Holiday Shopping: Quality Over Quantity

Our philosophy when it comes to shopping for holiday gifts is always quality over quantity.

We know there are quite a few people out there who would rather buy 3 pillows from HomeGoods that are only $20 each, rather than spend money on just one beautifully hand dyed pillow — and on the surface, why wouldn’t you? You get three pillows for the price of one, and at first glance, that seems great.

But the truth is there are more than a few reasons why buying quantity over quality is going to disappoint you in the long run. Here are our favorite reasons why you should shop for quality, handmade items this holiday season.

1. Quality items do not have to be replaced as frequently:

There are some things that aren’t necessarily worth applying the ‘Buy it For Life’ philosophy to, such as reading glasses or socks, but for most items from mugs, to throw pillows, candles, and more, buying quality will always pay off. Products made from high-quality materials stand up to everyday use much better than cheaper items made from weak materials and sloppy construction.

2. You (or the person you’re giving to) will care more:

Gifting a quality items means buying an item you love, an item that makes the receiver feel good every single time they use or see it. Wouldn’t you much rather have one or two lotions that are your favourite rather than trying to choose between a selection of lumpy, oily products that don’t make you feel great?

When you buy quality, all of your items can be the favourite, and as a consequence of having less, you’ll take better care of them, as well. It can be easy to let an item fall into disrepair when you are able to say “Oh well, I have a few more mugs just like this one.” Having quality means taking care of quality— and in return, special items will last for decades.

3. You’re saving the planet!

This one is simple. The more junk you buy, the more junk somebody eventually gets rid of. If you’re buying poor quality goods over and over, and each time something wears out or breaks you need to throw it away, you’re not doing yourself or the Earth a favor.

On top of that, cheap products are often constructed using bad practices and harmful chemicals in the process - all of which destroy our planet.

Here are a few categories of items we carry in the shop that are great places to start when shopping for quality over quantity. All the money you spend of these beautiful things help to support creative individuals and small businesses - not megastores.

1. Pottery!

We carry three unique local pottery lines - Leslie Freeman (island made), Lainy Fink (island made), Meave McAuliffe (island made), and Farmhouse Pottery (from Vermont). The craftsmanship, feel, and colors created by these artists can not be matched. You don’t have to think of a pottery overhaul as an all or nothing process - investing in just one place-setting every few months will slowly grow your collection. We promise morning coffee tastes better out of a hand thrown mug!

2. Pillows!

Sure, you can buy a throw pillow almost anywhere but not a handpainted watercolor pattern which is then screen printed on linen - that’s for sure! We love Martha Oakes’ simple and elegant pillows, delicious plant dyed velvet pillows from Edie Ure, and classic washed linen from Farmhouse. It is a fact that a stunning set of throw pillows can completely transform a room and when you look at it that way - they’re a bargain.

3. Skincare!

Washing your hands all day during cold and flu season can feel like a chore but not with locally made soap from Flat Point Farm. And to nourish that dry skin? Try Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water Hydrating Face Mist from Herbivore Botanicals. Both of these companies blend stunning natural scents with ingredients that are both cleansing and nourishing for your skin. You’ll look forward to washing up with these beauties at your sink. Teachers, neighbors, and secret Santas will all be thrilled with something from Flat Point or Herbivore - they are real crowd pleasers.

4. Plants & Flowers!

Living, colorful, green things really are the gifts that keep on giving. We think the ultimate holiday gift is a yearly flower subscription with Morrice Florist. We’ll deliver an arrangement or houseplant monthly or bi-monthly to the person of your choice. How lovely to always have a source of cheer and beauty in your home! Your loved one will be reminded of your kindness with each delivery.

The shop is packed with quality goods this holiday season and we’re always happy to help you pick out the perfect gift for whoever you’re shopping for - just ask!

Caitlin's (Surprise!) Wedding Flowers

Our beloved Caitlin tied the knot a couple of weeks ago and, as many of you know, she left all of her wedding flowers up to us and we got to SURPRISE her and her husband Asa on their big day with our creations. We knew we had done our job when Caitlin burst into tears just seeing us walk down the driveway with her flowers and we have to say, they were pretty stunning…

So how did we decide on what to create? We knew we wanted Caitlin’s flowers to reflect her personality and style - colorful, natural, romantic, and fun. Almost all the stems we used were either grown at The Grey Barn & Farm (the wedding location), foraged by the bride, or purchased from local growers. Caitlin picked the pussy willow back in the spring and has held onto it until now!

The Grey Barn & Farm structures are so large in scale we really wanted to create a barn ceremony piece that would compete with the surroundings and not be dwarfed by the architecture. The day was windy and it was a challenge to install but the result was a lovely frame for the ceremony.

We created Caitlin’s bouquet, the bridesmaid’s bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages for the wedding party. We wanted Caitlin’s bouquet to especially capture her love/obsession/devotion to flowers and artistry. We knew it had to be bursting with color and have a foraged, natural feel. The locally grown flowers were incredible looking and it came together perfectly - nothing fussy just love, love, love.

