal flowers can work beautifully depending on the size of the vessel.

Then step back, look at the arrangement, and simply enjoy the creative process.

A flower-arranging party isn't about perfection. It's about flowers, creativity, conversation, and having fun together.

Add Refreshments to Your Flower Bar Party

Keep refreshments simple and easy to enjoy away from the flower-arranging tables.

A small cheese board and light refreshments can be perfect for an adult gathering. For children's events or daytime parties, consider cookies, lemonade, fruit, or infused water.

If you're serving a full meal, I recommend doing so before or after the Flower Bar activity. Guests need plenty of space to work, and large plates can quickly take over the table.

In-Home Flower Bar Setup

Create a Beautiful Atmosphere

Flowers are already beautiful, but a few thoughtful details can make your Flower Bar feel even more special.

Welcome guests with something sparkling, play a light playlist, and allow everyone a few moments to admire the flowers before beginning.

You may even want to make notes about the names of your flowers. Guests often become fascinated by unusual varieties and love learning what they're arranging.

The goal is to create an experience that feels relaxed, creative, and just a little magical.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

Don't Forget to Take Photos

Before your first guest arrives, photograph the entire setup.

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when hosting a beautiful event—they forget to capture the room before everyone begins.

Take photographs of the flower buckets, the workstations, the refreshments, and all the little details you worked so hard to create.

Then, as your guests begin designing their arrangements, keep taking pictures. The creative process is part of the memory.

For a brief moment, your home or event space may feel like a beautiful European flower market. Don't forget to enjoy it yourself.

Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions, Peddlers Village

What Should You Do With Leftover Flowers?

Having leftover flowers is a wonderful problem to have.

You can use extra blooms to:

• Create one final arrangement and raffle it off

• Tie miscellaneous stems into small "designer's choice" posies for guests

• Make an arrangement for a friend who couldn't attend

• Create a seasonal centerpiece for your home

• Fill small vases with everyday flowers

• Use extra blooms to decorate a cake or special table

• Donate an arrangement to a nursing home or someone who could use a little beauty

Nothing needs to go to waste.

Leftover flowers

Host Your Own Beautiful Flower Bar

Whether you call it a Flower Bar, Bloom Bar, bouquet bar, or DIY flower-arranging party, this is one of my favorite ways to bring people together.

It's creative without being intimidating, beautiful without requiring perfection, and every guest leaves with something they made themselves.

All you really need is a beautiful collection of fresh flowers, a little preparation, and a group of people ready to have fun.

So gather your blooms, set the table, put on some music, and let everyone create their own little floral masterpiece.

After all, there are few things more joyful than spending an afternoon surrounded by flowers.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

Mother’s Day & Girls Night Out Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions, Peddlers Village

Flower Bar Supplies

Here is a convenient list of supplies that you can browse through when planning your event.

I look forward to getting to know you. Sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, and Pinterest.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

How to Decorate Cakes with Fresh Flowers: Floral Wreaths, Crowns & More

Buttercream cake with a cake crown of rosemary, lavender and one bright pink anemone.

Buttercream cake with a cake crown of rosemary, micro flowers and blackberries.

What is a cake crown?

A cake crown is a miniature floral wreath designed to decorate the top of a cake, pie, or other dessert. Made with tiny herb cuttings, delicate foliage, and fresh or dried flowers, a cake crown is a beautiful way to bring the natural beauty of the garden to your dessert table.

While cake crowns are often used as fresh flower cake decorations for weddings, birthdays, showers, and other special occasions, don’t feel limited to cakes. These little botanical wreaths are surprisingly versatile. Generally ranging from 4 to 10 inches in diameter, they can be scaled to suit all kinds of celebrations and tablescapes.

Try using smaller cake crowns as floral napkin rings for a dinner party, or place them around individual place settings as a natural alternative to traditional flowers. They can also be used to embellish seasonal centerpieces—a miniature crown around a pumpkin in autumn or nestled around a vase filled with candy canes in winter.

Think of a cake crown as a tiny piece of flower art that can move beyond the cake. With a few fresh flowers, herbs, and bits of greenery, you can create a simple botanical decoration that works throughout your celebration.

Below is a time-lapse of me creating a cake crown from herbs, foliage, and flowers.

Time-lapse video of Kim Bensing creating a cake crown or mini wreath.

what you’ll need

To make a cake crown or mini floral wreath, you’ll need just a few simple floral design tools. Start with green florist wire. I typically use 22-gauge floral wire because it’s flexible enough to shape easily while still providing enough structure to support the flowers, herbs, and greenery. I prefer green wire because it blends naturally into the foliage and is less noticeable in the finished wreath.

If you already have another type of flexible floral wire on hand, you can certainly use it instead. Just make sure the wire is clean, unused, and appropriate for floral arranging.

You’ll also need small wire cutters, floral adhesive, and your favorite pair of flower snips. With these few basic tools, you’ll be ready to create your own fresh flower cake crown, mini floral wreath, or botanical cake decoration.

Supply list

Sturdy Greens & Foliage such as:
-Boxwood
-Rosemary
-Eucalyptus

A few mini fresh or dried flowers buds and pods:
(a few suggestions)
-Begonia
-Lavender
-Ranunculus

Green Florist Wire
Wire Cutters
Floral Snips
Flexible Ruler (is helpful but not required)
Floral Adhesive (Oasis is a reliable brand that I use)

How to make a cake crown topper or mini Floral wreath

Creating a cake crown topper or mini floral wreath is surprisingly simple once you have the right size wire base. For a cake crown that measures approximately 6 inches in diameter, cut about 12½ inches of floral wire from the roll. This gives you enough length to form the circle and wrap approximately ½ inch of wire around the opposite end to securely close the ring.

The amount of wire you’ll need will vary depending on the size and purpose of your wreath. A 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch cake crown will each require a slightly different length of wire.

Because I often create fresh flower cake crowns for cakes of different sizes, I like to use a flexible ruler to measure my wire ring precisely. This makes it easy to create a wreath that fits the top of the cake beautifully—large enough to make an impact, but not so large that it hangs awkwardly over the edges.

Taking a few extra moments to measure your cake crown topper before adding the flowers will give you a much more polished and professional-looking finished design.

Vanilla cake with a cake crown of rosemary, eucalyptus, and mini begonia.

• Prepare your supplies, flowers, and greenery. Gather everything on your work surface and snip your greens and flowers into manageable pieces that will work well with your floral wire frame. I like to create a small work area using a paper towel or, even better, a paper plate. The round shape makes an ideal work surface and helps protect your table or countertop from floral adhesive.

• Attach your first pieces of greenery. Place approximately three small dabs of floral adhesive on the back of two small base greens and allow the adhesive to set for about 30 seconds. Position the pieces on the wire, adhesive side down, facing in the same direction. Hold them gently in place for about one minute, or until they remain secure when you lift your fingers. Because the sprigs are small and lightweight, very little pressure is needed as long as the adhesive makes contact with the wire and has enough time to set.

• Continue layering the greenery. Once your first pieces are firmly attached, work your way around the entire wire frame, adding greens and foliage until the wire is completely covered. As you go, tuck the stem of each new piece underneath the end of the previous piece. This overlapping technique helps create a fuller, more natural-looking mini floral wreath while concealing the wire.

• Add your focal flowers. Wait a few minutes for the greenery to become secure before adding your flowers. This gives you a stable foundation and makes it much easier to create a balanced cake crown topper.

