Bremen has a new florist in town, and she’s promising more than bouquets. Melanie Jones, owner and manager of Flower Patch Florist, opened her new business in Bremen in May. Besides flower arrangements, Jones offers art and jewelry from local artisans, as well as antiques on consignment from Antiques of Waco.

“I like art, and I think this is a way of expressing yourself.” Jones said.

Jones is a new member of the Haralson County Chamber of Commerce and said it was time for her to open her own shop after 17 years in the flower business.

“I worked for other florists and for the florist in the Harris Teeter grocery store,” she said.

Her most recent work was with 1-800-Flowers before she decided to open her own shop.

“I like the people that I meet, and I decided to open a store because flowers are what I do. There wasn’t really another option,” Jones said.

Jones, who opened her store two days before Mother’s Day this year, said the uptake is slow, but not unusual for a new business.

“This shop offers a lot of different things,” she said. “It’s not just flowers and balloons, it’s tutus, gift baskets, handmade soaps and candles, jewelry – a little of something for everybody. I’m trying to focus on Georgia artists and businesses. I just want to do something different.”

Jones’ cousin, Dondra Adams, provides the jewelry for the location and held an Open House on Saturday to showcase her products.

The store also features soaps by David Mitchem of Soaps by Kate, horseshoe iron works by John Lyon of Iron Lyon in Canton, Ga., and tutus from Baby’s Breath Designs in Woodstock, Ga. She’s expecting more work and items from local merchants in the coming months – including more handmade soaps, knitted cowboy boot booties and handmade stick horses.

She also sells candles from Fire Dogs Candles, which were made to earn proceeds for a friend who rescues dogs for a living.

“By herself, she’s already rescued 35 dogs,” Jones said.

Jones found that her own appreciation of art has influenced the items that she sells.

“I used to do art in high school,” she said, “I had work in the Piedmont Arts Festival student exhibit and had an oil lamp at a Woodruff Arts Center display.”

Since moving to the area from Atlanta, Jones has worked to provide a forum for other small town artists. She recently received a call from the Society of Creative Anachronisms at the University of West Georgia and was invited to participate.

Flower Patch Florist is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is located on Alabama Avenue, across the street from Plantation Pipeline.