studio rien: our 1 year anniversary!, the next ✨Flower Party✨, and all the culture
seeing art and eating ice cream this week
Hello my chickadees,
Last week was the one year anniversary of Studio Rien. A year ago, I took myself down to city hall and through a pile of paperwork, made it official — sales tax, biz cards, wholesalers and all.
It’s been a crawl at times, a slog at others, but always energizing. As I poked my head up today, I realized that this week I’ve sent out birthday and proposal and feel better flowers, I’ve worked on a trunk show and a biz lunch, am in the midst of planning a pop up and a rehearsal dinner and a brand collab (stay tuned!), and am looking ahead to the next ✨Flower Party✨ (see below!) and a wedding. So many things! Hungry for so much more, but so deeply grateful to have made it this far.
Studio Rien is a play on my name, but I also loved that rien means nothing in French. Something from nothing I thought, true of growing flowers, and of this project. But as with anything in life, it’s never actually from nothing and never alone. I will save you all from my thank-you-to-the-academy speech, but know that I am deeply grateful to each of you who has sent flowers, attended a ✨Party✨, hired me for your event, brought me in for a collab… or reads this little note each week. Having an excuse to share something beautiful with loved ones—and to turn so many strangers into neighbors and friends—has been nothing short of magical.
With all my heart, thank you.
✨Flower Party✨ coming up
In the blur of everything else, I keep forgetting to tell you: we have a ✨Flower Party✨ happening on Saturday, May 20! What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day, or just the glory that is spring? Come learn how to make your own arrangement, play with the season’s best flowers, eat snackies, drink the drinks, and take home your very own vase and new friends! Tickets here and as always, first come first served, now’s the time!
and host your own!
Reminder that if you’re planning a bridal shower, need to use up that Q2 team bonding budget, or are trying to figure out how to shake up that supper club or book group, ✨Flower Parties✨ are the answer! I bring the flowers and guidance, you provide the space and friends. Email me to chat about hosting one! (ps, I’ll be in the Bay Area for a quick trip in June and have one day that’s available… if you’re on the west coast and have been hoping to host one, now’s your chance!)
but also let’s collab!
I’m starting to work more and more with my favorite local businesses. Know of a restaurant, shop, or little company that could use regular flower arrangements, or that would be into hosting a pop up or brand collab? Let me know!
around the studio
how lucky am I: One of my sister-in-laws is the creator and artist behind Ashkenazi Seance, an incredible one-woman show that, lucky for us, she is performing again next week. It is insightful, it is funny, it involves ghosts, I never cry in public, but I cried! Come join! // and the other: Is the brilliant curator behind Printing Protest, an exhibit currently on view at the Cantor Arts Center, exploring the intersection of printmaking and political protest. Counting days til our June trip to finally see it! // …and her friend: Is the poet Alicia Mountain whose new book Four In Hand was just released! There’s nothing worse than a non-poet trying to describe poetry, so I’ll simply say: it’s beautiful. (And note the cover art by none other than other incredible artist friend, Emma Quaytman!) // shine bright but not too bright: With sunnier days finally here, be extra careful where you place flowers in your home. Bright sunlight and heat can quickly wilt even the hardiest stems. // can you believe I didn’t mention food til now? Off the page but never out of my mind: ice cream. It’s Nico’s birthday next week and in the festivities run up, I am using it as an excuse—I mean, responsibly procuring— our favorite Bad Habit flavors: roasted banana with coffee caramel, the incredibly pure and summery corn… and hopefully their new pineapple shiso sorbet. // while on the birthday train: A million years ago, we threw a Momofuku-style pork party. We tore into the massive centerpiece, wrapping it with lettuce and rice, drank even more massive beers, and ate so many salty pungent little snacks. It was raucous and casual and so, so delicious. This year, we’re hoping to revive the tradition and you should too. NYT recipe for bo ssam here (takes time but not hard!)
xo and thank you for being here! freyan
ps did someone else forward you this little note?