• Choose small flowers, buds, and botanical details. Small, tightly formed flowers, miniature buds, and seed pods work especially well for a cake crown. Look around your garden for interesting little blooms—even flowers growing from hanging plants can provide beautiful details. Dried flowers are also a wonderful option during winter. I especially love using strawflower saved from the fall because it holds its color beautifully. Don’t be afraid to incorporate interesting grasses and pods, too, as long as they are clean and won’t drop seeds, shed petals, or otherwise create debris on the cake.

Choose Flowers That Will Hold Up

When creating a fresh flower cake crown, it’s important to consider how well each flower or herb will hold up out of water. Some varieties are naturally sturdier than others, while delicate flowers and herbs can wilt quickly. Avoid anything that loses its shape easily, especially if your cake crown needs to look beautiful for several hours.

I usually keep my completed cake crowns refrigerated until it’s time to place them on the cake. This helps the flowers stay fresh and maintain their shape. If possible, use a clean refrigerator or a separate refrigerator without food, since food odors, moisture, and bacteria can affect delicate flowers.

Add the Flowers and Botanical Details

Once your greenery is securely in place, begin adding your small flower buds, seed pods, herbs, and colorful botanical accents. Use just a small dab of floral adhesive to attach each piece, working your way around the wreath and placing flowers wherever they create the most pleasing composition.

Try not to overdo it. One of the beautiful things about a mini floral wreath or cake crown is that it doesn’t need to be completely covered with flowers. Leave some of the greenery visible and allow the individual blooms to breathe. Often, the simplest floral cake designs are the most elegant.

Freshly made cake crowns can typically be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, making them easy to prepare ahead of your celebration. I’d love to see what you create, so please leave a comment and share your photos!

If you’re local to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I’m also available to create a custom fresh flower cake crown for you. Just give me a call or send me a text to get started.

For those who want to make their own, I’ve linked all of the cake crown supplies and floral design tools below for your convenience.

Chocolate cake with a cake crown of boxwood, eucalyptus, lavender, dried pods & micro flowers.

A Note About Flower Safety

Whenever you’re creating fresh flower cake decorations, choose flowers and herbs that are in season and know how they were grown. Avoid flowers that have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals that are not appropriate for use around food. It’s also important to research the flowers and herbs you plan to use, as some varieties can be toxic or poisonous.

Most importantly, remember that a cake crown is a decorative element, not an edible decoration. The flowers, greenery, wire, and adhesive should be removed before the cake is served.

Please clearly tell anyone receiving or serving the cake that the cake crown is NOT TO BE CONSUMED.

Layered naked cake with a cake crown of wax flower and blackberries.

HIRE A DESIGNER OR CREATE YOUR OWN

Whether you’d like to create your own floral cake decorations or have a professional design them for you, there are plenty of beautiful ways to bring fresh flowers and herbs to your celebration.

Explore more floral cake ideas to see examples of fresh flower cake designs, cake crowns, floral wreaths, and botanical cake decorations, along with pricing for custom designs by Studio Sprig.

Layered cake with a cake crown of boxwood, rosemary, lavender, & micro flowers.

I look forward to connecting with you!

I’m always here to inspire and support your creative journey. Sign up for Studio Sprig to receive new post notifications, creative inspiration, and fresh ideas delivered to your inbox. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more floral design, botanical inspiration, and beautiful ideas for celebrating with flowers.

Cake Crowns designed by: Studio Sprig
Cakes: One Sweet Baking Co.

Buy on Amazon

Wire Cutters

Buy on Amazon

Floral Wire

---

Buy on Amazon

Floral Snips

Buy on Amazon

Flexible Ruler

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate and will sometimes offer affiliate links. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. Thank you.

---

Decorating Cakes with Fresh Flowers

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: Sweet Victory

Elevate your event with a Floral cake

A beautifully decorated cake can become one of the most memorable details of any celebration, and a floral cake decorated with fresh flowers is one of my favorite ways to make a wedding, shower, birthday, or special event feel truly personal. Whether you’re planning an elaborate wedding cake or a simple celebration cake, the right cake flowers and floral design can beautifully complement your overall event décor, color palette, and style. While there are countless ways to decorate a cake, I’m partial to the natural beauty of fresh flowers on cakes. They add an effortless, romantic touch that feels both elegant and organic.

There are several beautiful ways to use fresh flowers to decorate a cake. Below are three of my favorite floral cake decorating ideas, from simple and understated to lush and abundant. Choose the approach that works best for your cake, aesthetic, and timeframe.

• Loose Flowers

• Floral Wreaths

• Floral Swags

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

First, create a beautiful Palette

If you’re designing a cake decorated with fresh flowers, take a little extra time to create a beautiful setting that allows the cake and its floral design to shine. The cake itself is only part of the presentation—the cake stand, serving surface, and surrounding details can all contribute to the overall look.

You don’t necessarily need an elaborate cake pedestal or expensive display. Instead, focus on choosing a beautiful surface and setting that complements your floral cake design, wedding flowers, and event décor. A simple cake can feel instantly more special when it’s thoughtfully presented, allowing the fresh flowers and cake details to become a focal point of the celebration.

Cake Boards

Start with a simple but lovely cake board. A cake board sits underneath the cake, providing support and making it much easier to safely move and display your cake. You can find round, square, and rectangular cake boards in a variety of colors and finishes, from simple cardboard and classic white to elegant silver and gold.

For a floral wedding cake, choose a cake board that complements your cake design rather than competing with it. A beautiful board can provide a polished foundation while keeping the focus on the cake and its fresh flowers.

Pretty Pedestals

I especially love seeing fresh floral cakes displayed on cake pedestals. That little bit of extra elevation can completely transform the presentation, giving the cake more presence and making it feel like an intentional part of the overall event décor.

A pedestal cake stand is particularly beautiful for wedding cakes decorated with fresh flowers, where the added height allows the floral arrangement to be seen from every angle. Whether your style is romantic, elegant, rustic, or garden-inspired, the right cake pedestal can turn a simple cake into a beautiful focal point.

Simplify the Icing

When creating a cake decorated with fresh flowers, keep the frosting and icing design simple. A beautifully textured buttercream cake can provide the perfect backdrop for your floral arrangements without competing with them. The goal is to let the fresh flowers on the cake become the star of the design.

Palette knives are wonderful tools for creating subtle texture and movement in buttercream. You can also experiment with different icing colors to complement your wedding flowers, cake palette, and overall event décor. But when it comes to a floral cake, remember: less is often more.

If you’re ordering your floral wedding cake from a bakery, ask your cake designer to keep the icing relatively simple and understated. A clean buttercream finish, gentle texture, or soft color allows the fresh flowers to really shine and creates an elegant, cohesive cake design.

Pretty Cake Stand

Cake Boards

Cake Palette Knives

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

Cake Design with Loose Flowers

One of my favorite ways to create a fresh flower cake is with loose flowers—simply arranging a few beautiful blooms and touches of greenery on and around the cake. This approach creates an effortlessly elegant floral cake design without making the cake feel overly decorated.

The key is restraint. Rather than covering the entire cake with flowers, choose a few intentional places for your blooms, such as an off-center arrangement on top, a delicate cluster along the side, or a few flowers tucked around the bottom edge. The goal is to create visual balance while allowing the cake itself to remain part of the design.

