As spring gets into full swing, mum of two Caroline Hodges talks about designing the perfect wedding flowers and spending quality time on the beach…

What are you up to at the moment?

I am currently emerging from the blissful but sleep-deprived fog of baby number two and am really excited about getting back to working with flowers again.

Where do your ideas come from?

I’m inspired by the beautiful coastline and countryside where I live in south Devon. But when I design for a wedding bouquet, for example, I start by really getting to know each bride-to-be so her bouquet reflects her personality.

Who’s your role model?

My mum – she (and my dad) gave my brother, sister and I an amazing, carefree childhood whilst running a busy seasonal business. How she managed to juggle more than full-time work during the summer and still had time to kiss-better grazed knees and mend ‘broken’ hearts with the best hug in the world, I’ll never know. Finding that elusive work-life balance is a skill I’m keen to master before my daughters grow up too much.

What’s your earliest memory that inspired your work?

Living in Paris when I was 20. I used to walk past a beautiful flower shop on my way to work. It was tiny and brimming with stunning flowers spilling out onto the street. Everyday I wished I could spend my time there immersed in that heady scent rather than in an office.

What’s the biggest lesson you have learned so far?

In work? To believe in myself. Also, hard work really does pay off, and if you want to achieve your goal, get out there and chase it.

When you’re not working on being the next big thing, what do you do to relax?

Spend precious time with my husband who works away a lot, and my two gorgeous girls. As much beach time as possible in the summer and blustery walks or cosy stories by the fire in winter.

We encourage everyone to do one thing each week to be kind to themselves, what are you going to do this week to #bekindtoyou?

Have a long soak in a bath that isn’t shared with a three year old!

Are you the #NextBigThing? Tell us about your work @spabreaks