Sympathy Card

In times of sorrow, comfort can arrive inside a kind, handwritten card. This card reads “In sympathy” on the front above a close-up of my hand-illustrated September Morning bouquet, featuring a ruby-red dahlia.

Inside, more of the bouquet appears in soft color, along with the gentle message, “I’m truly sorry for your loss,” and the traditional meaning of each bloom:

• Peony: friendship

• Ranunculus: grace

• Smokebush: change

When words feel hard to find, the meanings offer a quiet starting place. Friendship, grace, and the acknowledgment of change can help you say what’s in your heart.

Over the years, customers have shared that the people who received my cards in difficult times found real comfort in their beauty. That means more to me than I can say.

Each card begins with about 30 hours of careful drawing in black ink and colored pencil, from live flowers grown by Muddy Feet Flower Farm, a woman-owned grower.

When you send this card, you’re supporting an SBA-certified woman-owned small business that works with American family-run manufacturers. It’s printed in Maryland on lightly textured bright card stock, and its envelope is milled in South Carolina and assembled in Wisconsin.

• Size: A2

• Paper: lightly textured bright card stock, FSC-certified, with 30% post-consumer recycled content

• Envelope: white, invitation-style flat flap, 4.5" x 5.75"

• Inside: lighter full-color art, printed message, and flower meanings

• Made in: the USA. The card is printed in Maryland, and the envelope is milled in South Carolina and assembled in Wisconsin.

• Packaging: All Vivid Cottage cards are sent without single-use plastics.