INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE
FLEURVANA March 2023 Season 2 - vol. 1
FLEURVANA
Season 2 Begins! This issue celebratory issue proudly features the winners of our Found and Foraged competition. These talented floral artists have created breathtaking arrangements using foraged materials, and I can't wait for you to see their work! In the spirit of spring, we are also offering a special celebratory discount of 50% off Fleurvana+ memberships!
We are celebrating our one year anniversary of Fleurvana Interactive Magazine! I am thrilled to share this milestone with you all and I want to express my gratitude for your continued support.
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This is the perfect opportunity to join our vibrant community of floral artists and creative entrepreneurs, and take advantage of the exclusive resources and benefits available to our members. Thank you for being part of the Fleurvana journey, and here's to another year of growth, creativity, and inspiration!
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Index CONTACT US SALES ADVERTISMENTS SPONSORS GENERAL CONTACT
EDITORIAL SHAWN MICHAEL FOLEY
Editor-In-Chief SHAWN MICHAEL FOLEY LLC
WELCOME PAGE 2
NAVIGATION PAGE 3
INDEX PAGE 4
Publisher
BRITISH FLOWERS ROCK
KAT CASTAGNOLI
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Editor
CONTRIBUTORS SHAWN MICHAEL FOLEY KAT CASTAGNOLI BEN CROSS
SUBSCRIPTIONS Learn More
IT'S TIME TO USE A.I. PAGE 14
FAN FAVORITE WINNER PAGE 18
PLATINUM CIRCLE PAGE 22
GUIDE TO SPRING BOTANICALS PAGE 30
GOLD CIRCLE PAGE 35
I JUST WANT TO DESIGN PAGE 46
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SILVER CIRCLE PAGE 48
FINDING STRENGTH IN FLOWERS PAGE 56
FLEURVANA + PAGE 60
BRONZE CIRCLE PAGE 66
LESSONS FROM THE SEASHORE PAGE 80
INVEST IN YOURSELF PAGE 86
Alstroemeria Ben Ben is an award winning 4th generation grower at Crosslands Flower Nursery which was established in 1936 in West Sussex and is one of the last flower nurseries in the UK producing cut flowers in a full colour range all year-round. Ben’s British Alstroemeria is a very sustainable crop. His flowers are not sprayed with any chemicals after being harvested and go into recyclable, reusable boxes and arrive with customers the next day. No soil cooling techniques are used to force production and some flower beds are over 20 years old,
still producing premium quality stems. Under 5% of the crop is replanted a year so sterilizing the soil is kept to a minimum. The British Alstroemeria is known as a ‘Cool Crop’ and a ‘Dry Crop’ so doesn’t take much heat input or watering. Optimum heat at night through the winter is just 13°C via a biomass boiler and the crop is watered for just 20 minutes once a month in the winter and just 20 minutes once every 10 days in the summer unlike flowers grown in warmer countries that use a lot more water resource.
When Ben’s flowers have been picked they don’t go into big freezers, the cooling storage system at Crosslands is usually turned off between November and March. When the flowers need to be stored in warmer weather they’re only chilled at about 6°C instead of 0.5°C like most imported flowers. They are only stored for a couple of days before they are with the customers. They are a lot fresher than flowers that go all around the world. Most importantly all the stems are harvested at a ‘ripe’ big fat bud stage giving a bigger more vibrant flower
unlike the imports that are harvested too tight in bud just so that more can be transported in boats and planes. Ben also only employs local people and more importantly does apprenticeship schemes with local horticultural colleges and goes into floristry colleges to give his ‘British Flowers Rock’ Talks Next to being a full-time e grower, Ben is an avid campaigner for British Flowers and takes any opportunity he can to spread the word that British Flowers Rock!
Ben won the Grower Award in 2019 and 2022! And won the Gold Sussex Environmental award in 2020. Ben donated his blooms to St Richards Hospital and West Sussex care homes during the COVID 19 lockdowns. You can buy Ben’s flowers by contacting him on his social media channels twitter and Instagram @alstroemeriaben and on facebook at Crosslands Flower Nursery.
Shawn Michael Foley Fleurvana
Ben Cross Crosslands Nursery
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Learn More
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Fan Favorite Award John Regan
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About The Design Inspired by the fashion design of Christobal Balenciaga circa 1960’s, this design is about clarity of movement and gesture. The banksia tilts slightly while the twining tender stem of jasmine foliage climbs the spine of the composition only to travel into darkness.
