Floral design: Cedar Rae Floral; Ceramic vase: Gunner Jenrich. Photos: Chris Emeott
So much time and attention go into planning big holiday meals. From developing the menu to prepping the food, it can be easy to overlook the finer details. But it’s the little things, like the scent of fresh greenery, eyecatching florals and handmade art, that set the tone and make a special meal feel all the more significant.
We paired up local ceramic artists and florists to create three stunning centerpieces as inspiration for decking the halls this holiday season. While each piece has its own unique charm, we did notice a foolproof formula for setting the scene: First, find a handmade ceramic piece that you love. Second, do not underestimate the value of some hearty greenery, along with pinecones and seedpods—flowers welcome, but optional.
Natural Beauty
Andrea Mullenmeister of ANM Pottery doesn’t think that beauty should feel rare or distant. “I want to help people find wonder and joy in everyday rituals,” she says. As the founder of the Pleasant Street Art Walk, she brings art and artists to Prior Lake every September. Mullenmeister’s work is inspired by nature, and she creates pieces that look like branches, leaves, and nuts. “Beauty is not far away,” she says. “It’s all right here with us.”
ANM Pottery
Facebook: ANM Pottery
Stems & Vines prides itself on working with local growers (with greenhouses to accommodate growing flowers throughout the winter months) to source fresh, healthy florals year round. Florist Kori Brier, a regional manager at Stems & Vines, wanted to create an arrangement with an earthy, natural and hearty texture to highlight Mullenmeister’s pieces.
Brier used cedar, spruce and Oregonia greenery in the walnut vase, as well as seedpods to mimic the look of a walnut. For the birch vase, Brier started with greenery again and chose Sanguisorba Burnet for a pop of color. “I wanted something out of the ordinary and something that would make onlookers question what it was,” Brier says.
Stems & Vines
Facebook: Stems & Vines Floral Boutique
Organic Shapes
Gunner Jenrich studied visual arts with a focus on ceramics at Mankato State University, Mankato. His work is based on abstract, organic shapes, and he makes a lot of plant pots in his home studio, which he made from an ice fishing house. He primarily works with handbuilding, using coils or slabs, which gives his work a whimsical, wobbly appeal.
Gunner Jenrich
Instagram: @ceramics.by.gunner
Jessica Schaum followed her passion for floral design after years of working in natural resources management and advocacy, and launched Cedar Rae Floral in March 2024. Schaum’s work is inspired by her walks through nature, and she often incorporates branches, driftwood, pine cones, seedpods or sticks into her whimsical arrangements. For the arrangement pictured on page 14, she created floral ornaments, using jewelers wire to hang flowers from branches.
Cedar Rae Floral
Instagram: @cedarraefloral
Textured Elegance
Allyssa Tipton of Lakeville started pursuing her interest in ceramics when she got a gift certificate for a class at the Lakeville Area Arts Center for Mother’s Day a few years ago—and now she’s teaching classes at the center and selling her work throughout the Metro. Tipton says her pieces are often inspired by nature, and she likes to layer on decorative clay elements to her smooth, wheel-thrown pieces to add texture and depth. Tipton also co-organizes the Pleasant Street Art Walk in Prior Lake.
Allyssa Tipton Pottery
Instagram: @allyssatiptonpottery
The greenery in Bachman’s signature winter bouquets not only reflects the season, it allows for longevity throughout the winter months. Keep the branches watered, and simply swap out the floral to give the arrangement new life, as well as a fresh color scheme. Floral designer Marla Warner used a mix of artificial materials, as well as fresh flowers to create a shape that draws attention to the beautiful texture of the vase. Red berries complement red roses and white lilies, adding texture and depth to the arrangement.
Bachman’s
Instagram: @shopbachmans
