• PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
• EVERYONE LOVES FLOWERS: Clover and Branch owner Carrie Skelton plays host to a flower fest every Friday in her floral studio, with fresh flower arrangements that’ll look great anywhere you put them.

Hidden in the back section of the Fortini Interiors, Landscape, and Design building is one of SLO’s best-kept secrets. Clover and Branch Design Studio opened in early July as an extension of Anne Fortini’s custom design palace. Floral enthusiast and Clover and Branch owner Carrie Skelton was presented with an opportunity to bring a collaborative design feel to the studio, creating a wide variety of custom floral bouquets and arrangements.

“It’s fun because there is always something going on,” Skelton said about sharing the space.

She provides a wide range of services, including weekly home and business arrangements, wedding and event design, and petite succulent landscapes. Although her studio will soon be open for regular hours, for now she showcases her talent during Farm Fresh Fridays. Every week, the studio receives a variety of SLO’s freshest flowers, providing customers something completely new at the end of each week.

“I just go to the farm and it’s whatever looks good that week, whatever excites me and whatever I’m interested in then,” Skelton said about her hand-picked selections. She takes pride in her business, providing her customers with a local product, and feels no need for imported goods.

“There’s just no reason. California is overflowing,” Skelton explained. “A lot of the flowers I get are from a guy in Arroyo Grande who I know grows them, drives them. It’s totally great.”

Owning her own business has allowed Skelton to mix artistic avenues and passions to create a custom jewelry and flower sanctuary. She took up silversmithing in 2003 and is slowly bringing her work from home into the studio. She believes that creating jewelry pieces and flower arrangements go hand in hand.

“Both of them are very delicate mediums where you are able to make really dramatic statements,” Skelton said. “They’re similar in a lot of ways.”

To see what’s new and fresh at Clover and Branch Design Studio, call 234-1569 to make an appointment with Skelton, visit the Clover and Branch Facebook page, or stop in at 3021 S. Higuera St. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday for Farm Fresh Fridays.

Fast fact

Sea Chest Restaurant will be host to its 12th annual blood drive on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Sea Chest will be accepting blood donations and providing snacks and refreshments for donors. The crew will be giving out chowder, salad, bread, and soda to everyone who participates and gives the gift of life. The event will take place at 6216 Moonstone Beach Drive in Cambria from 1 to 6 p.m. Community members are encouraged to help save a life as the need for blood never ceases. To make a reservation, call Steve at 927-3266.

Intern Tally Meyers compiled this week’s Strokes. Send your business and nonprofit news to [email protected].