Found & Foraged The barren trunk was a pruned remnant from daily orders tossed onto the branch pile to be used in Spring for the construction of a “fernery”. The vintage flower armature was rescued from a thrift store. Typically hidden completely inside a ceramic vase, I sanded the metal and colored it bluegrey.
About John, 2023 marks my 45th year in the floral industry. Twice named Illinois Designer of the Year, 1980, 1990 BS Ornamental Horticulture, BFA 3-D design/Sculpture, MFA Fibers and Material Studies, MFA Book Arts and Hand Papermaking, MA Art History, Ph.D. Art History (Jugendstil).
John Regan M.F.A., Ph.D. Twisted Stem
The Owner of Twisted Stem Floral opened in 2010 I describe my signature style as ‘Flemish-inspired with a modern twist”
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The Platinum Circle Winners
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About The Design This is an all natural, handtied, textural, winter bouquet. I was initially inspired by the lichen cover branches, which had fallen in a windstorm. I then continued to gather several items from my own yard and garden including the Hellebores, Pieris, and willow I made an all natural armature with the willow and jute string and began to add all my other ingredients. All the ingredients were either dried summer florals and grasses from my garden along with the Foraged items which I have mentioned. I also added a few fresh florals which had been left over from Christmas so the design is entirely natural, foam free and it was made with the challenge of just using what I had on hand - which was a lot! So much texture!
Found & Foraged Birch lichen branches, Pieris, willow, hellebores
About Shirley Shirley Burns (She/Her) is a Flower Farmer Florist who began her floral industry journey in 2017. Her first professional career and background were not in the flower industry, but with the opportunity of "new beginnings," she immersed herself into this unknown arena and had three main goals; Learn, Connect, and Evolve. From taking courses and workshops to volunteering and "showing up" wherever she could, she is now who she needs to be! She has a private floral studio in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, The Flower Fort. Where flowers, friends, and fun happen. She provides florals to an assortment of local "fun" events, such as music festivals, summer markets, floral art projects, community occasions, weddings, showers, and every other fun event you can think of. During the pandemic, she expanded her knowledge and became a small grower. She now has a boutique flower farm where most of her flowers are grown specifically for her projects and events.
Shirley Burns Flower Fort
Within her studio, she provides fun workshops and has recently taken on a formal program teaching eco-friendly floral design with the local Continuing Education organization. She has found flowers to be magical art mediums, bringing people so much joy. It makes her smile when others can feel that same feeling and encourages people to create a little bit of time and space to capture those feel-good moments every chance they can. "Give yourself permission to create and feel joy." Being curious and always pursuing and embracing the next piece of knowledge, Shirley continues to be involved with as many learning opportunities as possible. She continues to take courses and is always genuinely interested in creating a safe and fun space for creativity to explore through curiosity, practice, and desire. The Flower Fort – where flowers, friends, and fun happen!
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About The Design I was asked to create something for Francoise Weeks birthday last year! I was delighted that one of her friends reached out to me! Since Francoise is the queen of botanical and loves nature and foraging I decided to create an organic bouquet holder shape of a heart! I created it with chicken wire shaped the handle . Glued eucalyptus leaves I foraged from our trees across the street. I incorporated moss I had in my studio to hold the botanical. Used a little cold glue. I foraged small succulents from my garden and used a few pepper berries and heavenly bamboo berries from my garden. I got some dainty eucalyptus flowers from a left over order The container I used to photograph it was a coconut shell bowl I found at home! Francoise was elated! I kept the holder for a long time and re used it to do a bridal bouquet with all succulents for a wedding client months later She was ecstatic! Talk about sustainability! She ended up planting the succulents in her garden and saving the bouquet holder as a memory!
Found & Foraged Eucalyptus leaves, Eucalyptus flowers, pepper berries, heavenly bamboo berries and small succulents from the street I live on and my garden!
Srini Perera Kreative Hands
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About The Design
The antique china cabinet in this design came from my grandparents' home in Thompson Falls, Montana. It's over 100 years old. Every year when I was growing up we opened this cabinet to get out the antique dishes we used for holidays. Now the cabinet lives in my home. Last fall, after it got too cold to do installations outside, I wanted to make an indoor botanical installation for practice. I’m inspired by designs made around fireplaces, but don’t have a fireplace. So on Thanksgiving Day, while someone else handled dinner, I made this design. I used chicken wire, masking tape, pin frogs and thin florist's wire to attach everything to the cabinet and the wall. One of the photos shows the cabinet just as the project is getting started. Because all the materials were dried, we lived with and enjoyed the design for over a week.
