As the crispness of October rolls in and the days begin to shorten, it’s natural to pause and reflect on the months gone by. If you’ve stepped outside recently, you’ve probably felt that subtle shift in the air and the gentle nod from nature that it’s time to slow down, gather our thoughts, and embrace a new season.

Looking back, this summer was a little different for me. I basically quit real life to spend the summer by the sea, leaving behind my nursing career and my home. I made a conscious decision to lean into an ethos so often forgotten in the hustle and bustle of running a business: less work, more play. Obviously not ideal for actually making money, but I got a lovely job at an organic farm cafe and lived in a tiny van with Betty. I’ve made incredible new friends, been to ridiculously fun parties, learned to make decent coffee and delicious sourdough, and read at least 10 books.  

Inspiration 

For me, inspiration doesn’t just happen at the studio (actually I very rarely feel too inspired there!), it happens when I give myself room to breathe. Spending time near the sea became the ultimate reset button this summer. There is something deeply grounding about listening to the waves, feeling the salty breeze, and watching the coastal landscape shift with the tides.

Taking that time out each day, whether it was long coastal walks, a quick sea swim, or simply sitting with a coffee in the woodland reading my book, refreshed my mind in ways my chaotic studio never could. Stepping back gave me the creative headspace to appreciate colors, textures, and natural movements in a whole new light. 

Slowing down gave me the space to heal from working in the seriously stressful NHS for many years. I’m being kind to myself and enjoying my freedom.

Freelancing with fresh flowers

While faux florals are my speciality, staying connected to the raw, organic beauty of the floral world is essential for everything I design. This summer, that meant taking on some freelance work, creating beautiful designs with real, fresh blooms, alongside some seriously talented florists here in South Devon. 

Working hands-on with fresh stems, feeling the dampness of real moss, conditioning sweet-smelling stems, working around seasonal availability, and navigating the delicate nature of fresh petals, was both a joy and a wonderful reminder of where my love for floristry began.

There’s a unique rhythm to working with fresh flowers…

I really enjoyed honouring the natural curves of nature. Real stems have a mind of their own, bending toward the light in unpredictable, glorious ways. Tapping into seasonal palettes and working with fresh summer blooms reinforced just how vibrant yet delicate natural colour combinations can be when selected by expert designers. 

After one particularly special weekend freelancing I realised that my time spent working with living blooms feeds directly back into my everlasting designs. Understanding how real flowers droop, twist, and cluster inspires me to bring an even higher level of realism and artistry to my faux arrangements!

Moving into Autumn

As we trade heatwaves and bikinis for cozy knits, and vibrant summer blooms for rich, earthy autumnal tones, I feel deeply grateful for taking time to pause, play and reconnect with nature. Giving myself permission to slow down didn’t hold me back; it filled my creative cup back to the brim.

I don’t have a fully formed plan for the Autumn/Winter season, but I do know that it will soon be too cold to live in my tiny van so I’ve been looking at options for me and Betty. I want to stay by the sea, eating delicious seasonal organic food, finding more inspiration in nature and continuing to find my peace. I also want to learn something new and am looking at educational courses, so watch this space!

How was your summer? Did you manage to find time to slow down and reconnect with what inspires you? I’d love to hear how you’re transitioning into the new season!

Thanks for reading!

Avie