For a floral wedding cake, I also recommend keeping the icing and lettering simple. Too many decorative elements can compete with the natural beauty of the flowers. Let the fresh flowers on the cake be the focal point.

When it comes to floral cake decorating, simplicity is often the most beautiful choice. A handful of thoughtfully placed blooms can have far more impact than a cake overflowing with flowers.

The Best Loose Flowers for a cake

There are so many beautiful flowers you can use to decorate a cake, so choosing the right blooms can be a little overwhelming. The most important rule when creating a fresh flower cake is to make sure the flowers are appropriate for use around food.

Avoid using flowers that have been treated with pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals that are not intended for use around food. Because commercially grown and grocery-store flowers may be treated with products that aren’t suitable for cake decorating, it’s best to know exactly how your flowers were grown.

For the safest and most beautiful floral wedding cake, consider sourcing blooms from a local flower farm or another grower who can tell you how the flowers were cultivated. You’ll have more confidence in what you’re placing near your cake, while also gaining access to beautiful, seasonal flowers that can make your cake feel completely unique.

When choosing flowers for cake decorating, think beyond color. Consider the season, flower varieties, texture, scale, and how the blooms will complement your cake and overall event design. A thoughtfully chosen selection of fresh flowers can turn even a simple cake into a stunning centerpiece.

Herbs on Cakes

Herbs are another beautiful way to decorate a cake, especially if you love a more natural, garden-inspired look. Their delicate size, beautiful texture, and fragrant foliage make them wonderful additions to floral cakes and fresh flower cake designs. And many culinary herbs can be used in ways that complement the flavors of the cake as well as its appearance.

I especially love using small sprigs of rosemary and lavender on cakes, but don’t overlook lemon verbena and the many varieties of mint. Along with classic peppermint and spearmint, look for unusual varieties such as orange mint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint, and strawberry mint. I grow many different varieties on my farm, and they come in handy when creating beautiful, natural cake designs.

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

How to Create a Floral Wreath

I love creating floral wreaths on cakes because they add such an elegant, garden-inspired touch. A fresh flower wreath can transform a simple cake into a beautiful centerpiece, and although it takes a little extra time to create, the finished result is well worth the effort.

create the Floral wire base

To make a floral wreath for a cake, I use medium-gauge floral wire. Floral wire is ideal because it’s flexible and easy to shape, allowing you to create a wreath in virtually any size or shape.

Start by measuring the diameter of your cake. Then, loosely cut and bend the floral wire into a circle that is slightly smaller than the cake itself. For example, if you’re working with a 9-inch round cake, create a wire circle that is approximately 7 to 8 inches in diameter. This allows the finished floral wreath to sit neatly on top of the cake without extending all the way to the edge.

Twist the ends of the wire together to close the circle. If you have floral tape, wrap the joined ends to cover any sharp or rough edges.

Next, take a longer length of floral wire and begin crisscrossing it back and forth across the original circular wire. Wrap the wire underneath the circle and back up with each pass. This creates a simple, open wire base for arranging greenery and flowers. You can see this technique in the photo below.

There are many ways to create a floral wire wreath base, so don’t worry about following this method exactly. The important thing is to create a sturdy, flexible base that gives you plenty of places to attach your greenery and flowers.

Layer the greens and herbs

Once you’ve gathered, washed, and thoroughly dried the fresh greens and herbs you want to use for your cake wreath, you can begin layering them onto the wire base.

Starting with your largest pieces of greenery, use a small amount of floral adhesive to attach each piece securely to the wire. Work your way around the circle, overlapping the greens slightly to create a full, natural-looking foundation for your floral cake wreath.

Once you have a good base of larger greens and herbs, begin adding smaller pieces on top. Layering different sizes and textures creates depth and gives the wreath a more organic, garden-inspired appearance.

Don’t be afraid to tuck small pieces of greenery into the gaps to conceal the wire and add movement and texture. Thyme is especially useful for this because its delicate stems can fill in small spaces beautifully. Keep layering until the wire base is completely hidden and you have a lush, natural foundation ready for your flowers.

Floral Wire

Floral Snips

Floral Adhesive

Flowers in the wreath

Now comes the fun part—adding the flowers! When creating a floral wreath for a cake, choose small to medium-sized blooms that will keep the wreath in proportion to the size of the cake. Smaller flowers tend to create a more delicate, balanced design without overwhelming the cake.

Some of my favorite flowers for small cake wreaths include Nigella, Bachelor’s Button, small pieces of Hydrangea, and Dianthus. You can also experiment with seasonal flowers from your garden to create a wreath that feels natural and unique.

When choosing flowers for cake decorations, however, be thoughtful about flower safety. Not every flower is appropriate for use around food, and some varieties can be toxic. Avoid flowers such as hellebore and any flowers you know to be toxic or that have been treated with chemicals that are not appropriate for use around food.

Important: A floral cake wreath made with glued flowers is a decoration only and is NOT edible. Make sure everyone serving the cake knows that the wreath should be removed before the cake is served. This simple step can help prevent any confusion and keep your beautiful floral cake display safe for everyone.

Finishing Touches

For the finishing touches on your floral cake wreath, add delicate flowers and herbs to soften the edges and create a more natural, abundant look. If you’re working with flowers that have small stems, such as lavender, place a small dab of floral adhesive on the stem and gently tuck the flowers into the wreath. These delicate sprigs can extend beyond the edge of the wreath, creating a beautiful herbal spillover that adds movement and texture to the cake.

Once your fresh flower cake wreath is complete, take a moment to inspect it from every angle. Look for any visible floral adhesive or exposed wire and cover those areas with additional greenery or flowers. The goal is for the wreath to look lush and natural, with none of the structural elements visible when it’s placed on the cake.

You can also add a layer of leaves underneath the wreath to conceal the wire base. This isn’t always necessary, especially since the wreath is a removable decoration that will be taken off before the cake is cut. What matters most is creating a beautiful, finished floral cake design from the perspective of your guests.

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

What is a Flower Swag?

A flower swag is a little bit of floral art that I made up—and it’s one of my favorite shortcuts for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts with fresh flowers.

Quite simply, a flower swag is a small, wired floral sculpture covered with a bit of floral tape and accented with tiny flowers, herbs, and greenery. Unlike a full floral wreath for a cake, a flower swag is quick to create and can be tucked onto a dessert wherever you want a touch of botanical beauty.

It’s especially useful when you don’t have time to make a wreath but still want to add fresh flower cake decorations or a little flower art to cupcakes, cakes, and other dessert displays. A few strategically placed swags can make even a simple dessert feel special, romantic, and garden-inspired.

Florals: Studio Sprig

Building a Floral Swag

To make a floral swag for a cake or cupcake, start by cutting a piece of floral wire and bending it into a shape that complements your dessert. The wire can be curved, angled, or shaped to create a small botanical sculpture that will sit naturally on the cake or cupcake.

Once you have your shape, cover the ends and any visible or exposed sections of wire with floral tape. The floral tape creates a finished surface that makes it easier to attach your small flowers, herbs, and greenery with floral adhesive.

Think of a flower swag as being similar to a boutonniere, except instead of building your design around a flower stem, you’re creating it around a flexible wire base. This gives you much more freedom to shape the floral decoration exactly as you want.

For the black-eyed Susan shown above, I first taped the flower stem directly to the wire. The wire then acted like a small, rigid spring, allowing the flower to pop up playfully from the cupcake. It’s a simple technique that creates a wonderfully unexpected fresh flower cake decoration.

