Introducing Aster & Press: A Little Shop for Flowers, Books & Good Things

If you've been following Wild Aster Floral, you may have heard me mention something new I've been working toward: Aster & Press.

Aster & Press is a little bit of a dream come true, and also the next chapter of a pretty winding career.

I've spent more than 17 years working with flowers and floral design, but flowers aren't the only thing I've done. I've also spent years working as a kayak and raft instructor, guide, and manager. I've always loved work that is hands-on, creative, and a little outside the box. I like building things, making things, teaching people how to do things, and creating spaces where people feel comfortable trying something new.

Aster & Press is my attempt to bring all of those things together in one place.

So, what exactly is Aster & Press?

Aster & Press is a shop in Friendsville, Maryland that combines flowers, books, gifts, local goods, and creativity.

Wild Aster Floral will be a big part of the shop, with flowers for weddings, events, sympathy, celebrations, and everyday moments. But I didn't want to stop there.

You'll also find a thoughtfully chosen selection of books, gifts, and goods from local and independent makers. Some things will be useful, some beautiful, some a little quirky, and hopefully a lot of things you'll want to take home.

I'm also hoping Aster & Press becomes more than a place to shop.

A creative space, too

One of the ideas I'm most excited about is creating a space where people can actually make things.

There will be a workbench and tools that people can use for creative projects, along with things like a sticker printer and other equipment that makes it easier to turn an idea into something tangible.

Maybe you need a place to work on a project.

Maybe you want to make stickers for your small business.

Maybe you have an idea you've been wanting to try but don't have the tools or space at home.

Maybe you just want to spend an afternoon making something.

That's the kind of thing I want Aster & Press to make room for.

I'm also planning to offer creative workshops and classes, giving people a chance to learn something new, make something with their hands, and hopefully meet a few other creative people along the way.

Getting the building ready

Getting to this point hasn't exactly been a quick or easy process.

The building itself has needed quite a bit of love before we could turn it into the shop I've been picturing. There have been floors to deal with, repairs to make, inspections, painting, cleaning, and plenty of little projects that somehow seem to multiply every time we finish one.

There have definitely been moments when opening a storefront felt a little overwhelming.

But slowly, it's starting to become ours.

We're turning an old building into a space that feels warm, welcoming, and a little unexpected. I'm picturing deep colors, old-library character, bookshelves, flowers, artwork, and plenty of places to discover something interesting.

It's been a lot of work, but watching the space slowly transform has been one of my favorite parts of the process.

Why Friendsville?

Friendsville has become home, and I wanted to create something here that feels connected to the community.

There are so many talented artists, makers, small businesses, and creative people in this area. I want Aster & Press to be a place where those people can be discovered and supported.

I also want it to be a place where you don't have to have a reason to stop in.

You can come in for flowers.

You can come looking for a book.

You can find a gift.

You can meet a friend.

You can work on a project.

Or you can simply wander around and see what catches your eye.

And this is just the beginning

Aster & Press is still taking shape, and I'm sure it will continue to evolve once the doors are open.

That's actually one of the things I love about it.

I don't want it to be a perfectly finished concept that never changes. I want it to grow with the people who visit it, the makers we work with, the workshops we offer, and the ideas that come along.

At its heart, Aster & Press is about making and finding good things.

Flowers. Books. Art. Gifts. Ideas. Community.

I'm so excited to finally start sharing the space with you, and I can't wait to see what Aster & Press becomes.