Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A Symposium to Remember

In 2012 I took part in my very first American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) symposium, "Caliente," and in just a few days I leave to attend my second, "Passion". But this time, I will be inducted into AIFD as an accredited member. I'm so excited, I feel like a school kid just waiting for summer to get here, I can't focus on anything productive at all! This week, I want to share some pictures from my first experience.

First, background. The American Institute of Floral Designers was established in 1965 with a mission to advance the art of professional floral design through education, service and leadership, and to recognize the achievement of excellence in this art form. AIFD and its worldwide accredited members are in the forefront of the industry in presenting educational design programs and in designing flowers for such renowned events as the Tournament of Roses Parade, Academy Awards and Presidential Inaugurations. Across the world there are approximately 1500 members and in just a few days I will be one of them! For more information AIFD and how to become a member click here.

"Caliente" was held last year at in Miami, FL, with more than 10 days of events. First thing on the list was the Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE). After going through one of the education pathways and successfully passing an online test, you are allowed to take the hands-on PFDE. Designers must create 5 specific arrangements in 4 hours with the flowers and hard goods provided to them. Along with 71 other designers, I created a sympathy easel, a duplicate of a photographed arrangement, a ring bearer's pillow, a floral necklace and an arrangement for a cocktail table.

Then they are judged by a panel of AIFD designers on the principals and elements of design. If you score high enough, you receive the recognition of being a Nationally Certified Floral Designer (CFD). If you score even higher, you also gain membership into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). Of the 72 of us, from across the world, who tested in 2012, 24 attained CFD and of those, 12 were accepted into AIFD. And shut the front door, I am one of those 12! It was more than a month before we found out our results and boy was I tense!

The rest of symposium was far more relaxing. I had the pleasure of working on the stage show "A Fresh Look at Christmas" with Paul Miller AIFD. It was big and bold and so full of beautiful ideas. He had four vignettes, Tropical Holiday, Sugar Plum Fairy, Country Christmas and White Christmas. When you design for AIFD it's go big or go home and Paul went BIG! Flowers and props and models in one of a kind gowns made from repurposed floral materials. Talk about a show.

There were tons of wonderful presentations over the next few days and cocktail parties and meals with so many beautiful floral designs, it's flower heaven for a girl like me. Check out one of the designs in the lobby before dinner. that's me with Tricia, a designer from Colorado who will also be inducted into AIFD next week.
 
Here are the flowers in the lobby. These designs were created in huge organic shaped bowls. Just to give you an idea, there were four or five of these sitting on the side of the lobby and tons of other designs throughout the lobby. What a treat for the hotel guests that weekend.
 
There are practical designs, and over the top floral explosions.
 

 


 Then there are friends and floral family to meet and reconnect with. It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to be part of the AIFD family. See you in Vegas!
 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Colors of a Sunset

We always say that we send flowers for every occasion from birth to death, and sympathy flowers are one of the occasions that require the most care. It used to be that a funeral was a time for mourning the loss of a loved one but times have changed and now people want to celebrate the life of the departed. This is evident in every facet of a funeral, from the increase in cremations so that ashes can be spread over a memorable site, to the little touches our customers like to add to sympathy bouquets.

In early June, I (Marisa) had the opportunity to travel to Amarillo to present a four hour workshop on sympathy design to members of the West Texas New Mexico Florist Association. This was a wonderful experience for me since I have always wanted to present these types of educational programs, and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive group of floral industry professionals to present my first big show in front of. Check out some pictures from the show below.

That's me, showing a garden style design made to sit on the floor in front of a casket. The wholesaler who sponsored the show, J & E Wholesale had these wonderful, rustic, handmade, wooden crosses that they wanted to feature and this was the perfect way to show off the largest size. The flowers and foliage in a garden style design are grouped together which also makes each flower type stand out from the crowd.

This design above, is on the opposite end of the spectrum in regards to size. Prayer cards could be placed on this miniature arrangement designed to look like a tiny landscape. There is so much interest in the textures and little elements that make this unique and personal.


So often, we see funeral arrangements designed in a very traditional fan shape but there are so many beautiful ways to create an outstanding design. The phoenix style bouquet groups each flower in concentric circles at descending heights. This style requires lots of flowers but the lush effect is worth the cost.
I talked about the growing popularity of cremations. Last time I read an article on it, they said about 42% of people are cremated, not sure if we see that many in our area but we do see them often. The arrangement above is two pieces, the bottom is a basket full of blooms that the urn can be placed into, but there is also a floral adornment for the urn itself. The urn (I had to use a vase) is often left without flowers but a lovely "corsage" adds so much to a humble container, it's like a tiny casket spray.

Next time you order sympathy flowers, bring in a special memento from your loved one's life or let us create a unique arrangement that stands out from the crowd, not because it's big but because it is beautiful.