#MakerCrushMonday: Christina Stembel, Founder of Farmgirl Flowers

Anjelika Temple
Feb 09, 2015

Christina Stembel at Farmgirl Flowers has been part of the Brit + Co family for a while now :) For Christina, the creative process is one that is always changing, evolving and growing. Read on to see why she inspires us. And be sure to check her out in action by taking our Flower Arranging E-Class — spring is just around the corner!

What inspires you? Why do you love to design, create and make?

So many things inspire us! Great design in any area (fashion, culinary, architecture, interior, etc) inspires our color palettes, variety selections, and design aesthetics. I love getting inspiration from others we admire across the creative realm and follow fashion trends to determine what colors will be relevant at that moment.

Tell us how technology has changed and supported what you do.

Almost all of our orders come through our website, so that speaks for itself. Brick and mortar flower shops are dying, as the model doesn’t work given the perishable nature of the product and high overhead, so our online model fixes that problem.

What’s on your studio playlist?

It changes a lot, but right now we’re on a ’90s R&B kick in the studio.

How do you get into the creative flow? How does it feel?

Get to Know Lauren Hom: Designer, Letterer and Burger Enthusiast

Studio Ink
None

If you’ve ever searched the internet for lettering inspo, you’ve probably seen Lauren Hom’s work. Her California-based design studio, Hom Sweet Hom, has done work for clients such as Starbucks and Google, and has a new exclusive collection with Studio Ink. She is also well known for her beautifully lettered “Daily Dishonesty” sayings and making money off her ex-boyfriend’s tears. Still not convinced of how cool Lauren is? Get this: Her life motto is “Work hard, snack often.” If those aren’t true pearls of wisdom, I don’t know what are.

Lauren recently teamed up with Studio INK to create a line of beautiful, colorful, quirky greeting cards. In true Lauren Hom fashion, her cards are super relatable and speak the truth (i.e. “Birthday Calories Don’t Count”).

And now, for our chat with Lauren.

Where are you based?

Traveling around the world for a year right now. Previous home base was Brooklyn, New York.

What inspires you? Why do you love to design, create and make?

I’m inspired by life — from inside jokes with friends to exploring new cities and cultures, my work is mostly inspired by my experiences. Aesthetically, I’m inspired by the colors, patterns, textures and signage of all the places I travel to.

I’ve always loved to make things with my hands. Whether it’s baking a cake or painting a mural, I really enjoy making something out of nothing. Sometimes I’ll step back from something I’ve drawn or painted and think, “Whoa, did that really just come out of my hands?” It’s a great feeling, and I think this feeling is what keeps me moving forward.

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with other makers?

Never stop making!

Tell us how technology has changed and supported what you do.

I love the speed, precision and efficiency that technology gives me. All of my work starts out on paper with pencil and ink, and then with the help of a scanner, Photoshop and a tablet, I can edit, color, rotate and paint my letters any way I want to. 50 years ago, I would’ve had to do all of it by hand. It’s really incredible.

How do you get into the creative flow? How does it feel?

A good workflow is my happy place. Everything falls into place and I go into a sort of happy trance. I find that I get into the creative flow by writing down ideas as soon as they come to me. There’s something magical about the birth of an idea — the thought that I could’ve just come up with something that has never crossed anyone else’s mind is so exhilarating. Writing things down (on paper, in my phone notepad, etc.) as soon as they come to mind is definitely a catalyst to my creative flow.

Oh, and having a few really good go-to playlists is key when I’m in a drawing groove. Having to stop and change songs is super disruptive.

What is the story of how you got to where you are today?

When I was 18, I moved to New York City to attend the advertising program at School of Visual Arts. After graduation, I landed my dream job at a big advertising agency but burnt out within a year. Luckily, I had been working on illustration passion projects on the side, so I had enough confidence to leave my full-time job and begin freelancing. Leaving the comfort of my nine-to-five job was scary, but when I put myself in a sink or swim situation, I worked harder because there was more to lose.

What other makers inspire you?

These amazing ladies making unique things:

Maricor/Maricar
Becca Clason
Tina Roth Eisenberg

What is the weirdest, most unusual or worst job you’ve ever had?

