Spring is a great time to get your ducks in a row!
And these guys were looking like ducks out of water. Or maybe they’re looking for the perfect Easter bonnet for this year’s Easter Parade! So, I thought I would help them out and plant them up with mini succulents.
Each year, 1-800-Flowers.com hosts two Local Artisan Design Workshops, bringing together select groups of florists from across the country to discuss trends, share ideas and collaborate with its product development and merchandising teams. As part of these workshops, florists use their creativity and design expertise to develop unique product concepts for seasonal and everyday occasions. Exceptional and differentiated designs are selected to become part of the 1-800-Flowers.com Local Artisan Collection and the arrangements become available for sale nationwide.
Who doesn’t love a unicorn?! Unicorns are magical and make you smile – just like flowers! So, what in the world could be better than a unicorn made from fresh flowers?
Introducing the newest Truly Original Arrangement from 1-800 Flowers.com – Enchanting Unicorn!
You can create simple Easter decorations that are simply beautiful and inexpensive by using seasonal flowers and re-purposing hard goods that you already have around your house or from other holidays.
Making simple Easter decorations couldn’t be easier! Take out your tabletop faux “Charlie Brown” holiday tree and dress it up with Easter egg ornaments and fresh flowers. For this arrangement, I placed floral foam around the base of the tree and created a burst of spring with hydrangea and statice. I then used floral adhesive to attach individual blooms of lavender stock to the hydrangea florets. I did the same thing with little clusters of baby’s breath. Bring a little bit of the color and texture of the fresh flowers up into the tree in the same way or attach with small pieces of craft wire. I included petite sprigs of solidaster into the tree branches for its sunshine yellow color. All of these flowers will air dry nicely, so you will be able to enjoy your Easter tree for a few weeks.
Who says a cornucopia is only an autumn decoration. I love the beautiful blue color of this vintage ceramic cornucopia. To make it a truly spectacular vision, all you need are a few stems of coordinating blue/green hydrangea. First, place a piece of wet floral foam in the cornucopia and insert the hydrangea stems into the foam. The foam will keep the hydrangea fresh for about a week – you can add water to the base and sprits the flowers with water to help them stay fresh longer. After about a week or so, let the hydrangea air dry and enjoy for a few more weeks.
You can also incorporate some decorative Easter eggs and seasonal fruits and veggies into the design. Just use your imagination! Continue Reading…
One of my favorite parts of hosting a holiday gathering is the opportunity to get the creative juices flowing and putting the hours clicking through Pinterest to good use! If a sit down meal is involved then think of the tabletop surface as your palette. A good place to start in creating the theme that you will be building upon would be the invitation. 
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How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
When I was about 12 years old, my mom would create wedding flowers from our home. She would work all day at her full time job, come home, cook dinner and then start preparing the flower shipment. I would help her clean and hydrate the flowers, sweep the floor and take out the trash. Mom would show me how to wire boutonnieres and corsages, put pearls in stephanotis, how to use stem wrap and package the product. My most important job was holding the bridal bouquets and trying on the flower head pieces/halos for inspection. I thought I was so cool holding something as special as a bridal bouquet! At my age it sure seemed like a lot of work, but nothing compared to what we do now. Having some floral knowledge under my belt helped me get hired for my first job at a florist at the age of 15.
What I love most about designing flowers, (depending on my feelings with the flowers for that day), is creating something from stems and turning it into a beautiful collection. I do my best work when I feel that I am one with flowers. Designing flowers is an art and a feeling for me.
What I love most about being a florist is a different feeling. Our customers are the best part. They bring the love and appreciation to our designs. We share special bonds over their occasions. I’ve cried, laughed and shared my life with them. Those memories will always be with me. It is the best feeling when you know you have touched someone’s heart and have earned the trust of your customers.
What are your favorite flowers?
I love Gerbera daisies! They just say “look at me”! Vibrant, happy and so many colors, how can you go wrong? But of course garden flowers are beautiful too. They’re easy to work with. Continue Reading…
How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
My first experience in the flower business was in the mass market industry, where I found I had a desire to create my own designs. I attended floral demonstrations and read industry magazines and books to help further my knowledge. This “self taught” approach helped me form my own unique style. Friends and family were soon asking me to help them with special occasions, mainly wedding flowers. By word of mouth, I had my own following and a small side wedding business. It became challenging, juggling my full time job along with wedding work on the weekends. It was clear to me that my passion was with flower designing. I needed to make a decision: go with my heart or stay with the security of a large corporation. I took the leap and bought my own flower shop in 1994.
What are your favorite flowers?
Peonies are my favorite. They are timeless and elegant. But I really love all flowers. They are each unique and special in their own way. They all make me happy! Continue Reading…
How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
I’ve only been in the floral business for about 6 years. My in-laws own Achara Florist, and needed someone to work in the gift part of the store. Once I started working with some of the amazing designers, I began to design a little bit myself. I found that I love creating beautiful flower arrangements…and the rest is history!
What are your favorite flowers?
Gosh, I love them all! There are too many to count. But if I had to name a few, they would have to be peonies, hydrangeas and stock. Peonies smell extremely and are just so beautiful. They take center stage in whatever you put them in. Hydrangeas are nice, big gorgeous flowers that I love to use in wedding work. They make bridal bouquets nice and full, and they go with other flowers so well. Stock is another one of my favorites because it comes in all different colors, and has a wonderful fragrance and big, thick blooms that are stunning in everything. Continue Reading…
In order to learn about the creative minds behind our handcrafted arrangements, we interviewed Ann Marie Pierce from Baldwin, NY who is featured in our Local Artisan Collection. From the daily life as a florist to some of the inspiration behind her arrangements, Ann Marie talks about her favorite holidays, arrangements, her family & more!
How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
I always loved to be around flowers, so after realizing my initial career path in corporate America was not going to be my future, I began sweeping and cleaning flowers in a local florist on the weekends, and hence my new career evolved. Being a florist gives me the opportunity to make the flowers speak for my customers.
What are your favorite flowers?
I love the look and feel of a bunch of white daisies, but being around such an array of gorgeous flowers every day makes it hard to say “that’s the one!”
Can you tell us a little bit about Baldwin, NY? What is your favorite thing about living there?
I moved to Baldwin 25 years ago, and living in the same town as my business motivates me to take an active role in this community. We are a diverse group of hard-working families that take pride in their neighborhood. Continue Reading…
How did you get into the flower business and what do you love best about being a florist?
Growing up, I had a great interest in art and music. I attended the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, completing a two-year course featuring floral design and horticulture. After graduating with an associate’s degree, I was immediately hired at a large florist shop and enjoyed designing.
What are your favorite flowers?
Snapdragons, alstroemeria and Hawaiian tropicals – anthuriums & ginger
Can you tell us a little bit about Gresham / what is your favorite thing about living there?
Gresham has a population of approximately 105,000 and is the fourth largest city in Oregon. Despite its size, it has many small town features that locals enjoy such as the Teddy Bear parade, art shows, car shows and music in the park. Gresham has a very active Chamber of Commerce and many shopping opportunities, limiting the need to go out of town to shop. The weather is very favorable—we may have occasional rain, but we don’t have to shovel it!
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