Now in its 15th year, Flower Magazine—the nation’s only floral lifestyle publication— is available in all 50 states and 17 countries.

“Though I had no experience, I had particular gifts which helped tremendously. I love words and have an eye for beauty. Those two elements have combined to help me with the actual magazine. I also love people, and I believe that comes across in Flower and in my life,” Shaw said.

Shaw’s epiphany of love and appreciation for floral design came to her while working alongside and learning from the floral and event designer in the process of planning her daughter’s wedding, with whom she would eventually apprentice. It was through this experience that Shaw solidified her passion for the botanical and gained the knowledge necessary to eventually run Flower Magazine.

“What I really wanted was a lifestyle publication with a botanical perspective. I prayed hard and listened and waited, and people came into my life that would help me start Flower,” Shaw said.

In 2007, Shaw became not only the founder but also the editor-in-chief of her newly established magazine.

Shaw’s knowledge of homes, gardens, entertaining and lifestyle comes also from her time at university, during which she studied both sociology and art history at Hollins College in Virginia and interior design at the University of Texas. Her travels—as well as her time living in New York and Switzerland—gave her experience and exposure to the cultures of various places.

Now, Shaw can commonly be found in Flower’s office, a brown shingle cottage on Pump House Road in Birmingham, Alabama, where she spends her days proof-reading layouts for Flower’s next issue, helping brainstorm about events, budgets and personnel, going on tour and writing features when she has the opportunity.

“I might also be playing with a team member’s puppy or small child,” she said.

In addition to these tasks, Shaw occupied herself in recent years with her own form of writing. Her book “Living Floral: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers” was published by Rizzoli New York in 2019 with the goal of sharing tips, tricks, knowledge and resources with interested readers.

“The urge to gather flowers and all forms of beauty into our lives is, I think, primordial, and in my view, began in a garden. So, how fitting that we should be inspired by living surrounded by natural beauty,” Shaw noted in the introduction of her book.

Shaw’s accomplishments include being on the National Advisory Committee of the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville, Tennessee, the Lauritzen Gardens Antique Show in Omaha, Nebraska, the Antiques at the Gardens in Birmingham, Alabama, the Red Mountain Garden Club and Cahaba River Society.

Shaw said the opportunity to meet various people and visit new places is her favorite part of her career. She also holds that her faith is the driving force behind her work.

“I must say that really, I’m most passionate about God and sharing the beauty of His creation through my work. I’m so grateful to Him and want everyone to know Him. It seems that He’s given me a fitting, fun, and colorful platform,” Shaw said.