Found & Foraged All the materials are foraged except the dahlias, which were locally grown.
The fall-colored branches are wild huckleberry that I found, with the dried ferns, on one of my favorite mountain hiking trails. The dried hydrangea came from a bush on the grounds of the condo where I live.
About Barbara Barbara Behan is a studio florist and botanical artist from from Missoula, Montana. Her focus is sustainable floral design and educating others about sustainability in the floral industry. Working out of her riverside home, she finds inspiration in the mountains, forests and rivers of western Montana and the rhythm of the seasons.
Barbara Behan Barb's Flower Journal
FLEURVANA
First Look Fleurvana's 2023 Guide to Spring Botanicals
Harness the creative powers of Spring Botanicals
In this guide you will discover:
Our 2nd installment for Spring 2023 releases on the Equinox!
33 botanicals for winter and how to work with their unique energies
The Energy of Botanicals
The Power of Color Incorporate the power of color to enhance your botanical & creative workings
The Energy of the Elements Use the energy of the four elements Earth, Air, Fire, & Water and learn how they can be found through using botanicals
The Power of the Planets Expand your intentional selection of botanicals with the powers of the planets.
Learn More
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FIRST LOOK
"CREATIVITY IS NOT A TALENT, IT'S A MINDSET. IT'S THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THE WORLD IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND FIND SOMETHING NEW & BEAUTIFUL IN IT. EMBRACE IT, LET IT GUIDE YOU, & WATCH AS THE WORLD OPENS UP IN FRONT OF YOU."
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The Gold Circle Winners
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About The Design For this design I wanted to emulate the seasonal beauty of my hometown; Ladner, British Columbia. I was also inspired by one of my favourite days in the Jewish calendar, Tu Bishvat. The New year of the trees, which is this weekend. So in foraging in my backyard, the neighbourhood, and in the beautiful marshes near our home, I constructed a “tree”, (the base of which is a beautiful wooden lamp base I found on the side of the road on trash day) with a sort of wreath frame to emulate the textures of the marshlands. The flowers are made to look like they are growing out of the suspended marshlands, and blowing in the wind. The arrangement as a whole is meant to capture my romantic view of home.
Found & Foraged Snow drops, magnolia buds, dried grasses, sphagnum moss, birch bark, dried nigella stems, a big branch (not sure what kind, it was on the ground)
About Bruno Bruno Cavalca is a Floral Designer and Botanical artist working out of Delta, British Columbia and in the greater Vancouver area. He has an immense passion for sustainable floristry and eco design, and is constantly seeking to learn new ways to push the boundaries of art, beauty, and environmentally friendly practice.
Bruno Cavalca Delta, British Columbia
His work is often inspired by is natural surroundings and he strives to create simple execution in complex structural work. In those rare times he is not working, he can be found tending to his orchid collection, enjoying time about town with his partner, or Walking their tortoise, Dewdrop.
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About The Design I created a sympathy tribute for a Christmas Tree Farm owner using found and foraged greens to emulate her passion in life. Winters in Central Wisconsin leave a lot to be desired when it comes to foraging for fresh florals, however these designs were begging for the evergreen foliage that is so prolific throughout this area. Blue spruce, cedar, white pine and Jack pine greens and cones were cut from the wild banks of the Wisconsin River and yes, it was freezing! But this couldn't be a more perfect tribute to the profession of this person who loved the magic of Christmas and brought so much joy to the local families through the sale of her trees. The family wanted to pay respects to her career without the flowers being too Christmas cliche, so I incorporated golden yellows and burgundy florals to diversify the standard red and green motif. I loved finding a wide variety of evergreens to help capture her spirit and pay homage to her passion in life. This tribute was a joy to forage for and create.