Even the bridesmaids’ dressed followed in the colorful power of flowers theme.

The table arrangements were either in milk bottles from the farm (it is a dairy farm after all!) or custom ceramic compotes. Our friend and local potter Leslie Freeman made a bunch of custom vessels for us and we surprised Caitlin by using them first at her wedding. We also layered the tables with brass candle sticks and blush candles.

Thank you Molly for sharing your beautiful photos with us!

Sale, Testimonials & Wreath Workshop!

SALE: We are having our first ever all store sale where everything is 20% off today (October 18th) and tomorrow (October 19th). There are so many special things in the store right now from the most gorgeous linen napkins to beautiful cookbooks, robes, pottery, plants, and children’s items. There is something for everyone! We hope you come in - we’d love to see you!

TESTIMONIALS! We just added a collection of heartfelt wedding testimonials to our website. Click here to see what brides, grooms, and other family members have to say about working with us.

WREATH WORKSHOP: We are happy to say that it is workshop season again! Please join us on Saturday November 10th from 2:00 - 3:30 in the greenhouse for a fall wreath making workshop. We will help you build your own unique autumnal wreath using fun natural materials.

You must RSVP for the event (so we know how many supplies to have!) so please give the shop a call at 508-693-0392 to sign up. It is $45 per person.

Caitlin & Elizabeth Shop Brimfield!

If you live in New England we’re willing to bet you’ve heard of or shopped at the famous Brimfield Antiques Show. Brimfield, as it’s called, is the largest outdoor antiques show in New England and happens three times a year - May, July, and September - and has been running since 1959.

All that said - Brimfield is intimidating, especially for first timers. Among a sea of more than 200,000 visitors sit 6,000 dealers selling antique furniture, clothes, rugs, maps, lamps, art, and more. You will find midcentury furniture, mannequin legs, old doorknobs, leather jackets, and a million other unique (and odd!) things.

Last weekend our power couple of Caitlin and Elizabeth ventured off island to Brimfield with an empty truck.

Here are Caitlin and Elizabeth’s insider tips for shopping the grand antique market. Make sure to read all the way to the end to find out what they actually came home with (spoiler alert - the greenhouse has a new Brimfield piece as well!).

Caitlin & Elizabeth’s Brimfiled Tips:

-Eat a large meal beforehand (they especially recommend the cinnamon swirl pancake from Breakfast at Stephanie’s) and pack plenty of water to stay hydrated.

-Bring a big car or truck to haul your goods home. Even if you don’t expect to purchase a large piece, it’s better to have an appropriate vehicle then to faced with your dream dining table and no way to get it home!

-Know what you’re after. Arrive with a clear budget, list, and pictures of your space.

-Measure the dimensions of your space and bring a measuring tape. It’s important to know the exact dimensions of a space you are trying to fill and while many vendors will lend our measuring tapes it’s best to have your own to quickly measure items and make comparisons.

-The girls found the best deals on the last day as the sellers are more flexible.

-If you’re going for just one day, don’t plan to do anything else on your Brimfield day. It is ideal to experience Brimfield over two days.

-Don’t make impulse buys because there is a lot to compare! That said, if you find the thing - grab it ;)

-When you do pass on something but are considering coming back to it, snap a photo of the item so you can keep a visual list to return to.

-Go with a friend who likes to walk and shop as much as you do and who will help you make tough decisions.

-Most booths take cards now but the really old school bargain booths are cash only.

-Wear comfortable walking shoes and watch the forecast closely as you may need sunscreen, raincoats, hats, or light sweaters.

After hours of walking and debating, Elizabeth brought home:

-An old Kentucky general store desk to use as an art desk or kitchen workbench.

-Vintage and reasonably priced floral dresses, a polkadot jumpsuit, shirt, and wool sweater.

-Beautiful botanical print of farm eggs.

After hours of walking and debating, Caitlin brought home:

- Three vintage dresses including her wedding rehearsal dress that is handmade and fits perfectly.

-The perfect enamel top kitchen table.

Together they picked out a beautiful new greenhouse table that was an old cheese curd vat from Vermont. Don’t you love it?!

Flowers for Houseguests

If you have a house on Martha's Vineyard we're willing to bet you're hosting friends or family sometime over the next two weeks. This is the time of year that everyone wants to visit the island and we don't blame them - the fair, fireworks, hot afternoons splashing in the ocean - you can't beat it. 

The thing is, houseguests sometimes bring stress (and not just the laundry kind). We all want a clean and cheerful home for guests to enjoy and with a few little floral touches you can make your home feel extra special, without breaking the bank.

So, how do you do it? We suggest calling the shop and requesting 4 small bottle arrangements at $25 each to place around the house. Maybe you place one in the guest bathroom, on a bedside table, out on the back porch, and on the kitchen island. 

Another idea is placing local lavender bundles in key locations. They are the most fragrant and elegant treats for bathrooms, top drawers, and outdoor shower ledges. 

If you'd rather go big, spending $100 on a single arrangement to surprise your guest in their bedroom is sure to make an extra special impact. Nothing beats falling asleep to the smell of roses after a long day at the beach but we're warning you, with that kind of treatment, your guests are sure to come back again next summer...and again the summer after that. 

