2015{cultivate}

Oh, hey 2015! The beginning of a new year always brings with it new resolutions and promises for #newyearnewyou. And by the end of  mid January my resolve has crumbled! This year I've decided to focus on one word.  

cultivate:

• to foster the growth of
• to improve by labor, care or study
• further, encourage
• to seek the society of: make friends with

The past few weeks I've made time to sit with myself and really think about what I want to accomplish this year. The word cultivate quickly came to mind. In fact, it popped up so quickly that I dismissed it. But, in trying to come up with not so much a plan for the year but a very loose outline I continued to circle back to this word. It applies to so many of my business and blogging goals as well as a lot of my personal goals.

I want to grow this blog into a space I'm proud of by sharing more honest moments of my life and family. I hope to grow my business by creating opportunity and being unafraid to engage with the creative communities I admire locally and online. I desperately need to develop a home/work/life/marriage/baby routine that is manageable and fosters a healthier more balanced life.


Here's to 2015 and making shit happen!

paperwhites+whimsy styled{bridal brunch}

I met Jen,of addieink design, a year ago when we worked on a wedding together. Sometimes you meet people and you just click!

People that work in our industry have met and collaborated with some of the best this business has to offer so it's always flattering when someone chooses you to work on something for them. Jen was hosted a bridal brunch for her soon to be sister-in-law at The Art of Entertaining a few weeks ago. It was an interactive event where the guests were to mingle and enjoy cocktails while cooking up a fabulous brunch with a private chef(what a fun idea!)

Jen created all of the paper products which included these whimsical invitations, recipe cards which sent the bride back to New Jersey with some of her guy's hometown favorites, and all of the signage for the event.

I styled the invitation suite for her. How cute is that envelope liner?!! For the shower itself I set up a vignette that played off of the slightly retro/industrial feel of the invites. We decided on petite arrangements in vintage milk bottles, silver sugar bowls and copper cups to facilitate conversation and work the flow of the room.

I love the mix of all the elements and the color palette.  

 

Interested in hiring {paperwhites+whimsy} creative events and florals for your celebration or corporate event please email me at paperwhitesandwhimsy@gmail.com

Are you a creative looking to collaborate on a styled shoot? I'd love to talk to you!! email 
paperwhitesandwhimsy@gmail.com

all business

A few years ago I started my own business, paperwhites+whimsy creative events and florals,with the goal of  specializing in weddings and other major events. My business grew primarily through word of mouth and I was proud of what I was doing. I wasn't making much money but I felt like I was growing at a manageable pace. I was also making a concentrated effort to learn more about the business side of running a creative enterprise and broadening the scope of what I was capable of doing creatively.

The plan had always been for me to work up until the month before my due date, take another month off and then dive right back into the game. A difficult pregnancy made this impossible. I had to stop working after my last at the end of October. I didn't even have the energy to do consults to set up my schedule for the summer/fall 2014 wedding season.  

It was discouraging to see the business that I was working so hard to build get pushed to the very bottom of my list of priorities.  But, at the time I didn't have the energy to dedicate to it. I wasn't even sure if it was something I wanted to continue doing. I had also fallen victim to the social media comparison syndrome. I love that my instagram feed is full of beautiful things-florals, events, tablescapes,stationery-but it's so hard not to compare myself to all of those talented creatives doing amazing things(the same things I want to do), booking dream jobs and working with the coolest clients. Most of the time I feel inspired by them but it was hard to keep the self doubt at bay. Am I as good as they are? Do I have any talent? 

Six weeks after Rowan was born I hosted a pop up shop for Mother's Day. It went better than I anticipated and it felt so good to get my hands in buckets of flowers again! The pop up confirmed two things for me- I love, love, love what I do and I hate spending that much time away from my baby.

I began to rethink what I wanted my business to be and seriously consider some of the ideas that had been floating around in my head during my pregnancy. So, I'm shifting the focus of my business from weddings and large events to more intimate celebrations and corporate events. I'll also focus more holding workshops, classes, styling, and pop up events. This shift plays to my strengths and what I love about this business the most. The changes are also making me feel better about balancing work with my desire to spend as much time with Rowan as possible.

I'm working on a couple of styling projects, collaborating on an exciting projects (which I can't wait to share) and planning some fall workshops.  With that being said, I'm in the process of rebranding and a relaunch is coming soon! 

all florals designed by paperwhites+whismy||baby shower invitations designed by addie ink and styled by paperwhites+whimsy||wedding invitations designed by addie ink and styled by paperwhites+whimsy

             

Interested in hiring me for your event or styling work? email paperwhitesandwhimsy@gmail.com 

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