The transformation

the joy of floristry......

and healing begins with a name change, I didn't think I would want and I know you all voted against it. Sometimes my lovelies its time to grow and move forward from a period that gave me a lot of heartache. Leave it all behind.

I think it was just a few hours ago that I released some of the trauma from the last few years. I had a cry of sheer relief and it felt so good. I am not misrerable here, I am happy, even on a dull rainy summers day. I sleep well and my mind is calmer. Of course The Very Unfrench Wife will always be a huge part of me and I will take my sweet time committing the full story to screen, but I feel now its very much time to embrace the next chapter whole heartedly and not live in the past.

Donna - French and Bloom (I'm waiting for Meta to agree the name change on FB) marks a new beginning but also my love of florals, which one way or another has always been a part of me. I remember when I started hand pouring bespoke candles during lock down in France, they were really rather more florally designed than anyone expected and very quickly much coveted for boudoirs around the world. Some of my fans bought and never burnt them! They'd just open the lids occasionally and let that blooming marvellous intense fragrance permeate the room. I will be looking into to offering these alongside my blooms. Of course in true French style the laws for crafting candles were changed and pretty harsh, all whilst letting the cheap dirty imports flood in. The price of materials sky rocketed and I put the candle alchemy on hold for way longer than I intended.

I am of course a while away from starting my new business which should be up and running by the end of September, I will tell you more about it as I go, of course. Everything hangs on getting settled in a new home first. I've also got a sustainable floristry design course at the beginning of September to look forward to!

I will still keep this website in the same vain and add my wares as they become available. I will also still be blogging 'warts n all', I doubt I will ever stop.

This newest chapter of my life will not include France much, but it will include some of the gorgeous florals in France and especially my love of hydrangeas, lavender and roses.

So the beat goes on and with a much more content Donna. I cannot forgive those that wronged me, I will never forget the local harrassment, but I think we are done with that fractured adventure in France and for me it was hardly a love story. Soemtimes life offers us lessons we don't want or need and we can hardly fathom the reason why, but I am back where I want to be now, finally at peace.

Here's to a new beginning!

Love and gumption

D x