Photo by Becca Brendler

Girls Garden Party at Arrowhead Farm

A few weeks ago Emily teamed up with island photographer Jocelyn Filley to create the most adorable girls garden party at Arrowhead Farm. Are you ready for a huge dose of cuteness?! This is a photo heavy post but it was almost impossible to pick our favorite shots.

Emily makes styling photoshoots look easy when it is really a hard job. Styling jobs like this are fun ways to collaborate with likeminded creative women and find new inspiration. It doesn't hurt that pretty horses and delicious cakes were included in this one! 

Here is the team behind the Girls Garden Party at Arrowhead Farm: 

Styling, Props, Pin the Bee on the Flower Game, Flower Crowns: Emily Coulter of Morrice Florist

Photography: Jocelyn Filley

Girls Dresses: Citrine, Pink Chicken, Tuk-Tuk Anouk

Desserts: Val Cakes

Location: Arrowhead Farm

All the special props Emily used to style this shoot can be found in the shop, including: 

• Patterned Plates
• Fabric Pom-Poms
• Floral Tablecloth
• Flower Confetti 
• Flower Crowns
• Picnic Basket 
• Candles
• Cupcake Liners 

We made the sweet flower crowns from a variety of small blooms including wax flower, bachelor button, geum, and delphinium. 

Emily made a simple but special Pin the Bee on the Flower game. You can easily recreate this game for your garden party. All you need is a chalkboard, chalk, masking tape, packing tape, and paint. Start by sketching flowers of your choice on the chalkboard. Next, make a simple bee body out of masking tape and paint it black and yellow. Cut little wings out of packing tape and stick them on to the body. You'll want to layer 2 pieces of packing tape together to make the wings so they don't have a sticky underside. Add another little piece of masking tape to the bee body so it can be pinned directly to the flowers. 

Cover the kids' eyes with a blindfold, spin 'em around, and let them try to connect the bee to a bloom. 

Arn't those floral gift bags filled with flower confetti (aka dried petals) just the best?! Such a simple and fun party surprise. 

The next time you need styling help to best highlight your product, service, or skill please reach out to us at emily@morriceflorist.com We'd love to help! 

Summer Weddings

Today marks the first official day of summer and thus the busy season begins here on Martha's Vineyard. Every weekend from now until the end of October, festive white tents dot fields and lawns across the island, waiting to be filled with weddings guests. Brides and grooms are everywhere! Each and every wedding day is special whether you get married in your backyard, in front of 300 guests, out on a farm, or in the sand but before all of these details are chosen, the first thing to consider is "What season shall we pick?!" The season of your wedding dictates a lot from the color palate to the flowers available and desirable locations. 

Today we are showing off some of our favorite SUMMER wedding moments that we had the pleasure of working on while reminding you why getting married in the summertime is so special. 

• Warm weather means more clothing options. Summer wedding attire can naturally include light, flowing fabrics, bright colors, seersucker, and fun patterns. You don't have to worry about layering for an unexpected cool day or having to avoid cute strappy shoes. 
• Summer nights are long and it often stays light past 8 pm. This means there is no rush on the ceremony and photography can be relaxed while there is still sunlight. You may even catch a beautiful sunset or peachy sky from your location.
• Fresh produce like tomatoes, corn, blueberries, peaches, and raspberries are growing and can be worked into the reception food or the wedding cake - yummy! Summer dining options like clambakes, local BBQ spreads, and pies are really fun options that take advantage of the season.

• If you like color, summer is a season where almost any color scheme works. You can get away with bright flowers, linens, and funky decor pieces. Pink, orange, yellow, and purple flower options are all available this time of year!
• If you want your guests to stay and play lawn games, gather around a bonfire, or dance under the night sky with sparklers, summer is your season. Summer days are magical but summer nights are even better. 
• Summer flower options are special - Hydrangea, Sunflowers, Dahlias, Cosmos, Snapdragons, Feverfew, and Queen Anne's lace are just some of the magical flowers blooming. If you are a gardener, you will especially appreciate summer's amazing array of flowers. 

Congratulations to all of our summer couples! We love making your hot and sunny flower dreams come true.

Teacher Gifts

The last day of school for most island kids is next Friday the 22nd which means it's teacher gift season. We all want to present our beloved and hardworking teachers with a token of appreciation at the end of the school year but even a small number of simple gifts add up fast so it's important to choose wisely. 

Today we're sharing some of our favorite teacher gifts all of which are affordable and available at Morrice Florist. Of course, a handwritten note or little drawing from your student is the cherry on top of any gift. 

Above: Our crystals offer power, energy, clarity, and calm - starting at just $2. 

Pretty and useful seed packets for $2.75. 

Classic milky white pottery starting at $15.95. Present the market baskets filled with Morning Glory Farm strawberries, pop a perfect peony into the milk bottle, or fill the mason jar with caramels. 

Fill a small, textured pot with a cheery houseplant or useful kitchen herb. These cute pots are just $5.95.

