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Wedding Wednesday :: Sweetheart Tables


Wedding Wednesday :: Red Wedding Decor

Wedding Wednesday :: Phalaenopsis Inspiration

Wedding Wednesday :: Winter Wedding Inspiration

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Fête Des Flirty Fleurs

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Fête Des *Flirty* Fleurs, a new project by Alicia of the @flirtyfleurs Blog & Magazine – in celebration of floral designs & designers from around the world.
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Flirty Fleurs blog started off as a way to share inspiring design work by floral designers with others in the floral industry. While the blog and magazine have remained focused on featuring those in the industry, the Instagram account @flirtyfleurs has become a way for me (Alicia) to share my gardening adventures, floral design classes I’m teaching, and all my various other floral industry projects with all of you. While I love sharing my personal flower-filled journey, I do miss sharing the floral design work of others. After much thought I’ve decided the best way to return to this favorite project is to create an Instagram account with the sole purpose of celebrating other floral designers and sharing the work that inspires me.
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With that being said, I am thrilled to announce the launch of @fetedesflirtyfleurs and the accompanying hashtag #FeteDesFlirtyFleurs and I would love to feature your work there! For the chance to be featured and included in this project please tag your floral design images posted on Instagram with #FeteDesFlirtyFleurs

Wedding Wednesday :: Christmas Bouquet Inspiration

Wedding Wednesday :: Bouquets of White and Gold

2017 In Review

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Hello dear Flower Friends,

How are all of you? I hope you all had a wonderful wedding season and are finishing off the year strong with Holiday events!
As for me, well, I have a lot on my mind and need to share it with all of you.
First, we need to back up and review 2017 before talking about where I see Flirty Fleurs Blog going in 2018.

2017 In Review

If you’ve been following along with the blog you may have noticed that I’ve barely posted in the last four months. Very out of character as for 7+ years I made sure this blog had content posted 5x per week. I squeaked out a few posts in August and then all but disappeared. Thankfully, Michelle and Rachel have been here posting and keeping the blog alive.

What happened to me? I got bored. Yes, I just said it. I said it to you and I said it to myself. I did not get burned out as I’ve been very busy and very content in the flower world all of 2017. In fact, this has been one of the best years for my business and filled with all kinds of wonderful adventures in the flower world. BUT as far as blogging goes – I got bored.

In September I went on a 3 week vacation to southern Europe where I instructed myself to get off social media and take some time away from technology to see if I could re-set my mind. Well, the good news is that I throughouly enjoyed my vacation and really didn’t want it to end! The not so good part is when I came home I still didn’t feel like jumping back on the blog.

In the past I would have powered thru and pushed myself to keep posting content daily. This time I decided to back off and ponder why I was feeling such a discontentment with blogging. After much pondering and asking myself deep questions, and talking to a few friends I have come to a conclusion on why I feel the way I feel about blogging.

Over Saturation of Information – Pure and Simple, everyone is online constantly publishing their latest and greatest to Social Media. YES, this is a necessity because in a very full field a business must sing their own praises and share the best of what they have available. In addition to so much to take in on Instagram and Facebook pages are all the Facebook Florist Forums, Podcasts, Online Workshops, etc – the list is long and pretty much exploded in 2017. Yes, these are all great tools for florists to partake in … but as far as a blogger goes I suddenly feel like I’ve seen and heard it all.
What can I possibly share on a blog that isn’t information that has already been shared many times over elsewhere in social media?

When I started Flirty Fleurs, and back in the days when Chuck was on board with blogging, we’d dig and dig and research floral businesses and always felt like we were making a discovery. We’d get excited and couldn’t wait to share our interviews and findings with all of you. Seriously, us flower nerds would be up at 4:30 or 5am texting each other and saying — hey, look at this NOW! Fast forward to 2017 and  I feel like it’s all out there and you’ve probably read it in a forum or on an instagram post anyway….

