For volume 3 we are back in the San Francisco Bay area to chat with Elyse Malcolm of Sea Green Designs HMB in Half Moon Bay, California. Elyse officially started working with plants 5 years ago when she began designing and planting things for her parents patio and deck. Realizing that plants made amazing gifts, she would put things together for neighbors and friends for special occasions.
Elyse recalls her passion for nature and plants starting at an early age as she recounts a childhood memory:
I’ve always loved nature and have had a fascination with how things grow. When I was a child I was always picking flowers and “planting” them. The fascination only grew as I got older. A few years ago I applied for a product development with a large agricultural company. I spent the next year learning more about how certain flowers and plants grow and how to care for them. It was during my time with said company that I realized that floral/Plant design was something I was passionate about and came easily to me.
When asked how she keeps coming up with unique ideas Elyse says:
When it comes to designing things like floral arrangements you have to surround yourself with your medium on a regular basis. The floral industry is a tough one and like other creative industries there is a lot of repetitive design. I try to keep my creations “fresh” by constantly bringing my random ideas to life. If I think it, I try to plant it as soon as possible.
Elyse’s inspiration for Sea Green Designs HMB come from her hometown of Half Moon Bay, CA.
It is such a beautiful and lush area where you can truly enjoy and appreciate nature. One of the things that inspired me most was an old sailboat. This sail boat was moored up in the harbor for many many years. It seemed to have been forgotten or abandoned. I would always walk down to the harbor to see it. Over the years seedlings and small bushes started to grow inside of the boat. It was such a magical site seeing these land based plants growing out from between the planks of a rotting vessel. That boat was like a giant planter and it inspired me to think outside of the box when it came to the objects/planters I choose to design with.
Considering the recent picture she took near her home and posted on Instagram, I can see why home is so inspiring.
When asked about other passions she would like to pursue someday Elyse says:
I know it’s the furthest thing from flowers but I would like to open a restaurant someday. One that I could incorporate my designs and plants into. I have some great ideas, but they’re going to stay a secret just in case I decide to take the plunge into the restaurant biz someday!
What Elyse loves about the business the most is creating something that makes people happy and brings them joy. Elyse goes on to add:
Flowers can be expensive and there’s a ton of poor quality product out there. I enjoy the fact that I can create things for people and sell them a reasonable price so anyone can afford to treat themselves or a loved one. The most challenging part about running this business is the constant Plant sourcing. Working with live product is always a challenge and availability can change due to weather, crop failures, infestation, and other random occurrences. That is one of the reasons it is so important to constantly use different/new plants and flowers that I might not always work with. There must always be another option! When you create things people tend to want you to recreate something you have in the past and sometimes that’s not always possible, BUT I make it a point to be able to offer them something even better.
When asked what advice she would give to people interested in turning their passion into a business she offers this insight:
Always love it. Running any business is hard and most people start one because they are passionate about their trade. It’s important not to lose sight of that passion when things get tough or you end up overworked. If at any point this became a chore to me I would stop, because this is something that has enhanced my life for so many years. I’m not willing to give up that gift for any amount of money.
Speaking from a personal standpoint, I have purchased a few of Sea Green Design HMB’s products, and I can attest that they are not only high-quality, but offered at a reasonable price.
You can follow Sea Green Designs HMB on Instagram.
Chestnut Cowboy 