Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Hopkins.
Hi Adrian, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I became a floral designer by accident, or divine intervention.
Born in Tulsa, Ok, growing up near Boston, MA, and finishing high school north of San Francisco, CA, I’ve been traveling and exploring the natural world my whole life. Studying at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, I had years of part time living with friends in New York City & romping around the east coast of my childhood. Finishing my BA in German Studies at Universität Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, I was able to visit almost all of Europe with friends I’d made from each country. I lived in Gothenburg, Sweden after school for three months, and fell in love there with my Scandinavian heritage. Eventually I returned to the SF Bay Area to pursue my love of acting, as a player with my long time friends at Sleepwalker Theatre Company. Unbeknownst to me, the ‘fun little side job’ at The Bud Stop, an outdoor French style bucket shop on the corner of Union & Fillmore, was the start to my floristry career. Big changes happened that year, and my passion for the arts shifted from the stage, to working with my hands and with flowers, along with sport. I’d had an unfulfilled childhood dream of becoming an Olympic gymnast, and when I discovered mountain biking in Marin County, after using bicycles as my primary mode of transportation my whole life, it was the perfect fit. “I can always do flowers” I thought, “but I can’t always race bikes”, so I decided to focus my energy into my sport first. Along the way I freelanced for other floral shops up the west coast, as I moved to bigger mountain country, finally landing in WA State. A ten year professional mountain bike racing career allowed me to experience many outdoor spaces most people haven’t been, from Southern California all the way up to British Columbia, and further inland including Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as Costa Rica and Chilean back country. Once I felt it was time to be of greater service to others, and to build a family and a little nest, I decided to retire from my sport and settle down. I moved from Snoqualmie to Cle Elum, WA in 2017 and opened my own home floral design studio, specializing in weddings and events in the greater Seattle area and beyond. I began my business as the preferred vendor for Suncadia, one of the state’s most popular destination wedding venues and vacation resorts. I am a unique Seattle wedding florist in that I reside an hour and a half east, over Snoqualmie Pass, but am well connected to westside venues, vendors, flower farms, and my Seattle wholesalers, where I travel to and hand select product for each event week. I incorporate hand foraged foliage and flowers from our property into my designs for a natural, organic style of floristry. I love traveling throughout the state flowering events, and beyond. Central WA is not only a perfect location to travel to and from, but it feels like a combination of all the places I grew up, and most importantly provides the sunshine and open spaces I crave. I love the misty foggy deep woods of the PNW, but also the golden rolling hills surrounding our home. Washington State affords the widest diversity of microclimates, and I love them all.
Eloping in Ellensburg with my husband Curtis in 2023, we’ve bought our dream property in Thorp, where I’ve been cultivating my interests in gardening and homesteading. There is an abundance of wildlife to observe, and I’ve planted many additional native plants and flowers to attract more pollinators. We’ve been amending our dry, hard, sandy soil, and slowly growing our own organic vegetable, fruit and flower gardens to pick from. Taneum Creek runs through our 5 acres and waters the 40’ x 100’ foot garden, 12 different varietal fruit trees, blackberry and raspberry patches & grapevine. Two wells supply water to the rest of the home & surrounding garden beds and trees. Curtis and my father in law have built me a dream floral studio inside the old barn on the property, with huge windows overlooking the Taneum and Joe Watt Canyon & Elk Preserve in the distance. (Curtis will often be seen assisting in setup and breakdown of local events…. he’s the cute tall guy following me around, carrying my flowers…)
A traveling bird and ‘part gypsy’ by nature, Rose & Sparrow was born of a desire to combine my unique perspective and creativity, to bring joy to every occasion. A self taught floral designer, learning by observation of other florists, artists and of Mother Nature herself, I feel most aligned in this way of life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve always made my own way and done what I’ve wanted to do. I have been financially independent since I left my parents at age 16, so I’ve learned how to be very resourceful. I’ve looked outward to community to help inspire me, and have been fortunate to live in some amazing places and meet the most incredible people. I put all my focus into one thing at a time, which is why I believe I’ve been successful at each endeavor I’ve undertaken. I have had to pivot many times in life and find that being flexible, accepting, and trusting that things will unfold as they need to, is the best attitude to maintain. Every closed door opens another. It sometimes feels like I’ve lived many lives, but really I’m just continuing to grow and explore, outwardly as well as inwardly. I think this is the basis of creativity. Sometimes I feel like I don’t belong anywhere; that I’m too different, or too old or too weird, or not good enough…and I work to change that thinking to “I belong everywhere”, acknowledging that I am a dynamic person with many layers and talents, and what is different about me IS beautiful, and valuable.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Rose and Sparrow Floral Design?
Rose & Sparrow is a Wedding and Event Floral Studio based in Thorp, WA. We specialize in botanically inspired floral design, serving statewide and beyond. Nestled on 5 acres along creekside property with lush organic gardens, R&S blends locally grown flowers, foliage & textures for all seasons & celebrations. We offer full custom wedding and event florals including delivery, set up, repurposing and breakdown. Smaller floral packages for intimate PNW gatherings, elopement flowers for the adventurous, and local deliveries are available by appointment.
We choose flora based on seasonal availability, incorporate hand foraged foliage, meadow grasses and home grown flowers whenever appropriate, & travel to our Seattle wholesalers to hand select product per event. We create designs unique to each client, venue & color palette, so no two events are ever alike. We design arrangements and installations that “look like they grew there”, with native flora that complement each locale. We create living works of art; an immersive experience, to uplift, inspire and enhance the beauty of every occasion. We aim to be as respectful to our earth as we can, employing sustainable design techniques & mechanics, recycling and reusing product, drying flowers and composting any waste. We design for ALL kinds of love!
How do you think about happiness?
Sunshine. Meadows. Creekside walking trails. Rolling hills in the distance. My three pups. My husband’s hug and his smile. Morning coffee. Birds. Nature’s beauty. Our cozy fireplace. My home studio my father in law and husband built me inside the old barn on our property. Exploring outdoors. Feeling strong in my body. Being available and accountable when people need me. Helping others. Getting out of the way and allowing the Universe to work through me. Gratitude lists. ; )
Writing down lists of what make me happy is such a great way to focus on the positives, which in turn, brings more of that goodness into my life!
Pricing:
- Event delivery minimum $3500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.roseandsparrowfloral.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseandsparrowfloral
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roseandsparrowfloral/
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/aIa3oB5Y1Q5FCxknrqksCg
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/adrianhaydenhopkins/
