What’s your business name and what do you do?
Petalage is a full-service boutique floral design business specializing in retail florals, weddings & events. We have a brick & mortar in South Portland where we dish out whimsical floral arrangements, artisanal gift items, wine/sweets & workshops year-round. Our studio space can be rented out for private events as well. We hope to inspire & spark creativity through our floral crafting with a beautiful, meaningful and approachable brand.
How did you learn your craft?
I learned my craft by throwing myself into it. I had no experience in florals nor was I even a hobby gardener at the time. I hadn’t even worked at a floral shop or a flower farm. I left my corporate career of seven years, and I was searching for a medium that would be creative & expressive while also having the potential to grow into a profitable business. I taught myself by practicing floral arranging, and I invested in a one-year remote mentorship program with a floral designer based out of Australia. I attended a range of workshops in-state with local seasoned floral designers as well. I utilized the internet and continued to educate myself. However, most important I continue to finesse my craft by continually challenging myself, being creatively open, flexible, and trusting in my own personal style & aesthetic!
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
On the business end of things I enjoy the branding and social media management. On the personal ends of things I enjoy getting to meet so many wonderful human beings through my craft. On the creative end of things I love the beauty that I find in a singular flower. Flowers are the closest thing to understanding creation and now I have truly become a hobby gardener for sure and grown a genuine appreciation for florals.
What do you enjoy least?
Now that I have a retail shop, I dislike keeping up with the overhead.
What’s one thing you wish people knew about your work?
How much labor, coordination, and business management goes into running a floral design business. People have a lot of misperceptions about what we do but if they saw how often I was calculating numbers or using an excel sheet they’d be genuinely very surprised to learn that its not far off from running any other type of business.
Who is one artist you look up to?
Matisse for art history reference. So many illustrative artists that I follow online. Floral artists like Oh Flora. Retail florals Native Poppy out of California has been a huge inspiration for my business model. International floral artists Backyard Floral and Korean floral artists in particular.
What do you do when you’re not at Petalage?
Right now I am a new mom with a six month old. Other hobbies wise, I’ve been trying to do some watercoloring. I enjoy taking photos, reading, and watching tv (cant lie). I love my bed and sleeping. (cant lie). I love my pit-mix Briglsey who sucks up most of my time other than Payson. My cats are okay (hehe). I mostly spend any free time with family or friends and of course my lovely husband. We’ve been together going on 16 years now!! We enjoy simple things like continuing to work on our 95 year old bungalow in North Deering or checking out new coffee shops in the area or going out to eat. I am currently enrolled in 1 of 2 of my final courses to obtain an Interior Design Certificate at Mass Bay Community college, and I am working on a small side project providing interior design services for a visual effects company who have relocated their tenant office space in the greater Boston area. My first passion is interior decorating so I truly love nesting within my own home. I now am an official hobby gardeners as well. I have over 1200 seeds to plant this upcoming spring season!!
Night owl or early bird?
NIGHT OWL
What's your favorite place in Maine?
Daily routine – Coffee Me Up
Nostalgia – Kennebunkport, Maine where our family resides, where we got married, and where we lived when we first moved from Maine to Boston. Goochs Beach will always be a place of familial nostalgia.