Last week I had the pleasure to create a botanical dress, purses, shoes and jewelry for the grand opening of the new store of Neapolitan – ‘the most exclusive in women’s luxury ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, and jewelry from the world’s top designers’ – in Chicago. Thank you  Nancy Chase for the opportunity!

A botanical shoe, purse and headpiece featuring the gorgeous David Austin garden roses, sponsored by Alexandra Farms. Photos: Joni Shimabukuro

I cannot than Theresa Bear enough for documenting this 3 day workshop so perfectly! botanical earring botanical earrings

In the morning we designed a woodland bouquet, using the european bouquet holder from Smithers Oasis. After explaining the mechanics on how to make the purses, the students created these beauties! Photography by Theresa Bear

For quite a few years I had dreamed of doing a botanical dress – and I also knew that the project would have to be sponsored …I got lucky about a year ago. Pamela Pierce, editor of Milieu Magazine called last spring and invited me to make a botanical skirt with blue spring flowers. I […]

Last October, Susan McLeary with Passionflower hosted a 2 day wedding/botanical couture workshop in Detroit. Here are some images of the fabulous designs that the students made. A huge thank you to Abby Rose Photo , models Nia Bellona and Chaune’Rael-Whitsitt and to the hair and make up team Imagine Three Beauty Studio design: Janine […]

It was such a thrill when last year in July  I was invited  by Cohim – a design school in Beijing – to teach a 6 day botanical couture/woodland workshop in September 2015. Not in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined that I would have the opportunity to go to the Far East to […]

Selection of designs for the demos during the workshop at Filoli last June. pocket boutonnier  

It was such an honor to be invited last fall by the Florida State Florist Association to do an on stage program, and teach to a hands-on workshop at their annual convention in Orlando in June 2015. The presentation on woodlands and botanical couture and the workshop were sponsored by  BloomNet.The topic of the workshop was […]

Some beautiful purses and jewelry that students made on day 2 of the workshop at Thrive, hosted by Claire Cowling. design: Rebecca