Handpicked

28/08/2024

I have started a fortnightly delivery service to the Woodend and Macedon area, stopping off in Kyneton on the way. I've been chuffed that people outside of Castlemaine have come to know and appreciate my unique floral design, and to ensure that this service is a sustainable one, I'm taking on more customers.

So, if you live or work in those areas and want expertly designed locally grown sustainable flowers delivered directly to you. Or you know someone who does. Get in touch!

Email: [email protected]
Phone or text during business hours: 0435457135

Ali x

07/08/2024

One of my favourite weddings from the 2023/24 season was Sally and Ashley's at Mount Macedon Winery. They were focused on a low waste sustainable wedding, and so we were a match made in heaven! Photography by Smith and Archer Photography

If you'd like to check out more of my work, I post more on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/handpickedethicalfloristry/
Now have a Pinterest business account:
https://www.pinterest.com.au/handpickedethcalfloristry
And of course, you can check out my website:
https://www.handpickedfloristry.com

14/06/2024

On Wednesday the state funeral for Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung elder Aunty Fay Carter was held at the Ulumbarra Theatre, and I was honoured to decorate the stage. I was asked to incorporate Cherry Ballart and Shea Oak, which I used with eucalyptus leaves, nuts and bark, banksia and kangaroo paw.

The florals I contributed were the front of stage scape, another framing her casket at ground level, florals for each of the 2 lecterns, large floral displays raised on wooden plinths for either side of the stage, and a large wreath that hung on a tripod next the beautiful large photo of Aunty Fay.

This clip is a summary of the service.

The life and legacy of Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung elder, Aunty Fay Carter, has been celebrated in a state funeral service. She died aged 89 and is being...

08/06/2024

The end to wedding season was busy for Handpicked, and I worked with some incredible couples and beautiful flowers. These autumnal ceremony flowers were among them.

The venue is the beautiful Scrub Hill in Newlyn.
Photography by Jane Fitzgerald

I update my instagram page regularly than Facebook, so please go and follow me there to see more beauty like this. My handle is handpickedethicalfloristry

01/05/2024

Mother's Day is just around the corner! I'll be designing beautiful floral arrangements using sustainable locally grown seasonal flowers and delivering over the Mother's Day weekend, Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of May. As well as my usual Tuesday to Friday trade days. Delivery to the Castlemaine and surrounding area, on Dja Dja Warring Country.

Order your flowers at anytime via my online shop:
https://www.handpickedfloristry.com/shop

And just a wee reminder to y'all that I don't post much here on Facebook, but if you are on instagram, you should follow me as I post regularly there. My handle is - handpickedethicalfloristry

06/03/2024

The Mill Castlemaine did a feature of me and my sustainable ethos in their newsletter, check it out!

Most of us love receiving a beautiful floral arrangement, or buying flowers to enjoy in our home. Until recently, thinking about these flowers from an environmental and sustainability point of view (to me) hadn't extended far beyond whether the arrangement included Australian natives or not, and a b...

06/03/2024

Hello! I haven't been on Facebook for a while, preferring the format of Instagram to share my work. So here is a small selection of bouquets and vase arrangements that I have designed and delivered to people here in Castlemaine and the surrounding area. You can order your sustainable locally grown seasonal flowers via my website, handpickedfloristry.com or if you'd prefer to call, you can do so during business hours Tuesday to Friday on 0435457135.

And as always, come and follow me on instagram. My handle is handpickedethicalfloristry

11/02/2024

Valentine's Day is this Wednesday! Order your lover a beautiful bespoke floral arrangement via my website, www.handpickedfloristry.com

Posies start from $30 (available for collection from my studio at The Mill).
Bouquets start from $60 (available for collection or delivery in the Castlemaine area).
Vase arrangements start from$80 (available for collection or delivery in the Castlemaine area).
Hampers of delicious Bertrand Bespoke wine, Melbourne made ethically sourced chocolate, and Handpicked flowers are $100.
Hamper of Bertrand Bespoke Pet Nat, Mimosa Bath Salts and Handpicked flowers are $120.