If a favorite teacher is retiring, present them with a classic to read on the beach - the perfect transition between school and summer. $23.

Hand crafted soaps from New York in scents like Coffee-Mint and Saltwater - the perfect outdoor shower accessory. $19.95.

We now have Morrice canvas totes! Everyone can use a sturdy and cute tote in their life, especially teachers who do a lot of lugging. $12.95.

A Forget Me Knot flower garden kit is a lovely token when a student graduates and moves on. Anyone can become a gardener with these foolproof kits. $13.95.

Island made goat milk soaps from Flat Point Farm come wrapped in beautiful paper and offer unique scents like Rosemary Lavender Golden Flax and Neroli & Tangerine Sea Buckthorn. $12.95.

We have many more options in the shop - come on in and we will help you pick out the perfect gift for the dedicated teachers in your life. Three cheers for summer vacation! 

Spring Weddings

Each and every wedding day is special whether you get married alone on a beach, in front of 250 guests, out on a farm, or under a big white tent. Before all of these details are chosen, the first thing to consider is "What season shall we pick?!" The season of your wedding dictates a lot from the color palate to the flowers available and natural locations. 

Today we are showing off some of our favorite SPRING weddings that we had the pleasure of working on while reminding you why getting married in the springtime is so special. 

Photo by Jocelyn Filley

• If you gravitate towards pastel colors or like a neutral palate, then spring is right for you. Color inspiration is everywhere and there is nothing sweeter than robin's egg blue and apple blossom pink.
• It's a romantic time of year with flowering trees, fallen petals, and lush gardens.  

Photo by Ashley Tilton

• Compared to high summer months, spring calendars are typically more open for guests' schedules. Lodging and travel are also less crowded and hectic in the springtime. 
• Fresh produce like asparagus, peas, new potatoes, rhubarb, and strawberries are growing and can be worked into the reception food or the wedding cake - yummy! 

Photo by Ashley Tilton

• It is green! If you're getting married outdoors it's lovely to have a lush, green backdrop. 
• Spring is the season of new beginnings and rebirth - a perfect time to start a new life together.

Photo by Tim Correira

• Cloudy, misty spring days make perfect wedding photos. Nobody will be squinting or uncomfortable in bright overhead sun. 

Photo by Ashley Tilton

Congratulations to all of our spring couples! We love making your warm weather flower dreams come true.

Meet the Flower Girls: Emily

In an effort to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of flowers and the creative hands that build our beautiful arrangements, we are in the midst of a new interview series: Meet the Flower Girls. Today our fearless leader Emily is up to tell us more about owning a flower shop. Here we go...

-What type of customer request is your favorite and why?

I love working on over the top weddings when the budget and client trust allow me to create a magical and special space beyond the family's wildest dreams. I also love our regular customers who come in each week and spend $10 on a small bouquet for themselves. My mom always thought having fresh flowers in our home was an unattainable luxury but these regular customers have figured out that you don't need to spend a lot of money to bring joy into your life with flowers. And if you don't have any money to spend, just coming into the shop and walking around is an act of self care. I encourage you to do it!

-If you were buying your best friend a gift from the shop what would you pick out?

I am in love with the new floral society frog vases in the shop. I would gift a frog vase with a few stems of flowers in it. The frog vases are so beautiful but also take the stress out of arranging flowers on your own. One stem looks great in them as does a group of flowers - these vases make everything look simple and stunning!

-What has been the most memorable day or event with the shop?

Walking into the front door on April 1, 2014 - the first time I came in after buying the business. The shop had a certain smell (it still does!) and it just overwhelmed me. I knew that day was the start of a new chapter in my life. 

Morrice Florist c. 1950

-What is your dream flower project?

An epic overhead installation that completely changes a room or tent into an unrecognizable world and takes everyone by surprise. 

-Can you share one thing that may surprise people about owning a flower shop?

It's so much work! Just emptying and cleaning the buckets could be a full-time job. I had never worked in retail so the customer service piece is hard although I think my years of waitressing, because it is so physical and customer oriented, has helped a lot. The creative part comes easily to me so that is just all fun!

-What clues can we look for as an indication that an arrangement in the shop is one of yours? Do you lean towards any specific colors or style? 

I tend to layer my arrangements meaning I put flowers on top of flowers and use greens not for structure but for accents. I gravitate towards soft pastel colors like peach and pink. I do like to add a contrasting color too.

-What do you like most about working with brides and their families?

I love finding connections with people and working with really excited, passionate brides and grooms. It's especially sweet seeing a loving mother-daughter relationship. Almost always, a daughter looks to her mother for help and reassurance and the mother looks to her daughter to confirm her happiness. 

-What type of flowers or plants do you buy or grow for yourself? 

Our home is full of houseplants. I also have a herb garden and a new perennial garden with lupin, Russian sage, and foxglove. Oh, and we planted fruit trees!

-What's it like being the den mother to your crew of flower girls? 

