DIY Herb Drying Rack: Herb Drying at Home

Studio Sprig by Kimberly Herb Drying Baskets

Are you interested in drying your own herbs? I just love fresh herbs and I grow many on my farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. If you are interested in how I do that, please read this blog post: Herbs, and how to grow, harvest, and dry your own.

I use lots of fresh herbs in everything, my floral designs, my cooking, and even my baking. Having a large herb garden is great in the summer, but I soon realized I needed to dry much of my harvest because they were growing so fast and I just couldn’t eat them fast enough. Drying is a great way to have plenty of herbs throughout the winter.

Herb Drying Racks

As I began searching for herb drying racks I came to discover I did not care for the many options out there because they reminded me of large, round, mesh butterfly cages and I knew they would not fit well in my rectangular pantry -where I wanted to dry the herbs. So instead of buying one, I created my own.

How I Created My Own

First, I started with an existing peg rack that was already hanging in my pantry. If you don’t have one, you can easily find stylish pegs or hooks to add to any wall with this link.

I then hung simple curtain ring clips on four of the pegs and attached these simple metal baskets to the clips. You can find metal baskets in all shapes and sizes depending on what works best for you.

Next, I removed the rings from the clips and used just the clips to connect basket to basket, creating a cascading effect. I hung two columns of baskets, two deep, but you can create any configuration that works in your space.

Lastly, I lined the baskets with a small cutting of cheesecloth in case the herbs were damp from washing and needed to drip.

Now, the aroma in my pantry is always wonderful and it’s also a pleasant sight when I walk in -as it takes up the entire back wall. The great thing about this herb drying rack is that I can add to it and go all the way down the wall if I wish. If you have a large wall to cover, you can always intersperse framed herbal artwork or framed herbal photos taken from a calendar. You can also use your own custom photos or paintings and design a unique “Herbal Wall”. To help, I have included a list with links below where you will find some of the materials I used.

Supplies you’ll need:
1. Shaker Pegs
2. Large Metal Baskets
3. Small Metal Baskets
4. Curtain Clips
5. Cheesecloth
6. Herbal Artwork
7. Herbal Photos

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. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. Kim
This post contains affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I make a small commission at no further cost to you. Thank you.

Lambertville, Nj , A Funky, Cool Rivertown You Must Visit on Halloween.

Photo by John Arehart

Are you familiar with Lambertville, New Jersey, declared one of Forbes's 15 prettiest towns in America and, in my opinion, one of the funkiest at Halloween? If not, may I suggest you pay a visit, and most definitely during the Halloween season? I regret to say that I’ve lived in this region for the past 23 years and Lambertville’s ethereal and artistic displays are something I just learned about yesterday!

Last night my husband Michael and I were taken on a private little tour by our friends Stacy and Bill. They’ve been strolling around Lambertville, particularly Union Street, for years during the Halloween season, and could not wait to share it with us. We are so glad they did. I’ve also enlisted the help of my friend and fabulous photographer, John Arehart, for some daylit photos because as luck would have it he also visited yesterday and captured some great images to share.

Photo by John Arehart

Spookier-Than-Average

For starters, the entire town is decorated in a “spookier-than-average way", but one house in particular really does stand out. It’s called “The Halloween House," at 133 North Union Street, Lambertville, NJ, and it has become known as a display of stylized hand-crafted figures that are ethereal, macabre, and compelling enough to bring visitors back year after year. They are all created by artist, Dolores Dragan, now a regular spook celeb in town.

Photo by John Arehart

Trick or Theatrics

So Dolores Dragan, a longtime resident of Lambertville, started creating an annual display of these interesting figures in 1998 when she was still teaching art at Lambertville School. What began as a theater project to help children at her school, quickly turned into a tourism wonder. Tourists come from far and wide to see her beautifully backlit works of art and marvel at the ingenious ways she displays them. The long line to enter her side and backyard reached way down the block last night. This however was not a problem as almost every house on Union Street is enchanted with its own creepy version of delights.

