Artist Series: Homebody Floral

Meet our Featured Artist, Leah of Homebody Floral— Canadian based florist and designer who creates dreamy fresh & dried arrangements with an emphasize on natural texture, pigments & therapeutic effects.

Leah wearing the Adult Utility Suit in Molasses layered over the Toast Waffle Top.

As a working florist & artist, have you always felt connected to the outdoors and working with your hands? I've had a deep connection with working with my hands and being outdoors for as long as I can remember. I'm very grateful to have had an upbringing where that was encouraged and being out in nature was the norm. I feel most aligned in myself when I'm able to spend time outdoors, and have found a way to translate that indoors by working with fresh florals. Outside feels like home, flowers feel like home, how can I bring that into the home in a way that feels seamless?

Since your work shifts seasonally, what time of year do you feel most inspired by what you do?  The seasonality of my work has forced me to surrender to the ebb and flow of nature more than ever. I work with locally grown flowers from my own garden and surrounding farms, but here in Canada that means I only have access to fresh flowers about six months of the year.. This really makes me hunker down for the winter, working with some dried products but mostly hibernating and planning for my upcoming season. I've gotten comfortable with this cycle but I will definitely say summer is when I'm at my peak inspiration. Being outside more, spending lots of time in/around water; this absolutely fuels my creative juices and reflects in my work with flowers. 
You're putting together a vase of blooms for your bedside, what flowers would you fill it with that bring you the most joy? Ah! This is the most difficult question you can ask a florist. My answer will change based on what's in season but I would always say: Foxglove from my garden (desert island flower choice, hands-down), but nothing beats that early-spring bunch of fragrant bedside Lilac (this brings be straight back to my childhood, clipping from my mother's Lilac shrub in the yard).   
Leah lounging in our Toast Waffle Top & Waffle Bottoms.

You're putting together a vase of blooms for your bedside, what flowers would you fill it with that bring you the most joy?
Ah! This is the most difficult question you can ask a florist. My answer will change based on what's in season but I would always say: Foxglove from my garden (desert island flower choice, hands-down), but nothing beats that early-spring bunch of fragrant bedside Lilac (this brings be straight back to my childhood, clipping from my mother's Lilac shrub in the yard).   

Running a business along with designing must get overwhelming at times, how do you find peace and stay grounded when you're wearing multiple hats? Still figuring this one out! The duality of seasons has allowed me some balance by designating winter for most of my organizational / admin work, and if I'm disciplined enough, this allows for predominantly 'play time' in the summer! Obviously it is not this black and white, but I try to get all of my 'ducks in a row' during the colder months to allow for smoother sailing when it's go-time for weddings and designing. Other than this, getting ample sleep and allowing space for down time keeps me grounded, always. and swimming - there's nothing a quick dip can't fix. If I'm feeling off or stressed while designing or answering emails, I'll get down to the river for a swim to reset my brain and body. 

What're you reading or listening to these days that has inspired you? I recently read 'Wintering' by Katherine May and that was a game changer for me. Other than that I've been reading lots on Mushroom growing/foraging/cooking (another big love of mine), and my go-to album this year has been... Glow On by Turnstile.. (on brand? off brand? who knows, but my angsty winter self is soaking. it. up).

FOLLOW ALONG WITH LEAH HERE: WEBSITE & INSTAGRAM

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published