The 28th Friday Four
Thanks for catching up with the Friday Four series, simply the 4 weekly highlights from behind the scenes at Tura Lura Co. in West Branch.
Let’s get into it!
This week I hosted Walk in Wednesday, the evening where folks can walk in the studio and create without a reservation, and we got to make some reed diffusers! It’s fun having extra options of reeds and jars on hand to completely customize each one. What’s been popular lately is the flower reeds - It almost looks like a bud vase! If you haven’t seen the new reed options, consider signing up for the special version of Reed Diffuser Bar in August for Hoover Days - it’s deeply discounted!
Speaking of bud vases, I have also been getting flowers (from Iowa flower farms) prepped for a special private event next week! It takes time to de-thorn/remove all the leaves, and get the stems prepped for class. It’s also SUPER messy. Sometimes I even find a little dried bug when I’m getting the stems ready, because these were fresh from the flowers fields! But prepping the flowers and seeing the transformation from freshly dried bouquet to vase ready is satisfying. Plus, the vase selection for Dried Floral Bar has expanded! I love this activity to bring people together to create.
The last summer event at the Green House is on Sunday, July 14! We will have summer fragrances and of course a fabulous selection of summer cocktails and mocktails you can purchase from the bar. The next opportunity to gather in Iowa City will be in fall, which is bonkers to think that Pumpkin Spice and everything fall will be overflowing our senses in the next month or so… I’m not ready!!
As we do head toward fall, I have been reading/learning/experimenting as much as I can as I can to get ready for the debut of Perfume Pour Bar in West Branch! I received coaching from a professional perfumer (which is an AMAZING career option for chemists), and think it’s so cool that we can have this science opportunity to create art. I loved math and science, but never knew how to combine it with a creative side - until I started learning candle making back in the early days of the pandemic. I had a third grader tell me this week that she was now interested in what I do as a career choice, and I fully support that! The fact I get to sit with people and help them make something they love with science and art… gosh, it’s a pretty cool thing.
Happy Friday!
Erika
