All Posts By

Garrett

Industry Events, Products

Dutch Lily Days Here We Come!

Floral.today has been asked to be part of the press trip covering Dutch Lily Days, happening June 6-9, 2017!

We couldn’t be more excited to make our way through the beautiful Netherlands, seeing what some of the top dutch lily breeders and exporters have been working on to expand the beautiful lily sector of our industry.

All the information about Dutch Lily Days can be found at their website along with the 13 lily companies participating or you can click on the brochure below for more info.

Dutch Lily Days Brochure

The promoters of Dutch Lily Days will be taking us on a 3 day floral adventure to see 13 major lily breeders and exporters. The group of press will get to experience all the new varieties that the companies have to offer, while also being educated on the growth and continual expansion of lily development in the Netherlands.

Keep an eye on all the Floral.today social media as June rolls along to experience our adventure with all the new varieties and innovations that the Netherland lily market is creating for you!

Thank you for inviting Floral.today along, we can’t wait to share all the lily fun with our followers.

Till next time,

Floral Couture, Floral Industry Contest

Two Bronze Awards for Floral.today

Floral.today’s Garrett received two bronze awards in this year’s Fusion Flowers International Designer of the Year contest!

Check them out below and tell us what you think!


Category: Attention Seeker

Award: Bronze

Photographer: Virginia Harold Photography

Model: Adam Jurotich Jr.

Location: St. Louis Public Library Downtown


Category: Construction

Award: Bronze

Photographer: Virginia Harold Photography

Location: Blackburn Park Bird Sanctuary


Category: Beautiful Blooms

Photographer: Virginia Harold Photography

Location: Blackburn Park


Category: Design For A Diva

Photographer: Virginia Harold Photography

Model: Sandra Manzoni

Location: Private Rooftop


 

Huge thanks to Alison Bradley of Fusion Flowers Magazine for hosting the contest along with Bea Beroy, Petra Konrad, and Harijanto Setiawan for being this years esteemed judges. We can’t wait for the 2017 categories to be released to create and share more floral magic.

 

How did you do in this years contest?

Share with us on the Floral.today social media all your amazing entries!

 

Till next time,

Feature Designer, Floral Companies, Floral Couture, Industry Events

Floral Designers That Flourished Throughout 2016

Captivating, Inspiring, Trendsetting.

These are just a few words that can be used to describe some of our favorite floral designers of 2016.

We at Floral.today love being completely engrossed in a good floral educational moment or the perfect floral design and these designers hit those marks for us.

These designers are just a few of a very long list of designers we appreciate but what set them apart is that they took 2016 with an iron fist and ran with it.


Přemysl Hytych
Měnín, Czech Republich

Website

Affiliations:
Floral Fundamentals

Social Media:

Like a whisper on the wind or a pin drop, Přemysl is one of those incredible designer that quietly shapes the view of the industry without you even knowing he’s there.

Floral.today had the pleasure of meeting this fascinating and very quiet designer at the Fusion Flowers Summer School in 2016 and with many thanks to Alison Bradley, Přemysl is one of our favorite designers to watch. From his teachings, floral.today has completely rethought our branding (Coming Soon) and how materials can be used across any style of design.

Přemysl has a technical skill and vision of flowers that can be found stretched across his refined fashion pieces and beautiful home interiors. You will see a lot more from this international award winning designer in 2017 as he is not only going to be teaching classes around the world but also working on a potential book!

SONY DSC SONY DSC 



Tamás Mezőffy
Dunakeszi, Hungary

Website

Affiliations:
Floral Fundamentals

Social Media:

Tamás is one of those designers where you gasp at the sheer detail of his designs whenever you get the pleasure of seeing them. Along with many of the world’s best, this reigning Europa Cup Champion showcases a mastery of the most beautiful floral details.

No matter the material, color or style, Tamás seems to explore the extent of what can be done with design.  floral.today is excited and intrigued what the wonderful designer is going to bring to the industry in the near future.



