Why I’m Stepping Away from Custom Orders (For Now)
This is something I’ve been quietly working through for a while, and it feels like the time to share it more openly.
For now, I’m taking a pause from custom orders.
If you’ve worked with me before or have ever considered placing a custom piece, this might feel like a shift—and it is.
Custom work has always been incredibly meaningful to me. Being trusted with someone’s flowers, their memories, even deeply personal pieces tied to loss or celebration… that’s something I’ve never taken lightly.
But over time, I’ve also started to notice what it’s been asking of me.
There’s often an unspoken pressure to recreate a very specific vision—to make something look exactly like what someone has in their mind or something they’ve seen before. And while I understand where that comes from, it doesn’t always align with how my work is meant to be created.
Working with real flowers means working with something that changes. It shifts in color, shape, and texture. It doesn’t always behave the way we expect—and truthfully, I don’t want it to.
That unpredictability is what makes each piece special.
But when expectations are very specific, it can create a quiet tension—between honoring the natural process and trying to control it. And I’ve found myself carrying the weight of that more than I want to.
There’s also the pace, the timelines, the back-and-forth communication… all things that are part of custom work, but over time, they’ve pulled me away from the slower, more intentional rhythm I want my business (and my life) to have.
And if I’m being honest, it’s made it harder to stay connected to the joy of creating.
So instead of pushing through that, I’m choosing to listen to it.
To step back.
To simplify.
To create in a way that feels aligned again.
If you’re a small business owner or creative reading this, you probably understand how hard it can be to make a decision like this—especially when it means saying no to something that once felt like a core part of what you offer.
But I’m learning that protecting the way I create is just as important as what I create.
What I’m Offering Instead
While I’m not taking custom orders right now, I’ve created my Made To Order Collection as a way to still offer something personal without the pressure of full customization.
It works much like shopping online, but with thoughtful options:
You can choose your shape, flower, metal setting, chain length or earring style, and background color.
From there, I create each piece in my own way—allowing the natural materials to guide the final result. Every piece is still completely unique, just without the expectation of exact replication.
I don’t know if or when custom orders will return.
But for now, this feels like the right step—for my work, for my creativity, and for the sustainability of this business.
Thank you for being here and for growing with me.
Much love,
-Tori, Nature's HandyWork