Exploring Hobbies: The Bloomist | Nicole Mehl | Northern Indiana Photographer

October 3, 2014

I have this thing. It’s quite distracting to be honest. It’s the urge to learn.

Ever since I can remember, I have been the kind of person that loves to learn about a multitude of topics. The bad thing is it keeps me jumping from thing to thing and never truly completing one or the other. So, I decided to get creative and turn my distraction into a way to reach my blogging goals and resonate with my readers.

If you’re like me, you love learning about new hobbies and trends. I don’t always want to take them up but I could sit and watch people create all day long. Do they pay people to do that? If they do, sign me up. My obvious first choice was someone whose photography work I have admired for years. Then that gorgeous mind of hers turned her creative talent to floral work. If you haven’t guessed by now, it’s the beautiful Nicole Mehl, or as you may know her “The Bloomist”.

Nicole and I first met about five years ago. We were both working in HR and it wasn’t long before I noticed Nicole’s keen eye for beauty. Nicole could make any company literature look like a work of art, which is quite the feat in the RV industry. At the time she was pregnant with her first child and it wasn’t long before she gave up the corporate world and went home to be with her family. Once I saw what she could create behind that lens, I knew she was right where God wanted her to be.

I have followed Nicole’s work since we left that office years ago, always admiring her soft and beautiful perception of the world. When Nicole took up floral work, she instantly blew me away. I even remember saying to her during our interview, “There should be a period where you have to suck. It keeps it fair for the rest of us. Cheater.” Nicole graciously smiled. Seriously, EVERYTHING she touches turns into something beautiful. I’ve always just assumed that she had some kind of magic power to channel her inner beauty outward.

If you know Nicole you know she is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet and absolutely stunning. She stands strong in her faith and always offers a kind smile. I just love this gal. Especially when she graciously and almost without a flinch grabbed a towel and cleaned the floor when I knocked a vase full of water off the table. I’m a klutz. This momma has 3 kids under the age of 5 in her home, so not much phases her these days.

I had such a great time hanging out and here’s a little info about Nicole and her journey through photography and floral work.

What ya gotta know:

Equipment & Supplies?

Good shears is a must, stem cutting tools, vessels, floral frog, tape, good dirt (mixes can be found on internet) and starters.

Costs?

Approximately $50-$100 a month depending on time of year. Main expenses are flowers, insect repellent, fertilizer, pots (she gets hers at garage sales), and vases (again from garage sales or thrift stores).

Time?

An hour a day or less in busy bloom seasons, give or take depending on moisture. Most time is spent pruning and watering. She uses 2 soaker hoses to cut down on watering time.

1.) What drew your interest to floral work?

Aside from her grandmother and mother’s interests in gardening as her inspiration origin, she remembers getting the David Austin Rose Catalogs in the mail and being in awe of the unique and beautiful colors and designs. Nicole says once she started, she couldn’t stop. It started an addiction. Part of her inspiration and maybe what pushed her to explore her love for floristry came from reading the book “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron. This book leads you through a series of challenges to further push creativity and find your spiritual calling.

2.) What is your favorite thing to work on?

Floral arrangements, roses, and bouquets.

3.) If you wanted to learn more about gardening where would you start?

Google, she goes to google for everything (ha, don’t we all). And since she has family members that are seasoned gardeners, if she’s got a question, who better to go to than mom and grandma? Some artists she admires are: Erin @ Floret Flowers, Amy Osaba, Amy Merrick, Saipua.

4.) Biggest lesson you have learned so far in your journey?

Don’t be afraid to try. Go after your hopes and dreams and feed your creativity. Practice what makes you happy in life. God makes us all different, so take the time to explore your gifts and uniqueness.

6.) What might you tell someone thinking of doing floral work?

Balance your time. Plants are like pets, they take time to take care of. Stay unique and follow your own vision.

7.) If you could only do one thing to change the world what would it be?

We laugh as she looks at me like, I didn’t see that coming. (Ha, I like to know what people envision for the world). She would help people find their purpose. Empowering them to use their God given talents to thrive across the world.