Harijanto Setiawan
Singapore

Website

Affiliations:
Floral Fundamentals

Social Media:


Book Purchase:
**A Mystical Floral Journey**

Harijanto has been snatching up international design awards since 2012, and in 2016 he hit a stride with even more awards and the release of his mesmerizing book ‘A Mystical Floral Journey‘.  Not only is Harijanto last year’s Fusion Flowers International Designer of The Year but his work has won him accolades from some of the floral world’s most prestigious stages such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Singapore Garden Festival.

As a trained architect, you can see in Harijanto’s work a flair for wondrous construction and technique. His platinum winning design, ‘The Natural World’, took floral design to the limits and beyond by showcasing his expert grasp of floral design through perfect design and photography genius.

You can find this amazing designer at the Fusion Flowers Summer School in 2017, be aware that spots are limited!



Alex Choi
Seoul, South Korea

Website

Affiliations:
Floral Fundamentals

Social Media:
 

This Fleurop-Interflora World Cup reigning champion is the pure image of calm and collected in every video or image floral.today has ever seen of him. Alex brings a commanding level of calm control throughout his designs as you would expect from a world champion.

Even as the world champion Alex brings a level of humbleness in all his does, he can be found teaching at Floriat in Seoul, South Korea and presenting on stages around the world.

 


These two ladies have been taking a particular part of the floral industry by storm, and that would be social marketing and industry exposure. If you haven’t seen them across your social media yet, you must live under a rock.

Though they are known individually for a being great designers, that’s not what intrigued us in 2016. Holly and Sarah have mastered the one thing that the floral industry as a whole has struggled with, Marketing. These wonderful ladies may have different approaches to their social media and marketing but their success is a bright beacon that shines through to Floral.today and the many reaches of the floral industry.


Holly Heider Chapple
Virginia, USA

Website 

Chapel Designers

Social Media:



From Chaple Designers spreading beautiful designs across social media to her very own Hope Flower Farm, Holly Heider Chapple’s influence can be found across many levels of social media with a touch of warmth and personal perspective.

Holly Heider Chapple has succeeded where many in the floral industry don’t even know where to start with social media and marketing. With a focus on floral education, many respected industry faces can be found smiling on her social media along with the excited faces of students during classes. You are taken along for the ride for events, education and floral adventures  around the world as they happen.

With an international reach Holly has been able to bring her prospective and love for floral design a exposure that reaches a world wide audience. You can get your own slice of floral education at one of the many events Holly hosts at the Hope Flower Farm or presents around the world, just check out her website above to find the right educational fit for you.

Also get ready for the Chapel Designers NYC 2017 and Chapel Designers London 2017!




Sarah Campbell
Maryland, USA 

Website

Intrigue Experience


Social Media:



Sarah has taken the industry and social media with the popularization of the “Decadent Radial Mass Style” along with her devoted followers and students she has been able to make great strides with ‘The Intrigue Experience’ also.  From the opulent events and array of educators from The Intrigue Experience, you’d be hard pressed to not have Sarah cross your floral path at some point.

Sarah has brought a visibility to florists and consumers alike with her beautiful events and welcoming video’s showcasing some of her tips and tricks. Any given time you can find event inspiration or design tips posted on Sarah’s social media. She also has very present marketing to The Intrigue Experience that many industry events fall short of matching when it comes to advertising and getting the attention of educational events.

The Intrigue Experience has many educational events to offer in 2017 so get your spots booked now!


What floral designers were 2016 standouts in your opinion?

Who are you hoping to see more of in 2017?

Happy New Year!

Feature Designer, Floral Couture

Inspiring Floral Designs of 2016

Oh what another great year of floral design!

The floral industry has seen amazing designs throughout 2016 from editorials, contests and social media posts. Though the designs we have picked are just a very few that we fell in love with in 2016, Floral.today always has its eyes open to be influenced, inspired and our breath taken away.

Make sure to share with Floral.today designs that have inspired you in 2016.

Tell us who designed it and why the floral design inspires you.

Now sit back, relax and enjoy some beautiful designs!

