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How We Accidentally Started a Flower Studio on Purpose
- growwildstudio
- Jun 9
- 8 min read
A sibling-built floral dream, grown from intention, creativity, and a quiet rebellion against the industry norm.
The seed for Grow Wild Studios started as one of those “maybe someday” ideas. We’d always shared a love for nature and creativity, and deep down we both knew we wanted to build something together something beautiful, intentional, and rooted in the world around us. After years of working in different corners of the professional world, we both felt the pull to do things differently. We wanted to build something that went against the grain by challenging the unsustainable norms of the industry and making space for more intentional, accountable, and collaborative creativity. We’ve slowly carved out our concept with equal parts instinct and trial-and-error fueled by a shared vision and way too much coffee.
As much as we love showing the wonderful end results of our projects, what people don’t always see is the behind-the-scenes chaos. Whether tinkering with mechanics just to have them fail at the most inopportune moment or doing a 12 am breakdown after waking up at 6 am to get everything prepped, it is definitely not all glitz and glam when working with flowers. However, neither of us would trade the journey for anything. The seed has been cultivated, and we can’t wait to watch how much it will grow in the years to come.
We’re based in Pennsylvania, and being part of the local flower farming community here is a huge part of our studio’s identity. Most of our blooms are grown within driving distance (honestly, a day trip out to a nearby flower farm is a wonderful weekend excursion). It also means our work is deeply seasonal and that we’re always adapting. Another huge part of our identity is designing sustainably. No floral foam here. We use reusable or compostable materials whenever possible, because our love for nature is the root of why we’re doing this in the first place.
What drives us is simple: flowers tell stories. They hold emotion. They transform space. And they connect people in ways that words often can’t. That’s the magic we try to bottle up in our work—whether it’s for a wedding, a wild celebration, or a single arrangement dropped off “just because.” But we also couldn’t ignore how much of a struggle it often is for folks in the creative space, so we take a collaborative and inclusive approach to everything we create.
And while we love what we’re building now, we’re also dreaming big for the future.
One day, we hope Grow Wild Studios will live on its own little piece of land. We picture a working flower farm, a studio tucked into the landscape, and an artist-friendly multipurpose venue space where people can create, celebrate, and connect. A space that supports emerging florists and creatives, and welcomes in anyone who feels inspired by the wild, the weird, and the beautiful.
Right now, we’re still in the thick of it juggling studio builds with design work, garden planning, and trying to keep our lives balanced. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thanks for being here. We’re excited to share this journey with you!
Meet Liz Shea
Co-Founder & Creative Director / Resident Aesthetic Snob (in the best way) / Vintage Treasure Hunter
Liz is the creative heartbeat of Grow Wild. If she’s not up to her elbows in blooms, she’s probably in the garden whispering sweet nothings to her plants, vibing on the patio with a record spinning, or on the hunt for that weird, wonderful vintage piece she definitely doesn’t have room for (but absolutely needs).
An aesthetic perfectionist—the kind of person who can spot a stem out of place from across the room and will definitely fix it. She’s been making things since forever (ask her about the post high school jewelry empire), and now channels that same energy into designing floral arrangements that are equal parts art and magic. Liz has a radar for the weird, the whimsical, and the just-so-perfectly-dramatic, a sixth sense for thrifted treasure, and a deep love for anything a little bit quirky and wonderful. Most in her element with dirt under her nails, coffee in hand, and a hundred tabs open in her brain. And yes, she is probably rearranging something you thought looked totally fine.
According to her brother Tim, Liz can turn “vibe-checking” into a full-time job. And honestly? He’s not wrong.
Q&A
Q: What drives your creative direction at Grow Wild?
A: Oh gosh honestly, what doesn’t? I’m inspired by literally everything. I’m such a visual person, so I’m constantly soaking in little details like the way light moves through trees, or the texture of a dried leaf on the sidewalk. I think that habit of noticing came from being a super quiet, observant kid. I was very shy growing up, never wanting to bring attention to myself so instead, I just watched. I learned to really see the world around me.
And then in high school, I had this amazing studio art teacher who totally changed the way I looked at everything. She taught us how to see form and light in ways I hadn’t even thought about before. That shifted something in me and I still carry that mindset into everything I do at Grow Wild. I’m always chasing the quiet, subtle beauty, the kind of things that don’t shout for attention but stay with you long after you’ve seen them.
Q: How do you begin designing for a new project or event?
A: Well a cup of coffee is first and foremost. Then I like to revisit the visual mood board we’ve created with the client, it’s a great way to refresh my mind and reconnect with the overall vision. From there, it’s all about prep work: selecting and preparing vessels, conditioning stems, organizing materials. Laying the groundwork before the creative process begins. Once everything is ready, I shift into design mode and let intuition take the lead. It might sound vague, but I truly believe in not overthinking it. If you’ve developed a good eye for design, your hands often know what to do before your brain catches up. Trusting that creative instinct is key.
Q: How would you describe your personal design philosophy?