Photo by John Arehart

A Memory Maker

In this wonderful video produced by Bob Krist, Dragan says she decided after she retired from teaching that she would take on the role of a "memory maker” and create these fantastic sculptures and display them on Halloween. Dolores said "I would like to donate memories every single year to children who come by here. Show them something they've never seen before... and will talk about for the rest of their lives."

Dolores works from July-October on new figures and repairs. As you can see in Bob’s video, she is a true artist. Her sculptures made from plaster and gauze are reminiscent of Tim Burton’s characters, but Dolores says they each loosely represent people in her life. I guess she’s creating a Hallowfamily of sorts and once a year they come to gather at Dolores’s and “spook out” the town.

Photo by John Arehart

An Artistically Inspiring Rivertown

So, If you decide to pop over the bridge from New Hope, PA, to see the sights, don’t think you’re coming for only one house. There are now many, many neighbors participating in this larger-than-life Halloween spectacle. I’ve included some highlights here for you to see some of the immense creativity. One home was projecting Edward Scissorhands on a front porch screen, while others propped sinister, red-eyed ghosts and goblins in the uppermost windows of their vast Victorian homes. We found a friendly Witch House, massive trees filled with flying ghosts, a stripper skeleton dangling upsidedown on a pole (very interesting) and many other examples of well thought out halloween artistry. If you decide to mill around these two lovely Rivertowns be sure to enjoy some dinner, shopping, music, and drinks before you visit the funky festive displays. It’s a good idea for your new and more artistically inspiring life.

photo by John Arehart

The Friendly Witches House, Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 2022

Photo by John Arehart

The Ghost Tree, Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 2022

Stacy, Bill, Kim, Michael in front of The Halloween House, Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 2022

Photo by John Arehart

The Halloween House by Dolores Dragan, Union Street, Lambertville, NJ 2022

Photo by John Arehart

How to choose an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation

how do you search?

When it’s time to plan a vacation or just get away for a few days, do you tend to go to popular sites like hotels.com or Expedia and search for a place to stay? Do you choose based solely on price? Do you surf trip advisor and read lots of reviews, or do you go to the same beach house year after year and keep it simple?

In the past, I’ll admit I have sometimes relied upon a trusted upscale hotel site mainly because it is so easy. The rooms are generally very reliable and the site I like has a great interface. I can always count on them. In addition, they have hotels in most major cities around the world. Super EASY, right?

While it may be it’s easy, reliable, and clean, it’s not very interesting and the spaces don’t inspire me that much. Because of that, over the years I have been able to find some unique and very affordable hotels, inns, or glampsites. I’ll share one with you today, but be sure to subscribe now so you don’t miss out on future blogs featuring some very cool spaces. Now, on to why noticing creativity in travel is important to me.

why bother, it’s just a bed and a shower and you’re hardly there?

While this may be exactly what my husband often says, and while he may be technically correct, my theory is the same for this as it is for most things in my life. If I’m not going to try my best, why try it at all?

Let me give you a little history. I graduated with a bachelor of science from the University of Delaware where I studied to become an Art Director. My fellow classmates and I traveled in what might be called a small cohort. There were only 22 students accepted into the creative program that year long ago when I applied and we are all still very close today (thank you Facebook). During my time in the program, I was greatly inspired by our small team of 3 professors, one for each creative discipline: Advertising, Design, and Photography. What these teachers taught my cohort, changed my outlook forever. They challenged us to become, not just Art Directors, but also conceptual thinkers, who try to make the world a more inspiring place. Here are some mantras they taught that stick with me to this day.
Go big or go home.
Make it worth my time or please don’t bother.
Do great work and work hard to make a difference.
Therefore, I believe everybody, everything, and every place has an interesting story to tell. This belief has inspired my business and much of my life. So, I’ll share with you why I think it’s important, and fun to apply this philosophy here.

look hard, discover always

Late this summer my husband and I decided to take a short trip and visit a friend who had moved up to Maine. We are from Pennsylvania so the drive is about 9.5 hours. This is too long for anyone to drive non-stop, so I was tasked with mapping out the trip, and to be clear, this includes determining the route, the restaurants, the hotels, and the activities. All of it.