Florals: Studio Sprig

Swags are just fun!

Floral swags are such a fun and versatile way to add fresh flowers and botanical details to a dessert display. Use them around a cake table as little floral sculptures, or tuck them into cakes, cupcakes, and even pies for an unexpected pop of color, texture, and garden-inspired charm.

Because each flower swag is small and easy to shape, you can experiment with different flowers, herbs, greenery, and forms. There really are no hard and fast rules—play around with placement and scale, and see what works best with your cake and overall event design.

Thank you so much for visiting Studio Sprig! If you’d like more ideas and inspiration for decorating cakes with fresh flowers and herbs, take a look at How to Create Cake Crowns and Mini Wreaths from Herbs and Flowers.

I’m always here to help inspire your creative journey and bring a little more flower art and natural beauty to your celebrations. Stay inspired with Studio Sprig! Sign up to receive new blog post notifications, floral design inspiration, creative ideas, and seasonal projects delivered to your inbox. You can also follow Studio Sprig on Instagram and Pinterest for more floral inspiration, cake decorating ideas, botanical art, and creative projects.

How to make your own flower confetti

Flower Confetti for Styling Summer Tables

Forage from your gardens

• Take a walk around your gardens or a nearby meadow and bring your shears and a small bag or basket. Whenever I come across a flower with great color, I try to snip a few to use for flower confetti. Many cut flowers like to be cut regularly because this promotes new growth, so don’t be afraid to snip a few. If you are foraging in a meadow, make sure the petals are large enough, and if they are not, like with a wild daisy, snip the entire flower head.

Choosing flowers with colorful petals

Save every petal

• After foraging, lay everything out on a tray or towel to see what you have. Shoosh away any small insects and gently begin to remove the petals from the larger flowerheads before they turn brown

• You can separate and leave the petals to dry as is on a flat surface or …

• Place the petals in your dehydrator and set it to the lowest setting. Dehydrate for only about 1 hour or until all petals are completely dry but not brown. Be careful not to over-dehydrate; watch closely. All flowers are different, so this step needs to be monitored

Separating the petals from the centers

Store After Drying

• Separate and place the petals on a white plate so you can easily see the array of colors, and if necessary, wait several days to make sure they completely dry

• Discard any petals that have turned brown

• Store the dried petals in a wide-mouth jar without a lid or use a lid with air vents to allow air circulation and prevent molding.

Dried Peony Petals

Style Tables and Give Confetti Gifts

• Now on demand, you can create flower confetti jars to give as gifts. They make lovely summer picnic gifts, and they pair so nicely with baskets full of fresh herbs, vegetables, and homemade sourdough bread.

• Style pretty summer tables by sprinkling the flower confetti around candles, place settings, or amidst flower arrangements. Here is the list of all the supplies I use to create my own flower confetti. Enjoy!

Simple jars of Flower Confetti make wonderful gifts

Creating a Pressed Flower Frame

I really enjoy creating pressed flower frames, especially when I am making art from a beautiful bouquet.

Start with Fresh flowers

Nothing beats a stunning bridal bouquet as a starting point, but it’s critically important to keep the bouquet as fresh as possible after the wedding. Plan to keep the bouquet in water and refrigerated, or at least in a cool, dark spot, until you are ready to press. I gathered this bouquet 2 days after the wedding and began pressing immediately.

The Flower Press

I use this attractive wooden flower press from Aboofx. This wooden flower press not only looks appealing on a desk or counter, but it also comes with plenty of blotter paper, screws, and washers that allow me to easily apply ample pressing pressure. For a less expensive option, just buy loose sheets of Blotter Paper and press your flowers under several heavy books.

Press single Petals, Greens, and whole Flowers

Remember, it takes 4-6 weeks to press fresh flowers properly, but during that time, you can collect all the supplies you’ll need for your farmed art and rehearse the design you’d like to create.

Follow these steps when preparing the press:

• Eliminate all moisture from petals and flowers (air drying is best while the flowers are still on the stem, but in water)

• Cut off all thick stems as close to the flower as possible

• Pull apart the petals from thick, round flowers like roses and press the petals individually

• Take tiny cuttings from the greens and filler flowers like statice and baby’s breath

• Separate leaves for pressing if you choose to include them in the final design

• Use your best judgment when pressing small buds. If they seem too thick and full of moisture, do not try to press them

Layering the Blotter Sheets:

• Lay each flower, green leaf or petal, individually, and try not to touch other pieces

• When the blotter sheet is full, place another sheet on top and continue (be careful not to shift the sheets underneath)

• When all of the flowers, greens, and petals are positioned, cover the stack with one final piece of blotter paper before placing the press’s wood cover or your pile of heavy books on top

• Secure screws and washers, twist until tight, and the sheets cannot shift (only if using the flower press)

  *Pro tip: If you are pressing WHITE flowers, place the entire press, including the books, into a refrigerator for the duration of the press. This will keep the white flowers white. But if you want an antiqued, tea-stained look, then keep them at room temperature.

Choose A Nice Frame

The frame choice is very important because you want the finished piece to hold up and look wonderful. I always choose floating frames with glass, not plastic, because I think they showcase the flowers well. You can decide between white, black, metal, or wood finishes, and of course, there are many sizes. This bouquet was large, and I wanted to represent all of the flowers, so I chose the Americanflat 11x14 Floating Frame in Oak with Polished Glass.

Designing the Flowers and Petals

This is the fun part. Only after 4-6 weeks have passed and your flowers have had enough time to dry and press, should you begin designing. Test each layer of your press to make sure everything is ready. I like to lay each sheet on my table so that I can clearly see everything before I begin arranging.

Lay out your design

To begin, place one piece of the frame’s glass onto a soft work surface. I used a plain, white dish towel so nothing could scratch the glass.

Start by laying out your preliminary design to get an overall sense of where you want to place each flower. I like to use a tweezer to carefully lift each petal or leaf, remembering that everything is very delicate at this stage and the petals tear easily. Sometimes I create using a lot of white space, allowing the flowers to breathe, while other times I like to bunch items together. Design is really personal preference.

Once you have your vision in place, carefully place small glue dots behind each flower or leaf and lightly press them into place. Some layering is aesthetic, but be sure not to create too many layers; otherwise, your double-layered glass will not slide into the frame.

Assemble the Frame

When you are happy with your design, pick up the glass and make sure none of the pieces fall. If they do, just secure them with some more glue dots until everything stays in place. At this final stage, go over the entire design and make sure you do not see any glue from the front. If you do, place a small flower to cover it or remove the glue dot with your tweezers. Once everything is secure, slowly place the second piece of glass on top and assemble the frame.

I hope you enjoyed this blog

Have fun creating your pressed flower frames. Here is a short list of supplies you might like, including several unique press options for your convenience.

How to Make DIY Bouquets for Prom

All DIY Prom Bouqets

It’s Prom Season and Flower Bars and Do-it-yourself Flower Bouquet Parties are trending right now. There’s no better time to have fun creating a small posy or a larger bouquet for your special night. Parents, it’s also really fun to host a “Posy Party” and let the kids enjoy an impromptu event where they get together the day before prom to make their bouquets and boutonieres. If this sounds like a great idea, here’s what you’ll want to do.

I’ve led many Flower Bars at venues like Peddler’s Village in New Hope, PA, and for Vanguard as corporate team-building events. I’ve also done Flower Bar drop-offs for events like bridal showers and cocktail parties. However you decide to create your Prom Bouquet or Bloom Bar, you can’t go wrong, because everyone loves an invitation to play with flowers.

