Lori Siebert can never resist a good junk shop or flea market find, and the quirkier, the better! What she loves most is giving well-loved treasures a brand-new life, and this year she brought that playful spirit to junk flowers and junk bouquets.

Over the week, Lori showed everyone how to turn buttons, bobbles, springs, spools and all kinds of unexpected bits into fabulous flowers and funky bouquets. Artists brought along some of their own junk gems to mix in with Lori’s stash, and everyone went home with a whimsical bouquet that will never wilt, plus lots of new ideas for seeing everyday objects in a whole new way.

The fun started with the hunt. Together we went out hunting and gathering, then came back to the barn studio to sort, curate and dream up what each find could become. Midweek, a second outing turned up even more junk gems, and the worktables filled with treasures waiting for their next life.

Each day built on the last. Artists assembled a large wall flower, created a one-of-a-kind junk vessel, then brought it all together in a finished floral bouquet. Lori was right there at the tables all week, sharing her assemblage techniques and helping each piece come to life.

The week wrapped up with everyone sharing their work and saying farewell, surrounded by a studio bursting with color, texture and joy. It was a summer week at The Smiley full of making, laughing and seeing beauty in the most unexpected places.