The Plan from Here and into 2018
So where do I go from here with Flirty Fleurs Blog? Believe me, both you and I are wondering what the answer is to this questions! A few thoughts so far…

  1. In time I have learned to not be so hard on myself. This time when the boredom seeped in I did not push myself to keep posting when I really need to step back and think. This is a huge change for me as I typically will just keep pushing myself. Sometimes it is necessary to back off and look around and re-set goals.
  2. We are not publishing a 2017 Print Issue of Flirty Fleurs Magazine. The magazine is a passion project and since I wasn’t feeling too passionate this season it seemed best to not push a magazine — as that is a HUGE undertaking and is driven by passion. This isn’t to say we won’t do it in the future, but it’ll be when the passion has come back.
  3. I’m so thankful to have Michelle here posting Wedding Wednesday blogs. Michelle was my right-hand, amazing design assistant at my flower studio Bella Fiori for 5 years. Having her on board here for the past year of blogging has been a god-send. Personally I enjoy seeing what she’ll post every Wednesday — it’s like a fun surprise for me, too 🙂
  4. I’m excited to have Rachel on board for blogging projects. Last week we sat down and had a meeting about what to post in 2018 and she has some wonderful series in the works.
  5. Most Importantly will be the new blogging schedule. We had been posting 5x per week for many years, until I came to the realization that in addition to me becoming bored with blogging — all of you are probably also over-inundated with information. The last thing I want to do is add even more reading to your list of things to do! Instead we are going to fine-tune our posting schedule.
    Our plan for 2018 is to post TWICE per week.
    Yes, huge adjustment, but in the end probably better for everyone. On Mondays, there will be an interview or series posting by either myself or Rachel. On Wednesdays, Michelle will continue with Wedding Wednesday where she selects a variety of designs from floral designers around the world to feature. *IF* I am struck by something interesting or have something that I must share and it can’t wait until Monday then I will post it on Friday.
  6. As a way for me to continue to share the work of other floral designers I have started the new Instagram account @fetedesflirtyfleurs — so be sure to add the hashtag #FeteDesFlirtyFleurs  or #FlirtyFleurs onto your posts for a chance to be featured!

So there you go, that’s how I’m feeling these days! Honestly, I’ve been putting off this post and waiting to see if my feelings towards blogging would change — yet, now that I’ve written the post I can tell you all that I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my back!

I do want you all to know how much I appreciate all of you, thank you for joining me on this flower filled journey.

Wishing you all the best in 2018!
Warmly,
Alicia


CALLING ALL DESIGNERS! 

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We are looking to interview female designers who use power tools in their design work.
ie: power saws, nail guns, etc.
 

Think you’re a good candidate? Or think you know someone who fits the bill?

Email us at info@flirtyfleurs.com, subject line: Women With Tools Applicant.

Tell us who you are, a little about your design work, and your favorite power tool to use. Include at least 2 pictures of recent projects you’ve done that required power tools and tell us a little about them.

You could be featured on our blog!

Send us your  informal applications by January 31 to be considered!

And Happy Holidays from the Flirty Fleurs Team!

Happy New Year, Flower Friends!

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Hello Flower Friends!

Happy New Year! Who’s ready to rock 2018?!

I enjoyed 2017 – a handful of weddings with the sweetest brides, lots of floral design classes which I thoroughly enjoyed teaaching, a dahlia garden that bloomed and bloomed this season and the balance of time to enjoy summer visits with family and a fantastic 3 week vacation in Southern Europe. I can only hope 2018 bestows the same amount of enjoyment.
Also, as I shared a few weeks ago, we will be simplifying the posting schedule here on the Flirty Fleurs Blog. Since I shared that information I have felt a heavy weight lifted off me. I’m so excited for the three blog posts I currently have in the works and will be sharing with all of you on the following Mondays.
That’s what I was in search of – to work on special blog posts that have a lot of meaning, inspiration, and information for all of you to read!

My favorite TV show to watch is CBS Sunday Morning as they often share such inspiring stories of people from all walks of life and in particular the creative artist types. My kind of people! This week they interviewed James Franco and he said something that really resonated with me and I feel is a good quote to share with all of you as you embark on a new year –

“If you want to be an artist of any kind.. like people are not going to beg you to do it. You have to want to do it, you have to put in the work, you have to prove it.”

