Flowers from my LIVE Demos in the IFN Booth!
I had the Amazing Pleasure to Attend the “NEW and IMPROVED” North East Floral Expo (NEFE) in Mystic CT March 8-9-10! This Amazing Regional Professional Flower Event comes to us courtesy of CT State Florist Association!
This year… NEFE took a Departure from it’s rich history as a Association Show… led by Convention Chairs Michael Derouin AIFD, PFCI and Gary Meehan! Frankly speaking… I’ve attended alot of Flower Conventions… and I’ve attended NEFE and CT State before as well…and “BRAVO” … to Michael and Gary for RE-Inventing the Regional State Association Show!
Mandy, Michael and I on FloraCouture Night!
It Takes Courage, Talent and VISION to gather Hundreds of Florists… FFA Students, Amazing Flower Talent, Couture Design and Flower Industry Leaders into One Location for an OFF the HOOK Weekend… No wonder you chose MYSTIC!!! It as Mystical… and Magical!
The Contestants for FloraCouture at NEFE 2013
The Weekend kicked off with FloraCouture… an Event where Flowers and Fashion Collided… to benefit Pediatric Oncology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Teams of Flower Artists competed in a “Project Runway” inspired Runway Design Contest… creating Gowns and Accessories made completely out of Flowers and Foliage… with a Few Surprise Ingredients… like Brussel Sprouts!
Mandy and I getting ready to Judge the “Project Runway” Inspired FloraCouture Event!
Jennifer Ford Chatfield assembled a group of Celebrity Judges… to critic and award the prizes… I joined Flower Gal Pal and Rising Flower Star Mandy Majerik AIFD, PFCI along with Local Fashion, TV and Radio Celebrities for this Amazing Night! What an Honor… to see the Incredible Talent create these Fabulous Flower/Foliage Couture dresses… sashaying down the runway… it was Magical!
One of the Teams… featuring my friend Sylvia Nichols, AIFD, PFCI
One of the Teams was comprised of FFA Students… Talented Young Ladies…Look out Flower World… our FUTURE is BRIGHT… with these young Ladies at the Helm… All the Entries were WORLD CLASS!!!!
Designer of the Year 2013: Jorge Uribe
The Next two days were FULL to overflowing with Inspiration, Hands On Classes, A JAM PACKED Trade Fair… 1000′s of Flowers… and Boundless Education. For the Competitive Flower Designer… there were design competitions… and NO Surprise to me… the Incredible Talents of Jorge Uribe garnered him DESIGNER of the YEAR…
Jorge’s Design Competition Entries… Amazing Flower Artistry!
Jorge’s STAR Shines Brightly in the North East… and he’ll go on to compete at the NAFA Flower Design Competition later this year… Look Out!!!!! This is One Amazingly Talented Guy!!!!
Elizabeth Crisp from Applecreek Flowers… IFN User… and Constantine Detsis… CEO of IFN with me in the IFN Booth!
My Composite Calla Made from Esprit Miami Mini Callas… A HUGE Crowd Favorite!
I Enjoyed the Weekend as GUEST of the Independent Floral Network… giving LIVE Demonstration in their Booth! IFN Creates the BEST Point of Sale System in the Flower Biz… along with Profitable and Successful Websites! Add to that their Ability to offer Florists an Affordable SUCCESSFUL departure from Wire Services… I couldn’t be Happier (or More Honored) to be their Guest… in Helping the Independent LOCAL Florists Survive, Grow and PROSPER in a Wire Service Free environment!
G3 100% Post Consumer Recycled Glass and Continental Floral Greens Curly Willow… in my Live Demo
Continental Floral Greens, Esprit Miami, Garcia Group, Resendiz Brothers and Roseville Farms… provided Containers, Flowers and Foliage for my Demonstrations… Everyone was in AWE… over the Callas, Clematis and Protea… Pretty Flowers ROCK my Demos!!!
Roseville Farms Clematis… Fresh from Florida!!!
uBloom.com had an Exciting Announcement at NEFE… the First Glimpse at our NEW uBloom Image Gallery… that we will be offering to Independent Local Florists for use on their websites… 25 Images for $20… coming Soon (end of March 2013)… Stay tuned for More Details! I’m Proud to say… The Images met with RAVE REVIEWS… (pssst… IFN Members will get an additional $5 discount…)
Triplet Pincushion from Resendiz Brothers… CA GROWN!
The Best Part of the Entire Weekend… was spending time with Flower Friends: Mimi from Chrysal USA, Corey Harbour AIFD, Elizabeth, Karen and Constantine from IFN… Sue and Laurie from Delaware Valley… Mandy, Michael, Gary, Jorge, Jennifer…
Catching up with the FUTURE of our Flower Industry… FFA Students at NEFE!
And Most of ALL Leah and Lynne… TWO Amazing Ladies…I count these Girls as FAMILY… It’s More than a Friendship… they MAKE a Room Brighter… by Just Walking in! Kel and I love You TWO… you’re TWO In a MILLION!!!!!!
Me with Lynne and Leah… my CT Family!!! XXOO
Life on the Road… can be grueling… and you always look forward to “coming home”…
It’s an Honor to say… this trip was different… I left “home” to “Come Home” to NEFE 2013… An Amazing Collection of Family and Friends… that Offered the BEST in Education, Motivation and Inspiration for Flower Professionals!
Bravo my Friends..BRAVO!!! Encore… Please! Encore!!!!!!
