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Kate Jolly

Words for life & business, flowers for people you really love, thoughts to make you feel less alone.
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At Mary Mary, we love creating luxe, textured arrangements and statement blooms for anything and everything you can think of. Weddings, private events, flower deliveries, gorgeous arrangements for home and unique corporate blooms. Lead by star florist and 2015 Victorian Young Achiever Kate McLean, we're a small but passionate team of bright and bubbly flower lovers who just can't wait to help you

bring your floral dreams to life. Come and visit us in store at 134 Nicholson Street Coburg, order flowers online, or get in touch to chat about your next flower-filled event.

17/08/2024

“Ode to bedside table”

Quick digital collage featuring my (sort of) new bedside tables. White tiles, lilac grout and my second favourite sensory beverage: warm milo milk.

15/08/2024

Corporate profile picture, but make it jolly 💁🏼‍♀️

Living my best mixed media life with hand painted flowers, hand lettering, lo-fi iPhone selfies, and digital collage elements. FUN!

14/08/2024

Forget-me-knot ☝🏻🎀

14/08/2024

Mistakes are where the magic is ✨

Been learning to embrace my creative mistakes lately and I am finding it so freeing! I accidentally wrote “forget-me-knot” instead of “forget-me-not” on this little polaroid today. Mega whoops. So embarrassing etc.

The old me would have rushed to fix it as a matter of desperate urgency. How could I possibly live with that eye-twitching stain on my beautiful flower picture?

But the new me said “eh, what the heck! I’ll post it anyway!” And the more I thought about it, the more I really liked the concept of a forget me knot. So I made one! (You can see the result on the grid, I’ll share it next)

One tiny mistake ended up inspiring a whole new piece of art. How’s that for a nice little creative lesson? MAKE MISTAKES FRIENDS.

KJ x

08/08/2024

A friendly reminder from a recovering people-pleasing perfectionist that thrives on compliments and external validation for self worth ✌🏻

31/07/2024

Drawing exercise ✏️ .body’s famous yellow tube

24/07/2024

Sometimes ideas make sense, and sometimes you just feel compelled to make a fierce pout with Taylor Swift’s face as the teeth 🤷🏼‍♀️

Don’t know what I was going for here, but I like it. In my Taylor era, it seems!

Thanks for all the song recs in stories. Miss E and I have an ever growing playlist and are well on our way to becoming fully indoctrinated Swifties. HOW FUN ♥️

18/07/2024

5 things I’m doing to look after my mental health right now:

1. Taking medication. A small, proactive step to try and keep the post natal depression at bay. I suffered after both my previous pregnancies and wanted to make sure I didn’t wait until things deteriorated this time before considering extra support. Meds don’t mean failure!

2. Exercise. Specifically, wall pilates. No equipment, no leaving the house. Just a 13 minute workout direct from my phone into the lounge room. Perfect for my brain and my body.

3. Drawing. Creative play time is essential for my mental health. Picking up the pencils again has made me feel so inspired and energised. I look forward to it every day!

4. Looking after my hair and skin. I got a hair cut. I gave myself a lash lift and tint at home. I’ve started a new skin care routine. These things have boosted my post-baby confidence immeasurably and make me feel happy and healthy even on 2 hours sleep.

5. Asking for help. I cannot do any of this (aka general living) by myself. I have a nanny once a week. A supportive mum. I’m leaning on treasured friendships and deepening new ones. Connection is everything, in motherhood and in life, and when I’m feeling my lowest I realise it’s because I’ve retreated from the love around me.

What about you? What are your go-tos for looking after your mental health?

A big hug to you if you need it xx

18/07/2024

I have been so focused on finding my post-florist-post-babies style that I’ve become totally and utterly stuck.

What’s my “thing”? Do I like to draw? Do I like to paint? Am I designer now? Should I try collage?

Trapped in some sort of perfectionist purgatory - never moving forward, never moving back. And driving myself crazy as a result.

But this week (with the encouragement of an artist I really admire) I finally said eff off to expectation and just tried to have fun.

This mostly looked like parallel play with the kids, as is so often the mum-life way. I drew while they drew, I painted while they painted. We cut, pasted, scribbled, stamped, ripped, rolled and photocopied.

And whaddya know? I found my sparkle 🤩

Putting this here as my reminder (and maybe yours too, if you need it?) to always make time for creative play.

Experiment. Embrace the chaos. Turn mistakes into magic. And most importantly, enjoy yourself.

Do you make time for creative play?

07/05/2024

🫒🫒🫒

12/10/2023

Less than 48 hours to go until one of the biggest history-making moments of our lifetime.

I’m proud to be voting yes.

I’m voting yes because this referendum is a humble invitation to walk hand in hand with First Nations people towards a better future.

I am voting yes because I believe Indigenous Australians deserve better outcomes, and they deserve to have a say on their own lives.

I’m voting yes because I’m devastated that First Nations people live on average 8 years less than we do; that First Nations women are 3 times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than we are; that outcomes for First Nations people in health, in education, in employment are all worse than ours.

