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!
 

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