It took me a few days to decide which route through New England we would take because I always want to stop in Newport, RI. It’s one of my favorites and the victorian mansions are worth repeating. But this time I decided we’d travel a bit further and land for our first night all the way up in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit is a town I was especially eager to see because it’s my brother’s favorite and I have never been.

After days of internet surfing and loads of Trip Advisor reviews under my belt, I just wasn’t finding anything…interesting. The bed and breakfasts, as much as I love them, seemed stuffy and expensive this time, so the search was difficult. Then my brother suggested I try searching in a neighboring town. That was the ticket. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.

notice creativity everywhere

I began googling neighboring towns to Ogunquit and I found the small town of York. I am not at all familiar with Maine, except for the popular spots like Bar Harbor and such, so let me tell you why tiny York captured my attention.

York is about 15 minutes from Ogunquit, an important fact for this trip as Ogunquit was our destination. But in York, I found this newly restored little, retro-boutiquey-motel-ish-like place. A super trendy new/old hotel whose conceptual website STORY inspired me enough that I called and booked a room on the spot. The hotel was The York Beach Surf Club and here is why I liked it.

My husband Michael in front of the York Beach Surf Club, York, Maine

the name got me

First of all, I’ll admit the name did get me, immediately. The York Beach Surf Club has a fantastic name. It’s unexpected, edgy, and really fun. I like that. It doesn’t sound like a hotel at all. Instead, it sounds like a really cool place to rest after spending some time away from home. I dug into the website a little more, learned the history of the name and the people responsible for that history, and I was hooked. Very happy with my discovery. So we took off from Pennsylvania on a Tuesday afternoon in pursuit of a Surf Club.

We arrived in York sometime after 7 pm and checked in at the front desk which was located in a small outbuilding right next to where Michael is standing. The very functional multi-use space is a lobby, a front desk, a gift shop, a cafe, and…bingo, a modern mini-bar, which was very welcoming Tuesday evening! I was impressed with everything so far, the overall design, the layout, and even the funky logo. Attention to detail is important. Logos are details and the first thing most people see. This one has the “vibe” we were looking for.

why it’s good to drink coffee

The room was nice and had a very simple, modern, clean design. We had an oceanfront room with a small balcony so we could see the sea. That was great. All good for our one-night stay.

The next morning we woke to hurricane-style “Maine rain”, lots of wind and rain blowing in off the ocean making it quite cold. A little upsetting as we only had one day to spend seeing both York and Ogunquit. But, through the gale, I somehow made it over to the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar for my large cup of hot coffee, and luckily I did because guess who I met? None other than Taylor Perkins, the owner and restoration genius behind The York Beach Surf Club!

Taylor offered me a danish, but I kindly refused as I’m reducing sugar these days, and instead, I turned the conversation to what I was obsessing over and burst out with: “SERIOUSLY, YOU’RE THE OWNER!!! :) THIS PLACE IS AMAZING, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO ALL OF THIS???” That may have been exactly what I said, with precisely that amount of enthusiasm as, by now, we were both sitting on the sweet pink chairs pictured below at the mini-bar turned morning coffee bar. Remember, it was torrential outside and so Taylor and I had lots of time to chat.

create a mystique

While we sipped our lattes, Taylor shared his story of growing up in York, its historical relevance, and why he came back home to renovate an old Motel and gave it a crazy, funky name. He explained that he spent a long time looking around for a property that his family could transform. They had a vision and wanted to create a cooler “STAY experience” for younger, travelers looking for something less intimidating than stuffy, upscale bed and breakfasts, but nicer than traditional, old Maine motels. After months of searching, they found that The Old York Harbor Motel was for sale. It was perfect, situated right on the ocean and it had good bones and loads of history. It even had a pool that could be brought back to modern life. Taylor shared his photo album with me and told a few stories of the difficulties and setbacks they suffered through during the pandemic restoration. He told me about his close relationship with his father and about his dad’s love of surfing. He even shared a painting of his dad that he has prominently displayed near the lobby, front desk, gift shop, cafe, and mini-bar. His heart was really in this and it showed.