In college, I designed characters for a Facebook game that was like Farmville for stoners.

What other things do you love to make?

I hand-sewed this sexy cheeseburger + fries Halloween costume that I am super proud of: I’ve worn it seven years in a row.

Which Lauren Hom for Studio INK card is your fave?Share with us on Instagram by using the hashtag #britstagram!

Styling: Irene Lee and Lindsay Saito

Photography: Chris Andre

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Everything You Need To Know About The 'Yellowjackets' Season 3 Finale After THAT Death

My jaw literally dropped after that Yellowjacketsepisode 9 ending. While Yellowjacketsfans are no strangers to shocking deaths, there was something about losing Van like that after everything she's been through that felt especially traumatic. And if that's how the penultimate episode went, I can only imagine what the writers are gonna do to us during the season 3 finale...

If you're trying to prep for whatever bombshells we're gonna get during the Yellowjackets season 3 finale, then this guide is for you. Here's everything you need to know!

Scroll to see all the details you need to know before we get the sure-to-be explosive Yellowjacketsseason 3 finale.

Where can I watch the 'Yellowjackets' finale?

Showtime

You can stream the Yellowjackets season 3 finale on Showtime and Paramount+!

How many episodes of 'Yellowjackets' are there?

Showtime

There are 10 episodes of Yellowjackets season 3.

  1. It Girl
  2. Dislocation
  3. Them's the Brakes
  4. 12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis
  5. Did Tai Do That?
  6. Thanksgiving (Canada)
  7. Croak
  8. A Normal, Boring Life
  9. How the Story Ends
  10. Episode 10

Who's in the 'Yellowjackets' season 3 cast?

Showtime

Given the fact that we have a teen cast and an adult cast for Yellowjackets season 3, there are a lot of people on this show. This list includes:

  • Melanie Lynsky (Adult Shauna)
  • Tawny Cypress (Adult Tai)
  • Christina Ricci (Adult Misty)
  • Lauren Ambrose (Adult Van)
  • Simone Kessell (Adult Lottie)
  • Warren Cole (Adult Jeff)
  • Hilary Swank (Adult Melissa)
  • Sophie Nélisse (Teen Shauna)
  • Jasmin Savoy Brown (Teen Tai)
  • Samantha Hanratty (Teen Misty)
  • Liv Hewson (Teen Van)
  • Courtney Eaton (Teen Lottie)
  • Jenna Burgess (Teen Melissa)
  • Sophie Thatcher (Teen Natalie)
  • Ella Purnell (Teen Jackie)
  • Sarah Desjardins (Callie Sadecky)
  • Nia Sondaya (Teen Akilah)
  • Alexa Barajas (Teen Mari)
  • Kevin Alves (Teen Travis)
  • Steven Krueger (Coach Ben)
  • Elijah Wood (Walter)

What happened to Van in 'Yellowjackets'?

Showtime

In Yellowjackets season 3, episode 9, the living adult women cross paths with adult Melissa after thinking she was dead for years.

When the group finds out that Melissa faked her own suicide, came up with a new identity, and married the daughter of a woman they killed in the wilderness, needless to say they feel pretty suspicious of Melissa's motives. Things get especially dicey when everyone learns that Melissa sent Shauna a tape recording of one of their notorious wilderness feasts — some of the only actual evidence of their more heinous acts during their time stranded in the woods.

While Melissa's tied up (in her own home, I might add), she turns on the fireplace and keeps the flu closed. Tai and Shauna get CO2 poisoning while Van is outside, leaving Van to save them as quickly as possible. After rescuing her friends, Van unties Melissa to confront her, but can't bring herself to kill Melissa.

Much to everyone's surprise, Melissa doesn't take this mercy with kindness. She turns the knife on Van, stabbing and killing her. Much like Van's literal bleeding heart, I was broken after that.

Where did 'Yellowjackets' season 3 film?

Showtime

According to IMDB, Yellowjackets is filmed in British Columbia, Canada and Los Angeles.

Is 'Yellowjackets' based on a true story?

Showtime

No, Yellowjackets is (thankfully) not based on a true story!

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Here’s What Went Down at Our First-Ever Maker B-School

Blurb
None

As our Re:Make conference-goers can attest, there’s really nothing like being in the company of fellow makers. Small-scale artisans make our world go round, and we’ll take every chance we can get to celebrate them! That’s why we teamed up with Blurb to put on our first-ever Maker B-School, a night filled with inspiring makers, tasty (and photogenic!) cocktails and a healthy helping of maker wisdom from some of the best in the industry.

Consider this your virtual tour :) First stop: Blurb’s station!

BLURB

We have MAJOR respect for this company. Using their tools, any maker (or regular Jane!) can publish a print book, magazine or ebook, and therefore make their brand that much stronger. Blurb has done wonders for the maker community, and we’re incredibly honored to partner with them.

CHRISTINE HERRIN + ADOBE

We’re all about hands-on project stations, and Adobe definitely delivered. They paired up with Christine Herrin, who makes seriously beautiful zines using Adobe InDesign, and provided inspirational booklets for all of the attendees.

Excuse us while we crush HARD on Christine’s designs — we can’t get enough of them.

LAMBERT FLORAL STUDIO

Next up is Sammy Go of Lambert Floral Studio (yay for maker dudes!) with a jaw-dropping, bountiful bouquet, some impressive knowledge of how to grow a business’s social community and possibly one of the most tasteful product catalogs we’ve ever seen. Can you bring your flowers to all of our events, please?

See what we mean by an impressive catalog? This thing is downright dreamy.

CRAFT + COCKTAILS

Ashley Rose Conway of Craft + Cocktails whipped up tasty piña coladas and spiked pink peppercorn lemonades all night, and also dished out some expert tips on cocktail photo styling. We’ve already been following her on Instagram for ages, so it was a real treat to get a behind-the-scenes look!

These babies were definitely Insta candy :)

ETTA + BILLIE

Alana Rivera, from the artisanal soap brand Etta + Billie, talked shop and shared best tips for building an authentic brand. We can’t decide what we like more: the marvelous fragrances or the tasteful, elegant packaging.

JOSHU + VELA

The team at JOSHU+VELA construct bags, wallets and accessories made entirely of natural materials, and they’re manufactured right here in SF — by them! It was a pleasure to have them showcase their brilliant products and share their perspective on brand identity. We’re itching to take a leather-working class with them, if they’ll have us ;)

PORTRAITS TO THE PEOPLE

How cool is this — Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People used our DIY studio to provide headshots for the attendees!

After getting zhuzhed by a professional makeup and hair stylist, makers would get a chance to take a new headshot by Sarah, one of the top photographers in the Bay Area. Neat, huh?

THE FOOD!

Oh, did we mention the incredible food provided by SF favorite, Vive la Tarte? Tied for most delectable treat was this INSANE bacon-wrapped fig and an unbelievably satisfying creme brûlée tart — but we’re not playing favorites.

MAKER B-SCHOOL TOP TIPS

Didn’t make it to the stellar event this time? No worries! Lucky for you, our amazing designer Rosee Canfield compiled the makers’ top tips in a beautiful, printable card. Check it out!

Download it here and hang it in your work space!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about running your own business? Share with us on Twitter @BritandCo!

This post is a collaboration with Blurb.

Author: Maddie Bachelder
Photography: Brittany Griffin

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5 Major Moments To Remember Before 'The Last Of Us' Season 2 Premieres

The Last of Us season 2 finally returns Sunday, April 13 after more than two years since the season 1 finale. But for the characters, season 2 opens up five years later! So it sounds like we all need a refresher. We already know that this season, The Last of Us introduces us to a few new cast members (and reacquaints us with some familiar faces), but here are the five most important things to remember before you press play this weekend.

Here are 5 key moments from The Last of Us ending you need to remember before season 2 premieres on HBO and Max April 13, 2025.

1. Ellie is dealing with some major trauma.

Liane Hentscher/HBO

In The Last of Us season 1, episode 8 "When We Are in Need," we had the unpleasant experience of meeting a man named David, who says he's a pastor who found God. And over the course of the anxiety-inducing 51 minutes, David kidnaps Ellie, Joel attacks David's men to get her location, and, oh, Ellie realizes David has turned the group into cannibals without their knowledge.

At the end of the episode, David attempts to sexually assault Ellie while the lodge burns down around them. Ellie winds up killing him with a literal meat cleaver before stumbling outside covered in his blood. (I still think about this scene, I hate it so much).

Joel finds her, and from this moment until the end of episode 9, Ellie's a changed person (duh). She's still curious and fun, but she's definitely more closed off than she was before — and we'll have to see how much it affects her five years later.

2. ​Joel saves Ellie at the expense of the Firefly hospital.

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Ellie's troubles are far from over after her run-in with David. In episode 9, "Look for the Light," Joel and Ellie arrive in Salt Lake City. After a very sweet conversation about how she helped Joel heal from his daughter Sarah's death that had me emotional, the Firefly rebels arrive and both knock Joel out and take Ellie.

Joel wakes up in a hospital room, where he learns that the Fireflies will operate on Ellie (who's immune, remember) to get the cure for the infection. The only problem? She won't make it out alive. And in a fit of pure paternal rage, he takes out the entire hospital, including both doctors and soldiers.

3. Ellie is immune thanks to her mom.

Liane Hentscher/HBO

The show finally explains Ellie's immunity in the final episode during a flashback. Ellie's mom, Anna, gives birth to our leading lady right around the moment she's attacked by an immune. And since the umbilical cord still connects Ellie and Anna, the cordyceps infection enters Ellie's body, and immune system, differently than if she'd been bitten.

4. Joel and Ellie return to Jackson.

Liane Hentscher/HBO

The beginning of The Last of Us saw Joel trying to find his brother Tommy, and they do reunite in episode 6, "Kin." After everything that happens at the hospital, Joel and Ellie head back to Tommy's home in Jackson to start their new lives alongside Tommy, his wife Maria, and the rest of the town (including Dina and Jesse, two new friends Ellie has in season 2).

5. Joel lies to Ellie about the cure.

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about The Last of Us ending is that not only does Joel kill a dozen Fireflies, but he tells Ellie that there were multiple immune people, and that raiders had attacked the hospital. Ellie doesn't know that the cure would cost her life, but she's obviously disappointed by the fact she couldn't help — especially since it's clear she feels like her purpose as an immune is to help develop a cure.

In the final moments of the episode, she tells Joel to swear he was telling the truth. And when he does, all she says is, "Okay."

Read up on The Latest The Last Of Us Season 3 News!

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Still Processing? Let's Break Down the Emotional 'The Pitt' Ending

The Pittseason 1 has been nothing short of gripping — and even the slower-paced season finale still lived up to that to that hype. From the moment the medical drama's ending started, we finally got answers to questions we've had all season about the incredible, life-saving doctors we've followed for 15 episodes. Let's unpack it all.

Here's everything you need to know about that emotional The Pitt season finale...

Warrick Page/Max

From the jump, we finally found out why Dr. McKay has an ankle bracelet — she's in a custody battle and was deemed flight risk. This explains so much about the tension with the "Bonus Mom" girlfriend, Dr. McKay's ex-husband, and her son. We don't know why the split and custody battle are so contemptuous, but at least it explains why someone with an ankle monitor is able to work in the medical field. It was always obvious Dr. McKay was a good doctor, but this little detail definitely confused me for the whole season.

I'm glad the police decided to let her go after tampering with the monitor — ya know, so she could save lives after a literal mass shooting.

Warrick Page/Max

This Dr. Langdon situation continues to get murky. He chose to confide in Dana which wasn’t necessarily unexpected, but it was interesting. It's clear he was desperately searching for allies to confirm that he's not actually an addict...whether he's looking to confirm that to himself or to Dr. Robbie is another story.

It seems like Dr. Langdon really believes he was just "weening" himself off of the pain medication like a doctor would, but it doesn't seem like anyone else is really buying that. When Dana tells him that Dr. Robbie will do what's best, it really shows how much the entire staff trusts his leadership, but also how questionable Dr. Langdon's choices really may be.

Warrick Page/Max

While we already know David isn’t the shooter from the festival, it's clear that Dr. McKay still finds him a bigger threat than just a depressed high schooler. He may not have deserved the intensity from the police at first, but I think the subsequent persistence for preventative mental health treatment is brilliant. This all feels especially timely given the “manosphere” and the rise of toxic masculinity in young men right now.

Totally love how they approached this, and I hope season 2 gives us a glimpse into a follow-up here.

Warrick Page/Max

When Dr. Langdon and Dr. Robbie finally had their confrontation about the drug use, I was genuinely shocked by Langdon's behavior. Dr. Robbie offered an out that made sense — NA meetings, random drug testing, etc — without requiring Dr. Langon to lose his job (or medical license). Instead of taking that graciously, Dr. Langdon acted out and used Dr. Robbie's panic attack very obviously caused by PTSD against him. This low blow was incredibly addict behavior-coded, and he really only proved that he's not fit to practice.

Warrick Page/Max

After a pretty tumultuous season for her, Dr. Santos definitely proved her bedside manner is so much better by the end! Her cutthroat mentality, rash decision-making, and blunt demeanor clearly wasn't serving her — or her patients — at the beginning of her first shift. Not only did it upset everyone around her, but it lead to some patient complications that honestly could have been avoided.

Now, by the end of her first 15 hours of her Emergency Medicine rotation, it's clear that Santos embraced a thoroughness and thoughtfulness that ultimately lead her to save a man from future self-harm. So proud of her growth!

(And I can't wait to see what roommate Santos and Whittaker are like in season 2!)

Warrick Page/Max

Throughout the episode, the residual blood prints on the floor highlighted the ever-present tragedy the ER just faced in only a few hours. It's such a good, small, specific detail that shows how the doctors, nurses, and overall hospital staff have to continue on in the face of their own trauma, saving more and more lives as the clock ticks on.

These details make Dr. Robbie’s speech all the more poignant. He said, “None of us are gonna forget today — even if we really, really want to.” And while that's exemplary of how people experience trauma in real life, but it also clearly exhibits his character’s direct experience with the trauma of COVID and the loss of his friend and mentor.

With that in mind, it's fitting that Dr. Robbie and Dr. Abbott share an emotional moment the roof after meeting each other there in the first episode. The men discuss the hardship of this role, questioning why they keep coming back day after day to such a heavy job.

Meanwhile, the ER waiting room starts quickly filling up all over again, further highlighting the continuous fatigue and mental health hardships each doctor and medical professional faces throughout their shifts – and their entire careers.

At the end of the day, when all the doctors cheers to the work, the patients saved, and the patients lost, it felt like Nick Caraway's last quote from The Great Gatsby:

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

Warrick Page/Max

Remaining Takeaways:

  • Dr. Whitaker not being able to afford a place to live or a car as a literal doctor shows how messed up it is that we can’t pay a livable wage to the people literally saving lives day in and day out — even when they’re students, interns, or otherwise.
  • Poor Dr. King's caregiver fatigue. I hope she’s okay because she's definitely gonna burnout operating at the level she is — high metabolism or not.
  • The rats coming back is honestly hilarious.
  • Dr. Abbott worked so hard all day with that prosthetic and didn't let a single person or patient feel bad about it. A consummate caregiver.
  • Dana won’t come back — she’ll be the medical professional to break the cycle of putting themselves in this day-in and day-out.
  • We still don't know what's going on with Dr. Collins — I hope she's okay!

Is episode 15 of 'The Pitt' the season finale?

Warrick Page/Max

Yes, episode 15 of The Pitt is the season 1 finale!

How long is the last episode of 'The Pitt'?

Warrick Page/Max

The last episode of The Pitt (episode 15) is 60 minutes long.

Is there a season 2 for 'The Pitt'?

Warrick Page/Max

Thankfully, Max confirmed that The Pitt season 2 is definitely coming! And the best part? We're supposed to get the second season by January 2026 — Yay!

Is 'The Pitt' based on a real hospital?

Warrick Page/Max

No, The Pitt isn't based on a real hospital.

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