Q&A thursday: mckenzie powell of mckenzie powell designs

how/why you got into the flowers

it's in my blood. my grandma was an amazing gardener and passed the love onto my mom. as a little munchkin, i spent summers outside running around in the dirt, while my mom planted, weeded, watered and picked. when i started to take an interest in creating my own little arrangements for the dinner table, her garden provided me with more than enough practice material. of course i was probably only six years old at the time and had no idea that i would make it a career later in life. my degree was in graphic design and after a few years of working in the corporate event planning world, i knew i needed a return to greater creativity. i had recently gotten married and loved the long and crazy design process, so when the opportunity presented itself, after a year of taking on small weddings on the side, i quit my day job and officially launched my business.

on your current playlist

i think i'm the only person left without an iphone or ipod, and my itunes has about eight different albums, one of which is a disney soundtrack. i know. i'm not a big music junkie (as if i need to state that) but when i am craving some tunes, i usually just sign into my husband's pandora account and click on the 'mumford and sons' station. when i get sick of that, i don't know what to do, so i just shut it off.

savoury or sweet?

savoury. ham and cheese croissant or chocolate filled? definitely ham and cheese. definitely a croissant.

best ever flower (for this week at least)

i'm currently having a love affair with clematis (don't you see how peaceful and in love we look?) any and all varieties - vines, flowers, or fuzzy pods. i love it all.

tipple?

my husband can whip up some amazing cocktails. he's all about simple and fresh ingredients. we're heading to the lake with friends at the weekend, so we currently have a large bowl FULL of lemons and limes and a jar of just picked mint for the lemon drops and mojitos that will be in high demand friday night. a double batch of sangria is also on the menu.

your most unappealing habit

when i get a tickle/itch in my throat, i have to make this scary growling/coughing/hissing noise, and i sound like a little devil. but i have to. it's the only thing that works.

couldn't live without

thai food. red curry to be precise.

favourite website(s)

sunday suppers, saipua, once wed, amy merrick's new website (so pretty!), the list goes on...

what makes your heart sing

an early morning walk when it's still foggy, with a latte in one hand and my husband in the other. when i first notice the crisp air of fall. good food with good friends. planting a way-too-huge field of pumpkins and watching them overtake everything in their path. flowers!

tell me a secret

in second grade, i entered the school talent show (kindergarten through 12th grade!!) and performed a jump-roping routine. i wore a pink tutu and won a ribbon. i'd like to say it was "best overall" but that'd be a lie. i can't actually remember...probably "audience's choice" because i'm pretty sure i pulled out their heart strings in a big way.

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mckenzie powell designs is in seattle. mckenzie's blog is here.