Found & Foraged Blue spruce, cedar, white pine and Jack pine greens and cones
Briana Glasel Wausau, WI
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About The Design I have been an oil patch kid my whole life. My father has been in the oil and gas industry since before I was in this world. Using a drill bit in design has been an idea of mine for quite some time. It is such a unique piece, which offers a great rust look and some amazing textures to play off. I wanted to design a piece to honor what a hard-working man my dad is to this day, along with all the men in this industry. Capturing an “in motion” look was my goal for the vision to come to life; I built clockwise lines as if the drill bit was throwing the flowers and rock up from it and away from it at the bottom. I used coarse and gnarly textured flowers to embrace the different layers of earth being unearthed. This tribute to my father embodies both the work ethic my dad instilled in me, and my love of floral design artistry.
Found & Foraged
Soap weed, tree bark, devils thorn & wheat
About TaNisha The floral industry took me at the knees 6 years ago. I was hired as extra help for Valentine's day in a small,rural shop. Starting during the busiest holiday of the year, I fell in love with flowers and everything this industry has to offer. I began asking questions of how far I could take this career and, being blessed with a boss who helps with the rose parade, information was endless. As an artist I have a passion for modern design, foliage manipulation, and using my unique flair to express my imagination and creativity.
TaNisha Graham CFD Lamar, CO
Attending Roots Symposium 2023 was an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Not only did I receive my CFD status, but also the countless friendships, floral techniques and lessons learned have impacted my everyday design and opened my eyes to a world others only dream of, let alone get to make an impact. My goal is to continue growing,learning and exposing others to this world I fell in love with.
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About The Design I used a found piece of limestone and a foraged root ball. I am inspired by how the element of line can give natural direction and unity to their many contrasts: light/dark smooth/rough vegetative/ mineral alive/dead subterraneous/aboveground hard/soft etc.
Found & Foraged Tree root ball & wild rattan vines
About Kim My floral career has spanned over 50 years including designing &/or managing for seven floral companies. I received my Texas Master Florist and Texas Master Florists Advance certificates in the early 2000’s. In 2015 I was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers and in 2017 became an AIFD certified judge/ evaluator. My love of nature led me to become a Texas Master Gardener in 2017. I worked at The Blooming Idea for over ten years and during that time received several awards including the
Lynn Lary McClean Distinguished Service Award, first runner up in the 2012 Texas Cup Competition and a People’s Choice award at the 2019 Houston Cup Competition. I’ve also served as a board member of Allied Florists of Houston for 5 years. I’m now the owner of a custom floral design company, Doyenne de Fleurs, in Spring, TX.
Kim O'Brien Jones AIFD, CFD, TMF, TMFA Spring, TX
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About The Design I draw my inspiration from my natural surroundings and a great deal of my motivation as a designer is to bring attention to the beauty and specialness of unnoticed or overlooked things. The seed for this design was a glimpse I caught of a bit of bright green lush moss through the tree trunks and branches in the woods on my farm this winter, echoed here in the glossy and fresh materials contrasted by the masses of dried sweet pea vine foraged from my hoop house - a reminder of the overgrown rambling rows of flower gardens in late summer. Upon closer look, this piece holds surprising natural and man-made treasures from ordinary life presented in an uncommon place and waiting to be seen, such as the Lego pieces found quite literally underfoot. The mechanic for the vine vessel was a durable natural woven willow basket base with the spines left bare in order to wind in the sweet pea vine, creating a 100% compostable reusable structure.
Found & Foraged Foraged botanicals: moss, mushroom, lichen, periwinkle, sprouted bulbs, heather, and sweet pea vine
About Marie I am a farm-based studio florist on the small farm I call home with my husband and our three young kids. Having grown up in the floral industry, flowers have always been a part of my life; .
Marie Van Hulsentop Langley, British Columbia
but for me there is a magical quality to this type of floristry - a connectivity to place and time and an abundance in working only with what I can find and grow. I love foraging for interesting botanicals and being able to include precious bits from my gardens. Things that fill my cup as a florist: intentional practice, exploring sustainable mechanics, taking inspiration from nature, foraging, and studying seasonality. When not flowering, I love talking about flowers, spending time with my family, outdoor recreation, visits to the beach, growing my own food, satire, ecology, html, and all things art and design.
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I JUST WANT TO DESIGN It's time to get excited about your designs again! Does your design business just feel like an obligation? Do you roll your eyes or cringe whenever you have to design for your clients? If you're like many creative entrepreneurs you probably feel like the artistry you loved has become just another stressor, like you’ve lost your passion for your art and your designs are repetitive and boring. You may even wonder if design is still right for you or if it’s time to call it quits before you get trapped. Well think again!
