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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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 with their dogs

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

I’m excited to announce our next online class specifically for Floral Designers looking to increase the online presence of their Floral Design Business. This class will focus on working with Instagram.

This e-course will be held online via a private, password protected online space. This is a one week long class. I will be posting 3 lessons daily for the 5 days – January 29 thru February 2, 2018. You’ll learn how to build your presence on instagram which will lead to attracting more clients. The class notes will remain active on the website for one additional week, ending on Friday, February 9, 2018.

The lessons will be posted in the morning hours each day, please keep in mind that I am located in Washington State and will be posting Pacific Standard Time. You may log in at your leisure to review the lessons, there is not a set time as we will have students in the class from around the world.

Requirement for class: Participants must have a Smart Phone with the Instagram App installed prior to class beginning.

Class Starts: Monday, January 29, 2018
Class Ends: Friday, February 2, 2018
Investment: $89

Ready? Sign Up Here:

 

• Class Begins Monday, January 29. Your log-in information to to the course will be emailed to you on Sunday, January 28, 2018.
• We will email log-in instructions to the email you have noted on your PayPal payment. If for some reason you’d like us to email a different address please do notify us at info@flirtyfleurs.com
• If you have not received an email from us by Monday, January 29th please do email us as sometimes our emails get sent to spam… or outer space.

FAQs:
*There will be no refunds or transfers once you have registered & paid for this class.
*Information from this class will not be shared with others outside of this class. Immediate cancellation of your membership will be enforced if you are caught distributing information.
*As the saying goes “what you put into it, is what you get out of it”, full participation is the best way to gain the most success possible.

Questions? Email Alicia

By Rachel Evans Heath

Rebranding is daunting and carries with it a plethora of uncertainties. But it may also be just the thing to relaunch your company into a more successful line of business. So how do you know if it’ll be worth it or not?

Truth is, no one can really tell you for certain. But below are a few ideas from my own experience that may help you in deciding for yourself what to do next.

I personally started my business with no brand. I knew what line of work within flowers I wanted to do, and what line I didn’t want to do. I had to pick a name because the business license application needed one. I made my own logo using only the intermediate graphic-design skills I had acquired over the years. I designed my own website, business cards, brochure… you name it I had to do it DIY style.

I don’t regret this because I simply had to do it this way. I had to get started somewhere and I didn’t have the funds for any other options.

But I was left feeling all of the following things:

1. I didn’t like telling people the name of my business. I was embarrassed by it.
2. I was constantly afraid a graphic-designer client would see my logo and know it was homemade.
3. I didn’t feel like my brand represented where I wanted to go in the floral industry.

Does this hit a little too close to home? If so, you may be due for a rebranding.

The first thing that I recommend doing, is finding a friend who can share their experience and mentor you in rebranding. (I’m hoping this blog post will serve you in that way. Consider me a friend sharing my experiences with you now.)

 I didn’t know how valuable this would be until I serendipitously found mine. I spent a weekend attending various flower symposiums and I happened to meet Tristin Teal Johnson of Project Floral in Denver at one conference, and then again at the other.

First of all, let me just say, I think Tristin is one of the nicest people I’ve met. Talk about friendly! She made me feel like we were the best of friends right away. When we asked about each other’s businesses I told her the name of mine, then quickly said, “But I’m in the process of rebranding.” –Like I said, I was often embarrassed by the name of my business, feeling it didn’t properly represent me.

Tristin lit up and exclaimed that she had just finished rebranding her business. She immediately wanted to talk more about it, but we were out of chatting time. So she gave me her phone number and told me to give her a call anytime to talk about it.

I told you she was the nicest.

I ended up calling her a couple weeks later and we talked for an hour about rebranding. I took notes, because I always take notes, and hung up feeling inspired.

With Tristin’s permission, I’m going to share with you some of the ideas she offered me in that conversation.

Her first three points are excellent markers in deciding if it really is time to rebrand or not. So think these over carefully as you contemplate whether or not they relate to you.

1. “Your brand defines you. And it’s ok to outgrow it.”
   I love this thought. Because as individuals we are constantly trying to grow and better ourselves, so it makes sense that our business should grow too. And your brand needs to reflect that improved version of itself.
2. “Renaming is acceptable in business, and it doesn’t set you back.”
   This was what I maybe most needed to hear. I had stressed over the idea of rebranding setting me back, or losing any of the hard-earned regard I’d made in my community. And true to her promise, when it came time to rebrand, I found absolutely no setbacks from the name change.
3. “Rebranding is taking your past platform and giving it a new face to match your reimagined goals.”
   1. This was one of the biggest problems I had with my brand. I didn’t feel it represented where I wanted my business TO GO. Tristin told me that you want a brand that will take you into the next 10 years of your business, and that just wasn’t what I had.
   2. This idea also helped me in the creation of my new brand. I was able to visualize what I wanted for my business’s future and, from there, start to work with names that fit that goal.