So true – no one is going to beg you to do it, no one else is going to do the work, you have to work for your goals and prove yourself. So set up your goals for 2018 and get to work!

*****

Speaking of getting to work in 2018 — today is the day I launch our new project – @FeteDesFlirtyFleurs over on Instagram! I’m so excited to roll out this new project where I will be sharing the inspiring floral design work of florists from around the world! For a chance to be featured, please add the hashtag #FeteDesFlirtyFleurs to your flower images!

*****

To finish off today’s blog post I am sharing the most popular nine posts of flirty fleurs found on instagram for 2017:
ranunculus, dahlias, peonies, garden roses - on flirty fleurs flower blog

Wedding Wednesday :: Winter Wedding Inspiration

Catching up with Hitomi Gilliam AIFD

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Hitomi checking on the work of Team Gloriosa at Florabundance Design Days, photographed by Alicia.

Hitomi Gilliam AIFD, a floral designer known world wide for her intensely intricate design mechanics and fascinating floral displays. Hitomi works in all aspects of the floral industry – as a keynote lecturer, a demonstrator, an educator and a consultant. We are thrilled to share an interview with Hitomi, as we are constantly inspired by her and surely you will be, too!

Hitomi, How long have you been working in the floral industry?
38 years.

How did your career in the floral industry start?
I began as a grower, specializing in fuchsias (grew over 300 varieties). We also grew bedding plants in season for retail sales, tropical, cacti and succulents the rest of the year. My ex and I opened a retail plant shop, selling tropical pots and hangers during the plant craze in the late 70’s. We soon entertained the idea of cutflower and flowering plant sales after several customers requested me to do their wedding flowers. I sought help from a retired florist friend – she showed me how to do my first wedding. I got started into floristry this way and Satsuki Growers, the plant shop – eventually became Satsuki Florist.

Design by Hitomi Gilliam AIFD

Show diversity in your work!!! Experiment with Floral Art, the other side of floristry. Design for Art Sake, Design to satisfy your personal creative outlet!! Enjoy the real artists… Nature itself!!

Many floral designers that I speak with seem to experience a bout of burnout somewhere along their path, is this something you’ve faced at any point in your career?
The burnout seemed a real possibility if I had just stayed a local florist for the 28 years in business. I may have moved on in the first 5 years if I had not began competing. I started participating in design competition within the first 2 years of floral business. It kept me excited and interested in trying something new and to get creative with my merchandising, window displays, etc.
Retail business can easily become really mundane if you don’t inject your own excitement into it. In retail floristry, you can so easily get into a working pattern that’s repetitious every day. A burnout happens when you get so busy doing the same things and getting overwhelmed with work which does not show enough financial gain.

Hitomi Gilliam - Bridal Bouquet pink cascading

How do you stay inspired and keep fresh at 20+ years in the floral industry?
Competing kept me inspired and highly motivated in the beginning.
Travelling to do design shows keep you inspired to come up with new ideas, to keep on top of new concepts.
When you start to teach – it became my inspiration. To come up with new useful ideas, new creative approach to design, new mechanics, new techniques and to help students prepare for certification or to compete.
Nature is a constant inspiration. Keeping eyes open to opportunities at all times to capture moments which provide ideas.
Architecture and Fashion are parallel arts where I find some of the best inspirations. I am always on the look out for outside influence for flowers.

Designed by Hitomi Gilliam AIFD, Magenta flowers in a Modern Style

We’d love to hear about some of the highlight moments in your career, an event of experience that you’ll never forget!
– Induction into AIFD 1986
– My first AIFD Symposium program in San Francisco 1987
– Winning the 1987 AFS Great American Design Competition – North American Championship in Las Vegas at a florist convention with 4000 attendees.
– First book with co-author, John Haines published in 1994 – EARTH MAN SPIRIT
– 5th recipient of AIFD ‘Design Influence’ Award in 1998
– Won Gold and Best of Show at Singapore Garden Festival at an invitational International design competition, representing Canada

Thank you, Hitomi, for sharing your insights with us, and I look forward to seeing you in the coming year! For all our flower friends out there who want to see more Hitomi, be sure to check out her YouTube Channel HERE and Hitomi’s website HERE.
-Alicia

Hitomi Gilliam AIFD - white floral arrangement

Wedding Wednesday :: Pink Wedding Inspiration

Women with Tools: Featuring Emily Anderson

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by Rachel Evans Heath

As floral designers we have all sorts of tools, floral or otherwise, in our aprons, workshops, or toolboxes. We know how to handle a sharp knife, wire cutters, or even a staple gun. We use all these tools regularly.