It's the best - I feel SO lucky. We have the best crew ever. We are always on the same page and support and love each other while helping to foster our individual creative desires. There is no competition - everyone has their own platform to do them. All of our styles are different so there is a lovely uniqueness across the group but we all maintain the Morrice Florist brand.

-Lastly, how do you imagine your business in 5 years? Any big hopes?

I am so happy with our progress and being recognized as the island's go-to flower shop - it feels really special! I hope we will continue to progress and support our community. As Rebecca said, I would love to grow more flowers on site and invite customers to pick their own. 

Thanks Emily! You guys love this interview series as much as we do! What kind of blog series should we do next?! Comment below with your ideas - we'd love to hear them. Thank you! 

Meet the Flower Girls: Caitlin

In an effort to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of flowers and the creative hands that build our beautiful arrangements, we are starting a new interview series: Meet the Flower Girls. Today Caitlin is up to tell us more about her work. Here we go...

-What type of customer request is your favorite and why?

I love building flower crowns because I enjoy doing intricate work with my hands. I prefer creating tiny, special pieces that are meant to be worn and well loved. The reaction you receive from a perfectly executed flower crown on someone's special day is very different from the reaction you get from a table arrangement. Not to mention I love wearing and modeling them before they're sent off to the recipient! 

-If you were buying your best friend a gift from the shop what would you pick out?

I would pick out a unique houseplant because I think everyone should be surrounded by little living things and you can never have too many houseplants. 

-What has been the most memorable day or event with the shop?

We did a wedding at The Captain Flanders house at the end of September and the property was covered with perfectly golden bittersweet. I went out into the horse pastures and cut down enough bittersweet to build two chandeliers for the tent. The inside of the tent was sweltering and I stood on a ladder for many, many hours but the end result was worth it. 

-What is your dream flower project?

I love big, crazy installations that take over a whole space - things like chandeliers, flower walls, ceilings covered with blooms - I love transforming a space with flowers. It is so magical to walk into a space that has been taken over with blooms.  

-Can you share one thing that may surprise people about working in a flower shop?

It is surprisingly hard work. Much of the time we are lugging things, on our feet all day, working inside hot tents, and getting dirty.

-What clues can we look for as an indication that an arrangement in the shop is one of yours? Do you lean towards any specific colors or style? 

I have a very eccentric, in your face style so my arrangements tend to be bright with a range of colors from orange to pink and yellow. All the colors, all together! 

-Lastly, what type of flowers or plants do you buy or grow for yourself? 

House plants! I own over 45 house plants and love them all. I water my plants every Sunday morning and keep them in our south facing windows. 

-A little birdie told me you are getting married this fall. What are your wedding flower plans?

Emily is surprising me. Emily, Elizabeth, and Rebecca all know me so well and get my style. I haven't give them any direction with color, table ideas, or anything. All I said was, "Go for it!". I can't wait to walk into the barn on our wedding morning and see what they did. I completely trust them.

Thank you Caitlin! Have a question you're dying to ask a Morrice flower girl? Comment below and we'll make sure your question is included in the next Meet the Flower Girls interview. 

Meet the Flower Girls: Rebecca

In an effort to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of flowers and the creative hands that build our beautiful arrangements, we are starting a new interview series: Meet the Flower Girls. Today Rebecca is up to tell us more about her work. Here we go...

-What type of customer request is your favorite and why?

I appreciate customers who come in looking for quality over quantity. I love watching people select a few stems of a premium flower like parrot tulips or sweet peas because I can tell how much they appreciate those special blooms. They go for what they love and will enjoy the most, which is what i think flowers should be all about.  

-If you were buying your best friend a gift from the shop what would you pick out?

I would pick out a special crystal that reminds me of them and wrap it up with a personal zodiac card from Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress. Their cards are ones you'll hold on to and tac to the wall. 

-What has been the most memorable day or event with the shop?

We did a huge wedding reception at The Beach Plum Inn and instead of assembling all the flowers at the shop and transporting them to the site as we normally do, we made all the arrangements under a tent at the inn overlooking the ocean over two full days. There were hundreds of white peonies everywhere - the location and the flowers made it such a magical work environment.

-What is your dream flower project?

I would love to design and plant an organic cutting garden here at the shop for the public to enjoy and use. It's easy to forget that all these stunning flowers actually come out of the ground and I think a cutting garden would be fun reminder for everyone to get their feet dirty and see flowers in their natural element and in all phases of life, from bud to flower to seedpod. 

-Can you share one thing that may surprise people about working in a flower shop?

This may not be such a big surprise but I have never felt burnt out on flowers. They are fun and exciting to work with day after day. I just continue to find new things to love about them, and notice all their natural variations.

-What clues can we look for as an indication that an arrangement in the shop is one of yours? Do you lean towards any specific colors or style? 

I gravitate towards dark, saturated colors and like to use a balance of greens and flowers. 

-Lastly, what type of flowers or plants do you buy or grow for yourself? 

I planted a crazy wild flower meadow in front of our house that I don't really cut from but love to gaze at and watch the bees enjoy. I also have a veggie garden and grow wild nettles, motherwort and other medicinal herbs to use in homemade tea blends and tinctures.

