Storytelling through Florals & Ceramics

Floral Design

always bespoke, always a work of art

A floral arrangement with oranges and yellow flowers, and various textured foliage, on a wooden round table near a glass door and a metal wall.
A tall bouquet of various flowers and grasses against a purple fabric background.
A bouquet of colorful flowers held by a person in a blue shirt against a metallic textured background.

At Willow & Wheel, we believe your occasion isn’t run of the mill, and the result shouldn’t be either! We value your unique story, and want your design to be tailored specifically to you. Willow & Wheel is dedicated to transcending formulaic and rushed designs with intentional, bespoke works of art. We are thorough, creative, passionate, and transparent.

Handmade Pottery

Close-up of a ceramic vase with a narrow opening, resting on a textured surface.
A ceramic vase with red upper part and black and white striped lower part, placed on a flat surface with some small objects or debris in the background.
A blue and white striped ceramic mug with a large white handle, placed on a wooden surface outdoors with a blurred natural background.

Handmade vessels from vases, compotes, mugs, tableware, and more! All pieces are thoughtfully crafted in our Asheville studio. Limited edition shop drops will be announced first to all email subscribers! Event collections for rent coming soon.

How long will it last?

Installation with dried and fresh flowers, fabric, mirrors, and metal mesh

April 10–16, 2026

Hanna Zahory (@gulbaaz_), Grace Bates-Toulson (@willowandwheel), Allison Omlor, and Gabrielle Thompson.

Photography & Lighting Support by Simon Bonneau (@singeavl)

Hosted by Trackside Studios

We are drawn to what is fleeting. This installation holds fresh and dried flowers in a moment suspended—alive, yet already moving toward decay. The fresh florals will not be refreshed, allowing the work to naturally wither over the course of the exhibition. Fabric, mirrors, and metal mesh frame and reflect these transformations, highlighting the passage of time.

“How long will it last?” is a question florists hear every day. It is also a quiet mirror of our own impermanence.

Guided by the reverence and care of death doulas, the work asks us to witness life and mortality side by side. In this space, we hope the question shifts—from how long will it last to how long do we have together?

Get to know Florist & Potter, Grace Bates-Toulson

Close-up of a smiling woman with medium-length dark brown hair and wearing a green patterned top.

My name is Grace Bates-Toulson and I am the maker behind Willow and Wheel! It started as a humble side hustle rooted in my passion for ceramics, and has grown into a business for Pottery & Floral Design. 

I fell in love with pottery about 9 years ago, and I did whatever I could to get my hands on clay. I was consumed with the desire to learn and the endless possibilities of what I could make. With this passion, I slowly chipped away at creating a home basement studio, and I’ve come a very long way in bringing that dream to reality. Just this year I added the final piece of the puzzle - a kiln!

The love of floristry found me in 2024. I’ve always loved flowers, I mean who doesn’t, but it wasn’t until getting married in 2022 that I had a little a-ha moment, sprouting like a seedling in the back of my mind. I DIY-ed the table florals in vases I had thrown for my wedding, and hired a professional for the rest. It was a lot harder than I’d anticipated! I was fascinated by the work it takes, and this fascination unlocked a beautiful new algorithm of floral masterpieces I studied and admired for a couple of years. In 2024, I found my first floral assistant position and learned quickly, flourishing my way up to a floral designer title in no time. 

I have big ambitions for merging these cohesive passions of mine and I’m excited to offer my skills and talents for weddings, events, art installations, styled shoots, custom pre-orders, commissioned ceramics, and more!

Contact Willow & Wheel

Interested in working together? I can’t wait to hear from you! Fill out some info and I’ll be in touch shortly.

How It Works

  • Collaborate

    During your consultation, we will discuss your vision, vibe, options, and budget.

  • Craft

    I will create and design a proposal specifically based on our consultation. Always bespoke, always artful. Once perfectly tailored to you, you will receive an invoice and an agreement.

  • Cherish

    Enjoy your unique story told through florals &/or ceramics. Once you book, you can trust us to bring the vision to life!