As I sit here at the start of January, I feel an overwhelming mix of excitement and nerves. If I’m being honest, embarking on this blog journey is pretty daunting for a 52-year-old, hugely creative but immensely dyslexic florist like me. Writing has never been my strongest skill, but I’ve always believed in stepping outside my comfort zone, and this feels like the right step to take. Starting this month, I plan to share a blog post on the second Friday of every month. Admittedly, this month is a bit late because we’re still setting everything up, but here I am, ready to share my story with you.
The question I’ve been pondering is whether to reflect on the whirlwind that was 2024 or to dive into the hopes, dreams, and excitement I have for 2025. After some thought, I’ve decided to do both—starting with a look back at a pivotal moment last year.
A Journey Beyond My Wildest Dreams
In November 2024, during the half-term holiday, I found myself sitting by a pool in Spain with my beautiful daughter, enjoying a much-needed break. Out of the blue, my phone rang. On the other end was Lisa from Magnifisence, a local events company. Lisa had seen a WhatsApp ad I posted for my Christmas wreath workshops and asked if I’d be open to facilitating additional workshops, including the possibility of going overseas.
Although I had never met Lisa, I had chatted earlier in the year with her colleague (and sister) Gail. Neither of these incredible women were people I’d met face-to-face, but they had a vision, and they believed in me.
Fast forward through countless phone calls, endless supplier negotiations, frantic design edits, and a rollercoaster of emotions. By the end of it all, my small floristry business—which operates from a cozy log cabin nestled in 75 acres of woodland near Milton Keynes—had pulled off something I never dreamed possible.
With the help of an amazing team I quickly assembled, we facilitated workshops for nearly 600 people as part of a large corporate event. These workshops took us to Berlin, Geneva, Paris, Prague, Amsterdam, London (two large workshops), and Birmingham.
Was I terrified? Absolutely. Was it nerve-wracking? Without question. But we did it.
The experience was nothing short of magical. Every single person who attended left with a smile and a beautiful Christmas wreath to hang on their door for the festive season. To say I’m proud would be an understatement. This adventure taught me the power of taking risks and believing in the possibilities.
A Festive End to 2024
Back at the Botanicals HQ, the festive season was in full swing. I hosted numerous workshops in my little woodland haven, spreading joy, laughter, and Botanical Christmas cheer to everyone who visited. Seeing the happiness on people’s faces as they created something beautiful made every moment worthwhile.
After a much-needed break filled with chocolate, cinnamon and gold fleck gin and tonics, and a lot of next Netflix binging and rest. I started to reflect on where my Botanicals needs to go next. The answer was clear: workshops.
The Botanicals Vision for 2025 is .......
2025 is all about embracing florals and bringing people together. Workshops have become the heart of my business, and I’ve received so many requests for more opportunities to create together.
This year, I’m focusing on:
- Expanding Workshops: Offering a variety of workshops throughout the year to help people create stunning floral wreaths and arrangements for their homes.
- Collaborations: Working with amazing individuals and businesses to bring unique experiences to the my workbench and their workspaces.
- Monthly Raffles: Giving people a chance to win a bespoke Botanicals floral wreath.
- Ready-to-Buy Wreaths, Arrangements and Silk Florals : For those who can’t attend a workshop but still want a touch of mu floral magic in their homes.
- Engaging Online: Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and soon TikTok for updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and floral inspiration.
Additionally, I’ll be launching a monthly newsletter where subscribers will get first dibs on workshops, special offers, and exclusive promotions.
Join Me on This Journey
I’m so excited to share this journey with you and can’t wait to see where 2025 takes us. It’s going to be a year filled with creativity, collaboration, and community.
Stay tuned as I finalize all the details. Soon, everything will be in place, and together, we’ll go wild and beautiful with florals.
Thank you for being part of this adventure. Let’s make 2025 truly magical!
With love and florals, Cerus