Taylor’s dad, Sonny Perkins, was the first surfer in the State of Maine with a fiberglass surfboard and in 1963 he started a surfing club with a loose coalition of surfers/friends to represent York in surfing contests along the east coast.

So 2020 when Taylor and his team of friends and family began the extensive renovation of the old York Harbor Motel, they were looking for a name. Since Taylor had grown up hearing the stories of the York Beach Surf Club and its members, they decided this name created the perfect mystique. And so became the York Beach Surf Club, hotel.

After a multi-million dollar restoration with the addition of the new pool, food & beverage cafe, and fully renovated buildings and bungalows, the property was now ready for its next 50 years and generations of York visitors. The York Beach Surf Club just celebrated its first season as it opened in the Spring of 2022. I am happy to report we are two of its early adopters!

why details are cool

All photography throughout the hotel is curated entirely from locals, of locals and I think this is so important when you are creating a style or building a brand. The photos reminded me of photos I’ve seen of my parents and that warmed my heart as I walked down the halls. You can see my reflection in the photo below. I took this photo because this woman is the spitting image of my aunt circa 1964. Wow. The images were enlarged, framed, and neatly hung down the hallways and in all the rooms. A nostalgic touch that I think was very well done.

inspiring interest

In the small lobby, the resort also pays homage to the original 1960’s surf collective, The York Beach Surf Club, and tells the unique story of the evolution of surfing in Maine. There is also a prestigious collection of 1960’s Longboards, lots of logo-imprinted swag & Maine Surf Photography available to guests.

SURF MANIA: 1963-1980 MAINE

York, Maine has a deep history of being the playground of the northeast, and one of the top summer hot spots on the east coast. Originally located at the end of the whistle stop, vacationers would take the train up to York to enjoy a stay in one of the many beautiful victorian hotels dotting the oceanfront. As the evolution of the automobile changed commerce in the area, the shift to exterior corridor motels took the country by storm, creating a dynamic couple of decades of design in the building styles celebrating the culture of the automobile and travel.

As a locale for summer migration with a permanent influx of travelers, York Beach inevitably found itself at the frontline of the wave of 60’s surf culture. A place infused with the spirit of rebellion and the creative experimental edge of the 60’s, surfing found a place here amongst the southern Maine youth.

Some surf club perks today!

Pineapple All-Day Cafe
The Pineapple Cafe, located in front of the York Beach Surf Club, is an all-day cafe opening at 7am daily with breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day.

Heated Saline Pool
The new heated saline pool has over 3,500 feet of saltwater complete with beach entry, splash pad for laying out, and poolside food & cocktail service for guests of the surf club!

The Rolling Pearl
The flagship food truck camper, the Rolling Pearl, is open on weekends and for special events with cocktail service and snacks by the pool!

Surfing and Surf Instruction
The York Beach Surf Club is partnering with local vendors to offer summer surfing camps and private lessons!

The Daybreak Coffee Company
The Surf Company’s own coffee brand, Daybreaker Coffee Co., has a retail store located in the Pineapple All-Day Cafe.

Rooms and Spaces
The room photographs below were captured by Photographer Craig Capello. If you are interested in hiring Craig for a photo shoot, you can contact him here.

Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com

Photography: Google Trusted Photographer craigcapellophotography.com

Photography: Read McKendree

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration about how to find an interesting place to stay when you travel or go on vacation. I’ve included a few creative books below that you may find to spark your interest. Please be sure to leave comments as well. I’d love to hear your interesting STAY STORIES.

I’ve included the York Beach Surf Club’s contact information below should you want to pay a visit the next time you head to Maine. If you do, please mention Kim from Studio Sprig as Taylor would love to hear how you found him. Thank you.

