Dried flowers fascination led to side hustle

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

QTell us about yourself, Sophie

I grew up in Oamaru and have called Oamaru home for most of my life. A few years ago my husband, Callan, and I built a small home in Kakanui, as it was a dream of ours to raise our two girls, India (7) and Marley (4), close to the ocean. We love living a two-minute walk from the river/ocean, and are grateful to be a part of such a cool wee community.

QTell us about your side hustle, Yesterday’s Blooms — why did you start it?

I have always loved flowers, and a few years ago my obsession with dried flowers began. When my youngest daughter, Marley, was a baby, I decided that I really wanted to learn a new skill/find a hobby that I loved. After taking part in a flower-crown-making workshop, I started to make flower crowns for my daughter, India.

I decided to attempt to make some wreaths for my girls’ bedrooms, and after creating my first wreath I was hooked. I then started making wreaths and crowns and gifting them to friends and family. It was my friends and family who encouraged me to take my passion for creating wreaths a step further and turn it into a side hustle/business. This was when Yesterday’s Blooms began.

QWhat do you love about it?

I enjoy the whole creative process that goes into making my wreaths and crowns. I find it a great way to relax, tune out and unwind. I often sit down and start creating with no real plan in place, so I love adding my final flower and taking a step back and seeing my final creation. I also really love seeing my creations in people’s homes and have had the privilege of having some of my creations be a part of weddings.

QWhat was the hardest thing about getting started?

The hardest part about starting Yesterday’s Blooms was having the confidence to put myself and my creations out there...