If you follow me on Instagram you can’t help but have seen the showstopping Christmas wreath from Berries & Baubles that was featured at this year’s Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia. Intricately designed with pheasant feathers it naturally made people stop in their tracks. As well as wreaths of many sizes Berries & Baubles also specialises in table arrangements, garlands and window boxes.

Even though it is undoubtedly the busiest time of year for Berries & Baubles the mumtrepreneur, Carola, who’s behind this festive brand found a moment to chat to us. I love hosting these interviews with creative and ambitious women who are pursuing their dreams.

If you want to be the envy of your street then make sure to also enter the giveaway below to win one of these amazing Christmas wreaths perfect for decorating your door this holiday season. Berries & Baubles is London based, but deliver their wreaths and door bundles throughout the country.

** Please note this giveaway is only open for a week and will be drawn on the 8th of December, so that the winner can enjoy their prize in the lead up to Christmas ** 

Scandimummy: “Hi Carola. It was lovely to meet you at The Spirit Of Christmas Fair this year and see the beautiful creations you do. Welcome to the blog and thank you for the gorgeous giveaway. Please tell me and the readers a bit about yourself. How did you start your business?

Carola: “Thank you. I have been a florist for 20 years and have a Bachelor in Fine Art. My apprenticeship was in Germany where I was working alone in the basement, ironically making wreaths for funerals. Back then I naturally found it very isolating.

Now I have a team of florists helping me. I’ve know most of them for a long time and despite the fact that we work really hard, we are having a wonderful time and love being in each other’s company at this time of year.

I’ve worked in several established florists in and around London and saw the potential for this particular line of products. It was very hard to find good quality wreaths and the Brits seem to love German craftsmanship, so that was my reasons for starting Berries & Baubles.

I launched Berries & Baubles four years ago at the Spirit of Christmas Fair and we now have a lot of repeat customers that order our products every Christmas. That support is lovely.”

Scandimummy: “I can see why people come back to you. Where do you find the inspiration for your creations?”

Carola: “I have a great love for foliage and natural materials and I’m always looking for new materials that inspire me. I love interior design and art, but I also just love the thought that the wreaths will be hanging on peoples doors all over the country and it makes them happy, so it makes me happy.”

Scandimummy: “Whoever wins this wreath will be very lucky indeed.  How do you produce the wreath?”

Carola: “Producing a wreath has different stages…

1.Preparation including wiring cones, cutting pine, tying a bow

2.Binding the wreath with blue pine or a mixture of foliage depending on what design it is

3.Decorating the wreath with cones, baubles, orange slices etc.

Scandimummy: “Your business is naturally very seasonal orientated, what do you focus on for the rest of the year?”

Carola: “This year I’ve mainly been at home with my daughter Tamsin, who’s 14 months. She was only 5 weeks old when I went to Spirit of Christmas last year and was with me in the workshop for the whole Christmas season. Apart from that I’m a freelance florist and work for several other florists during the year. But I’m looking to expand this business further in the coming year.”

Scandimummy: “That sounds exciting. So where do you hope to see your business in five years’ time?”

Carola: “I hope in 5 years we will continue to make wreaths for the loyal customers that we already have. I also want to grow the business to a point where I have more time to design rather than simply being busy in the office or the workshop.

I love working with my hands and actually creating the wreaths, but for the moment I’m caught up in all aspects of this business and it’s a very, very busy time for me.”

Scandimummy: “I can only imagine. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me and I wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for your business going forward.”

WIN A CHRISTMAS WREATH

Carola and Berries & Baubles have generously donated one of their stunning Black Grevillia and Pussiwillow Wreath for our giveaway. If you’d like this to decorate your door this Christmas simply follow the instructions given in the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck or in German this time Viel Glück!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

• The closing date is 00:00 am UK time on Thursday the 8th of December 2016
• The prize is one medium sized Black Grevillia and Pussiwillow Wreath from Berries & Baules. No cash alternative
• The competition is open to UK only
• Entrants must log in and follow the directions given via the Rafflecopter widget
• All entries will be verified
• The winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter
• The winner will be notified within 1 day of the closing date. The winner must respond within 3 days of receiving the email  due to the seasonal nature of the prize.
• The prize will be dispatched directly from the brand
• The competition is not affiliated with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Youtube