My Dedication to My dear friend Doug Hesnard SDCF

   Doug Hesnard SDCF has been my friend personally and professionally for longer than I can pin down a date, time or event that we meet. He has always been there, here and everywhere, in my heart, my life, my home and me in his. Doug passed away Sunday evening, November 25, 2012 after successfully dodging cancer for many years. He was diagnosed  fought back with his mighty spirit into recovery. He looked and felt wonderful, we were all proud of him and his force for health. I was able to see and share time with him several times. He would pop into my office, unannounced and unexpected. He would tell Claudia or Dan that he was coming to Koehler & Dramm, but to keep it a secret from me. He would pop his head around the corner and say something on the edge of" How is this old woman of a florist making it through the day?" or some country name even less attractive. He would laugh with that twinkle in his eyes and bring me to a deep belly laugh. I don't know anyone in the world that I would accept that greeting from, Doug is special to me.
May you be in a field of flowers, healthy , happy and helping others. Make that special design for God and all of our friends to swagger to your arrival celebration.Your love, spirit and knowledge  taught me and all of us . We will carry on.You paid it forward for us to carry on the tradition.
Thank you my Dear Dear Friend. I love you and miss your physical presence in my life.

Headshot

  I was looking through the new AIFD Membership Directory and saw myself. It became very clear to me that a new head shot was in my near future. Some of the pictures in there are somewhat dated, as mine was. Time to do something about it !

  The next step was to find someone that will do it and do a great job. I asked around to many of our Koehler & Dramm customers,students, friends in and out of the floral industry. While on that quest,it became evident that I need to prepare myself for this photograph that will be published. Jeff Johnson's name came up many times as well as Larissa has a dynamic head shot by Jeff.

   My God Daughter , Maggie is an amazing hairstylist and color expert. . She has a friend that is a Master Hair Designer,, Larissa Wong has taught throughout the United States and traveled the world in her profession. Bingo.

   I have the two components, the third is make up. Cannot have a good photo with out good make up. The photographer set me up with a very talented and delightful young make up artist that is amazing, Ingrid Kent, wait until you see the photo, you'll agree.

   Planning for the timing of all three and me was a challenge. Between the photographer and hair designer we found a date and time. The make up artist was set up by the photographer when the three of us decided. Whew, that is done.

   Now the hard part, what to wear? I settled on a black top, classic, nothing fancy.

   I drove to Southdale for my hair. It was an amazing time, she is brilliant, then back to the photographers studio which is where and how I want to live one day.It is a huge area /studio with great windows, a living space all in one loft. The make up artist was there to do her magic asJeff was setting up lights and the area.

   One very important point about head shots is please use professional people, that it is their job to do photos, hair,make up for this. It is your image you are putting out there in print. We want the public to use professional florists, lets return the respect. You receive what you pay for. When a service is preformed we must require the best in all we do and ask others to do.

   Thank you Jeff Johnson, Larissa Wong and Ingrid Kent, and Margaret Donahue for sharing your time and talents with me.

  

October 30, 2013

Today is the middle day of the Wedding Celebration Class. This is a three day class featuring designs for the celebration site. Traditionally that has been a church, which is not the case any more, a church is one of the places. There are many venue options available.
My Goddaughter and her darling husband were married last January in downtown Minneapolis. The ceremony was in the upper area with vintage brick walls, beautiful hardwood floors and lovely big bright windows. There was no alter, there was the Sacred Area in front of family and friends where her sister, a minister, married them. It was a family event with children playing, people laughing and sharing stories. Another of my favorite parts is the reception was in the restaurant on the first floor, we did not need to go outside. Family members brought favorite deserts, bought and homemade, the meal was buffet style and charming.thanks Meg and Pat for the best time.
Think beyond the " normal" what ever that is. Choose a place that represents you as the couple, a church, a park, venue site or your home farm, make it yours. Celebrate your marriage!
What are some "crazy" places to say marriage vows? Remember there must be flowers, lots and lots of beautiful flowers.

How many flowers does it take to make a sphere??

How many flowers does it take to make a sphere??? That question comes across many times, so here is the fail safe recipe.
What size sphere you have score it gently, don't cut, just make a mark around the sphere marking it in half, then mark the halves in half = quarters. This is usually plenty for the smaller spheres. Then take a flower, make a mark in the foam where each flower will be inserted,making room for it to open if that is the goal. Then multiply that number by 4 which will equal the total amount needed. If it is one of the larger spheres score into 1/8 or 1/16, then multiply that out.

Thank you all for the great questions, it stems simple ,but when we are in the middle of something it is harder to see the end. I don't even have half of the answers but I know people that I can ask. The best part is that we all keep learning, sharing and designing.

Bridal Bouquet Design Class

Thank you to all of you for the really creative Bridal Bouquet Design class this week. I am amazed with your creativity, you each take the products and truely create something custom and beautiful I have said it before and over and over how privileged I am being able to learn from and teach you.
We shared the days creating composite designs, Tussy Mussy, double cascade, grouping,crescents on the flat cane armature. There are times when you all look at me as I am asking you to do something strange " out of your box" and I am. That is why we call it a class. This is where you learn to trust yourself and your talent. This is where you can make a learning opportunity out of everything we do.

Check with Cheryl at 613-362-3133 or cstaniusdeiman@koehlerdramm.com about availability in the three day Ceremony class, decorating the church and reception designs for that wedding.

See you then.
AA