Natalia Zizko

Image property of Natalia Zizko

DESIGNER: NATALIA ZIZKO
LOCATION: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
WHERE TO FIND NATALIA:

Website          Facebook          Instagram

 


 

Joseph Massie

Image Property of Joseph Massie

DESIGNER: Joseph Massie
LOCATION: Liverpool, United Kingdom
WHERE TO FIND Joe:

Website          Facebook          Instagram          Twitter


 

Přemysl Hytych

Image Property of Garrett Skupinski

DESIGNER: Přemysl Hytych
(Constructed By Garrett Skupinski)
LOCATION: Brno, Czech Republic
WHERE TO FIND Přemysl:

Website          Facebook


 

Artem Petrov

Image Property of Artem Petrov

DESIGNER: Artem Petrov
LOCATION: Novosibirsk, Russia
WHERE TO FIND Artem:

Website          Facebook          Instagram        


 

Hitomi Gilliam AIFD

Image Property of Hitomi Gilliam AIFD

DESIGNER: Hitomi Gilliam AIFD
LOCATION: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
WHERE TO FIND Hitomi:

Website          Facebook          Instagram          Youtube   


 

Mark Pampling

Image Property of Mark Pampling

DESIGNER: Mark Pampling
LOCATION: Alstonville, New South Wales, Australia 
WHERE TO FIND Mark:

Website          Facebook          Instagram         


 

McQueens Flowers

Image Property of McQueens Flowers

Company: McQueens Flowers
LOCATION: London, United Kingdom
WHERE TO FIND McQueens Flowers:

Website          Facebook          Instagram          Twitter          Youtube   


 

Jenny Thomasson AIFD, Pfci, Emc

Image property of Jenny Thomasson AIFD, Pfci, Emc

Designer: Jenny Thomasson AIFD, Pfci, Emc
LOCATION: St. Louis, MO, United States of America
WHERE TO FIND Jenny:

Website          Facebook          Instagram          


 

Sara-Lisa Ludvigsson

Image Property of Sara-Lisa Ludvigsson

Designer: Sara-Lisa Ludvigsson
LOCATION: Karistad, Sweden 
WHERE TO FIND Sara-Lisa:

Facebook          Instagram          


 

Laura Daluga AIFD

Image Property of Laura Daluga AIFD

DESIGNER: Laura Daluga AIFD
LOCATION: Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
WHERE TO FIND Laura:

Website          Facebook          Instagram          Twitter          Etsy   


 

Marijke Moonen

Image Property of Marijke Moonen

DESIGNER: Marijke Moonen
LOCATION: Weert, Netherlands
WHERE TO FIND Marijke:

Website          Facebook


 

What do you think of just a few of our favorite designs from 2016? There are so many more amazing designs that we could have posted but we have another full month for more great designs to be squeezed into December, finishing 2016 off with a bang.

What are your top 5 favorite designs THAT HAVE Inspired You in 2016?

Make sure to check back next week for our top 5 designers in ‘Designers That Flourished Throughout 2016‘ where we break down some designers that have magical designs and some that changed how the industry can market itself.

Until next time,

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Extra, Feature Designer, Floral Companies, Floral Couture, Industry Events, Products

A Floral Farewell to 2016!

As we end another year here at Floral.today we ask ourselves, 2016 how did you escape us so quickly? Floral.today will reflect over the month some of our floral high’s and lows of 2016, we welcome you to share how your year went and what you hope for in 2017.

This post will be short as we share just a quick taste of what’s coming in December!

 

Inspiring Floral Designs of 2016

– Our top floral design picks from 2016 strongly taking us into 2017! –

 

Designers That Flourished Throughout 2016

– They took our breath away with their design skill, confidence, and overall greatness leaving a mark in 2016! –

 

Make sure to share with Floral.today everything about your floral 2016 as we work through the holiday season!

Till December,

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Industry Events

A Great Lakes Floral Expo Adventure

This year was a whirlwind of working, winning and fun at the Great Lakes Floral Expo presented by the Michigan Floral Association.

One of the great parts of being a committee chair is the involvement and all the behind the scenes access, so we made sure to get you a little taste of what we got to see and do this year as the Designer Liaison Chairperson and Tablescape Contest Chairperson.

 

Along with the video, here are some great photos we snapped throughout the weekend.