Instagram: @YORKBEACHSURFCLUB
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkBeachSurfClub
Web: www.yorkbeachsurfclub.com
Email: reservations@theyorkbeachsurfclub.com
Phone: 207-363-SURF

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Learn: Top 25 books to unleash your creative potential. A great list.
Create: Find something you think needs “reviving” and take serious steps toward changing it.
Inspire: Share this post with the next real estate professional, contractor, or builder you meet. Be the change.

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I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. - Kim

Photo credits: The owner’s historical footage, Kim Bensing, Craig Capello and Read McKendree

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Have you ever thought about creating a beautiful water feature?

Even if you haven’t, please allow me to introduce you to Gerard, the water feature superhero.

Gerard Touhey built his first backyard pond in Easton, Pennsylvania in 1995. Since then, Water Features by Gerard has installed and worked on water features in Disney World, Mexico, France, Ireland, and Chicago as well as Boston and his surrounding Lehigh Valley area. Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting him and I’d like to share my experience. I’ve included a short video where Gerard beautifully tells his sentimental life story, referencing his journey from Ireland, and how he began creating all of these larger-than-life water features at the end of this blog. Please be sure to watch when you finish reading.

A Waterlust Life.

Last weekend I was invited to tour a backyard like no other. This is Gerard Touhey, the water feature superhero. This man SERIOUSLY redefines a backyard escape. On Sunday, I joined some of my beloved family for dinner in Easton, PA -thank you cousin Sharon, for making these arrangements. After dinner, we toured this magical oasis Gerard simply calls his “yard”. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. I had no idea what to expect and just thought we’d be seeing a few aquascapes and traditional ponds. I was wrong.

Gerard Touhey, owner Water Features by Gerard

IT’S ALWAYS those Victorians!

From the front of Gerard’s gorgeous blue Victorian property, you can see only a few carefully placed “hydro hints”, beautifully situated and trickling down toward the sidewalk. But wait….because as impressive as the front gardens were when I walked around to the right side of his home I found so much more. I found things like…

Gerard’s well-appointed victorian home in Easton, PA

Heron sculpture perched on water feature.

…Secret PEDESTAL Perches.

It’s here that I separated from the crowd to go off and discover a few Secret Pedestal Perches. These little moss-covered perches and rocks are tucked away everywhere, perfectly illuminated and peppered with small garden sculptures like this heron eyeing up a fresh, unsuspecting koi.

This sidetrack of tiny pathways was super enchanting and kind of reminded me of my favorite 1972 TV show, The Magic Garden. (Yep, if you click here you can hear the theme song)

Mini Glass Bridge and the Petite Beach.

With that song ringing in my head, I thought it couldn’t get much better, but then I stumbled upon a Mini Glass Bridge placed over a quiet stream. As you’re probably assuming, Gerard could have incorporated a typical wooden bridge here, but then he’d be just like every other “pond designer” you’ve ever met! Instead, Gerard incorporated this glass detail so that his many guests and tour groups could enter the side patio space with dry feet and a view of the colorful pond fishies. Since water surrounds 3 sides of Gerard’s home, it’s sort of like his castle has a moat.

After crossing the magical, mini glass bridge the entire glorious water ensemble unfolded before my eyes.

It’s there that I found what I decided to call The Petite Beach, one of many little “garden rooms” Gerard created to enchant his friends and family. Here, from your painted Adirondack, you can summon a Guinness, kick off your sandals, and actually put your feet in the sand.

Gerard and friend enjoy a toast on The Petite Beach.

Leaping Frogs Everywhere.

In perfect view from the sandy beach are several carefully positioned bronze statues. My favorites were the little children playing with Leaping Frogs. Everywhere you look Gerard has created the most vivid Naturescapes with splashing water, vibrant flowers, and grand illuminations that make each one distinct. We arrived just before dusk, so the lights literally came on while we were strolling around. The great thing is you can leap around for hours and still miss many of the interesting scenes hidden throughout.

Little girl garden statue taunting a leaping frog.

Little boy garden statue capturing a leaping frog.

Bronze boy holding his leaping frog.

Secret swimming hole.

pond or Pool?

