Share Your Passion: Rio Roses at Baisch & Skinner
Sharing my passion is a part of my career that I treasure. Being able to talk about product, design and business to other floral peeps in something I treasure. Having the amazing product of Rio Rose and location of Baisch & Skinner certainly makes my passion easier to share. This journey was all about the wedding industry and how to repurpose your rental items.
This adventure began with a call from Rio Roses asking if I would be interested in presenting two shows at Baisch & Skinner locations highlighting wedding design. I know Rio has great product and Baisch & Skinner are amazing to work with. YES, to both!
The first show was to take place at Baisch & Skinner in St. Louis Missouri. They have an amazing education center there devoted to the advancement of the floral industry. Because it was close to one of my friends, Michelle O’Neal-Babicky, who happens to be an amazing floral artist I called her to assist and she said YES.
I choose to showcase rental items that could be utilized in a different way. Making revenue on existing items will help your business go further.
The below items show how to create a unique registration table display. Oasis floral mesh cascaded from a large wooden vessel to hold place cards for the guests to retrieve. The table was accented with a dried pod vessel holding florets and cotton.
This segment also showcased an Accent Décor Biltmore stand floral arrangement that could be displayed on an estate table.
A guest table floral arrangement and accenting candle holders completed this set.
Flowers for a modern garden
The next set-up was a modern garden display. We started the designs with a large metal vessel containing assorted floral, moss orbs, and dried materials that can be used to create an altar, registration table or placed on either side of head table.
Flowers for a dessert station
This piece was my take on a dessert station. By utilizing different vase textures, shapes and sizes with assorted blooms will help continue the garden theme. Think about repurposing your items for other events which in turn adds revenue to your bottom line.
One of my favorite pieces of the show was this antique cabinet. It would be a great place for card receiving or accent piece at ceremony/reception or memory of those past. I pictured this cabinet coming from grandma’s house and having floral overflowing from drawer would be a great way to pay tribute to those you love.
A bold color story
My final segment was about color. Do not be afraid to utilize color when it comes to events. Create a bold color story for your next bridal show and see how many people notice the beauty.
Turning a silver pedestal into a stunning display with the use of color blocking creates drama.
This silver stand consisted of 3 stacked containers upright. I twisted the stand so the vessel would be at different directions and continued with the color blocking of floral. This would be a fun guest table arrangement.
The below containers were originally white. We color enhanced them to create a pattern with Design Master paint. All of the foliage was also color enhanced with heir paint as well. They we continued on with the grouping on floral to create a very nice statement piece that could enhance any backdrop or create a photo opportunity for your clients.
This was a great show with an amazing audience!
Come with me if you wanna go to Kansas City…
Now it was time to pack up start our travels to Kansas City, MO.
We shipped items from St Louis to our next show at Baisch & Skinner in Kansas City, MO. Of course, I wanted to design some new things to add to the collection for our guests.
The first segment had the addition of a beautiful bouquet designed with roses, silver dollar eucalyptus, salal accented with Oasis pearls.
Another piece was designed by placing two stands upright with cascading floral to create a stunning alter piece, registration piece or guest table arrangement.
A great statement piece was designed by placing a wire wreath base upon a gold stand. We then added multiple ribbons (double satin, sheer, lace) cascading down with a foliage arrangement displayed on top.
The next segment received an addition of a bold and beautiful bouquet. The highlight (besides the stunning floral) was the garland I created using Oasis bullion wire with paper hearts I cut out of a book to be wrapped within the design.
The below version of a chandelier was created using a wire vase base they had in store. I wrapped it with permanent botanical foliage garland and added fresh floral product to complete the design. Never be afraid of mixing permanent botanicals with fresh product as it always creates a stunning end design.
We learn so much form being together, and I am grateful you choose to spend your evening with me.
Thank you!
The Power of Weddings: Two Shows At The TSFA Floral Forum
Weddings are a huge source of income for the floral industry. It is not only about the stunning design but how are you inspired to make it personal for the couple. It is not only about the end result but how does your business practices influence the success of your weddings. Read on to learn how this journey to TNSFA brings a wedding business and design program to their members.