But what about power tools?

With a large majority of designers being women, the pattern, it seems, is that we know how to quickly steam an aisle runner, but are less comfortable with the bigger electric tools: power drills, table saws, and hammer guns, to name a few.

Did you know that most power tools are often made larger, louder, and heavier than necessary? Some dangerous tools need to be loud to warn those around them to be on guard and not get too close. However, a lot of the unnecessary bulk is kept, to better cater to their male customers. Men liking power tools is the cliché we all hear, fed by such characters as Tim “the tool man” Taylor from Home Improvement, or the burly men illustrated into our children’s books or animated shows, holding a crazed and uncontrollable jack hammer.

But with a recent realization of just how far a designer’s work could expand when incorporating power tools, it has become our mission at Flirty Fleurs to help inspire our female readers to expand their designs via the world of power tools. And to help show us the way, we will be featuring one designer a month from whom we might take inspiration: inspiration from their work, their zeal and their incorporation of power tools.

So starting us off is the woman who inspired this series:
Introducing Emily Anderson from Lola Creative in Edmonds, WA.

Emily’s business has expanded outside the realm of just floral design, as she and her team specialize in large, custom pieces of unique art, and flowers, often for large events. They’ve been tackling large installations since 2010.

But Emily’s journey has not always been an easy one. Emily was taught to weld and handle particular tools while studying sculpture at the University of Washington. She describes the condescension she endured while trying to learn and grow more familiar with tools:

“For years, on job sites as a project manager, someone would always ask if I was in high school. Every. Single. Time. …among other condescension. It was hard to gain respect as someone who knew what they were doing- and granted, I had (and still do have) TONS to learn. It was hard to be taken seriously and I remember wishing that I looked older and knew more.

My reaction was to try and be tough and I always felt I needed to prove myself. It’s pushed me to want to learn as much as possible, but looking back, I wish I just let it go and asked more questions. I tended to want to look like I had all the answers and then go home and figure it out rather than using those crews and people with lots of experiences for the resources they were.

I guess I overcame by learning to not fear looking like an amateur. Now I know that I mostly don’t know what I’m doing and am okay with that. Maybe 40% know what I’m doing, 60% figuring it out as I go. I know enough to know I can figure it out.”

But she’s come a long way since college. She encouragingly explains:

“Many women are perfectionists and often have a heightened fear of looking like an amateur. If it’s feeling stupid that keeps you from doing something you want to, know that feeling stupid is the precursor to learning and knowledge.

Just because you might feel apprehensive around tools, doesn’t mean it’s not what you should be doing. If you are curious about it, you should probably do it. Power tools are just dumb, loud machines. They’re predictable too.”

We don’t all have to have a college degree in sculpture to learn how better to handle tools. She says anyone can start anywhere.

“You can really learn how to build anything on Youtube”, she stated. “I would suggest looking for a basic project. If you don’t have your own tools, or someone’s garage to rifle through, your city may have a tool library. Tool rental is crazy cheap at a tool library.”

From there, Emily says it’s just a matter of practice.

Things only get less scary by repeatedly doing it. I remember thinking when I first started driving, ‘how could anyone be okay doing this.’ But through practice you know what noises to expect, how much power each tool has, how much power you need to exert to control each tool, and what the most likely bad thing to happen would be. By practice you learn that the ‘most likely bad thing’ probably isn’t going to happen.”

But let’s be real for a minute here: there’s a reason we sometimes get nervous around a large table saw. I mean, it definitely can cut off an appendage right? Of course the answer there is yes. It can. But Emily has good news for apprehensive women:

“Luckily, I think most women have a heightened sense of self-protection. So we’re more likely to step away from something than just ‘making something work’ with a lack in preparation and safety.

