Petalena is darling design studio of Apryl Sahadi and Julie Crites, two emerging young Boston floral designers.
Lovers of all flowers (even Stinking Benjamins, yes!) and the beauty that the natural world gives us, we seek to bring that beauty to every design project we do. Our inspirations are varied and eclectic from Dutch paintings, Hitchcock movies, textiles, and the way rain pools and collects on the silvery green leaves of Lady’s Mantle (a favorite foliage plant of ours).
Our blog is the place to find out about us, our current design work and projects, and inspirations in less formal way than our official Petalena website.
Photo by Channing Johnson.
Apryl has the greenest thumb of anyone you will ever meet. And, it’s not just because she has had years in the flower business! Creative and supremely talented in so many ways, not only is she an artist when it comes to flowers, but she’s a dancer and a make-up artist too! When she’s not doing Petalena, she is busy restoring her lovely old house north of Boston.
Photo by Channing Johnson
Julie started out years ago as a visual artist doing wacky mixed media paintings. Falling out of the habit of painting after college, she was very lucky to discover a love for orchids (which bordered on an obsession for a while!) and then all flowers too. When she’s not doing Petalena or blogging about it, Julie hones her cooking skills, travels, reads too many books at the same time, and makes jewelry.
Keep in touch!
~ Julie & Apryl
Dropping off flowers to one of our brides. Photo by studio atticus.
June 5, 2008 at 3:38 am
Julie,
Thank you for your note. It was such a pleasure meeting you. Hope you come back out this way soon.
I looked up your website and love the arrangements—unique; really lovely. Keep up the good work you two.
Jane
August 12, 2008 at 11:49 am
What a lovely site! You both do such beautiful work…I look forward to keeping up with the new news!
Kate
September 4, 2008 at 10:48 am
Dear Julie,
What a terrific job you did on the wedding! Those colors were amazing! Didn’t know they could go so well with each other. Keep up the great work.
Your Mother and her Crazy Co-worker
October 24, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I love your work. It is very much like my own. I am a floral designer/gardener in central California. I grow much of my own greens, vines, and odd bits to add to my designs. Nice to see someone else doing this too! Keep up the beauty.
Laurie
January 20, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Hi Julie –
What a wonderful little business you have here! I am so excited for you. Your blog, website and floral designs are just beautiful.
Leah Williamson Straley
April 14, 2009 at 4:03 pm
You ladies have a truly lovely style that really speaks to the feeling of Spring. I was looking for vintage wedding photos and happened upon your blog and found myself lost in your great musings and examples of work. I’m a floral designer as well and love finding similarly-minded flower-infatuated designers, and I love Boston to boot! Best to you both, I look forward to following your blog~
Bridget Kelly
Ornamental Petal
April 14, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Hi Bridget,
Thanks for your kind note! We love flowers, so it is always great to find like-minded souls! ~Apryl & Julie
September 18, 2009 at 9:26 am
do you have any fall arrangements photos?
bill..