Thank you Rebecca! Have a question you're dying to ask a Morrice flower girl? Comment below and we'll make sure your question is included in the next Meet the Flower Girls interview. 

Meet the Flower Girls: Elizabeth

In an effort to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of flowers and the creative hands that build our beautiful arrangements, we are starting a new interview series: Meet the Flower Girls. Today Elizabeth is kicking things off to tell us more about her work. Here we go...

-What type of customer request is your favorite and why?

I love when customers call and request a "go for it" (meaning big!) flower crown. Although flower crowns aren't my forte to make the sentiment behind an elaborate and beautiful crown is my favorite. Either someone is buying one for themselves so they can feel beautiful and appreciated or buying one for a friend to make them feel beautiful and appreciated - I love that!  

-If you were buying your best friend a gift from the shop what would you pick out?

A deck of Tarot Cards because everyone needs some good mystical perspective. 

-What has been the most memorable day or event with the shop?

The rush of September wedding season is always the most memorable. I vividly remember driving home from the shop at 2:30am after making arrangements all night for three or four weddings the next day. That late night drive home was so calm and peaceful - just me, the deer, skunks, and rabbits. The next morning we hit the ground running and everything was a success. 

-What is your dream flower project?

I'd love to design and build an arbor for an elaborate and super beautiful flower installation where we could use water buckets instead of foam. I'd love to be able to use that over and over again!

-Can you share one thing that may surprise people about working in a flower shop?

There are so many little things to keep track of because we offer such a wide range of services and so much goes into each offering. We need to juggle weddings with advertising, planting our garden, having boutonniere supplies on hand, keeping the floor clean, folding blankets on the retail floor, making arrangements on the fly, answering the phone...you get it!

-What clues can we look for as an indication that an arrangement in the shop is one of yours? Do you lean towards any specific colors or style? 

I'm told my arrangements wave at people - meaning there is typically a lone bloom sticking out of the side saying "hello!" (example below). I gravitate towards pinks and peaches and I really love orange. 

-Lastly, what type of flowers or plants do you buy or grow for yourself? 

I've always grown herbs like mint, rosemary, and lavender at home and now I'm happily in a house where I can plant some flowers! I'm starting with peach nasturtiums (I love their foliage) and hellebore (they are my #1 favorite). 

Thank you Elizabeth! Have a question you're dying to ask a Morrice flower girl? Comment below and we'll make sure your question is included in the next Meet the Flower Girls interview. 

Easter Basket Ideas for Everyone

Easter is just two days away and the shop is stocked with new spring items to help your Easter bunny out! Everything here from beautiful basket grass to floral printed pencils and adorable finger puppets was chosen with care. 

If your bunny is stumped, here are some specific suggestions for special ways to fill a child's, teen's, or adult's basket with unique goodies. As always, we have buckets of happy spring flowers that anyone would love to receive for their holiday table.  

All of these things are in the shop! We are open Friday the 30th until 5:00 and Saturday the 31st from 10:00 til' 4:00. 

For kids: 

Special Seed Packets (edible flowers, herbs, bee feed mix): Beautifully packaged seed packets to plant watch grow.

Pollinator Push-Pops: Push the push-pop and scatter custom seed blends to grow a garden that attracts exciting pollinators like bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. 

Felt Flowers: A stem or two of whimsical felt flowers add surprise to a basket. 

Finger Puppets: The ideal basket stuffer - cute, small, and special. We have unicorn, rocket, and mermaid characters. 

Zipper Purses: Special rainbow and sprinkle bags ideal to hide jelly beans inside! 

Floral Printed Pencils: A practical and beautiful gift. 

For teenagers and adults: 

Easter Cards: Beautiful stationary to accompany a bouquet of tulips.

Crystals: Add power and energy to an Easter basket! We have a huge selection of stones and crystals - choose Pyrite, a powerful, grounding and protective stone, an Amethyst to enhance intuition and create a sense of calm and balance, or Lemurian Quartz to assist in removing all types of energy blockages.  

Rifle Paper Co. Pins: The world's cutest pins for jackets, backpacks, and totes.

Specialty Chocolate Bars: Pick from bars spiked with Pistachios, Cranberries & Sea Salt, Candied Ginger, Candied Orange Peel & Coriander, or French Vanilla, Salted Almonds & Olive Oil Ganache. 

Add Magic!

Flower Confetti: We heard some Easter Bunnies leave a trail of flower confetti leading you to the goodies! Dried flower petals also make a special nest for eggs. 

Basket Grass: Don't buy the plastic stuff! We have neutral colored natural Easter grass for just $5 a bag. The grass is made from light wood shavings and is very lovely! It can be packed up to be used again next year.

What to Write on the Card?

We've all been there - picked up the phone or walked into the florist, ordered a beautiful bouquet of flowers and suddenly feel like a deer in headlights when faced with penning a special card message. And we get it - love, loss, celebration - it's all personal and hard to put into words. But...words are important and a sweet, simple, unique card message can really make a difference.