I actually just learned that ladder incidents were the greatest number of on the job deaths in this industry. But in all those deaths, 100% of them were men. So, I think we women are safe. Just kidding.”

Okay, so maybe you’re willing to give something new a try. What tool does Emily recommend starting off with?

“My favorite tool is a little Milwaukee cordless circular saw. I love it because it’s really light and compact. Without the cord, it takes away the worry about where the cord is- and avoiding cutting it. But if you are looking to buy your first tool, I’d recommend a cordless drill. From there, start making holes and attaching things together to start learning how different materials react. I’d also recommend learning how to measure, scale, and draw out ideas before building. It’s the foundation in planning any build.”

(Emily is actually developing an online course right now that will teach this. Watch CuriousLola.com for more information.)

Feeling inspired yet? If not, let us send you off with a few last thoughts from Emily.

I feel like a powerful woman and a large part of that is because I know that anything I dream up, I can build. And I am no master of anything, I can just make stuff go together and have it not fall over.

But it’s important to know I don’t wait for permission anymore. I don’t wait for an opportunity for someone to show me how to do something, I seek it out. I’m not waiting for someone to ask me to participate. My opportunities are self-made.

Tools, construction and even architecture are dominated by men- Having worked in the world of architecture as a woman, I can only imagine what a world of women builders looks like and how that would transform the built environment. I’m curious not only what it would look and feel like, but what those materials and processes would be like. Construction and events can be terribly wasteful if we’re not careful. So many industries can use a shake up- and it’ll come.

I get that we are only doing events, but it starts with girls being told that tools are for them and that changing their environment by construction and building is something they should do.

I love that any kids wandering by our workshop see a roomful of women with tools.

Be sure to check out this video of the Lola Creative team building a 10×26′ foam-free flower wall using moss for infill, metal display grid, and some rigging and truss for its support- it was in a wind tunnel outside… in August.

Follow Emily’s work on Instagram here. Or visit Curiouslola.com or LolaCreative.com.

(All images in today’s post have been provided by Lola Creative.)

YOU COULD BE FEATURED ON THE FLIRTY FLEURS BLOG!

Know someone (you?) who should be featured on our Women With Tools series? Have them email us at info@flirtyfleurs.com,
subject line: Women With Tools Applicant.

Tell us who you are, a little about your design work, and your favorite power tool to use. Include at least 2 pictures of recent projects you’ve done that required power tools and tell us a little about each.

Wedding Wednesday :: Floral Ceilings


Finding Fate through a Stranger’s Garden by Amanda of Alluring Blooms

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Alluring Blooms-florist-dinner-peach-compote

Everything from the yard except peonies and garden roses (my callas, garlic scapes, astilbe, snaps, rosemary)

Divine intervention. Fate. Kismet. Whatever you want to call it, I am grateful for it everyday.

I’m Amanda, the owner of Alluring Blooms in Madison, Wisconsin. I do floral for weddings and events with the help of my wonderful husband Matthew. When Alicia reached out to me asking if I’d be willing to share the story of our new home I happily said yes. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and the universe guides us in the direction we are meant to go. I hope by sharing our story it inspires others to be bold – you never know where it might lead you!

Like I said, I do flowers for weddings and events. Flowers are my passion, they bring me so much joy and I love sharing that joy with others. That being said, health insurance is not something our family can afford out of pocket, so I also work full time outside the studio. When Matthew and I purchased our first home almost ten years ago we really wanted a house in the city. We looked at homes in our “comfort zone” (we didn’t want a 30 year mortgage) and it quickly became obvious that our budget was going to force us to look outside the city. We found a perfect house for us 45 minutes north of Madison. It had a huge yard for our future dog and future kids and plenty of room for gardens. The daily commute was rough and we talked about moving into the city with each passing year. Unfortunately we never found the right place and eventually gave up on the idea… Until one fateful day in August 2016.

