Exclusive Interview with uBloom/Accent Decor Contest Winners, Dodie and Michael!

Michael Derouin’s design entry, "On the Rocks" was voted the People’s Choice Award winner by the uBloom Community. Here is what Michael had to say about his design.How did you come up with the idea for your "On the Rocks" design?I was inspired by the Accent Decor Candle Holders…I thought it would be very interesting to do a collection of them creating a candelabra style centerpiece. Once I arranged them, I immediately knew the floral material would be wound from candle holder to candle holder. It just happened!What made you choose those particular floral materials, colors and Accent Decor Pieces for your design?While we have a good inventory of Accent Decor pieces I could have uses, I was drawn to the candle holders - it just made sense that they would make a great wedding centerpiece. The callas naturally lend themselves to winding, and they are so elegant. Once I added the callas, the composition needed texture…so I accented with Accent Decor river stones and gardenias (they add such a great fragrance).Was this the first time you entered a uBloom Contest?YesWhat was your reaction when you discovered you had won the People's Choice Award?I was thrilled! It was close…there were so many great entries, its a great feeling to have been chosen!Your prize was a cool Flip Video Camera. How will you be using your new camera?LOVE the camera, its great! I am adding photos to my portfolio (this camera makes it so easy) and eventually (maybe) I’ll be daring enough to post a video? We’ll see. :-)Dodie was the Grand Prize Winner in the uBloom, Accent Decor Design Contest. His project design titled "Sophie" captured the hearts of the uBloom Judges AND won Dodie an exciting, once in a lifetime trip to Atlanta, GA to film a JTV webisode with J Schwanke and Els Teunissen. Dodie tells us all about his big win and his fabulous trip to "Hotlanta."How did you come up with the idea for your "Sophie" design?I wanted to create something unique so I came up with a new twist on the "Lamp Shade" centerpiece by creating the lamp shade with organic materials. I also wanted this piece to be versatile so that other florists can interpret the design according to their own events.What made you choose those particular floral materials, colors and Accent Decor containers?I chose Bear Grass, Orchids and Dusty Miller leaves for their textures and modern sensibility. The containers I used are two very common "work horse" vases that are combined to create a stunning unique piece. I used the "Skyline" and "Devonshire" from Accent Decor. You don’t have to buy super specific and expensive containers to create an impact…it all boils down to the bottom line! These vases are inexpensive and common but when combined they’re spectacular!This is the second time that you have won a uBloom Design Contest. How do you feel about winning AGAIN and how did you react when J called to tell you that you had won the uBloom/Accent Decor Design Contest?I am honored to have won! Another feather on my cap I guess :0) I also enjoyed seeing what the other designers created…they’re all so fabulous! I always believed that a friendly competition is very healthy and it keeps us on our toes. When J called me I was crazy excited! I couldn't wait to meet Els and Margaret and of course J!What was is like to shoot a JTV webisode with J and Els?I was a little nervous moments before we taped but having Els there helped calm my nerves! She’s so sweet and down to earth! I’m not going to lie…it was absolutely intimidating. Margaret was actually sitting in front of us beside the camera which made me even more nervous!Talk about meeting Els and J...Meeting J was fabulous! He surprised me at the airport…I didn’t see him among the crowds plus Kelly was hiding with his video cam! It was too funny. You’ll see my annoyed face at first…I hate flying and the journey from the plane when we landed all the way to the baggage claim was an adventure on its own…(not in a good way) J is soo much fun and had so much information about the floral industry. I tried to soak it all in :0)Els was super sweet! There’s this aura about her that exudes her passion for flowers. She’s very approachable, funny and talented! She has this thing about kissing the flowers…it’s too much!You, J, Els and Margaret went to dinner afterwords. What was the conversation like at the table? What did you order?We went to this VERY CHIC! restaurant called Two Urban Licks…very impressive interior, the ambiance was flawless! It’s located in a reconditioned industrial warehouses. Now it’s boutique shoppes and apartments! We talked about random and not so random topics…of course FLOWERS! I was introducing Els to the world of Facebook and Twitter…it was fabulous! I ordered Seared Scallops with Gouda Grits drizzled with a spicy tomato broth…SO GOOD! The menu at the restaurant changes everyday. I highly recommend that people stop by this restaurant when they’re in AtlantaHow would you sum up the time you spent in Atlanta and what did you take away from your experience?The trip was a much needed change of scenery for me. It’s always good to get away from your daily grind and experience something that you have never experienced before. Being in the Accent Decor showroom was inspiration overload! I wanted to buy everything! I came back to California with a boost of creativity and a renewed passion for flowers. I highly recommend this to all floral designers out there…Once every month, go to your high-end shopping mall and walk around, window shop and get ideas from window displays and in store vignettes. I just recently visited Anthropology and Z Gallery…I was completely blown away with how they displayed their merchandise! I got a lot of ideas that I will be applying to my studio very very soon (0: