Molly Ford

Discover life chapters and slow stories from the founder of Flowers by Ford.

Every (life) chapter has at least one memorable moment, sentence, or story. What are yours? In Chapters, I ask creative people to reflect on the stories of their lives and respond to any of the below prompts (in whatever way they wish).

In the latest installment, we hear from Molly Ford—founder of Flowers by Ford and creator of Molly Ford’s Floral & Finds—who shares seasonal musings, cherished memories, and slow moments.

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Slow Story

This winter may be the first I’ve truly loved, even with the bitter cold. I’m taking my time by slowing down, sleeping in, reading, lighting candles, journaling, and processing. I want to be intentional with my time—something the slower, colder months allow us to do. My goal is to winter slowly, making sure I face myself in order to stay soft.

“Doing those deeply unfashionable things—slowing down, letting your spare time expand, getting enough sleep, resting—is a radical act now, but it is essential. This is a crossroads we all know, a moment when you need to shed a skin. If you do, you’ll expose all those painful nerve endings and feel so raw that you’ll need to take care of yourself for a while. If you don’t, then that skin will harden around you. It’s one of the most important choices you’ll ever make.” - Katherine May, author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

Love Story

Every time I think about love, I find myself returning to this definition:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Love is patient, kind, and humble. It honors, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. In my marriage, friendships and work, I strive for my love to be rooted in these qualities, to have this kind of foundation. When it does, there’s always room for forgiveness, understanding, communication, and acceptance. It’s a beautiful standard for love, and one I hope to carry with me.

True Story

My family moved to Arkansas from California when I was two years old. My parents are artists, and they made all of our furniture out of necessity, which I believe often makes the best art. My mom looked at our Arkansas backyard and saw vines covering the trees. I love her mind, because where others might have seen overgrowth, she saw furniture.

From that moment on, they grew their art into a business that took them all over the country for art shows which led to a feature in Southern Living. All the while, my parents also managed a twelve-step nonprofit, helping individuals struggling with addiction. My after school hours were spent in their furniture shop, doing homework surrounded by paint and sawdust. I think that’s why I feel so at home in my flower studio now; it reminds me of my childhood: a space full of creativity, hard work, and intuition.

I once heard a quote that children stand on the shoulders of their parents, that their ceiling becomes our foundation. I have seen that to be true in my own life. I am forever thankful for the foundation my parents gave me: a deep love for nature, art, people, and hard work.

Your Story

All my life, I’ve dreamed big. I was, and still am, audacious with my goals. My parents didn’t have an abundance of monetary resources, yet I never felt the lack. They worked hard to protect me and provide for me. They never suppressed even my wildest dreams, always encouraging me to find a way.

During my sophomore year of high school, I had the opportunity to travel to Australia. I’d never been out of the country, and I knew I couldn’t ask my parents to fund it. So I worked all year at Sonic, earning an extra dollar an hour when I was on rollerblades (yes I had the pink ones, duh). I worked, saved, and somehow came up with enough money to go.

From that moment, my world expanded. I wanted to see more, do more, and take advantage of every opportunity. I became the first person in my family to graduate from university, a decision that changed my life through relationships, exposure, and learning. I traveled the world, got married, moved to New York, and started a floral company.

I’ve built a big life, and it’s only getting larger.

Spring Story

When I think about spring, I think of the warm morning sun on my face, Hudson bringing out a cup of coffee, and me sitting in the backyard in a cozy sweater. We call these “California mornings” because they feel like a crisp California day, cold air combined with the beaming sun. It’s my favorite way to slowly crawl out of winter and into spring. I literally watch my garden come back to life, measuring its new growth each day.

Color Story

My childhood bedroom was painted with a garden mural that flowed from the ceiling all the way down across the hardwood floors. Every room in my home on Maple Street was a different color. The dining room was lilac to match the wild wisteria in our backyard. The kitchen had a watermelon theme at one point, which always floats back into my memory when I eat at JG Melon on the Upper East Side.

That bedroom mural was filled with deep greens and soft pinks, and it’s something that still translates into how I design my home today. While I love simplicity and plenty of white space, I’m always drawn to the warmth of maximalism and color. Our living room has two baby-blue rugs pushed together to create an extra-large rug, which is one of my most asked-about pieces. It creates the most beautiful balance against our crown-molded white walls.

You’ll always find my home and floral designs full of intentional color.

Summer Story

As we read through this Substack letter, I find myself journeying through the seasons. Feeling grateful for the slowness and intentionality of winter. Then a spark of hope and joy when thinking about our spring “California mornings.” And now, when I think about summer, I can truly feel its warmth.

For the last few years, Hudson and I have traveled to Maine each summer with friends. It’s become a tradition we all plan our summers around. One year, it was just us and another couple. We went to a small island and stayed at an inn perched on a hill. Its restaurant overlooked the water, where we watched the sunset each night with a cocktail in hand. After a few drinks, a perfect sunset dinner on the lawn, and endless conversations, we ran down the hill to the dock. We wanted to see the stars while lying above the water.

Those summer nights are such a gift. I will remember them for the rest of my life.

“The days are long, but the years are short.” – Gretchen Rubin

I want to live a big life full of slow seasons by being intentional with my decisions and moving with a love that is patient, hopeful, and trusting.

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Thank you, Molly!

All photos courtesy of Molly Ford unless credited otherwise.