Find Your Local Florist:Everything you want to know about flowers!
Do you want to be inspired, meet other florists and share your talents? You should attend a floral convention near you! They take place all over the U.S. and we would love to see you there! You get to learn about the latest trends and hear from some of the best designers in the floral industry.
Last July, when Janet P. Frye AIFD, CFD of The Enchanted Florist, Asheville NC was asked to join Schaffer Designs’ team of floral artists for the Philadelphia Flower Show, she never imagined the experience would be so grand.
The Major Exhibitor’s (category) entry won Best In Show; Display Gardens-Floral with an amazing 106 points, out of a possible 100! (The judges were so impressed they awarded the flower decked vignettes extra points.) The exhibit also took the Emile H. Geschick Memorial Award for distinctive orchid display, held for 191 years by horticulture groups. An amazing 3rd prize was the Society of American Florists Flower Show Award, given for best artistic presentation of flowers and plants for public enjoyment..
Frye was part of a dream-team of 28 floral artists from across the US who converged on Philadelphia to create a floral fantasy. Working with gloved hands, bundled in layers to withstand the cold environment needed to keep the blooms at their freshest, Frye and the rest brought the vision to life.
Schaffer Designs’ owner Bill Schaffer, AIFD and partner Kristine Kratt interpreted the show’s “Springtime In Paris” theme with an exhibit celebrating a movie classic, An American in Paris, on it‘s 60th anniversary. Show-goers experienced the classic movie in a way never seen before. The exhibit interpreted four, magical scenes of the film through a 360-degree diorama of vignettes. The true-to-the-period set added life to the spectacular floral designs. Designers created magical elements in moving, over-scaled designs, colors and incorporated original audio and video of the movie.
Most of the designers, including Frye, are Accredited and Certified with the American Institute of Floral Designers. To obtain Accreditation a designer must pass written and rigorous hands-on testing. Only the best of the best qualify to be inducted into full membership. Frye is the only Accredited AIFD designer in the Asheville, NC area. (More info at AIFD.org)
Frye also got news the same day that The Enchanted Florist Asheville had again received the Readers Choice Award for Brides Book magazine (for WNC area). This award is chosen totally by North Carolina brides and is awarded in each of NC’s major destination wedding areas. [Read more…]
Just a reminder, these shows will be here before you know it!
March 2-May 15, 2011: The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be held at the Epcot Theme Park in Orlando, Florida. Florists who are members as well as non-member florists are welcome to attend.
March 4-6, 2011: The Georgia State Florists Association Convention will be held at the Sea Palm Resort St. Simons Island, Georgia. Florists who are members as well as non-member florists are welcome to attend.
* March 4-6, 2011: The 2011 Great Lakes Expo will be held at the DeVos Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Florists and other industry professionals are welcome to attend.
March 5-13, 2011: The Chicago Flower Show will be held at the Navy Pier district in Chicago, Illinois. Florists, gift shop managers, gardeners and floral industry professionals will benefit from attending.
March 6-13, 2011: The 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show will take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Florists, gardeners and flower lovers will enjoy this show.
March 9-13: 2011: The Portland Flower Show will be held in Portland, Maine. Florists and flower lovers alike are welcome to attend.
* March 10-13, 2011: The Illinois State Florist Association Convention will be held in Springfield, Illinois. Florists and guests are welcome to attend.
* March 12-13, 2011: The Northeast Floral Expo will be held at the Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Florists and other industry professionals are welcome to attend.
March 15-20, 2011: Canada Blooms: Flower & Garden Festival will be held this year at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Florists, industry professionals and flower lovers alike are welcome to attend. [Read more…]
Flower Shop Network and Suzanne Baillie talk about the exciting events going on at the Southern Retail Florists Convention in Concord, NC. Florists from 17 states visit this show— lots of great networking opportunities for florists. There are competitions, hands-on workshops, educational presentations, marketing seminars, and much, much more!
No matter where you live, there is bound to be a floral show near you! We hope every florist has the chance to visit at least one show this year! Just listen to all of the great things you can do:
This post was brought to you by local florists in Concord, NC.
Not in Concord? Use Flower Shop Network‘s handy directory to find YOUR real local florist.
Flower Shop Network sat down with Frank Feysa, AIFD to talk about his hands-on workshops at the Tennessee State Florists Association Convention.
His first workshop was masquerade themed. Attendants were able to create their own mask for the ‘Mask’querade later that night. Florists created all sorts of designs using fresh flowers, sticks, berries, feathers, wire and more!
The second workshop was all about wedding upgrades and how to take what you’re doing now and upgrade to something more dynamic and polished.
Check out the video for lots of great info, photos and tips from the top! Thanks Frank!