It’s true, while most backyard ponds are designed for a few weary koi or just installed to provide pleasant splashing sounds, Gerard’s feels more like he and Tom Sawyer carved the earth with their bare-knuckle hands to create the world’s coolest swimming hole. That’s why he needed to build a beach, remember? So if petite beaches, canoe boating, and bronze froggies are your thing, you’d feel right at home with one of these bubbling babies in your backyard. Do not tell yourself it can’t be done. Unlike other “pond contractors” who come to your yard for a “dry & boring” consultation, Gerard brings you to his. Smart man, because while you're summoning your Guinness in bare feet and feeding his koi some kibble, I would bet you’d be in a better frame of mind to dream up some wonderlust-y features you’d like to have in your very own backyard fantasyland pond.

Swimming pond with canoe in blue.

Swimming pond with canoe in pink.

Gerard exhausted from a dig.

The long rest with canoe in green.

Concrete heads are cool.

I’ll leave you with one parting thought on design. As an Art Director, I lovingly gazed at this corner for a very long time. Sure, it may have been because of the perfectly cascading waterfall basin, but I think we all know that it was really because of the concrete head. You just can’t go wrong with a concrete head. In fact, I have one in the center of my family room. I picked her up at an estate sale. I love her. This one in Gerard’s corner waterscape garden proudly wears her spikey leaves just like the Victorian woman -who probably lived in this home over 100 years ago- would have flaunted her fashionable plume. This head was a very nice nod to our tour’s end. Below I have included Gerard’s social links so you can get to know him and his artful genius. Please remember to view his video.

The magic of moss.

After a long day with canoe in purple.

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration. Please leave comments below. I’d love to hear about your backyard plans. If you’re interested in a Water Feature for your plot of paradise or you just want to connect with Gerard, please mention this blog and Kim from Studio Sprig as he’d love to hear how you found him.

Instagram: @waterfeatures_by_gerard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerard.touhey/photos
Pinterest: @gerrypond
Email: Waterfeaturesbygerard@msn.com

Please watch this wonderful video where Gerard beautifully shares how it all began. Video: Gerard’s story.

A few sound resources to soothe you while you build your dream.
1. Relaxing Zen Music with Water Sounds
2. Spa Music Hour
3. Shower Meditation
4. Rain Fruits ZZZ
5. Purifying Waters of Zen

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Learn: There’s a scientific reason why water is so calming. Learn about it.
Create: Gather items to implement a fountain, pond, pool, or new sculpture into your scape this spring.
Inspire: Invite friends over to just stare at your new ambiance. Offer them a Guinness.

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Slán go foill

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. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. - Kim

Photo credits: Sharon Coe, Gerard Touhey & Kim Bensing

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How to choose flowers that have sentimental meaning

The Meaning of Flowers

Long before I opened Studio Sprig in 2016, I owned a freelance design business called Kim Bensing Design where I told sentimental romance stories through book-like wedding invitations. Because of my background in conceptual advertising, the captivating stories about my engaged couples were what I was after. I interviewed them extensively before I even began the design work. I loved this aspect of my job. I really enjoyed getting to know their backstory, and what message they wanted to relay to their guests with their invitations.

So in 2012, my first daughter Kate was graduating 6th grade and I wanted to buy her some flowers. But I didn’t want them to be just any pre-made, handheld bouquet wrapped in plastic. I wanted them to be especially meaningful to reflect how ultra special she was to me. So I went to a florist near me and asked them to tie up a few specific blooms & sprigs for my daughter to hold at her ceremony. This is four years before I knew anything about the floral industry, local growers, seasonal flowers, or pesticides. I did, however, know about plastic wrap, and I knew I did not want that! When I arrived, I was strictly interested in the meaning of the flowers and I asked for their help. And because I needed a card to explain the flowers, I also designed and attached a simple little one that illustrated the meaning of each flower in the bouquet and why I chose it. I hoped that she’d keep this forever but I am not sure she could actually find that card today, as she’s now 22 and a very busy graduate student. But through that small, ribbon-tied bouquet and a little tiny card, my undying love was conveyed that day, and it was the catalyst that propelled me to launch the Bucks County, boutique floral art studio; Studio Sprig, four years later.