After you’ve found a mentor and decided you DO need to rebrand, find an advisor within the industry.

So let’s say Tristin’s first three points have also inspired you to rebrand. It’s time to start brainstorming ideas for your new brand. And if you’re anything like me it helps to talk it few a couple times with someone.

Here is where I think a lot of us make a mistake. It’s crucial to find someone within the industry with whom you can talk about your branding ideas. Someone you feel comfortable calling to bounce business ideas around with. Someone who doesn’t know you outside of the flower realm. Someone who will kindly, but directly tell you if your ideas may be leading you to a dead end.

Why not a close friend or family member? In short, they don’t know the industry. They may have great creative ideas. They may be fabulous at coming up with clever names that are funny and sweet, but what might sound wonderful among friends might sound amateur and thin once it’s taken into the business world. It may feel harsh to not validate your aunt Sally’s ideas, but let’s save the clever wit for the next family reunion t-shirt.

This leads me to Tristin’s next point:
“Be FEARLESS with Change”

Once you’ve settled on a brand, it’s important to change everything. New website, new logo, new cards, new brochures, new social media handles, possibly a new email address. Don’t forget to update your social media profiles with your new website URL and links to all your new pages. Don’t try to reuse anything. Start clean and fresh. New brand means NEW BRAND. It very well may all need to go.

I will say this, however, feel free to leave a few clarifying statements in carefully selected places for the first month or so to inform customers of the name switch. I like to leave a small statement in my email signature clarifying what my business used to be, in case they don’t recognize my new business name from which I’m emailing.

I also sent out a post on all my social medias and an email to my entire email list, announcing the name change. This is a one-time thing. You don’t need to say it more than once, and people don’t need to be bombarded by it.

Make sure you inform all event planners and vendors especially of the change, as these are your recurring collaborators that you want to be sure can find you later.

Tristin’s final piece of advice:
“Don’t settle until you find a sense of peace”

The last piece of the puzzle is to not settle for anything that doesn’t feel right. That’s how you (and I) got into this mess in the first place, and it’s best to get it right before going forward. If it doesn’t feel right, keep trying. It’ll come to you. And believe me, it is SO worth it to feel that sense of peace, knowing you have a brand you have confidence in.

I’m so excited for all of you to find that sense of peace as well. Trust me, it’s worth the hard work.

A special thank you to Tristin Teal Johnson for all her insight and support during the emotional uncertainty that is inevitable when rebranding. Project Floral does amazing floral work and installments. Take a look at what she’s up to through Project Floral’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Friends – Today I am sharing an interview with one of my dear friends, Laurie of Fleurie Flowers. She’s been involved in the floral industry for many years and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to both floral design and horticulture. I hope you enjoy sitting in on our chat and learning more about Laurie!

Hi Laurie, Thank you for sitting down with us for a chat! I know our readers would love to learn more about you and your flower business, Fleurie.
How long have you been in the floral industry? Since 1979

How did your career in the floral industry start?
I started when I was in high school in a work experience program, in a traditional retail flower shop. I learned from the bottom up- starting with delivery then moving into design by watching and learning.

Ranunculus grown by Laurie

You have a strong background in horticulture, did horticulture come before floral design?
The two coincided. From very early childhood, I loved being outdoors, planting and tending my family’s garden alongside my mom. I majored in Landscape Horticulture in college, and worked in the retail nursery industry for many years, becoming a California Certified Nursery Professional in 1985. All the while I was taking on small floral jobs and weddings through those years.
My mom and grandmother were very avid gardeners (not just for necessity) and it came naturally to me. I still can see my grandmother’s garden in my mind, remembering the plants she grew and where they were in her garden. I have plants from cuttings that were originally my grandmother’s plants- A dark purple Lilac and a Pink Jacobinia (Justica carnea) I’m really into personally significant plants- a plant that’s been passed down, or a plant that has a special meaning to a person. Arranging flowers came naturally as well, as mom let me pick what I wanted, and she had a collection of all types of vases for me to choose from. Violas and Pansies, Roses and Zinnias are my first flowers I remember loving, and still do.