Simple Prom Posy with Herbs

First, Find A nice Assortment of Flowers

If the season is right, I think it’s best to contact a LOCAL Flower Grower so you’ll have a nice, fresh variety of beautiful blooms for your Bouquet Bar. If you do not have a farm in mind, go to this website to find flower growers in your area.

Reach out to the growers via their websites or call to learn their policies and how you can purchase a bucketful of their flowers. Some growers sell only at farmers’ markets, but many allow pick-ups at the farm.

If you are throwing a Posy or Bloom Party, buying assorted buckets is the best way to ensure you have a nice variety for each person participating. This is important because all the prom dresses will be different, and you don’t want all the bouquets to be identical.

Large Buckets filled with Flowers from a Flower Farm

Forage for some Wildflowers and Foliage

I like to have a nice mix of filler, or smaller flowers on hand, so sometimes I forage one day ahead of time so that my bouquets overflow with pops of unexpected whimsy. But you do need to be careful, because not all roadside and wildflowers hold up when taken out of water. So as soon as the posies and boutonnieres are removed from water for prom photos, they may start to wilt.

Therefore, if you want to forage, experiment ahead of time by removing the flowers from the water and propping them in a vase, and see how long it takes them to wilt. If it’s immediate, they are not a good choice.

An Assortment of White Flowers and Foliage

One Day Before

Prepare by hydrating well. It’s very important to properly hydrate all the flowers you forage and gather at the farm. Give all the flowers and foliage a clean, fresh cut and place them into cold water as soon as you can. Try to give them 24 hours to soak up the water and properly hydrate before you start designing. You can use Large Plastic Buckets and just keep them on the ground, or you can also design your flower bar space with nicer Galvanized Floral Buckets, to create a more formal event.

Galvanized Floral Buckets

Large Plastic Buckets

An Active Prom Posy Prepping Station

How To Prepare Your Space

Choose an appropriate space I always think it’s a good idea to create a Prom Flower Bar on a patio, in a garage, or on a deck, but sometimes weather dictates our choices. If you must be inside the most common space might be your dining room because you probably already have a large table. Find an area that will accommodate your crowd and anticipate other mothers and fathers as part of that. Many parents enjoy helping their kids prepare for prom.

Set up enough tablespace for everyone you invited to work comfortably. You’ll also want room for the flower buckets, creative workstations, and ribbon tying. Portable Folding tables and simple white tablecloths work well for this.

Folding Tables

Tablecloths

DIY Prom Bouquet Workstation in a Garage

Don’t be afraid to use herbs

Sprigs of herbs are a nice addition to any bouquet. They add a fresh scent and pop out in unexpected places. You won’t normally find them in traditional posies; that’s why, whenever possible, I like to include them in my creations. I mention this because many people grow herbs, and perhaps other families can participate by bringing bunches of homegrown herbs to add that special something.

Fresh Lavender

DIY Prom Bouquet Bar in an Open Garage Space

Choose “Dress accentuating” Flowers

Shine, don’t Blend. Consider the Prom Dress when choosing your flower assortment. I think it’s important that the flowers you choose to include in your Prom Flower Bar are not all the same color. Take into consideration the many prom dresses your guests will be designing around. This is where pops of the unexpected in the form of herbs, greens, and interesting filler flowers will help break up the monotony of focal flowers and accent a dress, rather than blend right into it.

Pretty yellow, lilac and green Prom Posy to accent a navy dress

Guests enjoy time with friends and flowers BEFORE prom

Always choose flowers that accentuate but don’t blend in with the dress

Choose Flowers You Love

Invite Creative Energy. Encourage your guests to walk to the flower buckets and choose their favorite greens and focal flowers, and then take them back to their workspace. Then, have them search for interesting items like herbs and filler flowers to really make their posies pop! Make sure they keep all the stems long and begin thinking about the style they want to create. Whether it’s a tight symmetrical bouquet or a whimsical, free-spirited posy, they’ll want something in mind before they begin. Reference photos are always a nice idea to decorate the worktables.

Building the Prom Bouquet or Posy

You can instruct guests verbally or have small printed instructions on your table before guests arrive.

Here is how I build bouquets, large and small. I always start by gathering larger, focal flowers in the center. I then add flowers, piece by piece, around that middle bunch. Sometimes it takes me a few tries to get it just right, so don’t be afraid to put everything back down on the table and begin again. Balance is important, and larger blooms like dahlia sometimes need support, so use other flowers to prop them up or wire the stem so they stay upright.

Tuck and Cuddle Your Flowers

Variety Matters. I prefer to use many varieties of both color and texture in my bouquets. Some flowers are round, others spikey, some are frail and wispy, while others are rigid and strong. You’ll also experience some breakage along the way, but don’t be opposed to using flowers that dropped a single petal or those that look like they have a slight droop. If you “tuck and cuddle” with care, they can still participate in the party.

Unexpected Fun. Tuck herbs and small filler flowers randomly throughout by inserting the delicate stems down through the middle, as you ever-so-slightly loosen your grip. Try to place these at different levels, so they flare out and create surprise.

Often, the last step is forming a nice base with the greens. I like to place the greens around the bottom edges of the posy, creating a textural base for everything. I also like to take tiny “sprigs” of the greens and foliage, loosen my grip, and tuck them inside the bouquet here and there.

Instructions

• Gather a few Focal Flowers in a small bunch, grip with one hand

• Add other Flowers around that bunch, one at a time

• Tuck small Herbs and Filler Flowers whimsically as you go

• Create a base with Greens

• Secure with a Rubber Band

A DIY Posy stuffed with yummy Peony, Ranunculus and Zinnia.

Snip, Wrap, and Go!

When all of the flowers are assembled and looking just the way you want, use a small rubber band to hold them in place. Scrunch the rubber band up close to the base of the flowers to hold them snug.

Then use a sharp flower snip and trim all the stems to the same length. Aim for a stem length of about 6”. You only want enough room to wrap a ribbon and grip the stems, but not so much that the bouquet or posy looks awkward. I use this micro-tip flower snip and I cut a few stems at a time so that they are all the same length before wrapping.

Flower Snips

A Posy with a lot of unexpected surprises.

Choosing Ribbon

There are many different types of ribbon to choose from. I prefer this beautiful White Chiffon because it’s very forgiving and the edges are intentionally frayed, which I think is a fantastic look. for prom. The Chiffon comes in an array of colors too, so having a variety would be a nice touch. You can also use a Double-Faced Satin if that’s the look you're going for.

White Chiffon

Array of Chiffon

Double-Faced Satin Ribbon

Proud Posy Poses.

Refreshments and Photos

And before we go, two things that are important to consider are the refreshments you’ll serve and the photos you’ll take.

Floral Cookies and A Lemonade Bar! Everyone wants to snack at a Prom Flower Bar, so go the extra mile and bake some lavender cookies and create a simple lemonade and iced tea bar with pretty bottles, simple syrup, and mini, floral ice cubes that you can create with a little juice and these cute Floral Molds. If you want to learn how to set up a simple, but pretty mini bar, read my blog How to Create a Pretty Mini Bar with Items You Already Own.

Culinary Lavender

Floral Molds

Mini Rose-shaped Orange Juice Ice Cubes

Once everything is assembled and displayed, take loads of photos. Before, during, and after photos will be valued forevermore. Focusing on these details adds that little touch of memorable elegance that every Prom Bouquet Party needs.