I’m voting yes because I’m proud to share this land with the oldest continuing living culture in the world, and I want my kids to grow up in a country that honours its past.

I’m voting yes because I want to believe Australia is the place I think it is - a place where we rally together to protect the most vulnerable, where we believe in recognition and equality, where we embrace and celebrate each other, and we we honour our centuries old history.

I’m voting yes because I absolutely reject the way that fear and misinformation is used to target marginalised communities to incite anger and division.

I’m voting yes because this isn’t about what you think of the government, whether you agree with the money being spent on the referendum, or whether you think the funds would have been better spent in Indigenous communities. This is above politics. This is humanity.

I’m voting yes because I want to look back on this moment in history and know that I was on the right side. That I believed there could be a better way.

I’m voting yes because it’s the right thing to do.

Please don’t give up hope. Have these conversations with your friends, families and colleagues.

Share your vote. Your voice is so powerful.

20/09/2023

🍭FEELINGS WHEEL🍭

If you’ve never seen one of these before, it’s a feelings wheel! They’re designed to help you articulate how you’re feeling when your brain is a bit cloudy, with lots of different prompts to help you get clear on exactly what’s happening inside your mind (and your heart).

It’s a common tool for neurodivergent folks who often struggle with a thing called alexithymia - aka “emotional blindness” - where you find it hard to recognise and express your own emotions.

This is something I’ve always found super challenging in my life, and after officially being diagnosed as an autistic person last month, I finally understand why!

Sam first introduced me to this concept years ago, and while I loved the idea and found it so useful, the colours of the ones online really upset my design sensibilities 😂 So I made my own!!

There’s a simple one for kiddos to help with navigating big feelings, and another one for the grown ups with some more complex emotions (swipey swipe).

Neurodivergent or not, I reckon they’re a great tool for emotional regulation and communication! I’d love to know what you think too - would you use one of these?

14/09/2023

It’s today!

Those of you who have followed me a long time will remember this post from a few years ago. I’m bringing it back again today as part of an ongoing series - tricky topics made simple.

Conversations about mental health can be really hard, so here are 5 ways you can ask “R U OK?” and what you can say next to keep the conversation going.

Share with people you love, use it to check in on a friend, or save for later 💛

12/09/2023

Healing my inner perfectionist with this one.

13/08/2023

I think the words we use can be life changing.

In my career as a writer, I have always strived to make things as clear and easy to understand as possible. And I’m really passionate about using these skills to empower people to talk about the issues that are important to them with confidence.

As requested, here are some simple responses to the most common questions and objections to The Voice, for you to take and use as you wish in conversations with your communities.

Every conversation has the power to make a difference.

I would like to acknowledge that I am not an Indigenous person, and my expertise here is not as a representative of The Voice, but as a writer. My response templates have been informed by lots reading and research from a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices.

Special shout out to The Voice to Parliament Handbook by and Kerry O’Brien. It’s an incredibly informative and helpful resource, I highly recommend you grab a copy!!

I am grateful for the work of Indigenous people on this issue, and will be proudly voting YES for a Voice to Parliament in the referendum.

Some accounts I also recommend include:

P.S If you are on a screen reader or would otherwise like a copy of these templates emailed to you as a word document, send me a DM 💛

27/07/2023

Making these little johnny jump ups the subject of my next digital flower collage. They remind me of the flowers in Alice in Wonderland 💜🧡

08/07/2023

Returning to my flowers this week to finish this baby banksia piece!

I wanted a caption to go with it, and this fell out. I’m calling it “planting seeds”. I think it’s about the importance of rest for growth. Tell me what you think?!

🍃🍃🍃

It’s the season of slow going, slow growing, and growing pains.

It’s the season of slothing under warm blankets, and hot water bottles on sore bellies.

It’s the season of rewatching your favourite comfort shows (Lorelai, is that you?)

It’s the season of hot tea in your favourite mug to keep your fingers warm.

It’s the season of fluffy slippers and wearing socks to bed.

It’s the season of chasing that patch of sun on the floor.

It’s the season of pretending you’re a house plant and hydrating those leaves, girl.

It’s the season of slow, deep baths and favourite songs.

It’s the season of hibernation, rejuvenation, anticipation, jubilation.

It’s the season of planting seeds and trusting the right ones will grow, whatever they’re meant to be.

It’s the season of nourishing yourself for spring.

And knowing you deserve it.

25/05/2023

There is much to say about Stan Grant’s departure from the ABC, and his stirring parting words. But for now, I land on this.

Endurance isn’t always strength. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is say “no more”.

23/05/2023

A few more belated Mother’s Day reflections 💛

Does motherhood feel like this for you as well?

23/05/2023

My first gift from the Mother’s Day stall at school 🥹 I want to tell you a story about this gift and why it’s so important to me.

