Show & Tell 001: Florals for Spring? Groundbreaking.
Note to self: Next time, try to be a little more original, but on the other hand I love a good classic floral.
Hello and welcome to the very first Show & Tell!
At the start of each month, I will create a mood board to set the tone for upcoming newsletters. Think of this as the bulletin board outside of homeroom, full of inspiration, vibes, and announcements.
Photo credits are always listed at the end if you want to do some extra credit and explore them yourself.
I have been making mood boards for as long as I can remember. Honestly, instead of doing my actual homework after school, I was usually in my room clipping photos from fashion magazines and catalogs, compiling them into my notebooks. I was a C, sometimes B, student at best, always focused on everything except the actual class curriculum. But you know what, my creative distractions were not a total waste. A lot of my job today actually involves making mood boards, which I consider pretty lucky.
Most of my creative projects start with a digital board, but for these monthly Show and Tells, I want to go old-school. Printed images, scissors, tape, and all the messy imperfection that makes it more personal.
By the end of the year, I will have a full scrapbook of these moments, a yearbook of sorts.
Alright, first assignment, class is in session:
Spring has officially sprung, and I have been mildly obsessed with my garden. This month’s mood board is inspired by the colors popping up outside, butter yellow daffodils, pastel pink tulips, and minty greens.
In very unoriginal fashion, I went straight to Pinterest and gathered images that felt right for this month’s spring theme.
Here is the lineup:
1. Tulip Tunnel Vision
This image perfectly captures my current brain space, flowers, flowers, and more flowers. I am even feeling inspired to try some self-portraits this spring. We will see if I can incorporate florals in a fun way.
2. Orchid Awakening
Not gonna lie, orchids never really did it for me until now. Also, these floral shoe clips are so cute it hurts. A DIY project maybe?
Side Note:
Memory unlocked, anyone else remember Passport to Paris with the Olsen twins? I wore a pink daisy headband for a whole year to school after that movie. Iconic.
3. Matilda Goad’s Garden Goals
Matilda’s courtyard space (via House and Garden’s Design Notes) makes me want to grab a book, a coffee, and just exist.
4. Snowbell Blooms Ringing in Spring
These blooms feel like a school bell ringing to let us know spring is about to start. Plus, I have been very into soft blue hues lately. This photo is lovely.
5. Bowtie, but Make It Flowers
No notes. Yes.
6. Mint Condition
This mint green eyeshadow is giving spring energy. Loving this shade lately.
7. The Baby Goat Room
Mint wallpaper, yellow curtains, flooded florals, baby goats. Can I live here?
8. Flower BFFs
This is such a lovely photograph. These little dancing flower friends are such a vibe. It also reminds me of The Dance by Matisse, which I’m not sure if that was intentional but I’m here for it either way!
9. Floral Arrangement Goals
Making flower arrangements look effortless is so much harder than it seems. This one inspires me to keep practicing.
I pulled so many photos while working on this spring theme. The girl hugging the flower shrub (bottom right, photographer unknown) really captures how I feel about this season, so much love for all the blooming, growing, reaching for light even though it didn’t make it onto my final board, I had to share it here because it’s still such a vibe all on it’s own!
Alright, it is a school night, aka Sunday, and I have work tomorrow. But I am loving this little Sunday creative exercise and already excited for next month’s Show and Tell.
Homework: if you are inspired try to make your own mini mood board for spring, either digital or print. Find what you are drawn to right now. If you want, share it with me during Study Group, aka Substack chat.
Suggested class reading:
Bluemnhaus magazine I am still obsessed with this one. Their pages are bursting with color and creative art, photography, fashion and more, basically spring in magazine form.
Class Supplies List:
(helpful but not required)
• Spiral Canvas Sketchbook mine is 9x12
• These are the best scissors and they are cute, but obviously a cutting board like this one and an X-acto knife is the best for cutting out images all at once.
• This dot tape liner, I love it because it doesn’t stick right away so you can adjust things before you permanently press them to the page!
(Some links may earn me a commission at no extra cost to you)
A look at what’s ahead: Next Monday, we are going on a Field Trip, well virtually.
I will be sharing a peek into some flower farms, workshops, and retreats on my dream visit list, including Greenfingers Gourmet Gardening Retreat, my friend put it on my radar and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