Mission Accomplished. DIY Prom Bouquets.

Thank you so much for visiting. If you want more details or want to learn how to create a personal or corporate Flower or Bouquet Bar for another event, read How to Host a Flower Bar Event. And be sure to visit the Flower Bar Shop at Studio Sprig for a list of supplies. I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

How to Preserve and Use Your Spring Flowers - All Year Long

Enjoying Spring Flowers

There’s nothing like the first blooms of Spring to brighten your day. The only trouble is that many perennials, like lilacs and peonies, don’t last very long. That’s why it’s very important to preserve them quickly if you’d like to use them in the future.

What You Can Do With Preserved Spring Flowers

• Create a Dried Bouquet or Host A Dry Bouquet Bar

• Create a Dried Arrangement or Host A Dry Arrangement Bar

• Create a Dried Wreath or Host A Dry Wreath Bar

• Create a Floral Memento or Host A Floral Memento Event

Fresh Hydrangea

Dry Hydrangea

How to Host A Dry Bouquet or Arrangement Bar

Hosting a Dry Bouquet or Arrangement Bar requires a fairly large room or outdoor space, depending on the size of the event, because you’ll need a table for displaying your flowers, as well as a workstation for each guest.

What You’ll Need

You should have at least one long table to display your dried flowers and greens, and at least one long 6-foot table per 3 guests. Arranging dried flowers does take up a fair amount of space, and it can get quite messy, so prepare with tablecloths. I like to stash big rubber bins under my tables for easy cleanup.

Provide each guest with a vessel or vase, and a flower snip to easily cut the stems.

And just like arranging with fresh, start each arrangement with your greens and work up to focal flowers. It’s much more difficult to design with dried flowers, as they are brittle and stiff. They fall apart easily, so be gentle when handling them. In shallow vessels, it’s a good idea to use a frog for stability. In the colorful arrangement above, I used chicken wire and shoved it into the iron, vintage vessel. It does a great job holding everything in place.

Host A Dry Wreath Bar

Wreath Bars are fun anytime of year, but especially around a seasonal change or holiday. Everyone likes a new wreath to hang on their door or wall.

What You’ll Need

All you have to do to host a wreath bar is display all of your previously made dried flowers and greens in attractive vessels and group items accordingly. Set up a few work tables or stations and invite guests to bring a wreath of their choice and a glue gun.

You can alternatively provide glue, glue guns and wreaths for everyone if you are hosting a bridal shower and want this to be a creative activity. But if this is just a fun event for friends, I recommend the “bring your own” wreath bar to keep things simple. This also enables each guest to choose the size and style of wreath they’d like to make.

Glue Guns

Grapevine Wreaths

Photos of the event are crucial so be sure to take lots.

Host A Dried Flower Framed Momento Bar

Framing a cherished memento is so satisfying. It’s a way to preserve a memory from a wedding, a birth, a precious handwritten card or note, or a photograph you just love with all your heart. Framed mementos make meaningful gifts all year long, so why not use your spring flowers and showcase special memories.

What You’ll Need To Create a Memento Bar

For this each guest will need only pressed, dried flowers, a memento, glue dots, and a frame. To prepare your flowers, you can use the pressing technique outlined below.

Arrange all of the flowers and green options on a big table, and give your guests an area to freely create their masterpiece. Provide each guest with a frame slightly larger than their memento. These floating glass frames work very well and they come in many sizes.

First, clean both pieces of glass. Then, use double-sided, clear tape or glue dots to place the memento wherever you want it on the first layer of glass. Now you can begin adhering the flowers. Be very careful, as dried, pressed flowers can be very delicate. You may want to provide some craft tweezers for precision.

When the design is finished, place the second piece of glass on top and assemble the frame.

Floating Glass Frames

Clear Tape

Craft Tweezers

There are Various Ways to Preserve Flowers

Here are four ways you can preserve your fresh Spring flowers.

• Dry Flowers in Silica

• Hang Flowers Upside Down

• Air Dry Flowers on a Flat Surface

• Flower Pressing

Flower Drying in Silica

To dry fresh flowers in silica, first you must prepare your containers and fill them with Silica Gel Flower Drying Crystals. I prefer using these Rubbermaid Containers with Lids to prevent spills. I normally have five containers going at once. Just line the bottom of each container with silica crystals and lay the flowers so that they are not touching or overlapping. Then pour more silica over the top until the flowers and stems are covered. Place the lid securely on the container and store for about a week in a cool, dark (but not moist) place.

Silica Gel Drying Crystals

Containers with Lids

When you remove the flowers from the silica, be careful not to break the flowers and stems, as they will be dry and brittle, but remarkably in tact. I always use a small spatula.

Hang Flowers upside Down

A very old and simple method of drying fresh flowers is simply hanging them upside down.

Game Changer Hooks

I have bunches hanging all around my home in the springtime, and I find the little, black hooks pictured below are especially helpful. They are typically used to hang utensils, but I’m able to attach flower bundles to almost anything with these little hooks - game changer.

Air Dry Flowers on a Flat Surface

There is nothing wrong with just placing your flowers on a flat surface and waiting for them to dry, but I would only do this if you prefer the crunchy look. Flowers typically shrivel when they dry this way while they retain their shape and texture with the silicon method above. However, with some flowers like lilac, I really like this look. I think it will be pretty when I use it on a wreath.

See the Difference

The lilac above was dried with the flat surface method, while the tulips below were preserved in Silica Gel Crystals. You can clearly see the difference.

Flower Pressing

You can also preserve your flowers by pressing them until they are dry.

For this method, carefully flatten and layer flowers between thick sheets of watercolor paper, then press them between heavy books, or buy a flower press and do many layers at once.

A Flower Press

I use this sweet Flower Press. What I love about it is the small profile. It’s only 11” square and fits nicely on a small table in my workspace and it would be right at home in a greenhouse. It comes with all the tools, papers, cardboard layers, and a travel bag.

Thanks for visiting. When preserving your Spring flowers, choose the method that works best for you and enjoy your flowers for as long as possible. I’d love to hear what you’re doing with your garden. Comment below.

How We Painted our Barn

When we bought our farm, Windy Hill, in 2007, the property had a beautiful Victorian farmhouse, a small cottage, a big storage building in the back, and a stately, 4-story, hunter green barn.

The barn, unlike the modernized house, was in near-original condition. A lone chicken resided in the barn, not too long before we arrived, and there were animal pens, a long trough, and more than a few bird nests waiting for us inside. We jumped on this pretty early on, cleaning up the unnecessary chicken coop, powerwashing the trough and floors, and securing many of the windows so new birds would not get inside. The exterior, however, remained intact until we had to replace a few of the 28 windows that were damaged during a windstorm.

Windy Hill’s Victorian House

Windy Hill’s Bank Barn 2007-2024

Windy Hill Bank Barn North Side View

Windy Hill Bank Barn South Side View

This Old Barn

Over the years, we didn’t need the barn, and we made no plans to raise farm animals because we were busy raising our three young children. But we knew it was important to preserve our piece of history and to keep her looking the best we could.

We brought in The Heritage Conservancy of Bucks County and found that the barn and house were likely built sometime in the early to mid-1800s. We learned there are Roman numerals or “marriage marks” (markings on the timbers of the roof frame to indicate timber location in the building) on the ceiling of the barn’s upper floor, so this helped in determining the age.