Photographed by Ellie Koleen

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?
Yes. After a very busy stretch, it has happened. I was working too hard and not smart enough. I’ve since put systems into place to help combat this. I try to carefully schedule according to what I know I can handle, and be realistic of my limitations, and hire extra help if I feel I need it.

How do you stay inspired and keep fresh at 20+ years in the floral industry?
I stay inspired by growing flowers that make my work more unique. There’s really no feeling in the world like going out and picking flowers and foliage that I grew myself, and making it into or a part of a beautiful arrangement. I am really inspired when I get to design flowers from the garden!
Another way I find inspiration is to freelance for other designers I admire, or get together and hang out with other designers and create. Also, looking at flowers in art- my favorites are the Dutch Masters era, Paul de Longpre, the Impressionists, and studying vintage and historical flower design, especially Constance Spry, is another way to expand creative ideas as well.

Matrimony Media

We’d love to hear about some of the highlight moments in your career, an event of experience that you’ll never forget!
Some of the best moments of my career have been spent with fellow flower lovers like myself, going on a flower related getaway for fun, inspiration, and to learn. You can never learn too much! The opportunity to work alongside friends I have made in the industry on events as a freelancer, or with freelancers who are also friends counts among my fondest flower industry memories. It doesn’t feel as much like the hard work it really is when working alongside someone you admire and respect and share a kinship with.
I love to personally deliver the bouquet to the bride, and see her reaction, see it in her hands. If I don’t get this opportunity, the delivery somehow feels incomplete.

Find Laurie and her business Fleurie here:
website: https://fleurieflower.com
instagram: www.instagram.com/fleurieflowerstudio/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleurieflower/

Boots, Barn, and Bouquet
Fleurie Flowers & Megan Welker Photography

In this particular floral design class we will be creating two styles of centerpieces which complement each other via color palette and style. Quite often in large weddings bridal clients will request half elevated centerpieces and half low centerpieces – and that is exactly what we’ll work on in this design class! Class will start with a demonstration on how to create elevated centerpieces, including the mechanics behind building a structurally sound arrangement. After Alicia’s demonstration the students will create their arrangements. Once all students have completed their elevated arrangements we will work on designing our low and lush compote styled centerpieces. Alicia will lead a demonstration on how to build the mechanics for the compote centerpiece and create a centerpiece which speaks to the style of the elevated arrangement. Once Alicia completes her design the students will work on their low & lush centepieces.
Students may take home their compote centerpieces and the finished arrangement from the elevated centerpiece portion. The stands that we will use to design the elevated arrangements are part of Alicia’s Wedding Supply Inventory and are not to be taken home by students.

Date: Sunday, February 18, 2018
Location: Floressence Design Studio, 5628 Airport Way S #240, Seattle, WA 98108
Time: 12pm – 4pm, or until you finish your designs
Investment: $500.00 per person
Register Here

by Rachel Evans Heath

Meet Alex.

Her company Exquisite Designs is based in Chicago and she’s been working in floral design for six years. Before that she worked as a civil engineer. Hanging installations and large installations come pretty easily to her, given her background.

As the requests for hanging installations and elevated designs started to come in the need for saws, drills and air staple guns grew, so she knew it was time to “plug in”, so to speak.

Her favorite tool to use is an air staple gun. “It can be a little tricky”, she says, “but it is very fun to use.”

“There is a misconception that women don’t like to use power tools”, she explains. “But a lot of power tools are excessively heavy and clearly designed for men. I would love if there were more power tools designed for women that are a lighter weight, but just as strong and powerful— and NOT pink.”

But when you do know how to use power tools right, you have the ability to create the most beautiful pieces without hiring outside help. For example…

“Some of my favorite pieces have taken place at Art Museums. We did a freestanding wall with lots of flowers hanging from it to create what I call a ‘flower waterfall’. We used power tools to create the freestanding wall and we also had to call in a welder to create some special custom pieces for this one.

 

Another favorite piece took place at the Museum Of Contemporary Art in Chicago. It’s been copied now numerous times and not a week goes by that I don’t have another designer asking me how we create that piece. [All I can say] is make sure you have a team of strong people and make sure your drill is powered and ready to go!”

As far as helping others get started, she says it’s all about getting comfortable with the tool. They can be dangerous and we instinctively, and smartly, tend to give them plenty of space when we don’t know much about them.

“They can be heavy and of course, you can hurt yourself. So if you have questions, ask someone that has experience. And most important of all, be safe. Wear eye protection, work with another person at all times, and pull the plug out of the wall if you are done using it.

 

[So far with certain tools] I always have someone with me that has a lot more experience handling them and that can correct me. If I don’t feel comfortable with them I try to stay clear from it. Like the saws.. if you are not careful, wood can become a projectile. So I try to make sure I have someone with me at all times.”

