I thought I would start my first ever blog by telling you a little bit about me and how my love affair with flowers began.
For as long as I remember I have always been making things, from a cardboard Cash Till so I could play ‘Shop’ with my toys to learning to knit from my granny. I was privileged to have an upbringing where I travelled the world and was taken to art exhibitions, the theatre, the ballet and was taught to see the beauty that surrounds us.
My mother loved haute couture fashion, not that she could afford it but she loved to look and see how it was put together. My father is the gardener of the family and we always had gorgeous gardens to enjoy and freshly cut flowers in the house. All of these influences infected me with a desire to create and be creative so I trundled off to art school at the age of 16. I studied three-dimensional design but textile’s was my first love, but still I would be very happy if I could just sit and sew all day long. After art school and trying to make it in the art world I decided I needed a proper job and what better than floristry; it’s the perfect match of fashion, designing and making. 2003 I went too studied at Hadlow Agricultural College and met an amazing group of people who have supported me to this day.
I started ‘Caroline Grimble Flowers’ in 2006 from my parents’ garage in Kent. I grew a reputation for creating beautiful bespoke Wedding Flowers and doing elegant Event Floristry. I loved working with brides to create personal and individual arrangements that complemented their style, surroundings and of course the bride and groom. As my reputation and business grew I got to work on some amazing weddings in some very special locations and loved every minute of it. But very sadly in 2010 I lost my beloved mother. Losing her strength, support and influence devastated me and I felt I couldn’t carry on with the business. But at the same time as losing her I met ‘The Boy’ who treasured me and made me grow strong again. I moved to sunny Eastbourne to start my new life and got a job, a normal one. But then I had a health scare myself and although the chaps at Guys Hospital fixed me all up it made me re-evaluate what I wanted out of life. There was a big something missing, I was not exploring my creative side, nor was I planning or making. I craved the excitement I get from being involved in a persons’ wedding knowing that I could make it beautiful for them. So with a deep breath I’m diving back in and ‘Wild Rubus’ is here.
I hope that you will join me in my journey of blogging. I’m not sure where it’s going to take me but I will keep you updated with real-life weddings, the cutting plot and probably what I’m baking as well.
Photos
TL – My Parents in Uganda. TR – Me in Thailand
ML1 – Great Dixter House and Garden, Hand embroidered by Me. MM1 – White Cockerel, Hand embroidered by Me. MR1 – Cathal, Hand embroidered by Me
ML2 – Garage full of flowers. MR 2– Leeds Castle
BF – Garden Roses from Upper Lodge, the next blog will tell you more. BR – Me playing with some Garden Roses.
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L: Caramel Antike, garden rose. M: feverfew. R Craspedia.jpg)
L: Delphiniums M: White O’Hara, garden rose R: forget-me-not.jpg)
