A door closing opens new paths. Reflecting with gratitude about life’s changes

This past January I closed my brick-and-mortar boutique.

Faced with the prospect of new landlords, lovely people, but inevitably suggesting rent/heat hikes, or the alternative, a quasi-colonization of my beloved shop, the decision to close the store was the only course of action this very independent minded person could make.

As the dust gradually settles, I feel much better about the situation! After all, people are in business to make money, and even though I’m certain the store could have remained open as long as the status quo remained intact, it wasn’t in the cards. Unfortunately I wasn’t in any position to aid the landlords in their goals, nor they in mine. Moving on, I wish them well!

The business of Wall Flower Studio sprung up at home, so it now scales back to its roots! This is an exciting prospect.

I’ll continue to offer my products through various online e-commerce sites, offer lessons in online marketing, helping and setting up social media sites for other small businesses, and have enough time and energy to focus on garden design, photography, this blog, and that bloody book I’ve been putting off writing for the past few years!

Except for our basement, currently looking like a contender for that show Hoarders, with everything now home from the shop, I’ve actually enjoyed sorting and organizing, de-cluttering, (planning that garage sale in May), and having time to cook proper meals for my wonderful husband, much to his delight and both of our amazement!

This time at home has been a period of reflection about the evolution of the business over the past four years.

Yes, there were ups and downs, small personal triumphs and many frustrations that at the time seemed cataclysmic, i.e. flooding, mountains of ice/caution tape in front of the shop, driving in snow storms, moving the physical location of the store, and even a car accident, to name but a few.

However, ninety-nine percent of it was the most rewarding activity of my life so far, and with that in mind, I’ll always look back with a full heart towards that store.

Lavender Harvest

Corporate-types won’t likely understand this, but to have had the opportunity to fully engage with one’s true entrepreneurial spirit, and believe me, Wall Flower Studio began on a threadbare shoestring, I feel enormous gratitude and pride to have taken the risk to open a retail storefront. I had the pleasure of meeting many like minds and pursued my passion, even within the context of a small enterprise, which is what many might have judged Wall Flower Studio to be.

I think that’s something to write home about, even if I’m the only one who reads it! 😉

Upon reflection and turning a new page, closing the store doesn’t suggest the failure that I first feared it would. The only way to fail is to never try in the first place. I’d like to celebrate by declaring this isn’t the end of Wall Flower Studio, it’s a new path!

With that in mind, a big thank you goes to family, friends, and each lovely customer who supported this former shopkeeper’s independent spirit on Minden’s Main Street! It truly was my pleasure.

– Karen

Deck the halls, and the walls… with festive succulents and moss!

Succulents and mosses and lichens, oh my!

This is the way I like to decorate. A little less glitzy than some, with a bent toward nature and a nod to the garden, which has all but disappeared under a blanket of snow in these parts, I might add.

A living wreath is perfect for placing on the wall all year long, and outside during the summer! This time of year it brings the garden indoors!

Place them on walls, and the dining table, too! During the holidays a living wreath will create the ultimate seasonal table centrepiece! Candles can be placed safely in the middle, offering a sumptuous dining experience for you and your guests!

Alternatively, if you’re seeking a wreath that will stand up to the elements, particularly winter, and if you’re into green like me, consider a moss wreath. Simple, elegant and timeless, these plump, plush living moss circles look amazing on any door, and they’re hardy enough to take all that winter throws at them!

These cultivated gifts are on special order at the store. Please contact me for more details.

Thank you!

DIY Infused Calendula Oil – An at home apothecary skin care treatment to create for yourself!

Making your own Calendula infused oil is very easy to do!

Winter especially saps the moisture out of our skin. Creating an oil from the petals of Calendula officinalis, otherwise known as pot marigold, is the perfect strategy when you want to combat the drying effects of this harsh season. By following the steps below, you can have your very own batch of skin care in no time at all!

Here is what you’ll need:

Dried, organic calendula flower petals
A carrier oil (I prefer Safflower oil, but Olive oil or Sunflower oil work well, too.)
A glass jar with lid. Make sure to clean it first!

Here is how to do it:

Fill the jar about 2/3 full with the dried petals.
Next, slowly poured the oil over the petals, making sure they’re all submerged
Wait 4-6 weeks so all the goodness of the calendula is infused into the oil.
Store the jar in a warm dry spot for the infusion to occur. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own homemade infused Calendula oil, too.
Once the 4 weeks are up, strain the flowers out and there you have it… Your very own homemade Calendula oil.
Use the soaked flower petals as a foot scrub before discarding. Mix a handful of the petals with a cup of sea salt and scrub away.

Calendula oil is great to use after a bath or shower. It seeps in without feeling overly oily, making skin feel very soft and supple.