I have a coffee addiction (in this industry that shouldn’t be a surprise, lots of long nights). This means I know where a Starbucks is wherever I may be working in town. There’s one near my flower wholesaler. I’ll often grab a cup on my break, then cut through the back roads to run and grab flowers. I would always drive past this street and notice the amazing lacey tardiva hydrangea bushes in the front yard of one of the houses.

Sooooo, there was a wedding I had planned on using MY tardiva hydrangea for. As luck would have it, there was an early fall frost and my hydrangea started to antique much earlier than they had in years past. I needed white for this wedding. Antique pink just wasn’t going to cut it. Then I remembered the hydrangea house. They didn’t get frost in the city 45 minutes south like we had up north. What’s the harm in stopping to ask if they would sell me some stems?

Alluring Blooms wedding ceremony-annie-edgewater

THIS is the wedding that started it all!!!!
Photo credit: Laura Zastrow Photography

Alluring Blooms - white wedding flowers-annie-center

Another pic from the wedding that started it all!!!
Photo credit: Laura Zastrow Photography

I mustered up all my courage and knocked on the door. Heart pounding. Palms sweating. Was this really what my life had come to? Rehearsing what I was gonna say so the owner doesn’t think I’m a lunatic when they answer the door. No answer. Are you kidding me? I went back to the car and wrote a note:

“Hi! My name is Amanda. You don’t know me but I absolutely adore your hydrangea and am wondering if you would sell me some stems to use for an event. Please contact me if you’re so inclined.”

I tucked it into the door, and went on my way. The next day I got a call from the owner – a wonderful woman named Sue. She said to please come over and prune all I wanted. She often used them for arrangements in the past but hadn’t the last few years. I was thrilled and so grateful.

I stopped by later that week and went back up to that front door. This time knocking wasn’t so scary. She greeted me with a smile and the fire in her eyes immediately made me feel at ease. She showed me around her yard. Years and years of plants she had lovingly planted, now huge and wild. She told me about the tall pines that once stood in place of these now huge perennials. I was in awe. I think she could see the amazement in my eyes. She asked if I wanted to see the back yard. OF COURSE! Rock walls and stone paths and wood decks and boardwalks with boards that had seen better days. It was an oasis in the heart of the city. I told her it was gorgoeus. She laughed her big laugh and said “You wanna buy it?”. I laughed back, surely she was joking. I picked my hydrangea and headed home.

Once I got home that night I told the story about the amazing lady I had met. How I was so happy she responded to my note. How she laughed and asked if I wanted to buy the house. Matthew said “Was she serious?”. I was quiet. “No. Surely not. I don’t think so? I didn’t ask. I thought she was joking. Should I ask?” I wrote her a heartfelt note and made her a big arrangement as a token of my thanks.

Alluring Blooms, Wisconsin - cutting gardens

The home and garden

In my note I told her if she ever was seriously in the market to sell, let us know. She called me the next week and said she was serious. She had talked to a realtor to list it a few years back and they told her she would have to clean the yard up and seed or sod some areas if she wanted the best chance of selling. The very thing I fell in love with they told her was a detractor. The other caveat, Sue said, “The cat comes with the house”. Hahaha. Matthew said “OK!” The last puzzle piece was closing. She needed someone who could be flexible with move in. She had a specific retirement community she wanted to move in to, and she didn’t know if the wait list would be 2 months, 6 months, a year or even more. No problem. We had given up on our dream of living so close to work. Surely we could wait however long it might take.

The next thing I knew we were writing offers and making plans. We ended up closing on our new home in June 2017, over 10 months after that fateful day. We kept Sue’s cat. He’s a big orange furball who is friendly enough when he wants to be. He loves cuddling with Matthew – I’m kind of jealous. Ok. I’m really jealous. We also kept her standard poodle. He’s a smart, sweet boy who has stolen our hearts. He and our dog are learning to be friends. We’ve spent the last 6 months moving, remodeling, and working in the yard. The list of projects is never ending. I’ve thinned out hundreds of hostas and pulled hundreds of redbud saplings. I’ve planted thousands of bulbs and can’t wait to see them up in the spring. There’s still so much more work to do. But with each weed I pull and each new plant I put into the ground, I am SO GRATEFUL that the universe put Sue in our life. That hydrangea house is now our home. We still see Sue often – we spent Christmas day together in our newly remodeled kitchen which was once hers. We drank and laughed and made plans about what the garden has in store for 2018. We were given such an amazing gift – a home, cherished pets and a one of a kind forever friend.

