portfolio: the project

I need to put together a portfolio. I am the next big thing in flowers! Hah...not really... but i know im damn good at what i do and its getting to the point where i need to move on if i want to continue being serious about staying with this profession. Im glad that i didnt turn back around though...i say that meaning when i was getting started in all of this flower biz i felt like i just wasnt getting the knack of being a floral designer. Theres ALOT that comes with this title...i truly feel you cannot have this title if you cant live up to it! One of the first people i dealt with in the floral industry was Elaine Mueller of Delaines minooka florist and she CONSTANTLY said "You either have it....or you dont!" She was so right. Furthermore she always said she knew i had it. I wanted to just forget it many times. I couldnt make a bow right or green right or get placements right for anything. I know im artsy what the hell is wrong im thinking...

i guess i just kept ignoring it and working hard to get to the next level. I followed the same oath many of the most excellent designers had to follow though.

Im obsessed with anything flowers though. And i feel my thought process about floral design makes me the designer i am. I am NOT perfect...but ANY means...nor exact. And it just so happens flowers and plants are NOT perfect. I love it! I feel little quirks make the design that much better! I love botanical. I love earthy. I LOVE contrast...lights against darks...tucking in darks way in to make your lights POP. I love line...the way things curve naturally or the way you can manipulate your lines and make your eyes glide throughtout your piece. I love repetition where i can repeat elements in different ways and forms throughout my piece tying the whole thing togther. I love color...my god do i love color. I have to be my own fan when i say i can put togther colors like no other. I feel placing unexpected colors together is key to interest. Using color schemes...monobotanical arrangements, monochromatics. Opposites...ajacents...neuutrals... I believe black and white is just as interesting as anyhting else i can put together. Shock and drama...so opposite on the color scale but so well together. I love anything earth elements like twigs and leaves...pods...vines...roots...moss. I love shapes...curving the materials to make the piece flow all one way! Texture is big...fine textures against thick ones...softs and hards..shapely patterns and clean lines...dramatic outlines and forms. I feel like you cant plan design....you need to assess your situation and evaluate your materials at hand. I have to look around and see what i have to work weith and thats when i get my ideas. I cant plan them no way! Once i can catalog whats in the shop for the day i know what ive seen and can then piece togther what works togther. I put things together as naturally as my situation allows...if its imperfect its perfect to me!

This past year at my job now has really allowed me to mature my design. Letting me get my hands on pretty much anything this company makes available to me has allowed me to express all the things that dazzle me. I just love the feeling when someone stops and takes the time to study what ive made...when they actually let there eyes wander through a piece i make or simply just fall in love with the look. I love emotion. I am an emotional person. I just simply love happiness and love to make people happy with things i make. I feel my job is done when i bride can cry over her wedding flowers.

I need to capture what ive created...all together. It needs to be compiled! I have so many pictures on the laptop i need to get them all in one place and get them in print!


i love to just go nuts.





I am in love with bold and deep colors. Natural elements are my best friends


Shapes and textures!


This one takes your eyes for a ride. And a lot of elements and ideas are repeated. I love it...curvacious <3


completely crazy!

well...im tired and in need of a snack. My eating seems to be doing alright lately...but im pushing into the danger zone here of getting little to know sleep. Im not a hundred percent yet...and like brittany said no one is! But i see the results starting within me and that just transforms into motivation once i see progress.

I talked to nick tonight. I probably overwhlemed the converstation a little..i was just gabbing away. BUt the extremely excellent thing about him is he doesnt mind and lets me be me....