Conversations with Maggie McConnellogue

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie McConnellogue.

Maggie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Maggie, and I’m a Colorado native who’s always been drawn to creativity and the outdoors. I love to travel, ski, hike, scuba dive, and camp — anything that connects me to the beauty around me. I’ve always had a creative spirit, but for a long time, I didn’t think art could ever be a real career for me.

After high school, I went to college for sociology. During that time, I struggled with addiction, which eventually led to jails, multiple rehabs, and three felony convictions. My life changed when I was sentenced to two years of treatment at Stout Street Foundation. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done — but also the best.

While there, I spent every bit of my very little free time in the art room. Creating became a way to process, to heal, and to reconnect with myself. I made earrings and sold them at fundraisers to raise money for the foundation. Art was no longer just something I did — it became part of my recovery.

After graduating from the program, I worked at a spa for five years while chasing my dream of creating art full-time. During that time, I became a Reiki Master and began offering energy healing at markets and fairs. To draw people in and start conversations, I brought along handmade macramé, dreamcatchers, jewelry, and resin art. Creating was my way of connecting—with others and with myself—but I wasn’t quite making a living from it. I knew I needed to find a creative path that could also provide stability and growth.

About three years ago, I decided to pivot again and learn photography. I instantly fell in love, especially with weddings. Capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments felt deeply personal and fulfilling. That’s also how Bouquet Preservation found me. While in wedding groups online, I saw so many couples looking for someone to preserve their flowers, and I thought, “I can do that.”

What started as a simple experiment quickly became something I was deeply passionate about. I fell in love with the process—the patience it takes to preserve each bloom, the textures and colors that shift as flowers dry, and how no two pieces ever turn out the same. Every bouquet tells a story, and being able to turn that story into art feels incredibly special.

Over time, I realized that bouquet preservation isn’t just about weddings—it’s about memory, love, and connection in all their forms. I’ve had the honor of creating pieces for memorials or celebrations of life. Each arrangement carries emotion and history, and it’s humbling to know that something I create can help people hold on to a tangible part of a moment or a person they love.

Now, through my photography and Bouquet Preservation CO, I get to create and capture meaning in different forms—through photos, through flowers, and through moments. It’s been a long and winding journey, but every chapter has led me to a life that feels creative, healing, and deeply fulfilling.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Recovery itself is never easy, and figuring out my true passion while trying to make a living was a big challenge. On top of that, I had to repair many of the things I damaged during my addiction, including relationships and my credit. Being a felon also adds its own obstacles. I’ve learned I have ADHD, which brings unique challenges when managing two businesses at once. The seasonality of my work can be tricky, too — many clients don’t even book bouquet preservation until days after their wedding.

Rapid growth has meant figuring out systems to stay organized. I taught myself how to build a website, developed shipping protocols for fragile frames (including backup plans for breakage), and continue refining my processes as I go. Building a business, learning to delegate, and juggling all these moving parts has been challenging, but incredibly rewarding.

Despite the hurdles, the progress has been amazing. Last year, I completed around 15–20 frames, and this year I’ve preserved over 75 bouquets. Each challenge has taught me something new about myself, my craft, and what it means to build a meaningful, creative life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a bouquet preservation artist and photographer based in Colorado. I specialize in turning flowers from life’s most meaningful moments into lasting works of art. I work with everything from wedding and elopement bouquets to memorial arrangements, creating one-of-a-kind pieces that capture love, memory, and transformation. I’m known for taking on last-minute projects and finding creative ways to bring each client’s vision to life.

I’m most proud of my recovery — it’s been over eleven years since I’ve touched heroin or meth — and that journey has given me the foundation to build a life and business rooted in beauty, gratitude, and purpose. Through my art, I get to create something that helps people hold on to their most meaningful moments, and that feels incredibly special.

I also love giving back through my photography and photo booth work, volunteering for veterans’ and recovery events and supporting local nonprofits. At the heart of everything I do is connection — between people, memories, and the beauty that can come from healing and transformation.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When it comes to bouquet preservation, I’m completely self-taught. It’s been a process of trial and error, but through a lot of experimenting, I’ve refined my craft—and I’m still learning all the time. I recently took a framing class so I can start making my own frames, and I plan to create a class of my own to share the tips and tricks I wish I’d had when I started. I also have a friend who does bouquet preservation, and we often bounce ideas and techniques off each other. It’s such a supportive relationship. There’s more than enough business to go around, and we’ve built a great referral system for when one of us can’t take on a project. Collaboration over competition has made all the difference.

Mentorship in recovery has been a completely different experience—and one that truly shaped me. At Stout Street Foundation, the motto is “Helping People Help Themselves,” and that’s exactly what it felt like. It’s a place where residents live, work, and attend classes and groups to learn how to rebuild their lives. I was fortunate to work in the Development Department under Teri Smith, a fierce and loving woman who became an incredible mentor to me. Every day, I worked on raising money for the very foundation that was saving my life. Teri taught me so much about strength, compassion, and accountability—lessons that continue to guide me in both life and business. One of my favorite photos is of my mom, Sheble and Teri holding trays I made; it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come and the women who helped me get here.

For photography and business in general, I’ve found mentorship through education and community. Investing in myself has been one of the most valuable things I’ve done. I purchased a course from Maddie Mae, an elopement photographer and marketing expert I deeply admire. It includes live calls, feedback, and a community of creatives walking a similar path. It’s been amazing to see my story reflected in others—to learn from their challenges, share experiences, and grow alongside people who understand the unique blend of art and entrepreneurship.

Pricing:

• Floating Frames- Starting at $200
• Shadow Boxes- Starting at $200
• Resin Tray-$300
• Small Gifts- Ranging From $25-$200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bouquetpreservationco.com
• Instagram: @bouquetpreservationco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bouquetpreservationco
• Other: TikTok: @bouquetpreservationco

Image Credits
Opal Eyes Photography
Kristian Manolakis