Why make a change?

Somewhere during the autumn of 2024, I spotted an oversized photograph of a painted, black barn at my local Benjamin Moore store. It was an advertisement for their stock black (2132-10) low lustre paint, and I fell in love immediately. I knew our barn’s south side was especially faded and worn from the severe storms we’ve been having lately, and I wondered what our barn would look like if it were updated with black. So after colorizing a photo in Photoshop to get a quick glimpse, I called professional painter, Brandon Chamberlain, for a consultation and estimate, and the rest is history.

28 Freakin’ Windows!

The first thing we had to do was remove all of the windows. Some were new, as I mentioned before, and some were very old and literally falling apart. Nevertheless, we needed to remove, categorize, clean, and prep each window for painting. This was by far the worst part of the job, and it fell primarily on me. I sorted and cleaned every single window in our mudroom, which took the better part of a day. Then Michael and I set up shelving in our dining room, where we began the tedious job of painting every single frame and muntin (strips of wood that hold the window panes in place) for every single window! I will never do this again, you can quote me.

disguising old and ugly imperfections

Brandon started by going around the entire barn and filling all of the cracks, holes, and broken tiles so they’d be virtually invisible after painting. For this, he used a product called Bondo Filler, which he said covers even the “worst imperfections” and dries quickly. He was right. There were quite a few broken shingles on this barn, and now it’s very difficult to spot them. Brandon also did quite a bit of carpentry prep work by patching peaked soffits riddled by carpenter bees, and by replacing a few window sills that were rotten and worn. The extra effort was very much appreciated.

The Windy weather at Windy Hill

Once the Bondo was set and all of the prep work was finished, it was time to spray the paint. Brandon set aside 2 days in April to get two coats of paint on the barn, but the weatherman had other plans.

The first week of April came with freezing temperatures, wind, and lots of rain. The second week of April brought the same awful weather. Every time Brendan tried to begin work, something would happen - a fierce wind gust, an unexpected rain shower, or freezing temperatures that we’d normally see in February and March. It was discouraging, to say the least, as our deadline was April 20, Easter.

Brandon and his assistant used only ladders to scale this tall barn. And as you can see in the photo above, the south side peak was the most difficult because he had to work around a power line and a very tall birch tree. But the two of them dangled the sprayer out of the upper windows and got the job done.

Why You Should Hire a Professional

Forever the professional, Brandon pressed on, week after week, day after day, throughout April, assuring me over and over that the barn would be painted by Easter. And so it was. Brandon finished the job on Good Friday, which meant that we could reinstall all the windows on Saturday, just in time for the holiday.

the Finishing Touches

We did break two of the older window panes when we reinstalled, but fortunately we have a great, little glass shop in town that will fix them up in one day. They are already at the doctor's.

I also searched for very large, faux, spring wreaths to adorn the 3 front barn doors. These oversized green and white wreaths are from Wayfair, but you can find similar ones here.

Thank you for following along on our 2025 Bank Barn Journey. If you have any questions please share in the comments, I’d be happy to help if I can.

Windy Hill Bank Barn 2025

What to Plant for Mesmerizing Spring Blooms

Hellebore: One of my favorites!

Hellebores are known commonly as The Lenten Rose because they bloom in the winter, generally between February and April, around the time of Lent. And although they are somewhat rose-like in appearance they belong to the buttercup family. Their colors range from white to dusty pink, pale yellow, muted green, burgundy, purple and I’ve even seen coral.

they must be shy

Interestingly the flower of the Hellebore faces down in the garden so I had to position my camera underneath to get these photos. I like to think they are just timid and shy but Hellebores face downwards to protect the internals of the flower and to allow successful pollination.

Easy to Grow

Hellebores are shade perennials that naturalize easily. I planted a few little baby springs about 3 years ago and my garden is now bursting. Hellebores spread rapidly thanks to their extensive root systems and self-seeding habits. I dedicated a side garden in the shade for them and I hope they eventually cover the whole thing. Some people regard them as invasive, but I don’t think I could ever get enough of them here at Windy Hill. They are among my favorites.

Pretty but Poisonous

As with many flowering plants, the Hellebores are poisonous if ingested, so be sure to keep them out of the mouths of young children and pets. But on a positive note, deer do not go near them!

Hellelore

The Hellebore flower has a dark and mysterious reputation in folklore. They are often associated with rituals of protection and banishment. In ancient times, the plant was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits and protect against witchcraft. Click here if you want to read more about the legends and myths surrounding Hellebore.

Use as Sculpture

Last year I didn’t want my beautiful Hellebores to end, so I preserved a few stems in silica-drying crystals and displayed them with my dried Hydrangea. This arrangement lasted all year and still has some life. I love the sculptural aspect of it and the way it contrasts with the white pot.

If you fell in love with Hellebore long ago, or are just learning about them now, I hope you take the time to plant some this spring. By next Lent you should see some beautiful blooms. I’ve provided a few links below for your convenience.

3 Hellebore Starter Plants

Silica Drying Crystals

Hellebore Seeds

I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means I’ll make a small commission, but the price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website. Thank you.

Narcissus AKA Daffodil - What's Blooming at Studio Sprig

Almost everyone is familiar with the common Daffodil, whose scientific name is Narcissus. These flowers seem to pop up everywhere in early spring. They’ve become a very popular bulb to plant in autumn and I always look forward to seeing them on cold, chilly, April mornings at Windy Hill in Pennsylvania.

what’s interesting about this common flower?

You may not know that the name Narcissus comes from a Greek myth about a handsome youth who fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water. He was so obsessed with his reflection that he tried to grab it and fell to his death. When Daffodils sprung up on that site, they were named Narcissus in remembrance of the boy. Fun stuff.

So diverse

Narcissus is a diverse genus with over 50 species of flowering plants, including daffodils, jonquils, and paperwhites. They are a bulbous, perennial plant which means you’ll see them year after year. They also naturalize very well, meaning they will spread around to other areas of your garden if you want them to. I always leave my daffodil bulbs in the ground and each year I see more and more. Here are a few varieties growing on our farm.

Did you know?

Historical texts and archaeological digs reveal that daffodils were cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed that the sap from daffodil bulbs contained healing powers. This belief carried into medieval Europe, where daffodils were used in various remedies. As interesting as that is, they are also very toxic.

Toxicity

All parts of the narcissus plant are toxic if ingested, especially the bulb. They can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, and even death in extreme cases. Keep them away from children and pets. Likewise, when placing stems in water, it’s best to separate daffodils from other cut flowers, as they could poison the vase.

On The Bright Side

Daffodils are the official 10th wedding anniversary flower and it is also the national flower of Wales. You can read more about that here. I have included some Narcissus links for your convenience. If you are not already growing some, please give them a try. Thanks for visiting, come again. - Kim

Yellow Dutch Master Daffodil Bulbs

Ziva Paperwhites

Jersey Lace Narcissus Bulbs

Glory-of-the-Snow - What's Blooming at Studio Sprig

Glory-of-the-Snow

This tiny purple flower named Chionodoxa, more commonly known as Glory-of-the-Snow, is popping up in two of our flowerbeds here at Windy Hill. Hundreds of them spring up every year from hardy, little bulbs planted by the farm’s previous owner many years ago.

Interesting Features

The name, Chionodoxa, comes from two ancient Greek words, chion meaning snow, and doxa meaning glory.

