Gin Blossoms Flower Shop

04/09/2024

While everyone is getting their knickers in a knot over the Oasis reunion, I’m patiently waiting on the release of the new Beetlejuice movie at the end of this week!!!!

I’m so excited that I was inspired to make my very own Beetlejuice inspired bouquet. If you fancy getting your hands on one all you have to do is say Beetlejuice three times and it’ll appear.

Ok, it’s maybe not that easy, but it is as easy as calling me on 01236 897720 or popping into the shop to order one.

Easier still you can order online for delivery or collection.

https://www.ginblossoms.co.uk/design-20179482/beetlejuice-bouquet.htm

03/09/2024

Well hello September!

Here’s to the ‘ber months!

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂

14/08/2024

Massive good luck to everyone heading back to school or starting school for the first time today!

If you’ve had a helping hand over the holidays with some babysitting and looking to say thanks these thanks a million candles are reduced from £17.50 to £10 for the rest of this week (while stocks last).

I’m here until 4.30 today if you fancy popping in to pick one up.

13/08/2024

I feel as though I have been so busy waiting on summer I’ve actually missed it!

I am an autumn girl through and through, but even I’m not ready to embrace pumpkin spiced lattes with open arms just yet, despite seeing a lot of autumn vibes sneaking in around me!

Anyone else feeling a bit short changed this year? I mean I know it’s Scotland right, but I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve uttered the phrase “ it’s awfy clammy the day!”

08/08/2024

A wreath is still one of the most requested tributes for a funeral.

Symbolising the circle of life and the eternal bond of love, it’s a fitting tribute for when you have to say your final farewell to a loved one.

07/08/2024

25 white roses out for delivery today, were you the lucky recipient?

03/08/2024

An extra special visitor today!

Kep 🐾 has been sending flowers from Gin Blossoms since I opened, but this is the first day he’s ventured into the shop! Normally he makes his big sister Anne do all the hard work of ordering and paying!

Was lovely to see them both today!

01/08/2024

I’m trying to get better at remembering to take photographs, sometimes the shop just ends up like a wee whirlwind and the last thing on my mind is setting up the tripod and getting snap happy!

If you know me, having my photograph taken is probably akin to having my toenails removed, although I still think I’d choose toenails off over posing! I hate it that much.

But here I go, getting myself out my comfort zone and asking your opinion. Pictures of my work to include my face or better without?

Drop me a 😁 in the comments for with face or 🌸 for without.

31/07/2024

I was gifted this when I opened the shop and it hangs on the wall behind my work area. . I also wake up to that song as my alarm every day, and me and Mr Gin Blossoms even walked back up the aisle as a married couple to a string quartet playing their arrangement of this song.

BUT, can I just say this is awful advice! Do NOT listen to Travis and have your flowers in the window, especially on a day like this!

Do keep them in a cool, shaded area and make sure they’re topped up with plenty of fresh water .

30/07/2024

I have a full stand of flowers, and an almost full battery 🔋

Anyone else feel like they need a holiday after a holiday sometimes?

Anyway, I’m back and here from 9.30-4.30 today!

Angela 🌸

29/07/2024

Did you ‘ear?

Mum’s back from holiday and will be back in the shop from 9.30am tomorrow, 30th July.

Word of warning though, she is likely to talk the ears off you about how much she’s fallen in love with Skye. Be prepared for tales of highland cows, sheep in the garden and breathtaking scenery everywhere you look!

18/07/2024

Just throwing it out there, but if there’s any florists in Skye looking for staff, give me a shout! 😂

12/07/2024

Time to relax!

See you all Tuesday 30th July!

Angela 🌸

11/07/2024

Last week I received an email from the British Florist Association telling me I had been nominated for Retail Florist of the year category.

I have no idea how that’s happened and if I’m honest I initially thought it was a fake, but it’s been confirmed it’s a genuine nomination. I know, I’m as shocked as you are.

So, what do you think? Should I throw my hat in the ring and complete the application form?

Angela 🌸

09/07/2024

If you see me on Friday running as fast as Star is in this video, don’t panic, I’m just running home to pack my case for my holiday! Although don’t be too quick to rule out a zombie attack, just in case.

Can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to my trip to Skye, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

So this Friday, 12th July, will be your last day to get your Gin Blossoms flower fix until the shop re-opens again at 9.30am on Tuesday 30th July.

02/07/2024

Just a wee reminder the shop is closed this Saturday 6th July as access to and from the shop is limited.

The following week the shop will close at 4.30pm on Friday 12th July for the summer break and will re-open Tuesday 30th July at 9.30am.

Angela 🌸

25/06/2024

These have been flying out the door today before I even got a chance to post them.

Last minute teacher gift for anyone still looking for something, includes small arrangement and thanks a million candle. £15 available to collect from the shop, last two left.

Open until 4.30 today and open 9.30 to 4.30 tomorrow

22/06/2024

Happy Saturday folks! I was made aware of this via Facebook. Looks like there will be little or no access to and from the shop on Saturday 6th July, therefore I have made the decision to close the shop that day.

I apologise for any inconvenience caused by this. Deliveries and collections still available Friday 5th July.

https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/news/county-grand-lodge-central-scotland-boyne-celebrations-airdrie-saturday-6-july?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR26yb2_wWltyhH14cGl8irvpIZmabU3gppGFXo9XJa_mUrOL6FEoPy9v8o_aem_AnwJqbaez9aC7o7ZwSUP4A

Road closures and restrictions required for County Grand Lodge Central Scotland Boyne celebrations in Airdrie on Saturday 6 July 2024.

