Francis Smith

22/07/2024

I’m not ready for this week…

The end of my best era so far - a lot of it due to this place, the people, and the woman I found within it. 🧡

These photos were all pre-23.03.20 and hardly recognisable I think - when all I had was a plan to “get past Mother’s Day and then we’ll figure out the flower shop set up in April!” 😂😅🫣… it didn’t happen that way!

The day I met Raluca & saw the basement space , one day in late February 2020, I also went to visit my grandparents, took them some flowers and told them all about this workshop space I’d found, still in W12, the lower ground floor of an artisanal sourdough baker (trying to make it sound grandparent fancy!)

After dinner I was sat next to their book shelves, something I had done 1000s of time before but on this day the Japanese Flower Arranging book caught my eye, I’m pretty sure I’d looked at that book before, however on this day, on the first page I saw the quote by Mohammed which is photo No.1 - that was all I needed, I knew I was in the right place, at the right time & was excited for what we could do together 🫂 🥖 💐

No.2 - moving in day : I don’t remember this day, but I love how clear & clean everything looked 😅

No.3 - my first bouquets I made DOWNSTAIRS

No.4 - the first big delivery of flowers & stunning British Blossom to the shop

No. 5 - the first of many madeleines, the ones the & I miss so much!

No. 6 - the bench - many a bouquet & bottoms have sat on this bench and pretty much whatever the weather it’s outside the shop to let people know there’s bread to buy, conversations to have and from March 2020 flowers as well!

No. 7 - Lilac, soon I was to learn this is Raluca’s favourite flower

No. 8 - Flowers coming up from Downstairs

No. 9 - Bread & Flowers (when the plinths were still plinth-ing!)

No. 10 - Celebrating Mothers, on the eve of 🔒⬇️ our first Mother’s Day offering to make sure toast & tulips were on the breakfast tray for the mummys of West London!

This Saturday will also be the last shop day for Francis Smith Flowers 💐 I will explain further in the next few posts…

22/05/2024

Exciting News!

Philippa designed a Chelsea in Bloom window display… in 8 days!

For Really Wild Clothing, who has recently had Nadja Swarovski-Adams take the helm of the shop & it’s creative vision. Seemingly the forces of the universe aligned and a few of the “well-connected of London” suggested Philippa & Francis Smith Flowers to Nadja, when she needed a last-minute floral designer to bring some bloomin’ magic to her window for this years Chelsea Flower Show.

Where can you go to see the installation?
Really Wild Clothing Company : 53 Sloane Square

Until…
Sunday 26th May

Inspiration or Theme?
The overall theme for Chelsea in Bloom this year is “Floral Feasts” to celebrate the connection that both flowers and food have with the Chelsea Flower Show.
We were inspired by Claude Monet’s “Luncheon on the Grass”, specifically the group of very well dressed people basking on a picnic blanket on the grass, in a glade surrounded by birch trees.

Our two impeccably dressed ladies seem to be having a delicious picnic surrounded by our Really Wild meadow.

There is an RHS judging panel that award prizes to the Installations taking part in Chelsea in Bloom - in fact Philippa met them on Tuesday morning (!) BUT more importantly there is a public vote, which closes on Thursday which YOU can all partake in, even if you haven’t been to see the window IRL.

VOTE NOW : https://www.chelseainbloom.co.uk/participants-voting/

And if you do have a spare hour or two, taking a wander around the streets of Chelsea (and also Belgravia) is a great FREE, and kid friendly way to see the talents and creative geniuses of the London Florist Scene on display.

There’s a map & a suggested route on the website, but also an information hut in the centre of Sloane Square where the organisers can help with anything you may need, including a cycle carriage if you have already done several laps of RHS Chelsea!

Thank you

Love & Flowers

Philippa

P H O T O C R E D I T : Chloe, W6 Photography
https://www.w6photography.co.uk/

Bon appetit! 11 CADOGAN GARDENS BEST FLORAL DISPLAY BIRLEY BAKERY HIGHLY COMMENDED NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM INNOVATION AWARD BEEBOON PEOPLE'S CHAMPION

06/07/2023

Open from 10am today, tomorrow & Saturday.
With for all your Bread, Book & Bloom needs 🥰😂😘

Come see us!

09/05/2023

Because sometimes you just need to be still!

A photo of one of last weeks subscription beauties… because I didn’t have the time to film myself lovingly conditioning & then selecting the blooms for this bouquet. Those things did happen but I don’t have a film crew following me around capturing candid moments or B-Roll… I don’t have anyone capturing A-Roll either!

Because I AM A FLORIST, not a content creator, not a videographer, not a copywriter or a producer.