A: So for me, it all comes down to storytelling. Every arrangement I make has to feel like something, whether it’s capturing a fleeting spring moment, a big romantic gesture, or just that quiet kind of beauty you almost miss if you’re not paying attention. I really let the flowers and textures lead the way. I don’t like forcing them into anything too stiff or structured. I love designs that feel a little wild, a little unkempt, like nature just did its thing and I happened to catch it. At the end of the day, I want every piece to feel alive, intentional, and full of soul. Like it has a story to tell, even if you don’t know exactly what it is.
Q: How did you know this is what you wanted to do in life?
A: I’ve always been a hands-on, artsy kind of person, I had to be creating something. During my teen years, I dealt with pretty intense social anxiety, so I turned to gardening as a way to calm my brain. It started as therapy… and quickly turned into an obsession. Fast forward a few years, I landed a job at a local flower shop and within the first week I thought, Ohhh, this is it. The colors, the textures, the way flowers can express so much without saying a word I was hooked. I mean, flowers are literal magic. How could I not fall head over heels?
Q: When you have a weekend off how would you spend that time?
A: Honestly? I’m such a homebody. Give me my couch, a cozy blanket, my cat Boo-boo sitting in my lap, and I’m set. Fun fact I’m actually a huge gamer, kind of a nerd at heart so most weekends off you’ll find me playing video games with my husband or getting lost in a good book. But if I do make it out of the house, it’s probably to buy yet another plant I don’t have room for or to hit up some antique shops. I love the thrill of finding weird, wonderful little treasures. It's like a sport at this point. So yeah… books, games, plants, and old stuff, basically my dream weekend.
Meet Tim Shea
Co-Founder & Studio Manager / Controller of Chaos / Full-Time Chihuahua Wrangler
Part plant whisperer, part spreadsheet wizard, and full-time dog dad to Pickle and Olive (the chihuahua mixes running the show behind the scenes). Whether he’s knee-deep in studio logistics or out in the garden with dirt under his nails, Tim brings a unique blend of order and creativity to everything he touches.
Before co-founding Grow Wild Studios, Tim spent years in hospitality, mastering the art of staying cool under pressure and finding clarity in chaos. Now he channels that same energy into the studio—bringing structure to the wild ideas and making sure every dreamy detail has a rock-solid plan behind it. He’s the kind of person who color-codes his calendar entries, always has at least three beverages on his desk (coffee, sparkling water, and kombucha or something wholistic), and genuinely finds joy in a weekend house-cleaning session. Equal parts left-brain logic and right-brain curiosity, Tim somehow manages to be both the planner and the spontaneous road trip instigator.
Curious how someone can juggle numbers, nature, and two fur babies all at once? Keep reading for a little Q&A to dive deeper into his role at Grow Wild Studios, his unexpected path from hospitality to creative entrepreneurship, and a few fun facts that might just surprise you!
Q&A
Q: What role do you play in the creative process at Grow Wild?
A: I like to think of myself as the cheerleader and designer-in-training. Liz dreams up these incredible concepts, and I help her bring them to life. She’s exceptionally good at coaching in a way that doesn’t undermine my own creativity. Of course, it helps that we’ve spent most of our lives around each other, so we tend to agree on a lot of design aspects!
Q: How has your background in hospitality shaped your approach?
A: Hospitality is all about attention to detail and creating memorable experiences—and that’s exactly what we do here, just with flowers instead of food and drink. I’ve learned how to anticipate needs, stay calm under pressure, and always keep the client experience front and center.
Q: What’s your creative outlet outside of work?
A: I’m a chronic dabbler. I think it’s the Gemini in me. I love trying out new creative outlets like painting or drawing here and there. Right now though my obsessions are my plants and garden. I love experimenting with propagation and plant care, and there’s something really satisfying about watching things grow season to season. I’ve been slowly adding more to my cutting garden in my backyard year-over-year, and it’s so wonderful seeing all the blooms and how much progress I’ve made since moving into the home.
Q: What fuels your inspiration?
A: Movement. I’m always most inspired when I’m in motion—walking the dogs, hiking, traveling. The flow keeps me curious and open. The sun and the outdoors are a huge part of that, too—they give me energy and perspective. I tend to have “flows” or direction in my designs that I will latch onto and follow rather than have a concrete concept start to finish.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
A: Um, other than that my first name is Robert? I am actually a pretty extreme introvert. My sillies - or “zoomies” as we like to call them at the studio - came from learning at a young and awkward age that humor and light-heartedness make social interaction much less stressful. Over time I became trained to an extent. Not to make myself sound like a robot, ha!
I much prefer the company of plants and animals to let off steam, but I definitely think of it as a personal accomplishment when I’m able to meet new people and remember their names. I keep a small core group of people around me to get my social fix, but I have a hard time with big crowds and loud places if we’re being honest.
What started as a daydream between two siblings has grown into something wilder, weirder, and more wonderful than we could have ever imagined. We’re still figuring it out as we go (with some growing pains, a lot of coffee, and plenty of laughter), but we wouldn’t trade it for the world. Thanks for being here at the beginning (ish, don’t judge us that we procrastinated for 2+ years) of our story—we can’t wait to grow with ya’ll!
Photos by Lada Jensen
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