14/06/2024

Thistle be our year, surely!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️

The Euros kick off tonight, but to make sure your dad doesn’t kick off this weekend too you’d better not forget Father’s Day this Sunday 16th June.

C’mon Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

08/06/2024

It’s national florist day! Happy national florist day to me and all the other fab florists around!

Oh and it’s also Mr Gin Blossoms birthday today, so if he turns up at your door with a delivery today make sure you embarrass him by wishing him happy birthday 😂

Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed this weeks posts with a wee insight into my business, and once again, from the bottom of my heart thank you for your continued support.

Angela 🌸

07/06/2024

What’s my favourite flower?

I imagine this is what it must feel like if someone asks you what one of your children is your favourite!

If I had a gun to my head I’d have to say anthuriums. I was adamant that my wedding bouquet was going to include anthuriums and toffee roses!

In the shop on a day to day basis though I think it has to be a Miss Piggy rose, nothing to do with that being my nickname as a kid, but the coral colour just makes it so versatile it works with most colour palettes.

What’s your favourite flower? 🌸

06/06/2024

I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar….

Not really, but I was a croupier in a casino way back when. I was looking for a new job and came across an advert for a trainee florist for a shop in Glasgow. I wasn’t successful and was told that they’d be unable to match the salary I was currently getting and I would soon leave.

This was back in the days when YouTube wasn’t a thing, so the only way to learn floristry was to work in a shop or go to college. It was at that point I decided to put myself through college. So off I went to Langside College one day a week, while still working nightshift. There I learned the basics of floristry - colour wheel, wiring, conditioning of flowers, design elements and everything else in between.

I was very fortunate to get a job after I completed my course. Jen at Flowers Plus gave me my first opportunity to work in a flower shop and that’s when the real learning starts. There’s so much more to floristry than meets the eye, “playing with flowers” is undoubtedly the smallest and easiest part of the job. I was then given the opportunity to go back to college to upskill, alongside Jen’s daughter Heather. We would head off to Oatridge Agricultural College each Wednesday to make our creations!

Working with others you definitely learn a lot, we all develop our own style after a while, much like an artist or musician does, and you learn so much by watching how your colleagues work. That’s one of the things I do miss working by myself, which is why I’ve continued to learn by attending courses, 1-2-1 teaching and most recently attending the British Florist Association hub meeting in Glasgow.

The thing about floristry is that you never stop learning. Oh and if I could go back to Jen and say one thing, it would be how on earth did you make something as difficult and hard work as running a florist look so easy?

Does floristry pay well? Financially no, I did make more money shouting “place your bets please”, but that will never match the job satisfaction you get when you hand someone flowers and they say oh my god, they’re beautiful!

05/06/2024

This is a question I get asked often and I’m afraid I can’t take credit for it, full kudos goes to my dear husband!

Rewind 8 years ago when I took him to an Edinburgh Gin tour, I didn’t like gin but he did, so I thought it would be a good birthday surprise. I found the chat at the beginning about all the botanicals used in gin so interesting and realised how it all linked with my interest in floristry. Next step of the tour was tasting, Mr Gin Blossoms was so looking forward to double servings of gin, however it transpires that it wasn’t gin I disliked, it was actually tonic! That was when my love of gin was born!

I had always talked about one day opening my own flower shop, and a short while after discovering my love for juniper juice he floated the business name of Gin Blossoms, with some trepidation,in front of me to see what I thought. I loved it!!

Soon after, he registered the business for me, and when the time was right I set up as Gin Blossoms Flower Studio, and then later moved to the shop and became Gin Blossoms Flower Shop.

I had to add flower shop to the name to avoid confusion, although I do still get the odd disappointed customer from time to time who thinks I sell gin and not flowers! They’ll be even more disappointed when they go to Boots and see what they sell 😂

So that’s the story of how my business got its name!

04/06/2024

Someone once walked out my shop shouting at me “you’ll get your day!” They were absolutely right, because this Saturday, 8th June is the very first National Florist Day!

The whole point of National Florist Day is to shout about our industry. From flower growers, to wholesalers, to floral magicians and everyone in between that keeps us going. It’s to highlight the glam side of the job and the gross side, the highs and the lows and the whole host of emotions we experience being part of so many life’s occasions and milestones.

So stay tuned this week for some behind the scenes at Gin Blossoms!

31/05/2024

14/05/2024

As peony season is so fleeting, it would be rude not to have them as this week’s Tuesday Treat!

And there’s not one, but two varieties to choose from.

What’s your vibe?

🧡 Stunning Coral Sunset
💗 Pretty pink Sarah Bernhardt

£15 a bunch available to pick up in the shop while stocks last.

04/05/2024

Wasn’t having a particularly good day today, in fact it’s not been a particularly good week if truth be told, stress levels have been high!

However, near the end of today a customer came in with her granddaughter to pick up an order. This little ray of sunshine brought a huge smile to my face - such a kind, thoughtful and very smart young lady, she made a real impression.

I think she’s gonna go places so I asked for her autograph, this is going to make me rich one day, watch this space!

She was a nice reminder that sometimes we’ve just got to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the moment.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great bank holiday and I’ll see you all 9.30am on Tuesday.

Angela 🌸