08/01/2024

Over January my online florist shop will be closed and I will only be working a couple of days a week. I'll continue taking wedding, event and funeral enquiries and will be designing for my corporate, venue and regular customers.

I will have capacity to take on some floral orders, to enquire email me [email protected].

I’ll return to normal trade on Tuesday the 30th of January.

17/12/2023

I will be attending a funeral on Thursday the 21st of December and will then remain closed until mid-January. Therefore, the last day of normal trade for 2023 will be Wednesday the 20th of December.

For those who have preordered flowers who receive regular flowers, have booked me for their wedding or who have a wedding consultation booked during the time I am officially closed, these will continue as planned.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused by the change of service.

Ta,
Ali

30/09/2023

It's such an incredible time of year for flowers! As always, every week I buy and Handpick quality locally grown seasonal flowers and foliage and create bespoke and beautiful floral designs.

Go to my website to order yours - handpickedfloristry.com
And follow me on instagram for more updates and photos of my work - instagram.com/handpickedfloristry

20/05/2023

I have decided to reduce my trade days over the colder months to Tuesday to Friday. As always, when organised in advance, I am available any day of the week for special occasion, event and wedding florals. Contact me directly to organise this by email [email protected] or phone 0435457135

Over winter I intend to retrace the steps I’ve taken in building my business to ensure that Handpicked is as sustainable as possible; financially, environmentally, and emotionally, mentally and physically.

I’ll also be working hard in my harvest garden and can’t wait to use more of my own home grown florals in my work.

And! I’m moving! Stay tuned for more information on my new workspace at The Mill Castlemaine

09/05/2023

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May the 14th. Order your flowers via my online store, www.handpickedfloristry.com/shop

01/05/2023

My Mother's Day Pamper Hamper is back! This beauty includes a Handpicked selection of soft coloured and beautifully arranged local seasonal flowers, a bottle of Bertrand Bespoke Pet Nat and a Mimosa Botanicals Rose bath soak. At $120 it's a beautifully thoughtful gift that tells that special person that they're loved and appreciated.

Mother's Day is on Sunday the 14th of May. Delivery to the local Castlemaine area is $10, and it's $20 for the surrounding areas, such as to Maldon, Harcourt and Elphinstone. Delivery and collection from my workshop at The Mill Castlemaine are available on Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th.

Go to my website to order yours www.handpickedfloristry.com/shop

27/04/2023

I have the last of Florelie's dahlias for the season in stock now, get in touch to order yours by email: [email protected] or text or call: 0435457135. You only have today (Friday) and tomorrow before they're finished for the year. Ali x

It’s hard to believe our season of harvesting is coming to a close. 🫣
Will we get a frost on Monday morning? Or Thursday? Or will we get a bit longer? 🤷🏻‍♀️
I know some Aussie growers have had a frost already. Have you?

22/02/2023

People have been asking me to record and share videos of me making floral arrangements and I finally did it! This one is of me making a small posy/bouquet for a subscription customer of mine, the flowers I use are lisianthus, zinnia and eryngium.

07/02/2023

I'm back from my wee summer holiday and making and delivering carefully curated floral arrangements for the Castlemaine and surrounding area.

Next Tuesday the 14th of February is Valentine's Day, and this year I have a special offer for those who place their flower order early.

Using the discount code VDAY23 at checkout, you get $10 off the price of the bouquet size of your choice. The offer is only available via my website (link in bio), is for bouquets delivered on February 14th, and closes at midday on Thursday February 9th.

And as with last year, Handpicked is a red rose free florist. The reason for this is that as a sustainable florist I do not use imported flowers, and as most red roses are imported from overseas, they are environmentally unfriendly. The locally grown red roses are hard to get, typically very expensive and lower in quality, and with a huge variety of beautiful locally grown seasonal blooms on offer, I choose to use these to make your bespoke bouquets and vase arrangements. I promise, it's a win win for us all to avoid red roses.

So, go to my website (link in my profile) to order your flowers now.

25/01/2023

My online store is now closed and will reopen on Monday the 6th of February ready for my first day back after holidays, Tuesday the 7th.