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 More About A Flower in My Hand |
Susie Edwards - My Career in Floral Design
During the 70’s and 80’s I continued my career by doing consultancy for Marks and Spencer PLC, I grew and marketed foliage and started up a mail order company for floral sundries. I passed both my National Demonstrators’ and National Speakers’ Test for the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS), taking them on consecutive days! In 1988 I became co-originator of a new major Floral Art and Design Event at Springfields Gardens in Spalding, Lincolnshire, which ran for 10 years. Subsequently resurrected for 3 years at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this floral design event offered contemporary designers an impressive setting to show off their work. By’89 I was writing regularly for Practical Gardening on Flower Arranging, and was also designing houseplant arrangements for major suppliers to the multiple market. I now live in Dorset and have found the environs a great influence on my
creativity. I still travel all over the UK to arrange wedding flowers and to
demonstrate and teach floral design.
Together with Catharine Watson and Jill Sharp, we have developed a partnership entitled Trendsetters promoting contemporary design, and encouraging active learning through workshops and demonstrations with visiting overseas designers.
I have always liked to be on the Cutting Edge of Floral Design and the opportunity
to ‘do my own thing’ at the Festival of Flowers in Canterbury Cathedral in
1998 has been another influence on the work I now do for my own pleasure and in
my demonstrations. My last job of the 20th century was to arrange the flowers for my daughter’s wedding in the beautiful Milton Abbey in Dorset - an inspirational building and an emotional occasion. In 2001 I again visited the southern states of America, demonstrating in Memphis, Tupelo, Greenwood, Jackson Miss., and at Longue View House in New Orleans. In 2004 I was invited to demonstrate and teach in Nairobi, Kenya and also consulted for a rose grower in the area. This was followed in the spring of 2005 by a month long similar tour of South Africa. I have such good memories and experiences from all three! I am fortunate to be a regular contributor to 'Fusion Flowers' magazine and much enjoy writing the articles and 'playing' with flowers to produce the designs. After many photo shoots, some hysterically funny, some very cold, but all huge fun my new book, A Flower in my Hand, was published in 2006. I must thank David Lloyd for the wonderful images and for allowing the use of some them this site. He was justifiably awarded Photographer of the Year by the Garden Writer's Guild in 2004. His inspirational photography do not just record a floral design, they bare the soul and draw out the quintessential elements of mood and character. |
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©2006 Susie Edwards and Wimwams. All Rights Reserved. |
Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, I began arranging
flowers when I was 10,
successfully entering floral design competitions at local horticultural shows. Deciding to
follow a design career in the floral field, I trained at the Constance Spry Flower School in
1960. Following on, I worked for the floral decorating department of Constance Spry
Ltd. for about 18 months. I free-lanced in floral design in London and up and down the UK for the
remainder of the 60’s. Horticultural knowledge was added to my design skills
assisting in the set up of various stands at major horticultural and
agricultural shows around the country.
In 1990 I visited Expo ’90 in Osaka, Japan as the UK Ambassadress of
Goodwill. I demonstrated at the NAFAS Festival and Competitions in Nottingham
and in Salisbury for the ‘Save Our Spire’ Appeal. A major achievement of my
career was during the latter years
of the last decade when I was responsible for the floral designs for the opening
of the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone – a major responsibility but an
opportunity to be involved in history in the making. I also decorated a marquee
for the celebrations of the centenary of Tower Bridge. I freelance again in
London, creating floral designs in many prestigious venues – Westminster Abbey, Kew Gardens,
at Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court, the Institute of Directors, the National
Gallery, Banqueting House – as well as doing weddings in France, Italy and the
Lebanon and New Year Flowers for an exclusive Hotel in Morocco. I also
demonstrated in America 3 times. I taught frequently at the Lady Pulbrook Flower
School in Sloane Street, London. During this time I began to write for the
Flower Arranger Magazine quite regularly and in 1997 completed my first 