SHots From The COnference!
2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Mayesh Wholesale Booth

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Mayesh Wholesale Booth

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Floral Chopped Contest

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Floral Chopped Contest

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Floral Chopped Contest

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Floral Chopped Contest

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Marisa Lowing-Rakowski CF getting decor prepped.

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Marisa Lowing-Rakowski CF getting decor prepped.

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Neville MacKay CAFA, PFCI, WFC teaching young designers.

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Neville MacKay CAFA, PFCI, WFC teaching young designers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprise package portion of the professional design category!
First Design: A reception desk piece, and all the designers had to Emphasize line.
Second design: A bridal bouquet for a 2nd or more wedding.
2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - G having fun during the Professional Division Surprise Package

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – G having fun during the Professional Division Surprise Package

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant Angela Christie CF

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant Angela Christie CF

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Lisa VanderMeer and Marisa Lowing-Rakowski CF cheering on the contestants as they compete.

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Lisa VanderMeer and Marisa Lowing-Rakowski CF cheering on the contestants as they compete.

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant Victor West CF

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant Victor West CF

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant Kaitlyn Harlow

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestant Kaitlyn Harlow

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo - Professional Division Surprise Package Contestants

2016 Great Lakes Floral Expo – Professional Division Surprise Package Contestants

 

 

 

Some of my pieces from this years contest!

(Didn’t get pictures of my surprise package pieces but both placed! :D)

Certified Florist Division: 1st Place

Certified Florist Division: 1st Place

Professional Categorie Theme 1: Blooming Memories

Professional Category Theme 1: Blooming Memories

2016 GLFE Awards: 1 ~ 1st Place, 2 ~ 2nd Places

2016 GLFE Awards: 1 ~ 1st Place, 2 ~ 2nd Places

 

A huge thanks to this years sponsors, volunteers and conference chairs for another great year! It was great experiencing the top 5 and competing in the Designer of the Year Runoff, along with taking home some ribbons this year.

We look forward to all the excitement coming next year along with all Alice Waterous AIFD, 2017 Conference Chair, is starting to prepare for all of you to experience and enjoy at the 2017 Great Lakes Floral Expo!

Check out the links below to learn more about the Michigan Floral Association now!
Michigan Floral Association

facebook

Till next time,

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Feature Designer, Floral Companies

Laura Daluga AIFD : Featured Designer

Laura Daluga AIFD, Owner of the Department of Floristry, Ann Arbor’s up and coming design studio specializing in one-off special events and corporate designs, floral sculpture, fleur couture and conceptual editorial design is taking over the floral world one design at a time! Laura also provides support, mentoring and advice to retail florists in the area who’d like a leg up, and one-on-one atelier style private lessons to area floral designers.

While home for the holidays, Floral.today caught up with this floral design trailblazer to get to know her a little bit more and bring more of her to you! Wether she’s making floral couture weapons or simple clean design for other art medium duplication, Laura’s free spirit and professional design is always here to remind us what a well educated design brain can create.

STANDALONE PHOTO -- Laura Daluga creates a floral display to compliment a 1945 painting by Pierre Bonnard while setting up for Art In Bloom Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wis. Floral designs will be on display through Sunday. The designers use flowers and foliage to interpret works from the museum's collection. In addition to the colorful displays, there will be demonstrations and classes in everything from vertical gardening to making sugar flowers. Daluga is from Chicago. Mark Hoffman/MHOFFMAN@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM

“STANDALONE PHOTO — Laura Daluga creates a floral display to compliment a 1945 painting by Pierre Bonnard while setting up for Art In Bloom Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wis. Floral designs will be on display through Sunday. The designers use flowers and foliage to interpret works from the museum’s collection. In addition to the colorful displays, there will be demonstrations and classes in everything from vertical gardening to making sugar flowers. Daluga is from Chicago.”
Mark Hoffman/MHOFFMAN@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM

One of the things Floral.today always enjoys asking our feature designers is, what some of their non-floral hobbies are. Laura didn’t fail to deliver in her response when she said, “I enjoy reading very much and I try to stay current with several topics including scientific developments, psychology, politics and economics. I enjoy researching the human condition.” “I love to roller skate! I have a serious pair of quads in my closet if anyone ever wants to hit the rink with me. Absolutely serious! LOL” “I’m a bit of a nerd, and love going to cons! I love anime, comics, science fiction, movies, gaming… Last year at C2E2, I met No-Face, of Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’ fame, it was awesome!”