Choosing Sentimental Flowers for Arrangements and Bouquets

Here is a short list of some of the flowers I chose for Kate’s bouquet above, to the best of my limited 2011 knowledge, and again because I can’t find the card!!! I hope you get the idea.

The focal flower is Stock & it is a symbol of a happy life, lasting beauty, and contented existence. It also smells AMAZING!!
The purple Aster symbolizes love, wisdom & faith.
The scattered Baby’s breath symbolizes everlasting love.
I am sure there were a few more sprigs tucked in, but I can’t see them in this photo, so sorry.

This topic of “the meaning behind something” has always fascinated me so here is a little flower history for you.

Floriography: The Language of Flowers

Floriography, the language of flowers, has been practiced in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa for thousands of years. Strong interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and in the United States during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which - and I love this part - could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. A popular book entitled Le Langage des fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour was published in France in 1819. Here, Charlotte offered 300 meanings for particular flowers to provide assistance in making bouquets. Victorians often exchanged small "talking bouquets", called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory.* I always love this because I carried a tussie-mussie filled with roses, hydrangea, and herbs for my wedding in 1998, having absolutely no real understanding of why I chose one except that I loved Jane Austen.

If you are unfamiliar with the illustrations of Kate Greenaway, take a look at her gorgeous 19th-century children’s books including the one linked below.

I hope you have enjoyed learning the meaning behind the meaning of flowers. Below please see the short list of some popular blooms and their symbolisms as well as a few current and not-so-current resources I discovered. You can click on the image and it will take you to where you can buy it. Have fun the next time you create a bouquet from your own garden or pop into your local flower shop or farmer’s market, and be sure to request specifics based on what they will mean to your recipient. Remember to always attach a small card to explain!

Helpful Links to learn more about meaningful flowers

I have included a link for the french edition of Le Langage des fleurs if you would like to add it to your collection. There are also more current options which I will include below. Most notably the gorgeous books authored by Shane Connolly. Enjoy.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Floriography Sources

Shane Connolly of the UK is a renowned designer who designs for England’s royalty. Shane exemplifies the idea of discovering how florals can relate to the concept of your event. His beautiful website is worth browsing. Here are 6 of his published books that would be worth reading.

The Secret Language of Flowers: Rediscovering Traditional Meanings

Language of Flowers

Wedding Flowers

A Year in Flowers

Table Flowers: Over 50 Arrangements for Simple, Special and Spectacular Occasions

Discovering the Meaning of Flowers

Please comment to share some other interesting floral symbolisms or stories you’ve enjoyed or created. Include images!

A short list of popular flowers, herbs and their symbolisms:

~ Zinnia / friendship, & daily remembrance
~ Rose / love & passion
~ Peony / love, honor & goodwill
~ Dahlia / commitment & kindness
~ Tulip / passion & deep love
~ Carnation / love
~ Calla Lily / life & fertility
~ Gerber Daisy / cheerfulness & celebration
~ Orchid / thoughtfulness & charm
~ Gardenia / trust, hope & peace
~ Sunflowers / loyalty & admiration
~ Hydrangea / gratitude, grace & beauty
~ Rosemary / remembrance
~ Sage / wisdom & immortality
~ Thyme / courage & activity

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Learn: Read a book about the meaning of flowers
Create: Design a handheld tussie-mussie and assemble with a note
Inspire: Share your creation with a friend

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration. Please leave comments below. I’d love to hear about your cool floral combinations. 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. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. - Kim

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*source: Wikpedia
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 very much.

