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Mark's Remarks - Demonstrating for Public Awareness
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 Happy New Year!! Welcome back to Mark's Remarks.
We're starting off the New Year with a Public Awareness Campaign!
Here in Ohio I founded the Mid Ohio Floral Artisan Society, also known as Mid Ohio FAS, in October 2005. The Society's primary focus is demonstrating for public awareness. When I first decided to establish Mid Ohio FAS, I weighed the balances and decided this organization would be made up of floral professionals from all walks of the industry, encouraging education for everyone. I spent many hours thumbing through phone books, directories and yellowpages.com to develop my mailing list, designed graphics, laid out a newsletter, procured product, and received sponsorship from industry leaders and growers. I am proud to say that one sponsor is our very own Tayama!
I also wanted this venture to generate more monetary funds for those in the industry. How better to do this than to educate the public? I decided we would show them what the floral industry has to offer outside the box, to show the public they don't have to settle for a traditional funeral triangle or a standard flower basket. I also wanted to give the public a taste of this passion we florists hold within us, so I extended hands-on workshops for anyone wishing to "have a go." What a HUGE success and enjoyment for those participating! Now the next question.....where should we hold this event? Nowhere better than the public library. Since the public library is free for public use, I booked it.
When I first started this venture, I contacted the local flower shops to see if I could get a spark of interest. The response so was overwhelming on a local level, I decided to expand my horizons to surrounding cities. Again, the response was very positive. One florist stated, "The reason I want to be involved in Mid Ohio FAS, I want to see the quality of work I am sending my wire orders to." and with this more florists and designers became involved. With little sleep and working 15 hour days on this project for 2 1/2 months a vision became a reality. Mid Ohio FAS had 20 designers from all walks of the industry from beginners to the advanced designers joining in camaraderie to make this event, "A Floral Gallery," a huge success. Thanks to all who participated.
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Mid Ohio FAS had its first public awareness campaign, December 1-4, 2005, in Bucyrus, Ohio at the Bucyrus Public Library. One of the few original Andrew Carnegie libraries still standing, this historic institution marks its' 100th birthday in 2006.
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This vision could not have become a reality without the help of my friends and fellow AIFD members. Christine Dillon, AIFD, pictured above, is the 2005 Ohio Designer of the Year and recently acquired the title of NAFA National Designer of the Year in Dallas. Chris will be a featured designer here on Tayama.com in the very near future, so keep a look out. Chris' creative edge, is something you won't want to miss. Edie Vermatten-Steffan, AIFD, is the owner of Wayside Flower Shop in New Albany, Ohio. Edi's designs are breathtaking. You can see the passion she has for the industry in her design skills from this photo.
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Chris and I tag-teamed the entryway urns. These urns are chock full of heliconia, birds of paradise, anthuriums, protea, and exquisite foliages. To accent the blue of the birds, we nestled blue sisal from Smithers Oasis around the based of the urn.
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When I contacted the florists for "A Floral Gallery", I stated to them I wanted some of the designs to be art pieces, and excitement filled the air. Above you see Tara Beaire, owner of Tara's Floral Expressions 1 & 2, Mansfield and Shelby, Ohio, designing in wood frame and below is her finished representation of floral art.
Tara's frame design is gracefully woven with branches provided by Hoh Grown, Port Angeles, Washington, Ming and Plomosus fern provided by The Magnolia Company, lillies provided by The Sun Valley Group, and the beautiful tropical anthurium and hala foliage from our very own Tayama. This is a sight to behold - just lovely!
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Tara and I had a brainstorm about an air conditioning duct and thought this would be a fantastic stand to display a piece of modern floral art. So we painted this piece of metal in modern colors and then webbed it with webbing spray. Above you see Tara's design team, Lisa Oliver and Linda Wilson, creating something unique, something Tara's shop is respected for. This design consists of Black Eyed Calla Lilies, Florigene Lavender carnations, Iris and tropical foliages provided by Tayama.
The finished design is shown in the next photos.
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Read more about the program >>
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