After such a great response we hope you enjoy to get a little more about Laura with her Floral.today Feature Designer Interview!

Laura Daluga AIFD

 Where did you get your start in the industry and what have been some of the most instrumental experiences that have helped you with your successful career so far?

As a 4th generation florist, I was literally born into the floral industry, growing up playing with dropped stems in the flower shop owned by my parents. Beyond the lifelong hands-on education I experienced in my parents shop, when I had ventured out on my own I found an amazing 5th generation owned florist and greenhouse that was in the midst of a generational change themselves. The newest owner was just a touch older than me, and had just been to the Teleflora Education Center in Oklahoma City for an intensive hands-on with Hitomi Gilliam AIFD. That shot in the arm was infectious there, and soon all the designers, even juniors like myself were jetting off for immersive programs with teachers, the likes of Els Hazenberg AIFD, AAF, Kevin Ylvisaker AIFD, PFCI and of course Hitomi Gilliam AIFD. For a gal growing up knee-deep in stems all her life these were my first professional encounters with members of the American Institute of Floral Designers, and boy were they eye-opening… These experiences sparked a need for continual education that has only grown since. I wanted IN, I wanted to know all about it.

Where do you see the greatest flaws in the industry at the moment and what do you think we as an industry can do to rectify some of the issues?

I’ve heard my entire professional career how ‘rare’ I am, a veteran Millennial designer with education, experience and an open mind. My family has forever lamented the fierce upcoming generational gap, and I now believe we are seeing it in full force. And it’s killing us. The old school florists like my mom are retiring, one by one- and sadly along with them, the retail florists are closing as well. They’re being replaced, mostly by young, fresh and woefully undereducated designers. I see this as a challenge, a challenge to bring them into the fold, to ignite in them the joy and passion of learning, growing and collaborating. I’ve been watching these Millenial ‘instagram superstars’ grow in favor among brides and clients, and through a collective mindset that is unique to this generation I have been watching them grow by leaps and bounds. This communal, crowd-sourced, collaborative rather than competitive approach to an art form is entirely unique to this generation. Their work, while amateurish, is still connecting better with the public than we’ve seen since the 90s, so that’s very exciting to see unfold. Now to just elevate the skillset!

Are there any exciting projects or shows we should be looking forward to in 2016?

Coming up in 2016 I am personally looking forward to Milwaukee Art Museum’s annual Art in Bloom show, which just last year expanded to include a floral fashion show. Also on the floral fashion front, I’m looking forward to the return of Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory’s fleur couture runway show, FLEUROTICA. After participating 4 years in a row, they took a hiatus last year and I’m super excited to see it come roaring back now that the turn of the century conservatory has been restored. Stacey Carlton AIFD and Shawn Michael Foley are planning a floral couture main-stage program at AIFD National Symposium in Anaheim, CA this summer that I’m very excited to be involved with, I can’t wait to get in that design room to help!

Laura Daluga AIFD

After such a crazy personal year what are some of your personal goals that you’re working on right now?

Crazy year is right! Just a few weeks after relocating from Chicago to Ann Arbor, I was inducted into AIFD and eight months in I’m working on building my clientele here and it’s certainly slow going as many florists here are several generations deep! My primary goal for 2016 is to land a few more solid corporate accounts, to keep making brides’ visions a reality and to keep up with the community involvement that has gotten me this far already. Working with local non-profits and starting up a new chapter of Repeat Roses, the collective of floral designers who upcycle event flowers, gifting them to local veterans’ and children’s hospitals. Ann Arbor is perfect for that, what with the University of Michigan Hospitals. I’m also becoming more involved in our regional chapter of AIFD, seeking new venues for public floral art and revenue streams for the chapter’s many educational scholarships.

 

When designing floral fashions what is one of your greatest secret go to mechanics for wearable floral fashion?

