Valentine’s Day! A popular day for getting engaged. What will you do with your flowers after they have been presented to you along with a ring?
Preservation is a great way to cherish that memory!
Need I say more? Just look through the Gallery and see all the things that can be done with your flowers!
First of all, 4 shadowboxes were being done for the family as a gift. Each person who was getting one chose the flowers they wanted in their box and certain pictures. Each box was to have the obituary, and the funeral note information and a pinecone in honor of him being an outdoorsman along with the flowers they wanted.
Being one who feels that less is more I stared at all the items that were in front of me for each different box. I wondered how on earth I would get all that “stuff” in there. When I’m working on a bridal box my mantra is “simple elegance”…but can you really have simplicity when it’s a funeral box? I decided “no”. This is a person’s life all wrapped up right here for a loved one to treasure. I learned about Michael just by looking at all the pictures that were facing me. Michael was real and he was loved and he was special and it all has to be captured for the sake of the memory.
I’m not here to tell you that “here at Anne Bruening Originals we will do blah, blah, blah for you and your family”…….
I am here to tell you that my name is Anne Bruening and just like everyone of you out there my name matters to me and with it are associated aspects about my life that people know because they know me. And if I were to die today I wonder what treasures my children might put in a box along with the flowers. Those memories matter.
Your memories matter to me. They will be treated with love.
Blessings,
Anne
Then one day, a few years ago, my world was rocked and the change that faced me was too overwhelming for me to bear………or so I thought. After about 3 months of walking around in somewhat of a stupor and stumbling for my way………life changed again. I strongly grabbed on to the hand of God and said let’s do it Lord……..let’s take on this world together in a way I have never done. From that time on I have embraced changed in most situations because it is a good thing.
And so it is with Anne Bruening Originals. It is going through change. It’s ok. I like it, actually. I am watching a dream come true that I have had from the beginning – that one day I might be totally “custom” order………I just didn’t think it would be in this way. Times have changed, people have changed, economy has surely changed. I noticed about 2 years ago that my retail sales were changing big time……retail as in coming in to the shop and just purchasing for the home. People were buying groceries and paying bills…….not buying “fluff”……..and that’s what I am…..”fluff”! A non-essential.
I learned years ago that if a business is to run well it must “find a need and fill it”. “Who needs dried flowers Lord?” I would ask almost daily. I have found out, in the last several years, that many people need dried flowers………..just not in the way I originally began.
And so…….Anne Bruening Originals is closing the doors to the basic retail end of the business I once had and opening the door to 100% Floral Preservation. It has been the way it has been going. It has been 98% of my sales…….it is what my clients need and what I love to do for them.
I think of a dear man who recently came to the studio who had just lost his wife to pancreatic cancer. They had 3 weeks. No one was prepared for this. She………younger than me. He had a simple rose from the funeral…….already 2 weeks old and quite withered………and their wedding rings……would I put them in a frame he asked?
Oh dear God……I love my job……..thank You for helping me find the need and fill it. I couldn’t be more blessed.
As most of you know…….my door has always been open. As long as I’m home I am open and available to you. But no longer do I have “regular” shop hours. Appointments are necessary as I am learning that it can often take a client an hour and more to decide on how they want their flowers displayed. It is important that they have their time uninterrupted. Still……….if you are driving by………you are welcome to come up and knock on the door and make that appointment (which could be for right then and there).
Feel free to comment and ask questions………I do my best to be available 24/7 though that’s not always possible. Just know that I do deeply care about what you think. And thank you for 20 years that has brought me to this wonderful place in this business. It has been and still is a wonderful journey.
Blessings,
Anne
Economy being what it is, however, the retail end of the shop has changed much over the last few years to be mostly (I bet 98%) preservation of your flowers from your special events. BUT NOT SO at Open House time! During this time of year you’ll find here: wreaths (both for holiday and home), Christmas trees, angels, ornaments, gift bags, pressed flowers, crosses, paper weights etc… each one meticulousy hand-crafted(yep! even the gift bags are hand-crafted). No two items are the same and some (like a larger Christmas tree) can take 3 or more hours to craft. And when I say larger, I’m talking a 15 inch tree! It’s all in the details. And to me there is nothing more beautiful than the “natural” for a picture perfect homespun Christmas! (of course, I think that for any time of year as well)!
