Hi! Thank you for visiting Carmelita Studio. My name is Teresa Sullenger and I am so excited to share with you what Carmelita Floral & Design Studio is all about - past, present, and future.
For over 50 years I have found joy in creating beauty from the unexpected, from simplicity, from nature, from my family and the treasures and traditions we hold dear. Honoring God, family, community and country was ingrained in me, along with creative thinking and a 'using what you have' mentality, since birth. My sister and I once created a 'Barbie' shopping mall with a shoe-box elevator/pully system on shelves hung in our room! For more than three decades I honed my skills of creativity, design and conservation in both the public and private sectors. That faith, creativity and vision is the foundation of Carmelita Studio.
'Carmelita' has many meanings: 'Down to Earth', 'Garden' or 'Orchard'. And my personal favorite, 'Vineyard of God'. There is simplicity and irony in the name - God brought my husband and me to live on Carmelita - thus Carmelita Floral and Design Studio was born.
The current services and offerings are a starting point. There is more to come. Lots more! I've an educational toy line in development, textile designs using designer materials saved from the landfill, an exclusive Christmas line for 2026 named 'Clancy' after my great-grandather, and an entire line of items made from repurposed and vintage goods. Custom screens and easles made from vintage 1950's JC Penney's wood shelving units are particularly cool. These pristine, 'Made in America' shelving systems were given to me by my friends, Jan and Gary Hop, with the instructions to 'do my thing', create something amazing with them. These easles were recently used at The Atascadero Printery Gala to showcase its signage and I make custom ordered screens and room dividers from them.
My ultimate goal, the one God has made clear is His design for me, is for Carmelita Studio to provide life skills training, jobs and income to our community. A safe haven, rooted in faith, showing kindness to one another and our earth.
Welcome to my home! Carmelita Floral & Design Studio. I look forward to being a part of your next tradition, event or milestone.
Blessings, Teresa
Carmelita Studio views life and design like a game of Boggle. You have random letters from which you create words. Our mission is to collaboratively uncover your unique 'letters' - your existing resources, talents and treasures - to design beautiful, memorable, and cost-effective creations that tell your one-of-a-kind story.
This Boggle concept is more than a metaphor. It is a philosophy. Having played the game for nearly 50 years, I truly believe that by identifying and arranging the 'letters' of our own personal lives - our passions, skills and resources, we can create something truly beautiful and memorable.
We hold a deep, guiding belief in honoring our past and weaving family treasures into the fabric of our daily lives. Every service we offer is designed to give new purpose to what is cherished or perhaps loved but no longer practical. Our commitment to sustainability is foundational: we are passionately dedicated to recycling, upcycling and limiting the use of plastic in all our designs and projects.
This philosophy is applied across all of our services, many of which make unique and memorable gifts. Just in time for the holidays!
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