This journey takes me to Franklin, Tennessee (right outside of Nashville) to present two shows for the TSFA Floral Forum. When I was invited to showcase wedding bouquets and a business program based on weddings my answer was of course YES. I have been to the Tennessee State Florists Association convention in the past and I know they have an amazing convention. The board works tirelessly and believe that education is the pathway to success.
My first show was about wedding business called “The Path to I Do”. I wanted to discuss the business side of weddings from advertising to completion of events. My stage style is one of conversation. I feel we all learn from each other if we dialogue about topics.
How to attract potential couples
The first items I spoke about was how to utilize opportunities to reach new clients. Without having clients, we can not a wedding division of our businesses.
I then spoke about the consultation process itself. We tend to forget that this is the most important day for our clients. We need to devote the energy and time to making sure it is the best experience for them from the moment the meet with you until the moment they say I Do.
Next, I spoke about the importance of a great contract. Everyone business who offers wedding design needs to have a contract. It does not matter if you do one wedding or hundreds a year. Take the time to write a contract to not only protect yourself, but also to protect your clients.
Below are a few of the contract items we discussed.
The Power of the Bouquet
The first evening was full of knowledge and the desire to be a more successful floral company. The second show was to focus on the wedding bouquet called “The Power of The Bouquet.” Wedding bouquets are a huge passion for me. It is the last item the bride will cling to as she walks towards her forever love. If done right it will showcase their love story and design of the wedding day.
I had an amazing assistant Pattie and FFA students working with me in the workroom. Such a great team to be part of.
Where do you draw inspiration from? Is it magazines, Pinterest, social media outlets, other designers? Inspiration is everywhere all you have to do is open yourself to the possibilities. Below are descriptions of what inspired me as I designed some of the bouquets for the show.
Inspiration: bleached dried materials from Knud Nielsen. I wanted to design a light and airy bouquet utilizing bleached materials. We enhanced the bouquet with wool garland.
Inspiration: Jaime and I were shopping and saw the most beautiful woman with stunning dreadlocks. I wanted to design a bouquet inspired by that strong and stunning woman. This bouquet was created utilizing different yarn textures secured to an orb containing lilies, roses, carnations, and color enhanced white plumosa. The bouquet trailed as she walked onto stage.
Inspiration: Movement was inspiration for this bouquet. The cymbidium florets and dried materials tend to have a static appearance. The lily grass is what provided the visual movement through the bouquet.
Inspiration: the never-ending circle of love. Love can be continuous and strong. The bouquet form was a Styrofoam circle wrapped with Oasis ribbon and bullion wire. The cascade bouquet contained garden roses, roses, stock, gyp, hanging amaranthus and aussie grasses.
Inspiration: Joining of two souls. The two rings represent the two souls coming together to unite as one. The bouquet was created utilizing two gold rings with florets of roses, dendrobium orchids, and salal as accents. The lace ribbon was utilized to soften the design.
Inspiration: Joining of a family. Today we have many marriages that may have a child on one or either side of the union. This design shows the unity not only of the two being wed but also included the existing children. This bouquet was designed utilizing four gold rings with florets of garden roses, cymbidium orchids, spray roses, hypericum, cushion pomps and salal.
Inspiration: Boho chic was the inspiration for this adornment. We utilized a macramé wall hanging as a base for this design. We secured it to a collar that would be worn down the back of a bride as she walks through a field of wildflowers. The floral was glued on with Oasis floral adhesive consisting of asters, pomps, spray roses and gerbera petals down the strings.
Inspiration: I found a candle holder while out shopping one day. There were two bells hanging from the bottom and I loved the idea of a bride walking down and her bouquet quietly chiming as she walked. The floral consisted of roses, craspedia, lisianthus, asters and eucalyptus.
Inspiration: The fabulous door knocker I discovered in a clearance section. We suspended an Oasis iglue from the bottom of the knocker to hold a bouquet of roses, lilies, delphinium, with a salal designed lotus on top and Oasis bullion wire hanging from below with floret adornment.
Hint: always look in the clearance section and let your mind wonder what it all could become.