The learning curve with floral fashion is pretty steep. I love watching the designers at Fleurotica grow by leaps every year. With floral fashion, its a real struggle to keep the garment lightweight, moveable and flexible despite being covered with product that weights a ton. My last floor-length dress came out to a whopping 28 pounds, despite using dried materials in abundance! Working with lightweight, easy to sew materials are key to making the dress template onto which I glue or sew my blooms or petals. To put it simply, go with felt! It sews incredibly easily and floral glue (hot or cold) stick to it quite well.

 

What are some of your favorite flowers or materials to work with right now?

I’ve been positively obsessed with the graphic form of protea… any and all protea are ooh and ahh worthy in my book! Combine that with Art Deco intricacy and you have my logo! The Anco Vandas are just swoon-worthy, with colors so saturated you can’t believe they’re real! I’m also very much looking forward to working with all the locally grown Michigan flower branches, especially cherry! Having a garden for the first time, too, I’m excited to be able to grow terrestrial orchid plants here, especially Paphiopedilum! Oh my god, and the unbelievable Japanese product we’ve been seeing at floral shows, I can’t wait to get my hands on some of it this Valentine’s Day!

Laura Daluga AIFD

Do you have a philosophy when it comes to designing?

My personal design philosophy is pretty simple. I aim to create visually exciting designs, in line with the principals and elements of design. While anyone can make something beautiful with gobs of lush flowers, I’m aiming for the ‘Art of Leaving Out,’ which is, I think, more realistic in today’s economy. My work tends to have an emphasis on spatial design, movement and structural composition, as a result of my childhood ballet training. Tedium is my forte. I love working out a design from deciding its basic form all the way down to its tiny, tiny details.

With our ever-changing industry, where do you see it changing the most and where do you see it heading in the next 10 years?

In the next ten years, I’d like to see designers working actively to change the prevailing public perception that flowers are something that ‘just dies.’ I’d love to see us more toward a more European mentality, that flowers are a way of life, more than just an accompaniment to a meal, a holiday, or well-wish, more than for weddings, funerals and special events. A shift in consumer mentality might save our remaining brick and mortar shops from closing, and would encourage Millennial business owners to move from home-based or studio-based to full retail. I’d also like to see an elevation of mechanics for all American designers, hopefully elevating our craft to the level of an art form.

Laura Daluga AIFD
Where do you find your greatest inspiration when designing?

My greatest inspiration is my incredible life partner in crime, Brian Skol. His creative ability is unmatched by any one artist I’ve met or worked with before and his collaborative spirit, along with an equal passion for education and science, inspires mine every single day. I’ve never had such a vocal supporter, nor someone so willing to challenge me creatively. Working with him on floral sculptures, fleur couture and prop creation for his oil paintings has felt natural from the start, even more so now that we both have a feel for each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

If you had the chance to attend a floral class anywhere in the world what would it be?

I think since I first met Els Hazenberg, I’ve been curious about the Boerma Instituut in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. I’m absolutely intrigued by Holland’s rich floral culture, its rockstar-status designers, and their willingness to openly share mechanics and techniques, something that until recently was unheard of here. Workshops, masterclasses, intensives, creative retreats… and to have it tied in with the EMC Program makes it all the more dreamy and perfect in my mind.

Given the chance to teach a floral class anywhere in the world what would you teach and where?

If I could teach anything… anywhere… well, you asked! I’d like to teach the fundamentals, the principals and elements of floral design, to excited, curious students through my own floral design academy. That’s my big dream, to inject some professionalism, craftsmanship and european style into the average American floral designer’s everyday designs.

Laura_backstage_FLEUR14

Thank you to Laura for taking the time to let Floral.today and it’s readers get to know her a little bit more. As a top floral designer and future American floral industry leader, we wish Laura the best of luck with all that comes before her brilliant mind.  Make sure follow all of Laura’s social media to stay inspired by this one of a kind designer.

Till Next Time,

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Extra

Social Media Sludge

Sadly it seems not even our industry can avoid the plague of internet trolls and the ever growing immaturity within social media group interactions.

The great thing about the internet is you can be whomever you want to be and treat people however you want without usually having to be held responsible.

As of late some of our industries “Leaders” and “Professionals” have sadly went from helping strengthen our industry to adding to the plague of filth that fills our social media pages each day.