Shawn Michael Foley Fleurvana Founder, Author & Mentor
Order Your Print Copy You can fall in love with your design business all over again! In this book, author, designer and life coach, Shawn Michael Foley AIFD, PFCI teaches you everything you need to know to stop feeling trapped and thrive creatively so you can get your career back on track. Through Shawn's A.R.T.I.S.T.I.C. Journey, you will learn how to:- Reconnect with your creative flow in 8 easy steps- Handle and sidestep your stress and frustrations to boost your productivity- Stay on track with your creative goals and ideasRemember what excites you about design- Rekindle the love for your work and for your business. Order your copy and relight your spark for your design business!
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Download Your Free Digital Copy!
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The Silver Circle Winners
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Lori Himes AIFD, CFD Walkersville, MD
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Karen Kurtz Guelph, Ontario
Garrett Skupinski CF Austin, TX
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Marcela López-Vallejo AIFD, PFCI, CFD Wendell, NC
P.C. Malik Tajamul, Model: Greta Cepanonyte
Anna Lapidus Edinburgh, UK
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Michelle Christensen San Diego, CA
I Li Hsiao AIFD, EMC Oak Park, Illinois
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Finding Strength in Flowers Kat Castagnoli AIFD CCF From playing among my grandmother’s Sterling Silver rose bushes to being awestruck by a florist who visited my kindergarten class, flowers inspired me from a young age. While I ultimately pursued a different career path in journalism, my love of flowers never wavered. When I got burnt out on writing, I decided to take a floral design course at a local community college, and it changed my life. I delved headfirst into the floral world and never looked back. I eventually began my own freelance floral design business, specializing in weddings and events; started competing in floral design competitions; and set my sights on higher certifications, namely with the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) and the California State Floral Association (CCF). Page 56
This was the bouquet I designed for the virtual Floristic Dialogue Colour Theory class while I was in the hospital.
It was the evening after I designed a 200+ person wedding when I discovered that all of my coughing, body itching and feeling crappy was actually not the Covid-19 diagnosis I was expecting – rather, it was stage II non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To say I was in complete and utter shock was an understatement.
I missed getting up at 3am to hit the Los Angeles Flower Market, putting together bouquets and centerpieces for weddings and really, just being able to be creative and design something beautiful.
This is a shot of Corinne from the Fleurs de Villes show at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, last April.
I was officially diagnosed on November 1, 2021, and from there experienced complication after complication – from my chemotherapy port being infected and blood clots developing in both arms to tremendous fluid buildup in my lung. Because of this, I endured many procedures in addition to week-long hospital stays for my treatments, at times receiving up to five different injections in my stomach per day. Although I couldn’t design weddings, or do anything like that for some time, I missed flowers.
During this time, I signed up for the virtual Floristic Dialogue Colour Theory class taught by Per Benjamin and Hitomi Gilliam, and while it was a definite struggle, I managed to complete one of the student projects.
Close up of Corinne from the Fleurs de Villes show at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, last April.
Toward the end of my treatment, I was invited by Fleurs de Villes (fleursdevilles.com) to be one of their featured florists and design one of their mannequins as part of their “Femme” show highlighting notable women in history.
Me sitting on my walker, working alongside my floral friend, Chiemi, on Corinne.
When my wife, Kylie, brought in the bouquet I designed so I could enjoy it in my hospital room, every nurse who saw it complimented it. I remember staying awake at night, being hooked up to chemo and watching my floral class on the iPad in my hospital bed. Seeing amazing designs fill the screen as Hitomi, Per and fellow students discussed them brought a sense of normalcy and brightness to my long and sometimes lonely, medical-filled days. Page 58
Fleurs de Villes was something I had longed to do since attending one of their shows a few years back, but I didn’t know if I would feel well enough or have the stamina to put such a massive floral installation together on my own. I called up one of my best florist friends, Tee Dryer-Torres, asking for help and she didn’t hesitate. From loaning me the use of her floral studio and supplies, to helping me install late into the night, I still get tearful thinking about all that Tee, Kylie and other florist friends did to help bring my female Native American chief, Coronne, to life.
At the same time, I am forging a new path in my floral journey, perhaps doing fewer weddings and more floral instruction and artistry. Designing and creating flowers – not just for others but for myself as well – helps me heal and continues to inspire that little girl who still loves Sterling Silver roses.