Inspiration: The strength and line of chopsticks inspired this bouquet. I tied and glued chopsticks (color enhanced gold) to create the armature for this bouquet. Callas and lily grass were utilized in this bouquet because of the dramatic lines they enhanced.
Inspiration can come from every aspect of life. All you have to do is be open to the possibilities. Take the time to design something new.
A great show has many moving parts and I thank all of those mentioned below for your contributions:
Flowers Make A Difference: A Runway Show For Survivors
There will never be a moment in my floral career that will come close to this journey. Being able to provide comfort, strength, and beauty to those who have had it all taken from them is something that I will always treasure. This journey allowed me to give back to individuals who have had it all taken from them. Floral design has the power to change a person’s life.
This stage show will always be one of the best floral experiences of my life. South Dakota Florists Association invited me to present a runway show for their convention. I was told this show was not only for florists, but it was open to the public. This is a rare occurrence and I was excited to see the outcome.
I always ask what the client is looking for in a show and was told they trusted me to present an amazing show. I thought about it and a lightbulb went off… make a difference with floral!
The show would consist of three segments with the finale being a segment honoring rape survivors. I wanted to honor those who have had so much taken from them. It was important to show the strength and beauty of those who survived being raped. Not only did we want to honor them, but we always wanted to empower them. We inquired if any rape survivors would want to walk the runway and were grateful with the answers of yes along with other models who wanted to be there in support. It was time for the woman to take back the power!
But I digress. Let’s start from the beginning. The show was to take place at the Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center at Cedar Shore in Oacoma, SD. I arrived in Sioux Falls and my dear friend Patience picked me up from the airport. I was so excited yet nervous about the show. There was a lot of pressure to not only make the audience and association proud, but also the survivors needed to be empowered.
The stage is set and now time to rehearse. Rehearsals went well and I started to see the vision come to life This was a bit overwhelming as the emotions tried to take over. I held them back as the show was not about me… it was about the beauty of floral and survivors.
The time has come for the show to start. I look out into the audience and there is standing room only. We expected the seats full, but we did not expect the crowd that came.
The first segment was inspired by my home state, focusing on the red rose and having fun with burlesque. The night was to start on a high note with music thumping and our show beginning. There were feathers, wrist cuffs, collars, bouquets, pomander balls, boas and a staff to get the show started. The floral used were in jewel tones with heavy red rose influence, gloriosa lilies, calla lilies, carnations, and assorted foliage.
The next segment was inspired by the man I love and will spend the rest of my life with—my husband Jaime. Our wedding was on a beach and I wanted to bring the soft romance to SDFA. This segment was to be soft and romantic as I wanted to bring the mood of the room to settle for this segment. The floral carried were bouquets, armatures with lights, shawls made out of Oasis wire, garland wrap, Oasis muslin ribbon bouquet. The floral was in soft shades of pink, white, ivory consisting of orchids, roses, lilies, garden roses, tulips, with accents of ivy, plumosa, springri and eucalyptus.
Now the evening comes to what we have been waiting for. The finale segment was inspired by stunning, brilliant, strong and beautiful woman who inspire me and we used this inspiration to design a show of empowerment, strength, and beauty of rape survivors. We created superhero gear using a glue gun technique taught to me by the fabulous Helen Miller AIFD. The items designed were bracelets, shields, capes, and armor. The colors were silver, rose gold, gold with jewel tone floral. The floral consisted of callas, asters, mokara orchids, statice, and colorful reindeer moss.
The music starts slow as the first two ladies walk out with lotus bouquets that open to show the beauty inside.
Then the music becomes an empowering and strong rendition of “This Is Me” and the celebration of survivors begins.
We were grateful to share this experience with some rape survivors who were part of the show. I was also addressed after the show by woman in the audience telling us their stories of survival and how the show gave them back power. It was such an honor to express all of these emotions through the art of floral.
It was a show that I will never forget! I thank SDFA for their support and encouragement to put this show together.
Use your passion to change someone’s life!
Thank you to our amazing team that made this show possible:
Make Up & DJ Services
Caid AtAngels