How to design marketing materials for your small business

How to design materials for your small business. A Studio Sprig Style Portfolio is a box full of stylish, little pieces that will help you market your small business, creation, or craft. Let's say you’re new to flower growing, and you’ve always dreamed of taking a stab at selling fresh flowers at a farmer’s market or roadside stand, what’s the first thing you’ll need? A fabulous name! After you decide what to call yourself, you’ll want a logo so you can print that on some labels that you’ll adhere to paper wraps to hold your bunches. Or perhaps you love baking and you want to bake for everyone! You’ll soon need some stylish boxes or hanging bags & tags designed and printed. Or maybe you just want a sweet custom logo that you can embroider on a baseball cap and a few shirts. I can do that too. Your Style Portfolio can be whatever you dream it to be. Collaborate with Studio Sprig and create a customizable package to elevate your story and show off your spectacular STYLE.

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1. Brown kraft tags
2. Mason canning jars

This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no further cost to you.
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Katie Kessel of Bucks County, PA creates handmade honey & jams embellished with a -Studio Sprig / Kim Bensing Design- custom logo, tags, and notepad. Create your own Style Portfolio.

Logos designed as vectors for use in signage, marketing materials and websites. Create your Style Portfolio today.

Mailing boxes for Studio Sprig Flowers below.

Hang tags for Ferocious Love Fashion below.

Vector logo created for signage, websites and printed materials below.

Surprise the bride when you can't come to her wedding

During the middle of covid, I received a call from Alyssa in Manhattan. Alyssa was to be the maid-of-honor at her cousin’s wedding here in Bucks County but could not attend due to covid restrictions. Alyssa expressed that she wanted a way to make her cousin’s “wedding week” extra special in lieu of her absence. I’ll let Alyssa tell you the rest….

“Studio Sprig is a MUST HIRE -I told Kim that I wanted something very special and I cannot explain what happened next - she had this vision that blew my mind”

I can say I am probably the most particular person when it comes to communication, perfection, and vision alignment - and feel strongly that you need to find a vendor who possesses that in order to trust them. I can say 100% that Kim just “gets it” and I trusted her implicitly with our project.

I reached out to Kim at Studio Sprig as I was trying to find a unique floral experience to send to my cousin, during her wedding week. After filling out the contact form, Kim called me to discuss this further. I told her my situation and how I could not attend the Bucks County wedding. I shared my overall budget and communicated a few ideas for creating an experience to make my cousin feel special. Kim immediately sprung into action on that call with me, suggesting we send the bride three floral designs and provide each with a “purpose” and a custom-designed love note explaining that purpose. I was amazed that she had these ideas thought out so quickly while on the call. I actually didn’t need to decide on the flowers and all the specifics of the arrangements - I gave Kim complete creative direction since, in that small amount of time, I built a strong sense of trust in her and her competence.

Fast forward a few days (and a few email communications to nail down the final elements), and Kim delivered the most gorgeous display to my cousin’s doorstep. Again, I was amazed at how much she just understood my vision. Hire her - you won’t be disappointed.”

Here are the Three Floral Ensembles that were accompanied by three custom “love notes” and presented to the bride on a beautiful wooden tray with iron handles. All florals were lovingly grown by Detweiler Homestead Farm and Laughing Lady Flower Farm.

- The TableART: A grand, seasonal arrangement for the bride’s home was bursting with dahlia, dara and queen anne’s lace, silver drop eucalyptus, lavender, honeysuckle, thyme, white gomphrena, statice, and celosia presented in a vintage crystal vase with sweet little glass feet.

- In Floral Form: A gorgeous, pedestal, cut glass vase, filled with white daisies, glorious zinnia of various colors, and silver drop eucalyptus was small and nimble enough to accompany the bride to her mother’s home where she prepared for her big day.

- A Small Gift. This small practice posy, or Tussie Mussie, loosely wrapped with silky, white ribbon held 5 “mini” sunflowers from the autumn flower field, a sprig or two of silverdrop eucalyptus, white and gold dahlia, gomphrena and rosemary (because sometimes brides wear rosemary to their weddings as a symbol of love, happiness, and loyalty).

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Read a bit more about the the meaning of flowers.

Learn: Read a book about the meaning of flowers
Create: Design a handheld tussie-mussie and assemble with a note
Inspire: Share your creation with a friend