The Glory-of-the-Snow flowers are only about an inch wide and very low to the ground, each reaching less than 4” in height. They have 6 star-shaped petals and the anthers of the stamens are yellow, with pale yellow pollen. Look closely because the stamens have flattened stalks or filaments, which resemble a cup in the center of the flower.

Chionodoxa Colors

Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs are available in blue, pink, and white shades and create a beautiful carpet in very early Spring. Ours bloomed the last week of March this year in Pennsylvania.

Click here for the pink bulbs

Click here for the blue bulbs

Click here for the white bulbs

How To Grow

The Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs prefer to be planted in fall about 3” deep and 2-3” apart. Place them in the ground with their pointy ends up. They enjoy ample sunlight and well-drained soil and look spectacular covering hillsides or sweeping drifts. They are hardy nearly everywhere from Zone 3 to Zone 9 and they naturalize very well for your enjoyment year after year.

Give some a try if you don’t see them in your yard already. I’ve provided links just under the color photos for your convenience. And please comment below if you grow these already and love them as much as I do. Thank you.

How we turned an Artist Studio into a Weekend Retreat

Making an Artist Studio

Just behind our farmhouse sits this adorable little cottage. But, as you’ll see, it wasn’t so cute when we moved in 18 years ago.

When we bought this farm in 2007, this cottage was rented out as a mini apartment or what we’d now call a tiny house. The outside and inside were dingy, off-white, and tan. There was a big, ugly oil tank outside and an even uglier furnace inside. But somehow in this little space, there was an eat-in kitchen with wall-to-wall cabinets, a carpeted floor, a full-size refrigerator, and a big, hideous smoke pipe poking out of the roof.

While it was still in this state, we saved up some money and rented the space to an artist, who used the space to paint a few days a week. Then one day the furnace broke down and leaked all over the carpet. Fortunately for me, we were forced to release the artist, gut the space, and fix the problem. Here is how we did it.

We ripped out a few baseboards to install the electric heat.

We patched walls and vaulted ceilings with drywall in a few places.

We employed our workforce (I mean our kids) to help with cleaning up.

Cottage Renovations

Originally the exterior was painted a dingy off-white and the cottage always looked dirty, so that was one of the first things we addressed. We power-washed the exterior, brightened it with lime paint, and accented it with an eggplant purple front door! It was eye-catching and perfect for an art studio.

On the inside, We added baseboard electric heat so we could remove the old and ugly oil heater sitting right at the front door. With the help of a friend, we tore out all the carpet, laid a subfloor, and installed hardwood throughout the main rooms and beautiful slate tiles in the bathroom and entry. We patched many walls with fresh drywall, cut a hole for a new door and window, installed some light fixtures, and created a wet bar from an antique dresser. We also had to patch the metal roof because, in addition to a skylight, there was a smoke pipe coming out from the oil furnace. When all the construction was complete we painted all the walls and ceilings with several coats of Benjamin Moore Super White to finish things off. We worked every weekend and I’d say the entire renovation took just over a few months.

Fun Side Note: In the photo below you will see the addition of a side door. We found a cement step in that exact spot, leading us to believe there was once a door there. We kept the step and brought the entry way back to life. I planted walking thyme all around the door when we created our courtyard which you can read about in this blog How To Create A Courtyard. And now the thyme nicely covers the old cement and flowers in the spring.

We removed the oil tank, patched the smoke pipe hole in the roof, and installed electric heat.

We installed a side door that leads into the courtyard. My 3 kids goofing around in costumes when we had lots of work to do.

Michael and a friend installed the hardwood floors, and I painted the ladder purple. The simple chandelier is from Ballard.

The Artist Cottage at Windy Hill when it was an Artist Studio. We chose bright lime green with an eggplant purple door for the exterior of the Artist Studio. Tile Artist Khara Flint created the “heirloom” tile that hangs above the doorway. I love how the Iceland Poppies decided this was their spot to shine. (they were not planted by me!)

The photos above show how the art studio remained until 2024. We used this space as a haven for Kim Bensing Design and eventually Studio Sprig, my two small business adventures. My kids also used it as a campaway site whenever they had friends over. It was a fun place and still is. It wasn’t until the summer of 2024 that we decided to turn the art studio into a weekend retreat.

The Artist’s Cottage at Windy Hill today

Creating a Weekend Retreat

The decision to reinvent the space is a direct result of my very 1980s dream of someday owning a bed and breakfast. Fast forward to 2025, and the invention of VRBO.

We knew it would only take a few permits and a couple of updates to turn this Artist’s cottage into a weekend retreat so we came up with a summer plan and ran with it.

Around 2021 two of my Studio Sprig interns and I repainted the cottage exterior with Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen Blue, so the outside was already freshed up, leaving only the inside to alter.

We started with some interior Super White paint touchups and the we gave the ladder and the front door a new coat of black because they needed to be refreshed as well. We removed the computer desk and replaced it with a comfortable bed and fluffy comforter. We left all the framed news articles about my design business because they add to the appeal. Below them we incorporated a small workstation equipped with a set of watercolor paints, a sketch pad, and drawing pencils. (Guests have been spotted painting in the courtyard and that makes me smile).

So there would be a place to relax, play a game, and eat, we resurrected a small, round yard sale table and paired it with 3 fiberglass spun chairs by mid-century modern artist, Russell Woodward. These were found on Facebook Marketplace. For wall decor, we hung several original paintings, including a watercolor by Bucks County artist, Jane Ramsey, and we also included a few fine art, floral, and photography books from my library, and we displayed them on a recycled children’s wall bookshelf.

In the bath, we refinished the shower with a process called Miracle Method which we learned about on This Old House. This brought it up to date with a beautiful bright white finish. Our electrician installed two new light fixtures, we patched and painted and that was all we needed to do.

The kitchenette is small and not ready to cook full meals, but we added a stainless island with wheels, a retro microwave and toaster by Nostalgia, a coffee maker, and a mini fridge, enough amenities for a weekend retreat.

Thank you for your interest in our labor of love - twice restored. Comment if you have any questions about the renovation, I’d love to hear from you. I’ve included some product links below for your convenience, and f you or someone you know is interested in booking the Artist Cottage at Windy Hill, the next time you visit Bucks County, PA, here is the link.

We had this side door installed so there would be access into the courtyard.

The Nostalgia Microwave adds a touch of retro charm.

Fresh white towels in a pretty seagrass basket awaits guests.

Just a simple setup with all the comforts of home.

The pedestal sink was salvaged at an estate sale. The colorful mirror I found at a craft fair. We included a frilly ruffled shower curtain to add texture.

We repainted the loft ladder black and added a round table with chairs for guests.

This rolling, stainless table becomes a nice little countertop.

This is the fountain view into the courtyard.

I supply a set of traveling watercolor paints,professional drawing pencils and a sketch pad for guests to enjoy.

This sink was created from an antique dresser and the Ecosmart tankless hot water heater and all the plumbing hides inside.

Exterior Paint: Benjamin Moore Van Deusen HC-156 / Interior Paint: Benjamin Moore Super White HC-152

Nostalgia Retro Microwave

Traveling Watercolors

Rolling Stainless Table

Seagrass Basket for Towels

Ballard Design Chandelier

Ruffle Shower Curtain

I have included a few links to some of the products we used for your convenience. Thank you for reading about this journey. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. The price for you is the same, whether you choose to use the links or not. Thank you.