And there’s always something new for everyone to learn! Alex says the next thing on her own list is learning how to weld. “It’s not a power tool… but I feel it would be really handy to learn how to weld and become comfortable with it.”

… an aspiration I think most of us might benefit from.

A special thanks to Alex and Exquisite Designs for sharing the beautiful images.
Find Exquisite Designs online at their website, Instagram and/or Facebook.

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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.

Photography by Joni Shimabukuro

Friends, I am so excited to bring you an interview with one of my cherished friends, Françoise Weeks. Over the years of blogging we’ve featured Françoise and her unique floral designs often, although it occurred to me recently that it has been awhile since we last shared a chat here on the blog. So here goes — hope you are equally inspired as I am by this amazing botanical artist!
~Alicia

Photograph by Theresa Bear

Hi Françoise, Thank you for sitting down with us for a chat! I know our readers would love to learn more about you and your flower business! Can you share with us how many years you’ve been a floral designer?
I started my business in 1996

Photography by Ted Mishima

How did your career in the floral industry start?
Starting a business was beyond daunting so I put that dream on a shelf for many years. When there was talk that the medical lab where I worked might close it’s doors, I made the leap. The learning curve – especially the business aspect – was huge. For 2.5 years I kept working at the lab part time while growing the business, focusing on weddings and events. My husband remodeled part of the basement; 5 years later we had a wonderful small studio built in the back yard.

Photography by Gwendolyn Severson

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?
Like most designers I have…

Photography by Joni Shimabukuro

How did/do you work through burn-out and how did you move on to the next stage of your career?
In 2003 I had started to teach some evening classes in the studio at the encouragement of my sister. It wasn’t until 6 years later, when I started to teach workshops in the studio (at the request of one of the wholesalers) that I made it a goal that teaching would become my main source of income. Little did I know at the time that when I would have the courage to take the workshops on the road in 2013 (there are so many logistics involved and it took 2 years to override that fear of failing and finally give it a try) that this dream would become a reality. I still do some events, very few weddings and some freelancing.
I love sharing mechanics and techniques, as well as how to look at botanical materials through different eyes. Watching how students interpret the information, which flowers and textures they choose to design with to make their gorgeous creations, makes my heart sing every single time. Looking back, teaching has come full circle, even though I only taught in schools for a couple of years after graduating from college. I must say that teaching adults, who are passionate about flowers, is way more fun and rewarding than teaching middle schoolers math and science…

Photography by Alba Betancourt

How do you stay inspired and keep fresh at 20+ years in the floral industry?
In my book curiosity and perseverance are key as well as making the time to explore new ideas and different products – unusual flowers, textures and supplies alike.
Nature always has been my biggest inspiration. In this day and age of social media we have access to be inspired by the work of so many brilliant designers from all over the world, run with new ideas and mold them into our own. It is always fun and often challenging, to come up with different concepts and figure out how to implement them. But it always opens new doors for more experimenting and thinking outside the box….

Photography by Gwendolyn Severson

We’d love to hear about some of the highlight moments in your career, an event of experience that you’ll never forget!
Traveling to teach workshops has opened a whole new world for me. Meeting so many flower enthusiasts in person from all over the US and in many other countries, sharing information and learning from so many in the meantime, visiting flower farms in places I never thought I would go, has enriched my life immeasurably. Last year I had the opportunity to volunteer for 4 days at Fleuramour. It was the 22nd year that this extraordinary flower show took place at an old castle in Alden Biesen, a small town in Belgium. I witnessed the progression of large installations and connected with so many incredibly talented designers. It was simply brilliant.

Photography by Theresa Bear

Françoise, Can you please share with our readers what workshops you have coming up that they might like to sign-up for including online and in-person workshops?
Yes! I have an online class about designing Botanical Jewelry Design.
Plus, two in-person workshops coming up – A workshop in San Francisco, CA on March 3 & 4 where we will create botanical jewelry and dresses. Plus, a workshop scheduled at my studio in Portland March 12-14th which will focus on woodland and botanical couture designs.

Thank you, Françoise, for the chat, so good to visit with you!! Friends, you can follow Françoise’s flower journey here on her:
Website: http://francoiseweeks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francoiseweeks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francoise.weeks

Oh, and I should mention that I have studied with Françoise and thoroughly enjoyed learning from her while taking a woodland workshop. You can read my re-cap here.

Photography by Ted Mishima

Photography by Ted Mishima

Photography by Gwendolyn Severson

By Rachel Evans Heath

Meet Stacey Lee of Paeonia Designs in Boston, MA.