That is the wonderful reason floral.today has chosen our top groups, pages and social media favorites that we think you, our followers, should be following or involved in to become inspired on your floral journey.

With hundreds of thousand of floral design social media groups available, it’s a personal preference of where you think you belong. Here are a few of our top groups and pages we enjoy being part of on social media internationally and in the USA specifically.

Floral.today’s Top 3 USA Facebook Groups
Florist Techies
Florists Network USA
FLORIST TO FLORIST
Floral.today’s Top 3 International Facebook Groups
INTERNATIONAL FLORISTRY NETWORK
FLORIST/IN, AUS LEIDENSCHAFT ZUR BLUME
THE FLORISTS OF FACEBOOK
 
Floral.today’s Top Instagramers
MANDY MAJERIK AIFD PFCI
PASSIONFLOWER
MATTHEW LANDERS
Kim Starr Wise
Mood Flowers
JOSEPH MASSIE
SOLOMON BLOEMEN
 
Floral.today’s Top 3 Youtube Channels
FLORAL DESIGN INSTITUTE
Chrysal Floral Nutrients
FLOWER TRENDS FORECAST
 

With so many more types of social media from Twitter to Pinterest, we have given you the social media sites we at floral.today actively watch for inspiration along with trying to actively maintain ourselves.

Social media is always changing and evolving just like the floral industry and as it, along with us, evolves we must always put our best foot forward. Before you give your opinions or evaluate others around you, take a good look at yourself and what you’re about to say. Some critiques will come off harsh or aggressive but when it has proper professional documentation and not just a pumped up ego, take a deep breath to actually learn from these. Also question others around you and anything that passes your eyes and ears as the internet is a messy place and can be very misleading.

Do you agree with our favorites? What do you think of our opinion of floral industry “Professionals” on social media?

Good luck with finding your happy medium on social media where everybody has an opinion and almost everybody is offended for some reason.

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Industry Events

“Invention” // Nature’s Creative Edge Sept. 18-20, 2015

Floral.today will be attending this year’s Nature’s Creative Edge with a heavy heart and happy spirit as we say goodbye to this one of a kind floral event. With over forty five designers showcasing at this years outdoor event, the American Institute of Floral Designers North Central Chapter is gearing up to go out with one of the biggest and most beautiful floral bangs our industry has ever seen.

Debra Strand AIFD, ICPF

Debra Strand AIFD, ICPF

This is the final year the American Institute of Floral Designers North Central Chapter and Bob Friese AIFD will be hosting the ever amazing and intriguing Nature’s Creative Edge.

This one of kind event that has captivated the world and our industry for the past 10 years found its start and roots in the form of a master floral design class taught and started by Hitomi Gilliam AIFD and Bob Friese AIFD, two paragon’s of floral design and education.

Alice Waterous AIFD

Alice Waterous AIFD

Since 2006 when the first class was held, Nature’s Creative Edge has shaped from a master design class to a renowned floral showcase being one of the only public floral design displays hosted naturally throughout the woods of northwest Michigan and 100% run by volunteering designers and helpers.

Stacey Carlton 2011

Stacey Carlton AIFD

Stacey Carlton AIFD

Stacey Carlton AIFD

This year’s Nature’s Creative Edge will take place September 18-20th, 2015, you can find directions, ticket prices and links below.

Nature's Creative Edge 2015
"Invention"


Directions

Set your GPS to Sternberg Rd/ Hilton Park Rd, Fruitport, MI 49415
or
http://bit.ly/1WJqZx4


Tickets

Children 12 & Under  -  Free
Student & Seniors  -  $10.00
Adults  -  $15.00

Purchase Tickets Now

(Contact Alice Waterous AIFD for Handicap parking or questions at awaterous@gmail.com)

 

As this is one of the AIFD North Central Chapters major fundraisers, the proceeds go towards educational scholarships and classes to further strengthen floral education in our industry.

Carolyn Kurek

Carolyn Kurek AIFD

Bob Friese AIFD

With over forty five designers from around the USA making their way to this wondrous event you can only imagine the great works of floral art you will find this year. With “Invention” as this years theme, the designers are walking into a blind surprise design not knowing the space or materials they will be working with, creating a true night of invention in the breathtaking woods of Michigan! You can experience last years event from our past article Here.

