What led you to begin a business in floral design?
I never anticipated it. A few years after studying at SCAD, I worked under the Anthropologie umbrella for about 6 years in various management roles before switching over to their sister brand, Free People for 2 years. That is where things got started - in both realms, but Anthropologie mostly, I learned entirely new skill sets that furthered my development in craft, building, composition, and resourcefulness, all the while learning how to run a business. "No" was never really an option there, so you figured out how to make it happen no matter what. The tenacity and experience I gained from that really provided a pathway for me.
Anthropologie held "Birthday Events" regularly and that is where the details came into play, including starting to work with fresh flowers. One of my employees at the time noticed this and asked if I could do the florals for her sister’s wedding. I absolutely had zero idea of what I was doing but it sounded awesome so I was going to make it happen - even if that meant literally moving into a new house that same weekend (it worked out, we were able to use the old house to set up while the new house had stacks of untouched boxes until I got through this wedding). From there, the rest is history and I thank that past Anthro employee any time I see her for seeing something in me that I wouldn't have seen in myself.