Meet Courtney Connelly Owner & Creator of Petals to the Metal Floral

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Connelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, what are you inspired by?
Inspiration surrounds me as I am a very curious and empathetic person. I will meet someone or see something that sparks interest and my imagination will run away with me, creating images or scenarios where I experience the world through another set of eyes. I think this is the purpose of art, whether written, painted, or filmed. It gives form to the thoughts and feelings we all experience and even though thousands of people may see the same image or read the same lines, each person will find their own unique meaning. I find inspiration in personal stories, history, fantasy, anything bittersweet or dark and moody, and in the imperfect perfection of nature.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey into floral design has been one that has spanned decades with many twists and turns. One thing has remained constant on my path, my deep love and passion for flowers. I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and was often left to my own devices with lots of freedom to explore. My favorite place to be was outside. Living in Boulder, CO, I was surrounded by open space, trails and wildlife. I loved the expansiveness I felt observing and interacting with the natural world.

When I was in my 20’s, I took on the role of “flower girl” at Ideal Market and I discovered that I loved everything about working with flowers. The chance to be creative, to help others express their sentiments via flowers, and to be surrounded by flowers on a daily basis made me feel as if I had found my niche. After leaving Ideal Market, I worked in various office roles and flowers became my side hustle. While I learned a lot, it never quite felt like “home”. As probably is the case for many of you, the pandemic put the focus on what was important to me and I decided to leave the safety of the corporate world behind and really put all my energy into creating a career where everyday I got to do what I loved — creating art and connections via flowers.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is to listen to your heart and to create a life centered around what lights you up. We all have gifts and value to share with the world, but sometimes we ignore our own wisdom in favor of following the path prescribed by our families or society. To step away from the crowd in favor of the path that calls out to you is an act of audacity in a society that promotes conformity via algorithms and trends. I am so happy to be where I am today and it is my pleasure to share my love of all things flowers with the world and with my clients!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since I love spending time outdoors and Colorado is a place with endless options for nature enthusiasts, I would love to take my friend out to enjoy some of my favorite activities — hiking, paddleboarding and hot springs! For hiking, I would take them to the Ceran St. Vrain trail just outside of Jamestown. I love this mellow trail because it’s shady and meanders along the South St. Vrain river with lots of spots for relaxing and cooling your feet in the river. As for paddleboarding, I often visit Bear Creek Lake Park. We’d hop on our paddleboards and spend the day on the less crowded Bear Creek Lake soaking in the sun and enjoying some down time as we floated the day away. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs is one of my favorites! We’d rent a cabin and spend the day hiking and the nights soaking under the stars. Of course we’d need to fuel our bodies in between adventures with brunch and my favorite, happy hours! I’ve always wanted to try brunch at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and I love Jax’s happy hour for a dirty martini and oysters.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am grateful for the people I have met on my journey and for their generosity in sharing their perspectives, support and knowledge. A few people and places stand out in particular as they have played integral roles in shaping my love of flowers and the pursuit of a career in floral design. I would like to thank my mom and dad for encouraging me to play, both in nature and in my creative endeavors; Ideal Market for giving me the opportunity and freedom to grow into the world of floral design; my mentor, Julie Winje the creative force behind Inspired Designs, who continues to bless me with her knowledge, artistic eye, friendship and her belief in me, and lastly (but definitely not least) my partner Marc who supports me with his encouragement and love.

Website: https://petalstothemetalfloral.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petalstothemetal_floral/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063807773256

Image Credits
Images 1-3: EmmaLee Babcock with Monarch & Sage Photography