I get my love of every shade of pink, especially mauve, from my Mema, Carol. She was the person I was closest to growing up with and she had a wild side. She could often be found running around in one of those long cover up beach t-shirts with the bikini body painted on them or pinching the butts of my high school guy friends. 

She did all things DIY like stenciling vines and flowers as trim around my grandparents entire condo and to frame her favorite piece of art, an original illustration of James Dean and his race car that her friend made and gave to her. 

My mema was very sentimental about her husband and grandchildren. I remember her drying every one of the roses my grandfather gave her so that she could keep them forever. One time, I sneakily plucked a single petal from white roses she was preserving that my grandfather gave  her for their anniversary. I wrote on the petal in pencil “Mema and Grandpa’s anniversary” with the year…maybe 1996?

I learned from her that even the things that are temporary can be appreciated forever.

Now, our son, Oliver picks flowers for me every time he sees them and I keep most of them in one of our floral arches that I have hanging on the wall. I tuck all of his flowers in front of a small blue palm I saved from my Mema and Grandpa’s house. I love seeing his face light up when he sees how important the flowers are to me that I keep them.

Since this is such a fun process for me, I wanted to give you some easy steps to preserve your own flowers, palms, or leaves, whether sentimental or just for styling.

How to Easily Dry Flowers:

The upside down drying method is the easiest and therefore our favorite. 

It’s so fun to watch the flowers transition into a new, just as beautiful version of itself that we can continue to enjoy for a long time! 

How to: 

1. Remove any excess leaves from the bouquet 
2. Cut stems to desired length
3. Arrange the bouquet as desired (it is best to arrange the florals when they are fresh so that they do not need to be pulled apart once dry)
4. Tie flowers together using a string and hang them upside down from a string or hook
5. Keep out of direct sunlight and in a dry, cool space until flowers are fully dried (can take 3+ weeks)
6. Optional: Spray with hairspray or acrylic craft spray to protect flowers, if desired

Other tips and tricks for drying out your favorite bouquet 

• This method works for drying single flowers or entire bouquets. 
• This process can take a few days to several weeks depending on the temperature, humidity, and thickness of the stems.
• Keep flowers out of direct sunlight and away from extreme heat to help keep their color both while drying and when on display.
• All flowers react to drying out and preservation differently - some react really well and some aren’t really a fan. As with any DIY project, be open to the process and the results!

Our favorite way to style our dried flowers is in our Floral Arches. 

I designed these arches to be ordered with preserved florals included -or- without the florals so that you can dry and save your own sentimental ones. 

You can find all of them here, including our newest Floral Arch with Unicorn’s Breath flowers in large and small!

Pro tip: 

The Floral Arches can also be used to dry the flowers upside down before using them to display the dried florals. Just follow steps 1-4, then hang the flowers upside down from the arch by tucking them into the band. 

If you try any of these methods for your floral drying, please send us a photo and let us know how it went! We would love to hear the story behind the flowers you picked!

xo,

Seana