zoom away bride's bouquet
Are you getting married soon?
Have you gotten everything together?
Did you set the date and find the place you are getting married? Do you have your dress? How about your music? Limo? Reception venue and food selected? And a beautiful cake?
And flowers? Have you found a florist yet?
I learned something this weekend. Actually, I didn't learn it, I already knew it, but expressed it differently.
I was listening to a fellow at a recent business event I attended tell us why, after getting his degree so he could teach Spanish, he decided to leave teaching. He described how one day he looked at one of his students who never managed to get more than a 40% on a test. He said he was looking at him and thought to himself "I don't care if that kid never learns Spanish. He can lead a perfectly wonderful life and never speak one word of Spanish". That's when he knew it was time to leave teaching Spanish and do something else.
Although I never had that exact experience, after doing many, many flower arrangements for brides and many, many, many centerpieces for their weddings, I realized that I didn't have the passion for bridal flowers anymore. Now, please, don't get me wrong…Every bride deserves the wedding of her dreams. It is the stuff that many dreams are made of. It is the signal to the community that she and her groom are stepping into the future together.
A real time to celebrate and rejoice!
But for me? It's time to bow out (at least for now). Can I still do beautiful wedding flowers? Absolutely! (The prettiest!) But my heart wants more for a bride. I want every bride to have people surrounding her who care as much as she does…this is where I was coming up short. Just couldn't get stirred up enough to feel good about doing bridal flowers. Brides deserve more.
And so do I.
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my newest flower inspired by french garden roses
Today, my joy comes from flowers, still, but flowers from a different viewpoint. I love helping others learn how to make their own flower arrangements. Helping people share and enjoy all of the light and joy that flowers add to any space is very satisfying.
My real passion, at least for now, is in the oversized flower sculptures I am making. They delight the heart and is there anything better than pure delight?
So, for all of the brides out there, make sure you find someone who you connect with. It will make the flower part of your wedding planning more enjoyable and memorable. This is good advice, so take it to heart.
For all of you doing jobs that you once loved but are feeling the need to move on, go out and have a look at something new. Maybe just another version of what you are doing right now. Something new could super charge you and make you smile every time you think of the challenges your new pursuit brings. This is also good advice, so please take it to heart!
Oh yes.
Make today your best day ever!
Michele
A Facebook "Like", a tweet and a comment are all appreciated!
COMMENT!!! I really want to hear from YOU!
Looking forward to sharing NEW ideas with you about art and my journey back to doing art. flowers and who knows what else? For the last 30 years Michele has been designing beautiful flower arrangements for all kinds of people, from brides to prom goers, from dining rooms to boardrooms. Trained as a fine artist , Michele brought her unique vision to the art of Floral design. Designing flowers in a more relaxed,"unfloristy" way was always the goal when working for private clients.
Michele continues to do artwork , including paper sculpture (this is new!) and designing various products from table linens to greeting cards to holiday decorations, She continues to have a distinctive and diverse viewpoint she brings to her work. One of Michele's goals is to help people feel confidence and joy, enjoy art, enjoy flowers and enjoy the art of the everyday.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Michele…thank you for sharing the start of your journey back to doing art, etc.! Similar to the former Spanish teacher, we must all feel the passion, motivation, and inspiration to be be able to give ourselves an 'Honors with Distinction' mark! Good Luck….You have a fan…Thanks, Hughie
Michele, I love how you just tell it like it is. And may I add my two cents? Most of the wedding planning is overrated. It is the marriage, day in and day out, that makes a life. Having said that, I applaud you for finding the courage to go out on a different path, and start teaching flower arranging. Think of the impact if each and every student of yours, takes it to heart and makes their home or office or service community one of greater design and delight. Kudos to you! As for myself, I have found that vases purchased 3-for-$4 at the Christmas tree ship and filled with two roses apiece, preferably white, makes all the difference in the world. So there ya have it.
I can sense contagious "pure passion" on your site, Michele! How long does it ususally take a complete "newbie" to learn the art of creating these fabulous floral sculptures?
Susan, The flowers I make take an enormous amount of time the really big flowers….25-30hours. others a few hours….
Yes, yes, yes… I love how your relationship with flowers has transformed into this new art form, a new passion. And boy, can I relate! My love of words and writing is transforming as well. I'm finding, like you, I love teaching others how they can write their own great copy rather than doing it for them.
It's so important not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because you may not feel the same thrill doing what you once did doesn't mean you need to walk away completely. Rather, you just need to rediscover that old thrill in a new way… like you and your flowers.
Nice post!
I love what you do, Michelle, and the flowers are so gorgeous — I would also say that your flowers will make great wedding presents! What about also selling them as decor for the wedding, that they then get to take home and use as decor! I would love to see something from my wedding in my home everyday! nice bridal advice, btw!
Thank you Michele, such an inspirational post! I especialy like when you say: "For all of you doing jobs that you once loved but are feeling the need to move on, go out and have a look at something new. Maybe just another version of what you are doing right now. Something new could super charge you and make you smile every time you think of the challenges your new pursuit brings. This is also good advice, so please take it to heart!"
I would like to say, I understand were you are coming from when you changed from bridal work to sculpting. I tell my friends that if I am not as nervous as the bride when she sees her bouquet it will be time for me to stop being a bridal designer. I am currently not able to design because I follow a military man and I have also switched gears to more show design. I wish you the best on your journeys, because you know when to stop and smell the flowers.
April…I am so sorry I have not responded to your comment. One of the very best things about working with flowers is you can do it from anywhere…if this is what feeds your soul, look around. There is always a bride who is looking for you!
Best of luck and again, please accept my apologies!
Michele