Alluring Blooms, Wisconsin - cutting gardens

The house and cutting gardens — and the cat that came with the house!

So be brave! Knock on that door, whatever your “door” is. You never know what is waiting for you on the other side!

Amanda and Matthew of Alluring Blooms

Amanda and Matthew with their dogs

Alluring Blooms Wisconsin

Everything from the yard except the quicksand roses (my hosta flowers, wigeala, scabiosa, queen anne’s )

Wedding Wednesday :: Burgundy and Blush Bridal Bouquets

2017 In Review

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Hello dear Flower Friends,

How are all of you? I hope you all had a wonderful wedding season and are finishing off the year strong with Holiday events!
As for me, well, I have a lot on my mind and need to share it with all of you.
First, we need to back up and review 2017 before talking about where I see Flirty Fleurs Blog going in 2018.

2017 In Review

If you’ve been following along with the blog you may have noticed that I’ve barely posted in the last four months. Very out of character as for 7+ years I made sure this blog had content posted 5x per week. I squeaked out a few posts in August and then all but disappeared. Thankfully, Michelle and Rachel have been here posting and keeping the blog alive.

What happened to me? I got bored. Yes, I just said it. I said it to you and I said it to myself. I did not get burned out as I’ve been very busy and very content in the flower world all of 2017. In fact, this has been one of the best years for my business and filled with all kinds of wonderful adventures in the flower world. BUT as far as blogging goes – I got bored.

In September I went on a 3 week vacation to southern Europe where I instructed myself to get off social media and take some time away from technology to see if I could re-set my mind. Well, the good news is that I throughouly enjoyed my vacation and really didn’t want it to end! The not so good part is when I came home I still didn’t feel like jumping back on the blog.

In the past I would have powered thru and pushed myself to keep posting content daily. This time I decided to back off and ponder why I was feeling such a discontentment with blogging. After much pondering and asking myself deep questions, and talking to a few friends I have come to a conclusion on why I feel the way I feel about blogging.

Over Saturation of Information – Pure and Simple, everyone is online constantly publishing their latest and greatest to Social Media. YES, this is a necessity because in a very full field a business must sing their own praises and share the best of what they have available. In addition to so much to take in on Instagram and Facebook pages are all the Facebook Florist Forums, Podcasts, Online Workshops, etc – the list is long and pretty much exploded in 2017. Yes, these are all great tools for florists to partake in … but as far as a blogger goes I suddenly feel like I’ve seen and heard it all.
What can I possibly share on a blog that isn’t information that has already been shared many times over elsewhere in social media?

When I started Flirty Fleurs, and back in the days when Chuck was on board with blogging, we’d dig and dig and research floral businesses and always felt like we were making a discovery. We’d get excited and couldn’t wait to share our interviews and findings with all of you. Seriously, us flower nerds would be up at 4:30 or 5am texting each other and saying — hey, look at this NOW! Fast forward to 2017 and  I feel like it’s all out there and you’ve probably read it in a forum or on an instagram post anyway….

The Plan from Here and into 2018
So where do I go from here with Flirty Fleurs Blog? Believe me, both you and I are wondering what the answer is to this questions! A few thoughts so far…