Here are some ideas:

Ways to write about affection:

Pick a lyric from a favorite song: It's no mystery why tunes like You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) and You Make Loving Fun (Fleetwood Mac) are timeless hits. 

Get specific with what you love about them: Their laugh, ugly slippers, sense of adventure? If you have a cute pet name for each other, this is the time to use it. 

Poetry: When in doubt, whip out a short and sweet poem.  

Memory: Mention a special memory in a simple and straight forward way like "Thinking of us at the lake last summer...can't wait to do it again." 

Humor: Crack a joke. Everyone loves a joke. 

Just say it: Penning the classic "I love you" is always perfect. 

Ways to write about sympathy: Send kind thoughts by way of condolences, appreciation, or an offer to help. Here is what we mean...

Condolences: A simple way to tell someone you're thinking of them during a hard time. “Remembering your wonderful mother and wishing you comfort.”

Appreciation/Memory: Share a specific trait you loved or memory about the person who has passed. 

An offer to help: "Dropping dinner off Tuesday night and thinking of you until then."

10 Everyday Reasons to Give Flowers

With Valentine's Day coming up it got us thinking...why wait for February 14th to give someone you love the gift of flowers? We can think of about a million everyday reasons to give flowers but here are our best 10. 

10 EVERYDAY REASONS TO GIVE FLOWERS

1. A Bad Day: Everyone has a bad day once in a while. A bright and colorful bouquet of fresh flowers, especially happy yellows and pinks, immediately lightens a heavy mood. 

2. Stress: Who isn't stressed out? A small bouquet or houseplant for a desk or windowsil is a simple way to add a bit of calm to a hectic environment. 

3. Good Luck: Maybe someone has an upcoming performance, interview, business trip, or is starting a new challenge (no sugar for 30 days!). Fresh flowers are the best encouragement. 

4. Thank You: There are a million kind everyday acts made by friends and family that can be reciprocated with flowers - a friend who stayed on the phone with you late at night, a partner who cleaned the house, a teacher who spent extra time with your child. 

5. Catching Up: Sending an old friend or family member you haven't spoken to in a while fresh flowers is the best way to say I'm thinking of you.

6. Random Act of Kindness: Your favorite librarian, bank teller, grocery clerk...they could all use an anonymous flower surprise. 

7. Remembering: Maybe it was this day 10 years ago that you rescued your dog or finished building your house. Birthdays and anniversaries are not the only important life dates to remember with flowers. 

8. You're Amazing! Sending someone flowers just to say You're Amazing is basically the best surprise ever. 

9. Treat Yourself: Buy YOUR favorite flower for YOURSELF. You deserve it. 

10. Mark the Season: A bouquet to mark the start of a new season - fall blooms in late September, a jolly holiday arrangement in December, bright daffodiles in April, and big summer garden blooms in July remind us how special the seasonal cycle is.  

Most importantly, you don't need a reason! Just do it.

Valentine's Day Options for Men

Valentine's Day immediately brings to mind red roses, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, and fancy bottles of perfume but what if you want to buy a less flashy gift for your husband or boyfriend? Can you still celebrate the day of love with a thoughtful, yet manly, gift?

The answer is yes! Believe it or not, there are a variety of romantic yet masculine Valentine's Day gifts in the shop. Below are our picks for our favorite guys. 

1. House Plants: Whether destined for his desk or bedside table, everyone could use some greenery in the cold winter months. 

2. Orchid: Easy to care for yet impressive to admire, orchids are romantic without being overly feminine.

3. Manly Soap: Everyone can appreciate a nice smelling soap bar for the shower. Pick from unique scents like Saltwater, Coffee Mint, and Man Bar (a cedar and sandalwood blend). 

4. Sweets: When in doubt, go for the sweet tooth. Pick from gourmet hot cocoa mix, sea salt caramels, or specialty chocolate bars. No need to wrap, the packaging alone is a piece of art. 

5. Booze Infusers: Bring home an "infuse your booze" kit and whip up two specialty drinks on Valentine's Day night. 

6. Sourdough - Recipes for rustic fermented breads, sweets, savories, and more: A beautiful cookbook is not only a thoughtful gift for a home baker but may also inspire you to cook together more. 

7. Massage: There is nothing that says "I love you" quite as much as the gift of self care. Sonya Mayrand massage gift certificates are available at the shop for 60 minute ($110), 75 minute ($130), and 90 minute ($150) sessions.

Giving The Gift of Kindness

This holiday season we are working to inspire our friends, neighbors, and clients to create and spread random acts of kindness throughout their communities. What better way to celebrate the holidays then to brighten a strangers day and inspire them to do the same?

If you are unsure on how to get started, here are five ways to organize random acts of kindness:

1. Participate in Morrice Florist's Kindness Project: Help us spread random acts of kindness across Martha's Vineyard. Anyone can participate in our Kindness Project and help promote love and generosity across the Island. For starters, keep a lookout for phantom buckets of flowers around the Island. These blooms are our gift for strangers to take, share, and use to spread kind thoughts. If you would like to sponsor a bucket of kindness blooms simply call the shop and we will set it up for you. 

