Week 11

This week started with all of our flowers coming into the studio for the weeks events. We spent most of Tuesday getting them all counted and marked for our event.

One of the events we had during the week was called Sun and Fun. Ian had me make two differently styled arrangements for all the tables at the event. I made the arrangements with spotted leaved surrounding the small globes first then I moved onto the silver boat arrangements.

Spotted Leaf Arrangements:

Silver Boat Arrangements:

I came in on Wednesday and made some touchups on the arrangements the day before.  They needed a bit more greenery to cover up the foam bases. While I was working on making those touchups with Janet we had a photographer from the Tampa Bay Times Business Journal taking pictures of us for an article about Zoe. The article was published online on Friday and Janet and I were in one of the pictures they decided to use!

Here is the link to the article: http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/print-edition/2012/10/26/rnc-lessons-learned.html?ana=fbk

Picture Of Janet And I:

 

Janet and I finished all the arrangements and put them back in the cooler. Next on our list for the day was picking up a vase at the Oxford Exchange and dropping off a fresh hydrangea arrangement the same day. Luckily the Oxford Exchange isn't that far away from the studio. We picked up the vase from the studio and ended up taking more pots for succulents back too. So while Athena filled the large vase with orchids and moss branches I filled pots with succulents and mossed them. We boxed everything back up and took it back to the O.E.

Oxford Exchange Delivery:

Thursday was delivery day for the Sand Pearl Hotel and Clearwater Yacht Club. So most of the day Janet and I spent driving all around town. On our way to Clearwater the large arrangement for the round table would not stay up so I had to climb in the back of the van and hold it the rest of the way there.  All I can say is that its days like this that makes me love my job! Never a predictable day!

In The Back Of Melva:

Friday was the craziest day of the week! We started out the day by heading over to the vault and loading up all the couches, pillows, and other decorations into the trucks and van. We took the first load back to the studio and unloaded the trucks so the boys could go back for another round of loading.

While they were gone we pulled more products for our events coming up next week. Once I helped with what I could Ian taught me how to make a pool float arrangement for the Junior League Party we had scheduled later in the day.

To make the pool float we used two pieces of Styrofoam with taped wire handles on the end to weave fishing twine through. Then I used wood picks to secure wet foam on top of the Styrofoam. The next step was covering the Styrofoam with greenery. We lined the base with monstera leaves and then other greenery pieces to fill in empty space. Then we placed huge philodendron leaves in. I helped spray paint some of the leaves gold to give the arrangement contrast. Then it was time for flowers! I added snapdragons, roses, and lilies.  

Making The Pool Float:

                           

When the boys came back with the truck we loaded up for the Junior League Party which was being held at the State Attorney’s House. We started by unloading everything to the house and set out all the couches, lanterns and other pieces where they needed to go.

The last part of our install was getting the pool float secured in the center of the pool. Ian had to roll up his jeans and wade into the pool on one side and tie it off while I maneuvered the other side of the float and pulled it into the center of the pool. I ended up climbing over a couple of black railings and straddling one so I could tie it off and secure it. It had to be tight enough to stay in the center of the pool and not be loose and hit the back wall. We finally got it to float where we wanted it to and tie it off.

Junior League Party:

We finished up the week by cleaning up the studio during the day and getting ready for our 3,000 carnations coming in on Monday! That’s a lot of buckets! And guess who gets to clean all of them? Ian tells me it’s definitely the less glamorous part of a floral designers job but it needs to be done. This week coming up is going to be crazy but should be fun like usual! I will keep you all posted!