I never carry cash, but I was determined to make sure Vinnie had $10 in his pocket for the Mother’s Day stall so he could be impulsive and buy whatever he wanted. I knew gifts were priced between $1 and $5, but thought budgeting might be confusing and fatiguing. I wanted him to have fun.

I went to Coles the night before and tried to get cash out at the self checkout, but couldn’t figure out how to do it with my purchase. So I checked out and asked the lady how to get cash out. She said I had to 1. get cash out with my purchase (where?! Where’s the button?!?) and 2. have my physical card with me, which I did not 😭 So I vowed to make a stop on the way to school and fix the error.

Well team, I forgot. And it wasn’t until I was kissing Vinnie goodbye in his classroom that I saw another kid with a bag to take his gifts home in (something I also forgot!) that I realised. Cue frantic mum sprinting back to the car with Ellie on my hip to check for coins. We had $2. I race back to the classroom and put it in his hand before dropping Ellie to kinder and googling the nearest ATM - determined to fix my mistake and make sure Vinnie was not the kid there with the least amount of money. I played out the scenarios in my head as I drove to the ATM - do I put cash in an envelope and take it to the office? Or try to catch Vinnie personally on the way to the multi purpose hall? I jumped out of the car and pulled out my phone to realise - you guessed it - I was supposed to bring my physical card for this too.

It was now 9:42, and the Mother’s Day stall was finishing at 10. I knew I didn’t have time to go home and find my card and come back. I felt absolutely defeated and deflated, and looked at the clock the entire day, sick with worry imagining Vinnie trying to buy things for me, only to be told by the lovely volunteer mums that he couldn’t afford it 😭

Story continued in comments 👇🏻

16/05/2023

I read something recently that said “I love what I make when I love who I am” and it felt like a revelation.

I rarely love what I make, and I’ve come to realise it’s because I haven’t loved who I am.

I have tied myself in knots and bent myself into impossible shapes to fit in, to create things I thought other people might like, or might make them like me.

Spoiler: it didn’t work. And ultimately I was unhappy with everything I made, because I was simply unhappy.

My husband gave me the same advice he gave me when I was feeling lost in my career 10 years ago.

“I don’t know what your special interests are, but you need to make time to find them, and to practice them.”

Back then it was flowers, so I turned towards them once more. And like an old friend, they were there for me.

I started making these digital flower collages a few months ago. They were just for me. Just for joy.

I wasn’t thinking about selling them or sharing them or turning them into anything other than happy chemicals for my brain.

I am so proud of how they’ve turned out. I call this series “baby delphs”. Blue delphinium chosen by my son at the flower market.

I love them.

“I love what I make when I love who I am.”

06/05/2023

Swipe for my Sunday to do list 👉🏻

04/05/2023

I’ve decided to call this next phase of life and business my “exclamation era”. All the joy! All the happiness! All the exclamation marks! No shame for enthusiasm! No strategic full stops for balance! No trying to be cool or chill! Zest for life all the way! Unapologetically excited about everything, every day!

And just when I was ready to share this post, I stumbled across a writing prompt called “eras”. Taking it as another serendipitous sign that I’m on the right track, I wrote something to go with my happy exclamation marks. Swipe to read 👉🏻

What era are you in? Tell me!!!

03/05/2023

It’s me, Kate Jolly! 🎉

I am truly, truly touched by everyone’s response to the launch of my new brand, and so grateful to have you all here!! Thank you!!

I’ll be sharing some more about the kind of content you can expect to see moving forward (and unveiling a jolly new website in the coming months), but for now, this sunny corner of the internet can be summed up as follows:

✏️ Words for life and business
🌻 Flowers for people you really love
💭 Thoughts to make you feel less alone

It’s a celebration of the joy of creating, a visual diary of ideas and feelings, and an exploration of my heart.

It’s all the things I am and do, in one joyful, jolly place. A safe space to be myself, and hopefully to be yourself too.

I hope you like it here as much as I do.

Thank you for sticking around 💛

KJ x

09/03/2023

Phalaenopsis, raspberries and olives 🫒

05/03/2023

The wonderful sent us her gorgeous new kids book to try out this week, and it’s become a fast favourite for the whole family!

As the proud dog parents to 2 rescues in our lifetime (so far 🐕), the message in this book is just so lovely, and the kids adored the sweet illustrations and fun rhymes.

It’s clear that so much love has gone into this story - if you’re looking for a new picture book to add to your reading rotation, grab yourself a copy! Not only is it super engaging and meaningful for the kids (Caitlin is a teacher!), but you’ll also be supporting a self-published woman author who’s also a mumma herself.

I’ll pop a link to buy in my stories if you have the means. Thank you for sharing your beautiful book with us Caitlin!!

03/03/2023

Exploring digital collage with some dried statice - photographed on the kitchen bench, then digitally cut out and arranged on the computer. I like it!! 💜

31/12/2022

Self reflection and acceptance for 2023 ✌🏻

30/12/2022

1 or 2, which one would you wear?

23/12/2022

Always make time for play 🪸

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