For those who do not believe that taking part in competitions encourages participants to ‘grow,’ they need look no further than the international career of Deborah De Le Flor. She has not only had the privilege of representing her Country in the World Cup, but has gone on to become a judge, and, together with her husband Gus, founded the Gateway to the Americas International Floral competition in 1996. This is now considered to be the premier floral competition throughout the Americas. 1. How did you first become interested/involved in flowers? As a child, while on vacations, I would remove…
There is something special about a florist who has the respect of those who know and work with her but is also the ‘mother of invention’. How many of us I wonder use the handmade wire armatures fashioned out of stub wire? But do you know who was the first to invent them? Linda Johnsen is the person behind the world-famous ‘Linda Technique’. More than that, she is co-founder of the amazing Shishi organisation. She has a quiet approach to floristry, but Linda is an encyclopaedia of knowledge and floral experience. 1. How did you first become interested / involved…
There will be those in the flower industry who think that Hanneke Frankema’s success is like a fairy tale but nothing could be further from the truth. Hanneke’s dedication to her craft and hard work is legendary in the industry. She thrives on a challenge. Like all of us, she has had her disappointments, but she used them to help her ‘grow.’ She embraces everything as an opportunity to learn. Together with her partner Nico, she is building a large studio where she will teach. 1. How did you first become interested / involved in flowers? When I was young,…