She designed and created this in 2017 for Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston….

Flowers in Frame by Stacey Lee

From the front and far away, it looks like a painting. From the side, you’d have no idea what it was.

So what went into this masterpiece?

Well, she built an 8’x8’ wall with a hole in the middle, highlighted by an ornate picture frame. Behind the wall were podiums with large flower arrangements, blooming branches and hanging “clouds” on mic stands.

The design process took over a year to complete and during that time there were quite a few setbacks and challenges. Before she could even get started she had to convince the museum it would work. And then, after months into planning, building, and creating, she had to convince them again that not only would it work, but it would turn out looking pretty cool.

And then there are always those last-minute hiccups.

“[During that final week of preparations) it was just one thing after another! But to finally see the finished piece in the museum, that’s something I’ll never forget. I stood there with my husband, dad, friends and family that helped me along the way and it was all worth it.”

So how did Stacey learn to utilize power tools in making her conceptualized floral pieces a reality?

For Stacey working with tools goes way back…

Stacey’s dad is a plumber and she grew up with him teaching her how to use hand and power tools to help with various house projects. He taught her everything from cutting wood to soldering pipe.

Their house burned down when she was 11, and she had the opportunity to help a little with rebuilding it.

“The base of my tools education started young, but the love of it kept me interested. I took 8th grade woodshop and we still use the folding table I made there. [It’s now] in my son’s bedroom. (Shout out to the amazingly engaging Mr. Perry at Hingham Middle School!)”

Studying civil engineering in college, Stacey worked on various construction sites. She got to work on site designs, order the right heavy equipment and handle machine safety. She says it was quite the education, but she was never handling the heavy machinery by herself. A lot of it was watching from the sidelines.

But her real comfort with tools grew when she and her husband bought a house that needed some basic work.

They bought a Milter Saw, (see earlier image), first and after learning the ropes, she started using it more regularly and it became her favorite tool. She says that’s because it’s a very versatile tool and it’s all about the angles. “I’ve used it to make straight cuts, angled cuts like the corners of the ornate Italian molding for the frame for Flowers in Frame and even tilted cuts, such as the custom birch log place card holders.”

Stacy’s self-crafted chuppah and birch log card holders

But she says that overall, it’s hand tools and the smaller power tools like drills, saws and sanders that get the most use on floral projects.

“I got into flower design about six years ago and for four of those years, I freelanced for established designers building podiums/risers, floral wall frames, chuppahs and back end mechanics for hanging installations.

 

With each project you gain skills, confidence and knowledge. I think you need all three in order to be comfortable with a power tool or piece of equipment, no matter the size.”

So where does she recommend you look to get started yourself?

“If you’re at the beginning of your power tools journey I can’t recommend joining a makerspace more.

 

Makerspaces are places that offer a common work space with a wide selection of tools and equipment available to members and the paying public.

 

Technocopia is a non-profit makerspace located in Worcester, Massachusetts which offers a variety of hand and power tools, as well as larger equipment for artisans to create and work with. They host training classes and workshops which make use of the shared work areas including a complete wood shop, metal/welding shop, glass flameworking, electronics/robotics plus equipment and lab space that includes 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters. They pretty much have everything you’d need to create anything your heart desires.

 

However, the real amazing part of makerspaces is the community of creatives who work in them. People who love what they do, love to share their passion. After taking a safety class or workshop on how to use a piece of equipment or work area, there is always someone in the space who you can turn to for questions or help with your project.

 

Some of the most amazing pieces coming out of makerspaces like Technocopia are created using a variety of skills, tools and machinery from various disciplines by multiple people working cooperatively. It’s a collaborative, welcoming space where people support and push each other to keep creating incredible things. It’s the perfect place to begin with power tools!

 

And if you can’t find a Makerspace, there’re YouTube videos for everything or you can learn from a pro. Power tools are pretty safe if you educate yourself, slow down and use them correctly. Don’t be intimidated, they’re just machines!”

For Stacey, Flowers in Frame was a dream for a while. She sketched it up for weeks before building a paper version in her garage. Then being able to actually create from start to finish and see your vision become a reality… that’s the most rewarding part for an artist.

In her words:

“Sometimes you have and idea in your head and your heart that you feel compelled to put out in the world. That’s art. SHARE IT! And don’t be afraid to use some power tools along the way.”

A special thanks to Stacey of Paeonia Designs for sharing the beautiful images.
Find Paeonia Designs online at their website, Instagram and/or Facebook.

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.