As a child, Emmie Leath tiptoed barefoot through the backyard, picking every single daffodil, even those that hadn’t fully opened yet, eager to bring their sunshine indoors. In her creative world, Barbies wore tiny dresses made of her mother’s fabric scraps, their homes built from twigs and moss. Even then, she saw beauty in nature’s raw materials and delighted in turning them into something uniquely her own.
“Flowers have always been a part of my DNA,” Emmie says. “Growing up, I was the one setting the table for every family gathering, making sure the floral centerpiece was personal and inviting.”
Her instincts became the foundation of her artistry. With degrees in psychology and art from UAB, Emmie explored the emotional depth of creativity. After freelancing for a number of years, she launched Glorious, a floral design studio where her signature style—lush, thoughtful, and wildly elegant—comes to life.
For Emmie, floral arranging is an art form akin to both painting and sculpting. “You start with a blank canvas—a vase—and then add shape, line, and color,” she explains. “Then just like in sculpture, you build layers, creating movement and texture.” Her background in sculptural arts deepened when she spent time learning metalworking techniques and exploring the tactile relationship between structure and form at Sloss Furnaces. “The experience really made me think about how materials interact and how texture plays into design.”
Everywhere she looks, Emmie finds design inspiration—especially from Alabama’s rich natural landscape, foraging branches, wild greenery, and unexpected textures to add depth and movement. “I have always been really attuned to the beauty that comes so naturally to Alabama—the way things flower through the seasons.”
Her approach is as playful as it is artistic. “One Thanksgiving, I used cabbages as floral vessels and tucked flowers into them,” she says with a laugh. Another time, she transformed a boutique’s sneaker collection into a whimsical floral installation. “I love thinking beyond the usual, bringing in elements that elevate a space in a unique way.”
Emmie sees floral design as a way to elevate connection at every gathering. “I really think about who I am preparing an arrangement for and the specific meaning of each type of flower I’m using,” she says. “If it’s a family member, I make sure to incorporate their favorite flowers.”
Emmie’s joy extends to sharing her craft. She teaches workshops to help others find confidence in their creativity. “I want to help people feel confident and say, ‘Okay, I am creative. I can put together an arrangement that I’m proud of.’”
As Emmie creates each arrangement, she reflects on the world around her. “It’s such a place of joy and beauty for me,” she says. “Something that has always shined through is that flowers are such an act of intentional creativity, and I see that as the creation of the Lord—something that is glorious, that He has made just for us to enjoy, and that adorns the earth with so much beauty.”