So please come and enjoy a time of fellowship, refreshments and door prizes at my annual Open House on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 from 10:00am to 7:00pm. For an extra treat – most items in the shop will be 20% off in celebration of 20 years of service to the community. (This does not include items that may be already on sale or my shadowboxes). It should be a fun weekend for the community - Holiday Shop Hop in New Wilmington (with the Grand Prize to be announced) and Christmas Open House in Volant.
Shop Local – You won’t regret it! There’s something for everyone.
Blessings,
Anne
It’s that time of year again. I’m still trying to hang on to the summer we didn’t really have. You know? They’re actually calling for snow tomorrow! What’s that about? Yet it reminds me that it’s time to give you all a heads up about my annual open house. Mark the dates on your calendar:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13th and SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14th from 10:00 – 7:00pm
AND…… to celebrate 20 years of hanging in there most items in the shop will be 20% off! This does not include shadowboxes or items that may be already on sale.
AND……I will have 3 drawings for $25.00 Gift Certificates.
AND………refreshments to curb your hunger.
AND……..as it has in the last several years………my open house also coincides with New Wilmington’s annual SHOP HOP. This is a fun event for all. Visit the participating shops on the card and get it stamped. After visiting all of them you may enter the grand prize drawing hosted by New Wilmington’s Chamber of Commerce and the businesses taking part in the Shop Hop. Many stores will be having door prizes and refreshments as well. I will be one of the shops on the card. I haven’t heard what the grand prize is yet but it should be great!
(Shop Hop hours will be from 10am – 5pm on Nov. 13th & 14th. However, I will be open an extra 2 hours and you can come in and get your card stamped from my studio if you’re running a bit late!)
Come! Bring a friend and enjoy some fun and discounts and help me celebrate my 20th birthday. (Oh, if only my age was 20! Well maybe not 20 but perhaps a few years and a few pounds less than what I am at this point.
I’ll remind you again a few times in the next few weeks.
Blessings,
Anne
The studio is open to the public from now until December 23, 2009.
Shop Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays from 11:00 to 5:00 pm.
All other days,evenings (Sundays too) by appointment only.
And…….If I’m home and you come up the driveway to my studio I will be happy to open for you.
See you in the studio!
Blessings,
Anne
Before I finished the shadowbox above the words “I have to and I must” were constantly on my mind and lips. Did you know that those very words actually cause you to procrastinate on your projects or life to-do list even more? How many of you out there suffer with the procrastination bug as I do? I am learning to change that and it’s a lot easier to change than I realized. (more…)
It is the wedding season! Consider having your flowers preserved to enjoy for years to come. You don’t have to spend all your money to do so. I have items that will fit all budgets……….even as low as $25.00. So think about having something preserved from your special day. You won’t regret it!
I admit it….I hate to write thank you notes. Don’t get me wrong now, I think thank yous are very important and I love to get them. My mom drove this into my head at a very young age. She was a navy wife. ” Protocal” was the word at our house. I always knew the value of a note – or so I thought. It, however, took me forever to get one written. I am a procrastinator, pure and simple. Why already since I’ve started this post I’ve checked my email and facebook approximately 3 times! (more…)
Just want to let you know that I really have been updating new pictures on a regular basis but the wordpress is not working correctly. It apparently has a few bugs and one of them is by not letting me “sort” my pictures in the order of my preference or write comments anymore. Since I am not a computer geek I have no idea how to proceed to fix this. But, at any rate, if you look past the first pictures you’ll see new ones being added in toward the middle of the first page.
Frustration does not have to be the death of me though! I refuse to let it ruin my day!
Have a glorious day folks……we have yet another beautiful day in Pennsylvania and that says a lot. I intend on putting a full day in my studio. Much work to accomplish!!!
Blessings,
Anne
3596 State Route 208 |
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