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Living Succulent Crown

DSC02324So when I was last in NWA, I had 1 DAY to do 1 photo shoot that would  cover a post about Stone-Fox-Bride, promo for my friend Sarah-anne’s accessory line 10th and Olive, and 2 HTHG DIY hair tutorials. I obviously needed some sort of gorgeous crown to use as inspiration for the entire shoot. I started by stapling together a crown of eucalyptus leaves. It was pretty, but not amazing enough.

Then I remembered Flora, the flower shop by the square in Fayetteville that I have always admired but never had a good enough reason to patronize. They always seem to have gorgeously inspired displays in the window. I decided to check it out. Screen Shot 2013-05-08 at 7.08.24 PM

I entered the door to find owner Pam Pemberton on the phone, surrounded by plant cuttings. She winked at me and kept talking. It was humid with the smell of plants. I made my way to the back of the small shop, where 2 adorable men were fingering flower cuttings and consulting each other. I took it in for a minute. Screen Shot 2013-05-08 at 7.07.38 PM

They told me they were making floral dog collars for a wedding that day. They were using hot glue to attach flowers and trimmings to strips of burlap. For a moment I wished I had a flower shop of my very own to play in.

They asked me what I was looking for. Honestly, I said, I don’t know exactly. I just new that I wanted a crown of plants to sit on the head of a fake bride. And I didn’t want a floral crown. I wanted something different.

Pam finished her phone call. We deliberated. We decided on succulents and air plants. She inspired incredible confidence in her own ability to make an extraordinary crown in under 3 hours. I left and went down the street to Cheap Thrills to do some shopping (favorite place in the world for vintage dresses) but alas, they were closed.

I passed the next 3 hours thinking and planning for the shoot and eating beet soup. At 2:30 I went back to pick up the crown. I didn’t know what to expect exactly, but I had no doubt that I was going to love it.

Turns out, Pam Pemberton and the Flora crew are as amazing as I suspected. The crown that they created was fit for a jungle goddess. It was a living, breathing thing of beauty. Do you want to see it?

DSC02300DSC02302The thing actually was breathing. I could hear it exhaling and feel the coolness that surrounded it. Pam said that after we used it for the shoot, I could lay it in some potting soil and water it and it would grow. Amazeballs.DSC02350

So we used it in the shoot, atop a pretty fishtail bun. Brookie’s natural beauty shone along side that crown and together they were luminous.

I want to try to make one of these myself. If I do, I will share it and show you how! I want a crown of only air plants of all sizes.Screen Shot 2013-05-08 at 7.23.44 PM

What do you think?

 

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