I do consider myself an artistic designer,
My medium is flowers…
I work with real, perishable & delicate materials.
I also work with faux, long lasting & reusable flowers.

I work in 3D
I am an architect (of sorts)
And an engineer (of cable-ties & chicken wire)

I can create in a limited timeframe

I can make things appear to float in mid air or look like they’ve grown out of the ground

I can create backdrops & photographable moments

I build floral desires into floral reality to frame memories of spectacular days.

I also make bouquets, and bunches and jam jar posies…

I can work to any budget but I work the best when I don’t feel limited - when I fill a vase with the most gorgeous selection of stems, or when a bride or groom trusts the fact I am a professional I have more than half a decade of experience in this artistic industry and I know how to make the most of the spaces I find myself in. I love a challenge and I love creating teams of talented artistic people around me to bring my floral visions to life!

This photo could just be a bouquet, but it is also an insane colour palette, it is gorgeous texture & movement, it is scent, it is shape, it is seasonal.

And that is why you trust a professional, that is why you find someone who has experience, that is why you allow creative people to let their designs flow naturally.

Naturally Wild, Abundant, Seasonal Floral Design.

Francis Smith Flowers 💐

13/04/2023

Toot toot…

Yep tooting my own horn here, but as we are speedily approaching FSF’s 5th Birthday 😱 I figured I should really start showing off the kind of feedback & reviews I get…

Mostly I go with the no-news-is-good-news mantra when it comes to finding out if my customers actually like what I create, but yesterday I received a message from a lady who I’d delivered to earlier on that afternoon and it made me cry with pride.

It’s really nice to hear back from people that the flowers I created for them, are the “most beautiful bouquet they ever seen”, each time, it gives me a little boost to actually continue on doing what I do because…

I’m not sure if it’s a me thing or a self employed thing, or an solo business person thing; but some days you think the whole world is telling you to give up and go back to working for someone else (only using your brain/skills 9-5 M-F, being paid every month and it’s someone else responsibility to make sure there is enough money to pay you, and to actually get time off… ) but then all it takes is one person sending you one little message of thanks and appreciation to make you feel you can take on the whole world again and absolutely boss it!

So I would urge you, if there is a creative business you buy from, a solo-entrepreneur you admire or a small business who’s products you love - TELL THEM!

It’ll take you 2 minutes, but it may give them the momentum they need for the next 6months!

06/03/2023

💟 International Women’s Day 💟

Askew Road Collaboration between Honor from Burnt & myself.

There are still a few seats at our “crowned dinner” available.

Come and learn how to make a beautiful flower crown using real flowers, a technique you can use again and again for parties, festivals, concerts - every woman needs her crown!

And then between Honor & her female head chef Tove they have created a truly delicious menu for us to enjoy which will definitively be the tastiest way to celebrate all things

Book your seat via DM either me, or Honor directly

06/03/2023

Celebrate International Women's Day with us! - https://mailchi.mp/f05daa54607a/iwd2023burntxstemsandvinesfsf

08/02/2023

Sainsbury’s don’t sell these…

But I do! And they are up on the Valentine’s Page of the website - check it out by clicking on the link in my bio ⬆️⬆️⬆️

It would be great if you are thinking of getting Valentine’s flowers from me to pre-order them. As pre-orders will take priority over walk-ins and any orders placed in the shop this weekend.

In order of the photos there is:

1) Anything for you
2) Butter me up
Both of which are available as £50/£85/£120/£155 sized bouquets (the higher the price the more of each flower in the bouquet)

3) Rose-y Posy
From £35/£50/£95/£135, price relates to number of stems and again the quantity of each different type of rose. (£35 is 6 stems, £135 is 24 stems)

4) Tulip Kisses
Mixed Colours or all one colour, in different sized bunches / bouquets depending on the number of stems (10/30/50)

5) Mimosa (called Mellow Yellow, but actually bright & beautiful)
Bunches at £17.50, £35 or £70 - will be reflective of what it cost from the market - but as we are now full on the swing of Mimosa season, it isn’t as eye watering as it was a few weeks ago!

6) If you’d prefer to give your Valentine an Experience - I am selling tickets to the first every events which is “an intimate italian evening” at Detour Cafe which combines a wine testing and instruction on how to arrange a vase full of anemones & ranunculus which you can then take home & enjoy yourself (this event is on 18/2, from 5-6.30pm - includes wine tasting, flowers, vase, all tools & equipment & instruction)

7) Or if you just want to trust me - you can choose “Florists Choice” and let me create a bouquet to make your Valentine fall in love with you all over again!

04/02/2023

Morning!

I have an event to set up this morning so I won’t be back at the shop til 10.30am 🤞🏻

But there are some “Grab to Go” bunches available to buy from Raluca & Suki at the Bakery Counter until I get back!