Sue Bal Vanderhulst AIFD

Jim Rauch AIFD

So we welcome designers and the public alike to come and enjoy a truly once in a lifetime experience. Nothing like Nature’s Creative Edge can be found anywhere else in the world and as it is the final year this is your last chance to get to Fruitport, Michigan to experience this night of floral design magic for yourself.

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Feature Designer, Featured Floral School, Floral Companies, Industry Events

The UK School of Floristry Takes Gold

 

JOSEPH  MASSIE

PRESENTS

THE UK SCHOOL OF FLORisTRY

CARNIVAL FLORAL COUTURE TAKES GOLD AT RHS TATTONPARK

 

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The UK School of Floristry is delighted to share that their exhibit :

The English Carnival won a GOLD MEDAL at RHS Tatton Park 2015

Designed by five time RHS Chelsea Gold Medal Winner Joseph Massie and students from the UK School of Floristry, the 5m x 2m floral installation is a vivid whirlwind of exciting colour, cheer and fantasy, combined with fabulous flowers and foliage to create a floral delight for the senses.

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"Working on The English Carnival was a great opportunity to test out our skills on a large scale design. It's not often you'd get the chance to work on something this fun, or this dynamic, so it was a real pleasure to be involved!" 
~ Jessica

Students from the Liverpool based School created three distinct Carnival Characters to embody their installation – the Entertainer, the Ring Master and the Confectioner, and these classic English Carnival characters are given a fresh and innovative floral make over ~ by wearing bespoke Floral Couture outfits. Each outfit takes inspiration from the energy of English Carnivals – from jackets made from Admission Tickets to Playing Card Catsuits, each look is created using exquisite flowers and foliage. These fabulous characters sit amongst a colourful Carnival environment, filled with ring toss, pop corn and other fun fair classics, to provide an entertaining and engaging floral display.

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The flowers and foliage utilized within the display are in part sponsored by the Schools long standing floral design suppliers – notably Anco Pure Vanda, Meijer Rose, Marginpar and PortaNova. The stand includes over 500 of the finest roses, used in combination with exotic Vanda Orchids, rare Gloriosa and luscious Hydrangea to create a truly breath taking visual treat. Through the Schools outstanding reputation, the students have access to study with the highest grade of fresh flowers and foliages.

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"My role in the exhibit was to help produce The Entertainer - each of our three characters had to be completely covered in botanical couture, and it was a really interesting, cool project to help design. I spent two days gluing playing cards into a playsuit form - it was certainly the first time I've ever done that! Working on the English Carnival was such fun, and it's a great opportunity to try something new and fun - plus working on site at RHS Tatton was such a buzz!" 
~ Clare

Achieving their very first medal at RHS Tatton Park, The English Carnival by the UK School of Floristry showcases the finest work from it’s students across several courses. The School itself caters for students looking for classes in Floral Art & Design at beginner, professional and advanced levels, providing a welcoming and friendly atmosphere in which to learn Floral Art & Design. Based in Aintree, Liverpool, the School is proud to attract students from far and wide – nationally and internationally.

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Previous Chelsea Flower Show Medal Winner Joseph Massie told us “The opportunity for our students to exhibit their work at RHS Tatton Park is a dream come true for them. The show is a wonderful opportunity to really stretch their creativity and technical skills by coming up with a truly incredible design, that we’re delighted to say, caught the eye of the judges, and the imagination of the public.”

Joseph Massie

 

EXHIBITOR CATEGORY : Floral Design, in the Floral Design Studio

STAND NUMBER : FD8

CONTACT EMAIL : joe@josephmassie.com

WEBSITE: www.ukschooloffloristry.com

Images of our exhibition can be obtained by contacting UKSOF at hello@ukschooloffloristry.com

 

Thank you to Joseph Massie and The UK School of Floristry for sharing this amazing experience with Floral.today and our viewers!

Congratulations on your gold award, we look forward to the exciting future the school and it’s students are bound to have.

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