Meet Michelle Marron Jimenez

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Marron Jimenez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michelle, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Just like no two flowers are exactly the same, the people bringing bouquets to my floral preservation studio Fruit Of The Bloom Boutique are also one-of-a-kind. For an empath like me, it is really heart-warming and fun to learn about my clients, the significance of their bouquets, how they will be using or displaying them, etc.

Is it necessary to learn everyone’s story? No, but when I have a deeper connection to a client, I feel that it better informs my artistry…and perhaps a bit of the energy that I put into their custom pieces.

For one bride, her elegant all-white bouquet may represent the heartfelt vows she nervously recited to her partner in front of friends and family. For a family mourning a grandparent, a sunflower-focused arrangement can mean resilience and bring to mind sweet memories in Grandma’s flower garden.

As a one-woman business, working alone in my home studio every single day can be a bit isolating. Getting to know my clients’ stories – however small – helps give me purpose. Their stories are deeply personal, and I don’t take that lightly! When they receive their bespoke botanical art, I want them to feel like they are reliving a moment or revisiting a person over and over again. What an honor!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the owner, designer and wearer of ALL the hats for Fruit Of The Bloom Boutique, a botanical art studio. My company specializes in creating bespoke floral artwork and functional décor using flowers and epoxy resin. The majority of my custom work tends to be bridal bouquets, so I consider myself a wedding vendor, but I love transforming the ephemeral beauty of any meaningful flower – from funerals, prom, birthdays, engagements, baby showers, etc. – into everlasting art.

Flower preservation has existed for thousands of years. Modern bouquet preservation is a more recent phenomenon, and in my opinion, resin is the best medium to keep the original shape and color of an important bouquet.

It may not benefit me financially BUT I love when clients have custom requests. Mixing colored resin to exactly match a wedding color scheme may be time-consuming, but if it means it better reminds them of the most magical day of their lives, it’s worth that extra time. Plus, the challenges that come with a custom request keep me on my toes, which I love!

Thanks to social media – especially TikTok and Instagram – there has been an increased interest in epoxy resin art from crafters and non-crafters alike. While it’s exciting and encouraging to see, IF you are planning to dip your toes into the resin world – figuratively speaking only, please! – make sure you do your research. It is not a harmless craft that can be picked up in a weekend but rather a chemistry-led artform that can be toxic if proper precautions aren’t taken.

Please make sure to buy quality epoxy resin (which is NOT available at chain craft stores), nitrile gloves and a respirator mask. Even the top tier brands that claim to have no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are toxic once you mix Part A and Part B, so PPE and good ventilation are essential. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram (@FruitOfTheBloomBoutique) with questions. As a (flower and) resin nerd, I love talking about the medium and resin safety.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Patience – This may come as a surprise to those that know me because I am not naturally a patient person; in fact, quite the opposite! But my newer journey as a floral preservationist has forced me to practice patience. Rushing any step of the preservation process often leads to mistakes that take more time and money to correct. And I will never send a client home with a piece unless I am wholly satisfied with it.

Sometimes I may have to step back from “flood coating” a large block for the fourth time because a pesky speck of dust cured in it. Setting it aside and working on something else, means I can come back to it with a clear head. That extra time means a more perfect finished keepsake for the client and more inner peace for me as a creator, artist and business owner.

Persistence – It took me a good 12-16 months of (expensive) trial-and-error with resin before I started taking on paying clients. Epoxy resin is a beautiful but finicky beast. She requires specific and steady ambient temperature as well as low and consistent humidity levels. As a two-part liquid, she needs to be fully mixed; too vigorous mixing creates pesky air bubbles, and mixing too long can increase heat, potentially leading to toxic “flash cures” or premature ambering.

Even though I am very confident in every step of my floral preservation process now, small issues and mistakes arise every so often. Being knowledgeable, confident and resolute in finding a solution has made all the difference. For instance, if a rogue petal falls off and cures in an awkward spot in a block, I might use a dremel to “erase” it and clean it well with rubbing alcohol before pouring another layer of deep pour resin.

Boundaries – For better or worse, we live in an on-demand world where we glorify overworking and expect to receive anything we purchase in 1-2 business days. This mentality has set unrealistic and unhealthy expectations for business owners and consumers alike, and as a small business that creates custom, handmade art, setting boundaries is essential.

The idea of “hustle culture” always made me cringe. As a former television publicist, my work was never ending, and regardless of how many in-print features, broadcast interviews or wire stories I placed, bosses and clients always asked, “what else can you get?…”

Now that I answer to me, myself and I, I have more control over how and with whom I spend my personal and professional time. I have worked and will continue to work extremely hard to keep my business going forward, but I make concerted efforts to have a personal life, work consistent hours and go on walks to decompress and get fresh air, even if it’s just 10 minutes.

If a client doesn’t feel like a good fit, I trust my gut and politely pass or refer them to a different preservation artist who I think will be a match. If I’m overbooked, I try and explain that I may not have the drying supplies to properly dry their flowers AND that keeping to a certain number of clients per week/month allows me to give my pre-booked clients the attention and time their projects deserve. (I will, however, always accept memorial/funeral flowers.) If a client frequently checks in on the progress of their custom order, I try not to rush through any steps. The people-pleaser in me wants to get their art to them as fast as possible, but the perfectionist in me will not compromise with sub-par work.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Referrals and word-of-mouth is SO important to Fruit Of The Bloom Boutique. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my amazing clients telling their friends and family about my services as well as the vendors who have recommended me to their clients.

I love working with wedding and event planners and florists who can help build preservation into their floral or overall budgets. Many clients don’t know that giving their special bouquet a second life is even an option, so education is key!

Coordinating with planners in advance allows me to advise on what flowers work best in specific products; share tips for keeping the bouquet in amazing shape before I receive it (hydration is everything!); and explain best practices (for florists) that will result in the best preservation (ex: flexed petals may result in translucent or “bruised” spots when flowers are placed in resin).

I’ve been having a lot of fun lately creating branded pieces for vendor friends. Most recently, I created an Arch Bouquet Block for North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village that incorporated their logo as well as GORGEOUS flowers from their preferred florist and my vendor friend The English Garden. That statement piece is not only great branding for both the venue and florist but also provides an example of what Fruit Of The Bloom Boutique can create for any of their clients and members.

I would LOVE to create more of these branded pieces for vendor partners or any local businesses who want a unique, showstopping piece. I can even create side tables and incorporate other items besides flowers; anything that is dry or can be dried can be included.

If you have an idea, I’d love to hear it and try to make it happen! Don’t hesitate to reach out at michelle@FruitOfTheBloomBoutique.com.

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