Team Flower

In this episode, you’ll hear: Details about Françoise's years in the floral industry Where her woodland inspiration was born and how it has evolved over the years How a greeting card inspired Francoise’s floral shoes Tips on which flowers to use for botanical couture Why you should stay away from large flowers for botanical couture

This is the second of two episodes with Katie of Ponderosa & Thyme! In this episode, Katie and I pick up where we left off in Part 1 talking about teamwork and accountability in the studio. We’re discussing how to be an introvert in the floral industry while also being brave in reaching out and doing life with other flower professionals. We are also talking about creativity and how to nurture a greater sense of creativity in your life and your work. You can see Katie in person, speak at the 2019 Team Flower Conference. When you’re seeking to cultivate creativity, look for your comfort zone and create in a space (both figurative and literal) where there’s room for you to process, discover, and take your time.

Katie is an international floral artist based in the heart of the Willamette Valley in Salem, Oregon. Best known for her textural floral designs inspired by nature, Katie uses the most luxurious and beautiful flowers available while incorporating locally foraged, unique and sensory plants into each arrangement for a visually breathtaking experience. Besides periodically creating florals for weddings, Katie and her team host incredible workshops worldwide for florists and other creatives to explore the art of floral design and creative process. You can follow her on Instagram @ponderosa_and_thyme.

Deanna is a speaker at the 2020 Team Flower Conference. Deanna owns and operates Twig & Vine, a small-scale cut flower farm in Conway, Washington. The farm grows unique varieties of flowers and foliages for local pop-ups, restaurants, and designers. Deanna has a heart for connecting people to the beauty and joy of flowers, combining her farming and design experience with her background in education to teach classes and workshops on gardening and floral design. Soon after starting their farm, Deanna and her family discovered the joy of gifting flowers in their community. As they shared flowers, they realized they were in a unique position to help others do the same—thus the Growing Kindness Project was born, with the mission to support others in growing and gifting flowers in communities all across the nation.

Frank and Margaret Hofland, the founders of Accent Decor, join us on this episode of the Team Flower Podcast. Tune in to hear all about the story behind Accent Decor. You’ll hear how Frank’s father started the business and in what ways the Hofland family continues to serve the floral industry. The couple is sharing the core values that drive the business as well as giving us a behind-the-scenes look into their sourcing and production of items. We’re talking about what it looks like to “do the right thing” as we serve our communities and how this impacts the industry in a positive way.

On this episode of the Team Flower Podcast, you’ll hear from Tanya Shaw of Oh Flora in Sydney, Australia. Tanya is a world-traveler with her floral business, so she is sharing a few tips on how to choose travel destinations. You’ll hear how she went from designing small local weddings to hosting and teaching workshops all over the world. We’re talking about finding inspiration in art forms other than flowers as well as the beauty of finding flower friends and being connected in the floral industry in various countries worldwide. Tanya has an exciting new venture she’s pursuing, and she’s giving us a sneak peak into what she’s been working on!

Rachel is walking us through her journey from being an estate gardener to an independent flower farm and how her services have changed and morphed over the past 10 years. We’re talking about the various workshops offered on the farm, including the flower painting class! Rachel is also describing the Keder greenhouse and how they work well for flowers, and she is sharing a few best practices for harvesting flowers to gain the best vase life. We are discussing the importance of choosing flowers and foliage to grow for floral design.

Today, it’s just me here to encourage you in this season. Where ever you are, whether you’re covered up with brides and blooms or taking a season off, I want you to know that you’re valued, and that you are making a difference in your community. I have found that learning to breathe through any situation helps me focus and relax. So today, I encourage you to take a moment, close your eyes, and take a few deep, concentrated breaths. In….Out...In...Out. Now, go out there and deliver those beautiful bouquets and harvest those lovely blooms with dignity and grace -- and remember, we’re here for you, cheering you on! 

As vice president of Debbie’s Bloomers and an instructor at El Paso Community College, Marisa Guerrero AIFD, CFD, is a second-generation floral designer and educator known for her enthusiasm and wide ranging involvement in the floral industry. She sits on the boards and committees of numerous industry organizations. Marisa has had the pleasure of designing for many prestigious industry events, but her goals lie in propelling the floral industry into a successful future.

We’re holding an open call for blog article submissions. If your idea is submitted and selected, you’ll get a FREE lifetime membership to the Team Flower Community - that’s a $149 value. If you’re already a member, you’ll receive $50 credit towards your next Team Flower class or event. Plus, having your work published with Team Flower is an awesome resume-builder! The deadline for this submission is Saturday, June 22, 2019. If you’re interested, send us an email at support@teamflower.org including your name, proposed blog topic, and the specific advice you’d offer in your article by Saturday, June 22, 2019. Keep in mind that you don’t have to have the whole article fleshed out by then - you actually get to set your own due date!  

Laura Helm of Ashton Events is sharing how she decided to start her own business as well as how she began walking in alignment with her heart in advocating for her clients. In addition, we’re chatting about the necessity of making hard decisions on event day and how to combine grace for yourself and your team and gumption in navigating stressful situations. Laura is also giving a few tips for those who are considering adding floral design to their event planning business!

Suzie Kostick, a leader in the floral industry who has over 40 years of experience, is the guest on this episode of the Team Flower Podcast. You’ll hear how the floral industry has changed, morphed, and grown over the past four decades. Suzie tells us what it was like before the internet and social media were a part of the operations of a flower business and when the networking within the industry was truly community focused.

In this episode of the Team Flower Podcast, Kelly is joined by Suzanna Cameron of Stems Brooklyn. She founded her flower shop, Stems Brooklyn, in 2013 in collaboration with a bar. Serving her local neighborhood their flower bouquets to start, Stems Brooklyn has since grown into a full-service florist specializing in workshops, retail, weddings, plants, and NYC deliveries. 

Cristina Barragan is the owner and Chief Creative Officer at Posh Peony. In 2005, she started teaching elementary education and at the same time launched her floral design business as a household hobby, never imagining the growth it would have in the following years! Today, Posh Peony is a boutique-style studio that provides full-service design and educational workshops at a local and international level. Cristina’s work has been featured numerous times in prominent publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Once Wed, The Perfect Palette, and many more. 

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Margot studied art history at Hollins College in Virginia and interior design at the University of Texas. Working alongside the floral and event designer for her daughter’s wedding, she recognized the artistry and inspiration involved in floral design and soon began apprenticing with the same designer. Unable to locate a publication that spoke to her passion, she set about creating one and launched Flower Magazine.