A few more bonus photos from the Southern Flourish Spring 2011 issue to take you into the weekend. These latest photos are from Olivia’s shoot — featuring flowers and arrangements from the wonderful Beth from WildFlowers in Charleston — for the Home & Garden section of the latest issue. Click here to subscribe and read the entire article!

Enjoy and Happy Weekend!

You all know how we feel about a good old fashioned card around here. You also know how we feel about sharing the beauty of print online (Have you seen the lovely Spring 2011 issue yet?!). Well, do we have a best-of-both-worlds treat for you!

Paperless Post invites you to send all of your correspondence–thank yous, invitations, save the dates, etc.–with same traditional look of a printed card, but all online! The amazing part….it all looks like printed work! See for yourself!!

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

When you have an awesome photographer like Bridgett Ezzard photographing a ridiculously stylish home, it’s inevitable that you’ll end up with too many photos to choose from. 

Here are a few bonus photos from our Trad Meets Modern: Nashville Home Tour feature from the Spring issue. Be sure to subscribe today to check out the entire 12-page tour of this fab home.

Also, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out the website of Ruthie Sayles, the wonderful gal that owns this gorgeous abode.

The day or two before an issue goes live is always a bit crazy for myself and the other editors. So, today I’m totally embracing this print from Etsy genius funnelcloud.

I really can’t wait to share this issue with you all. It’s beautiful.

We’d like to welcome you to Thursday with a little dip behind the scenes with Beth LeonGuerrero, owner of WildFlowers, Inc. in Charleston, SC. With our Spring 2011 issue just around the corner, it is only right that we do so! She just so happens to have a lovely article in our upcoming issue so here is a sneak peek! Isn’t her work just gorgeous?!

How did you get into the field?

I showed an interest in floral design at a very young age, stealing flowers from neighbors’ gardens and arranging them in anything from perfume to soda bottles. I got a job delivering flowers in high school and benefitted from a lot of on the job training. It was only a few months before I was designing full time. I worked at various florists for almost 20 years before I took the initiative to start WildFlowers Inc.

What do you like most about it?

Always being around flowers. Flowers make me happy. Flowers make other people happy. The best moments are when I deliver a Bride her bouquet and she is brought to tears because it’s more beautiful than she imagined. 

What has been your favorite client/project?

There have been many. I always enjoy working on weddings. My favorites though are the clients that just let it go and leave the designs up to me. I truly care just as much about the flowers if not more. I can put more in to it if I’m allowed to use my creativity than emulate some predetermined template. Hint: They usually get a lot more for the money too, because I’m not just designing for them, I’m designing for me. 

What challenges have you faced?

Thanks to word of mouth and referrals my business grew exponentially very quickly. That has been a challenge because I probably skipped over a number of steps that would have been taken following a business plan. Being a creative soul, I have had to recognize my weaknesses in organization and administrative matters and had to teach myself discipline to address them. I’ve had to learn how to reign in my wandering mind from being distracted. I align myself with strong and smart business people to further compliment what I have to offer. 

What advice would you offer someone interested in the profession?

Intern with a business in the industry. There are design classes, but nothing will teach like actually doing it. I never took classes to learn the basics of design, however I take them to learn new techniques or advanced concepts. The best advice I can give anyone going into any creative field, not just floral design, is to know that your art is subjective. No matter how beautiful it is, not everyone will like it. Not all clients can be pleased. Understand that it’s ok to recognize if you are not a good fit for your client and vice versa. The sooner you learn that tough lesson the happier you will be in your business.

What are your three favorite blogs?

1. The Wedding Row
2. The Wedding Chicks
3. Southern Flourish (we like this one too )

What are your top three sources of inspiration?

1. Nature. Walking through the park or woods or along the beach.
2. Found objects and thrift stores.
3. Other types of art. Everything from traditional paintings & sculpture to fashion & interior design and everything in between. I love taking a work of art and interpreting ii in floral design.

Thanks so much for sharing, Beth! We can’t wait to see your article!

Full tummy, warm blanket, good movie….yes that is how I am concluding my day of thankfulness. Oh, I have so so much to be thankful for!

via Audrey Hepburn Complex

Life.

via Bippityboppityboo

Family.

via Plum Nellie

Friends.

via Mary Ruffle

All of you.

Your turn! What are you thankful for?

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! A new short story set has been released by none other than…….Kate Spade?!

It’s true. The lady’s favorite purse shop has done it again. They keep giving me a reason to come back for more and let my pocketbook become lighter and lighter. Of course they would think to team up with the iconic NYC bookstore Strand. The product? Six authors. Six short stories. Six delectable cover designs. One phrase:  ”she is quick and curious and playful and strong.” Intriguing? Yes.

Act quick! They’ve flown out of the online store so you’ll have to find your set in their shops!

(via I’m Just Sayin…)

That DOOR! See the pretty turquoise and thick wood?! I think that must be what is causing my heart to flutter at the moment. Welp, maybe it’s those GORG floors. Oh and that half door! Ok fine…I’m loving it all. How I’d love to have a little farmhouse decorated in such a fashion as this.

We are L-O-V-ing these painted hardwood floors. I know I can be a sucker for a cool pattern, but really?! This is beautiful.

I’m loving these yarn wreaths by Etsy seller ItzFitz, who we featured in our fall issue.

I also LOVE the candle apple soap by Sunbasil Garden. What a delicious fall-inspired scent!

What are some of your fall favorites from Etsy?