2. Join the Kindness Rocks Project: Their goal is simple - to promote random acts of kindness to unsuspecting recipients by either painting and dropping inspirational rocks or some other creative message.

3. Apply to be a RAKtivist: ‘RAKtivist’ is short for ‘Random Acts of Kindness activist’. Think of RAKtivists like kindness ambassadors—and, like all ambassadors, they’re a part of an active, global community. RAKtivists are everywhere. The student who stops to hold the door open for a teacher with her hands full? They’re a RAKtivist. The commuter who offers their bus seat to an elderly passenger? They’re a RAKtivist too. The parking attendant who leaves a note on someone’s car, complimenting their parking skills? You guessed it. RAKtivist. Anyone who believes kindness can change the world, who reminds everyone around them how much love there is in the world, who inspires hope and generosity with their actions as much as their words—they’re a RAKtivist.

4. Be The Spark: Pick a category (Environment, Animals, Community, Work, Family, School, Sports, Just For Fun), Cost (Free, Inexpensive, Expensive), and Time Investment (Instant, Minimal, Moderate, Investment) and see a list of random acts of kindness that can fit into your life. 

5. Complete a 31 Day Kindness Calendar: Even better, invite a friend to complete the kindness calendar challenge with you.

PS. Get 10% off your purchase in the shop by bringing in a food pantry donation item! 

Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas

We're entering the holiday party season and while being invited to festive bashes is always exciting, sometimes pulling together a last minute hostess gift is overwhelming. Should you bring wine, flowers, chocolate, booze!? Don't worry - we're here to help. Our shop is packed with specialty gifts and here are four unique, thoughtful, and generous hostess gift ideas anyone can manage.

Amaryllis & Paperwhite Bulbs: The gift that keeps on giving.

Amaryllis bulbs are a festive and low pressure gift for a hostess who doesn't want to tend to a houseplant or delicate bouquet. Given warm temperatures, strong light, and water upon arrival, they will put on a spectacular show 8 to 10 weeks later that will brighten up even the gloomiest winter day. We have already planted ours so they should be blooming right around the holidays. Paperwhites require little more than to be potted and watered to produce clusters of fragrant blooms that perfume the whole house. Paperwhite bulbs can be potted using small rocks, sea glass, or marbles.

Fall Arrangement in a Personal Vessel: Add your own touch.

To make a flower arrangement even more special, bring a vase or container from home to the flower shop and ask the staff to create a unique piece around your personal item.

Infuse Your Booze: Cheers to the season!

Gift your hostess the magic to create instantly infused artisan cocktails at home. Grab an infusion jar, pour in booze, heat, shake, and enjoy four special cocktails. Pick a cocktail to match your hostess - maybe it's Sweet Heat (strawberry, jalapeno, citrus, cane sugar, bitters), Campfire (orange, vanilla bean, smokey tea, can sugar, bitters), or Rocky Coast Bloody Mary (tomato, celery, Maine seaweed, horseradish, black pepper, lemon, bitters, spices, Maine sea salt, apple cider vinegar, and cane sugar). 

Handcut Marshmallows + Heirloom Hot Cocoa = Love

Tie a bundle of Little Flower Candy Co. pillowy, handcut marshmallows (pick from vanilla, peppermint, or cinnamon-sugar) up with a tin of Cacao Especial, a fine heirloom hot chocolate mix blended to sweet perfection with raw cane crystals infused with ground vanilla beans.

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life Of Morrice Florist Owner Emily Coulter with photographs by Jocelyn Filley Photography

7:15 Wake up and head downstairs to make Madeleine & Eloise's school lunches. Drink coffee. 

8:00 Help the girls get dressed, make breakfast, and get the kids off to school.

9:00 Arrive at the shop. Check emails, organize the day, review the calendar, walk around the shop. Welcome the flower crew as they arrive. 

9:30 Clean out the coolers, pull out old flowers and reorganize what's left. Head out to the back garden to pick whatever is ready. 

10:00 Flower delivery truck arrives. While it unloads check messages, scheduled orders, make a list of the day's deliveries, and write out personal greeting cards to include with bouquets. 

10:15 Open the new boxes of flowers and process them by cutting the ends, pulling off lower leaves, and dropping in fresh water. Place all the new buckets of flowers out on the floor. 

11:00 Start creating arrangements for all the day's deliveries. 

12:00 Eat lunch at my desk or outside in our hidden back garden. 

1:00 Make vase arrangements and wrapped bouquets for walk-in customers. Fill the floor cooler with fresh flowers. 

2:00 Back to my desk to respond to emails and write new event proposals. 

3:00 Meet with a potential bride and groom in the shop's greenhouse. 

4:00 Walk the floor of the shop to check the house plants, chat with customers, and review the invantory of home goods and gifts. 

5:00 Close up the shop. Head back to my desk to finish emails. 

6:00 Head home and start dinner.

7:00 Read the girls a few books, work on puzzles together, give the kids a bath. 

8:00 Put the kids to bed and either accidentally fall asleep with them or sneak in a glass of wine before heading to bed.