  1. In time I have learned to not be so hard on myself. This time when the boredom seeped in I did not push myself to keep posting when I really need to step back and think. This is a huge change for me as I typically will just keep pushing myself. Sometimes it is necessary to back off and look around and re-set goals.
  2. We are not publishing a 2017 Print Issue of Flirty Fleurs Magazine. The magazine is a passion project and since I wasn’t feeling too passionate this season it seemed best to not push a magazine — as that is a HUGE undertaking and is driven by passion. This isn’t to say we won’t do it in the future, but it’ll be when the passion has come back.
  3. I’m so thankful to have Michelle here posting Wedding Wednesday blogs. Michelle was my right-hand, amazing design assistant at my flower studio Bella Fiori for 5 years. Having her on board here for the past year of blogging has been a god-send. Personally I enjoy seeing what she’ll post every Wednesday — it’s like a fun surprise for me, too 🙂
  4. I’m excited to have Rachel on board for blogging projects. Last week we sat down and had a meeting about what to post in 2018 and she has some wonderful series in the works.
  5. Most Importantly will be the new blogging schedule. We had been posting 5x per week for many years, until I came to the realization that in addition to me becoming bored with blogging — all of you are probably also over-inundated with information. The last thing I want to do is add even more reading to your list of things to do! Instead we are going to fine-tune our posting schedule.
    Our plan for 2018 is to post TWICE per week.
    Yes, huge adjustment, but in the end probably better for everyone. On Mondays, there will be an interview or series posting by either myself or Rachel. On Wednesdays, Michelle will continue with Wedding Wednesday where she selects a variety of designs from floral designers around the world to feature. *IF* I am struck by something interesting or have something that I must share and it can’t wait until Monday then I will post it on Friday.
  6. As a way for me to continue to share the work of other floral designers I have started the new Instagram account @fetedesflirtyfleurs — so be sure to add the hashtag #FeteDesFlirtyFleurs  or #FlirtyFleurs onto your posts for a chance to be featured!

So there you go, that’s how I’m feeling these days! Honestly, I’ve been putting off this post and waiting to see if my feelings towards blogging would change — yet, now that I’ve written the post I can tell you all that I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my back!

I do want you all to know how much I appreciate all of you, thank you for joining me on this flower filled journey.

Wishing you all the best in 2018!
Warmly,
Alicia

CALLING ALL DESIGNERS! 

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We are looking to interview female designers who use power tools in their design work.
ie: power saws, nail guns, etc.
 

Think you’re a good candidate? Or think you know someone who fits the bill?

Email us at info@flirtyfleurs.com, subject line: Women With Tools Applicant.

Tell us who you are, a little about your design work, and your favorite power tool to use. Include at least 2 pictures of recent projects you’ve done that required power tools and tell us a little about them.

You could be featured on our blog!

Send us your  informal applications by January 31 to be considered!

And Happy Holidays from the Flirty Fleurs Team!

Happy New Year, Flower Friends!

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Hello Flower Friends!

Happy New Year! Who’s ready to rock 2018?!

I enjoyed 2017 – a handful of weddings with the sweetest brides, lots of floral design classes which I thoroughly enjoyed teaaching, a dahlia garden that bloomed and bloomed this season and the balance of time to enjoy summer visits with family and a fantastic 3 week vacation in Southern Europe. I can only hope 2018 bestows the same amount of enjoyment.
Also, as I shared a few weeks ago, we will be simplifying the posting schedule here on the Flirty Fleurs Blog. Since I shared that information I have felt a heavy weight lifted off me. I’m so excited for the three blog posts I currently have in the works and will be sharing with all of you on the following Mondays.
That’s what I was in search of – to work on special blog posts that have a lot of meaning, inspiration, and information for all of you to read!

My favorite TV show to watch is CBS Sunday Morning as they often share such inspiring stories of people from all walks of life and in particular the creative artist types. My kind of people! This week they interviewed James Franco and he said something that really resonated with me and I feel is a good quote to share with all of you as you embark on a new year –

“If you want to be an artist of any kind.. like people are not going to beg you to do it. You have to want to do it, you have to put in the work, you have to prove it.”

So true – no one is going to beg you to do it, no one else is going to do the work, you have to work for your goals and prove yourself. So set up your goals for 2018 and get to work!

*****

Speaking of getting to work in 2018 — today is the day I launch our new project – @FeteDesFlirtyFleurs over on Instagram! I’m so excited to roll out this new project where I will be sharing the inspiring floral design work of florists from around the world! For a chance to be featured, please add the hashtag #FeteDesFlirtyFleurs to your flower images!

*****

To finish off today’s blog post I am sharing the most popular nine posts of flirty fleurs found on instagram for 2017:
ranunculus, dahlias, peonies, garden roses - on flirty fleurs flower blog

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