My name is Nicole and I'm the owner and designer at Paisley & Poppy Floral. My grandmother, Ettabelle, was a florist, and my mother, Susan, followed in her footsteps. I grew up surrounded by flowers, watching my mom create beautiful designs and experiences in a variety of settings. Today, my mom owns her own shop, a pocket full of posies, in St. Paul, Minnesota. She passed her passion for flowers and creativity down to me, along with the care she brings to her work.

Ten years ago, we moved from Minneapolis to the Bay Area, California. Minnesota is still in my heart and a huge part of who I am. Paisley & Poppy Floral brings that warmth and Midwest charm into the place we now call home.

My husband and business partner, Guru, helped inspire Paisley & Poppy and bring it to life. This studio is something we’re building together, with love for home, family, and nature at its heart.

As a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and a woman business owner, I’m proud to share my story and background through this studio. My vision is rooted in my Ojibwe heritage and the belief that life comes from nature. Through flowers, I want to bring that connection into people’s homes and experiences, a reminder of the beauty, life, and care that surround us in the natural world.

With a focus mainly on locally grown flowers, I envision unique arrangements that feel a little wild, thoughtful, and full of life. My inspiration begins with the landscapes I carry with me: the shores of Lake Superior, the rice fields of Bad River, and pine forests dotted with unexpected pops of wildflowers. Deep pine greens, rich sumac reds, and the golden warmth of fall leaves meet California’s open ranch landscapes, Northern California woodlands, and wine country gardens. Together, these places inspire a love of natural textures, seasonal color, and flowers that feel connected to the land.

The name brings both places together. Paisley is our dog, named after Minnesota’s Paisley Park, honoring Prince. Poppy is a nod to California’s wildly popular state flower. Together, they hold a little of where we came from and where we’ve made our home.

At its heart, Paisley & Poppy is about bringing love and care into people’s lives through flowers, honoring my connection to nature and carrying forward the creativity my grandmother and mom shared across generations.