#AllCoopedUp with Abigail Spencer
I pretty much always have flowers on my mind. So, on the biggest flower holiday of the year, during a time when we need as much love and beauty as we can get, I am excited to introduce you to one of my very favorite flower friends, Abigail Spencer. Abigail is a true creative artist and entrepreneur who has managed to marry her many talents in order to launch County Line Florals, an incredibly beautiful and inspiring floral design and subscription service. We’re beyond excited to launch a CLF x +COOP collaboration including these exquisite and exclusive Valentine’s bouquets. I want every single one!
What’s your profession and what does your weekday routine look like now?
That’s a great question. My profession for the past 20 years has been primarily acting. I’m in the midst of a huge shift to Producing, County Line Florals founder/ceo Florista-ing, Creative Director-ing, Art directing, etc... while still continuing to act. The pandemic gave space for lots of long time dreams to take hold and expand. The ‘pandemic pivot’, I say.
Tell us how County Line Florals came to be and what you love most about it?
The seed was planted when my father suddenly passed of a heart attack while surfing at County Line in Malibu on Valentine's Day in 2011. Flower day. Grief. Loss. That healing is a choice. I got quite into the business of gratitude. My grandmother was a florist, and I've always been quite opinionated about florals. I took an arranging class in NYC a few years ago. It's been lingering in the background. I've always wanted to do something with my surf background. Flower. Surf. Loss. Joy. It just kept circling. And "County Line" was following me around. The pandemic gave me space to explore this "mobile joy" idea. And "Betty" our 1965 VW Surf Truck was born and it's just kept developing from there. I'm a storyteller and an artist and a designer. I don't claim to be any different. So my hope is to bring people together and to find teammates to find new and artistic ways to explore the plants and floral space. So we are staying curious as we grow.
Are there any objects or spaces in your house that have a new appreciation for? Anything you’ve come to loathe?
I love my house. I really have become so grateful for it in the pandemic. It's a very good house. I love the fireplace in my bedroom. I use it more than I ever thought. I've really grown fond of the Santa Fe-esque/Spanish style adobe-type chimney.
Describe your at-home quarantine uniform.
This has been a journey. I started out in athleisure. My Nikes and Aritzia puffer vest and Spanx or Split 59 leggings. Then I had a stay-at-home kooky art teacher phase with all my Heidi Merrick tops and pants and pant skirts. Then I transitioned into your favorite summer camp counselor vibes. Now I'm in a Come Back as a Flower tie dye sweat suit phase or Alex Mill CLF jumper. It's a never ending story.
Who are you quarantining with? Do you feel the need to “get away”?
At the beginning the only humans I saw for a couple months were my son and my amazing assistant Steph. I also broke my wrist in the middle of the pandemic so then I saw my surgeon and my PT Therapist. I have a small group of friends I would see once we were tested. Then we escaped to Ojai and are now splitting our time between LA and Ojai.
What’s the last thing you purchased online? Regret or obsessed?
I just bought this Come Back As a Flower tie dye sweatsuit I'm pretty proud of... whenever a trend makes its way in I'm usually repelled. But the tie dye sweatsuit kept a'calling and when I saw this brand's I was intrigued. Definitely the right one for me.
Any shows, podcasts, or books you’re loving right now?
We watched Soul over the holiday which I thought was phenomenal. We just watched In and Of Itself on Hulu, which is thought provoking. I haven't watched Bridgerton. (I know that's where this is going) I'm reading Measure What Matters. And I love Josh Radnor's Museletters. Whitney Cummings Good For You and just started Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert.
Do you have any new quarantine activities or rituals?
Organizing. I love everything in its place and a place for everything, oh do I. Cleaning out mine and others' closets. Paring down. I love creating space. Zoom pilates with my teacher of 12 years, Jessica McTighe. And dancing in my kitchen has become my nightclub.
Any go-to cravings or recipes you’ve been loving? Favorite restaurants for takeout?
What would I do without Katsuya and Flavor of India in Studio City? I truly don't know. Or The Nest in Ojai.
What is your creative outlet and how are you making space for it?
My creative outlet is floraling and floristaing. And I've made space by building a company to support this complete and utter healing outlet. It's taken over my house! And my photo albums. And my mind.
What’s been the biggest challenge for you throughout this past year?
I think the biggest challenge has just been holding space for it all. We are living through a pandemic. There is suffering everywhere. I really believe everyone is doing the best they can so my hope for us all is remembering we are in a freaking pandemic and let's hold space that this is unprecedented season. It's just been a balance of one-day-at-time and holding. We really just don't know what everyone is going through deeply. So I think pausing and being kind. To the self. To others. To be soft. To lay on the grass. And be grateful.
When this is over I can’t wait to ___________.
Travel with my boyfriend. Go to dinner. Hug my friends. Go dancing.
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