Thank you for your understanding 😘

15/12/2022

I am very sorry for any inconvenience but the Francis Smith Flowers Shop will be closed tomorrow.

I have previously said that it would be open but unfortunately I need to be somewhere out of London to say goodbye to a good friends father & be there for my friend.

I hope you can all understand and after the last 4 weeks I feel like I can afford myself to take the day.

I will be there on Friday & Saturday, subscription bouquets will be delivered on Friday and you will be able to order all your festive florals for next week too.

25/11/2022

How are we here again?

Is it just me who is quite confused about how we are in the last few days on NOVEMBER already?!

These are real wreaths no. 3 & 4 headed out the door with the deliveries this afternoon, one advent wreath & one Natural Beauty, (I actually missed to chance to photograph no.1 yesterday before Phil from collected it from me!) and so on my stories is the second real wreath of the year!

This is my 5th Christmas of creating Francis Smith Flowers Christmas Wreaths (which blows my mind 🤯 BUT I can honestly say I love every single one! There have definitely been some favourites however they do all seem to merge into one long continuous design.

Thank you if you have already ordered one, and if you are yet to do so, this is just a little reminder 😄

09/11/2022

More Wreathing Workshops Released!

Zara & I have worked together on some pretty epic events over the past 3 years and we have talked about hosting our own for AGES! So we decided what better time than at Christmas…

The same gorgeous Wreath Making experience, but enhanced with Canapés & Cocktails courtesy of ZK to greet you on arrival!

On Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th December at Zara’s Kitchen, itself, in Ladbroke Grove from 6.30pm - 9pm!

Book your place now, LINK IN BIO ⬆️⬆️⬆️

22/10/2022

Bread, BOOKS & Blooms!

Carrying on the theme of Raluca’s Book Shelves upstairs I have sourced some of my favourite flower-themed books ready for you to pick up & enjoy, learn from, gift, or just have on your coffee table!

We are open today from 10am ‘til 2ish (maybe before if we sell out) and then next week the shop is closed but I will be delivering on Tuesday & Thursday, so just send me a message if you are after any florals for your Halloween weekend.

Hopefully see you later,

P xx

28/09/2022

This is my sick note!

The shop won’t be open tomorrow - sorry for any inconvenience - but I’ve been feeling pretty ill all week and although I’ve been resting in attempt to be back & well enough to open tomorrow - I think if I want to be open on Friday and Saturday - the sensible decision would be to stay off tomorrow.

One-woman-band issues!

Thanks for your understanding 🤧🤕😷🤒😘

04/08/2022

Local Customers FYI…

These are the shop opening times for the rest of the summer:

This week, 10-2pm tomorrow & Saturday

Next week, we (both and I) will be closed on the Thursday but we will be open for our last weekend of the summer from 10-2pm on the 12th & 13th August.

Then the bakery & bookshop AND The Flower Shop will be closed until the 8th September.

HOWEVER, as I will still be completing my contract flowers & also my subscription bouquets I can still accept online (and telephone orders) throughout August & September with collection or local delivery being on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, rather than the normal times over the weekend.

Hope that’s clear 🤪😵‍💫🧐
In essence you can still get flowers from me for the rest of the summer just at slightly different times from normal.

There will be a time when I am away and I won’t be responding to DMs/Emails etc. But the OOO will be on and I will make it clear on here too.

Hope you are all enjoying your holidays and finding time to relax & unwind. ✈️🏖🏄‍♀️

14/07/2022

Well seems like the holidays have begun!

Letting the flowers cheer me today 💐… and the fact that I’ve just realised this bouquet is the emoji bouquet 😱🥰!

Saying goodbye to the peonies is hard… I struggle every year 🥺🥺🥺

However I have had some exciting news for the next wonder flower : Dahlias!

We will definitely be selling stems as of August… throughout their growing season and I CANNOT wait!

Also I have heard from the other British flower farmers that this heatwave has sped up some growing so there are lots of British Grown options heading our way next week!

For this week, I will be at the shop tomorrow & Saturday but the flowers will probably remain downstairs out of the sun, so please come and see us! And whilst you’re here you can also grab some sourdough, sweet treats & a good book from

07/07/2022

Make sure you make the most of my BIRTHDAY WEEK discount.

Thank you to everyone who’s ordered so far…

Available for all orders placed on the website (LINK IN BIO 👆🏻) which can be collected from the shop this weekend or next weekend.

Automatically added to all orders placed on the website ⬆️⬆️⬆️ and will apply to all orders up until Sunday 10th July.

This means if you ordered today, you can have fresh flowers tomorrow, or Saturday, or next Thursday, Friday & Saturday… or all of those days!