My ‘cancer inspired’ piece designed with pill bottles and hospital bracelets saved from my cancer journey.
While I’m grateful to say that I am now in remission, cancer has forever changed me. While I may have won the battle for my health, the mental and financial war is far from over. My advice to fellow cancer survivors and thrivers is to be patient and kind with yourself. ‘Getting back to normal’ feels like a fallacy to me, in reality, it’s more about figuring out where to go from here. And as I’m starting to learn, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Kat Castagnoli AIFD CCF Kat's Floral Design
Kathleen Castagnoli, AIFD, CCF, is an accomplished writer, editor and floral designer in Huntington Beach, CA. In addition to playing with words and flowers, Castagnoli is a coffee aficionado, hockey fanatic and loves spending time with her wife, Kylie, their 15-year-old son, Max, and their spoiled puppy, Mocha Bean.
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Season 2
FLEURVANA+ Experience the power of creativity with Fleurvana+
Super Sale!
MORE THAN A MEMBERSHIP! Fleurvana+ is not just any floral membership – it's a movement! We believe in embracing technology and innovation, expanding your personal creativity and artistry, and promoting an un-hustled approach to sales and marketing. As a member, you'll have access to a range of exclusive benefits that will help you elevate your floral business and take it to new heights!
COMMUNITY Monthly community calls with our founder Shawn Michael Foley are just one of the many perks of joining Fleurvana+. Ask questions about design, flower care, preservation, sustainability, theory, and more. You'll also have access to our private Facebook community, where you can connect with other floral artists, share your successes and victories, and support each other in your creative journeys.
THE ACADEMY But that's not all – our Academy of Floral Arts releases new classes quarterly, all of which are included with your membership. Also, Fleurvana+ members get access to exclusive classes that aren't available anywhere else! And if you miss a class, don't worry – you can always catch up with our Hall Pass, which gives you access to our entire library of previous classes.
BUSINESS & STRATEGIES Running a creative business can be tough, which is why we also offer classes on productivity, profitability, and mindset – all specially curated for the creative mind! And if you need help demystifying social media, we've got you covered with simple strategies you can implement to grow your following. Unlock productivity like you've never experienced before by using the power of A.I. Write blogs, sales pages, email campaigns, and create custom marketing strategies in a fraction of the time!
DELICIOUS DISCOUNTS And of course, you receive some exclusive perks. As a Fleurvana+ member, you'll also receive a delicious 25%-50% discount on our in-person immersive experiences, workshops, and retreats.
THE LIBRARY And did we mention our interactive magazine featuring intimate interviews with creatives, artists, floral designers, botanicals, and industry professionals? It's like a bouquet of fresh inspiration delivered right to your inbox! Download our entire library of Fleurvana interactive Magazine to view on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
DON'T MISS OUT Don't miss this chance to join the Fleurvana+ movement and start cultivating your creativity today! Sign up now and receive a 50% discount on membership as a limited time offer in celebration of Fleurvana Magazine's 1st year Anniversary! After all, "The earth laughs in flowers." And we're here to help you spread that laughter far and wide.
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FLEURVANA
The Bronze Circle Winners
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Bronze Winners
Nick Evert
Faith Leal
Laurel Lopes AIFD
Elora Roberts
Melinda Lynch
Sarah French
Lori Gabelman AIFD
Sabrina Montoya
Johanna Oliver
Don Wallstedt
Angie Villarreal
Tyra Trumble
Jen Weinland
Keith Stanley EMC, IMF
Rylee Kelly
Shayai Lucero
Lily Stuart
Sharon LaFay FDI, CFD
Joaquin Munoz
Hailey Norman
Andrea Kuhn CFD, FAICP, LEED Green Associate
Kathy Bondar
Madison Baker
Brian Izatt
April Beauchemin
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Lessons from the Seashore: The Power of Gratitude Shawn Michael Foley
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Ever since my dad passed away, my mother has been a snowbird. Every winter, she travels down to Gulf Shores, AL, to escape the cold and snow of her home state of Wisconsin. And every year, I make the trip down to visit her for a few weeks. One of our favorite activities during these visits is walking along the beach and searching for seashells. I've always been on a mission to find the biggest and most beautiful shell I can, but one day, a chance encounter with a wave and a net of small rubble taught me an important lesson about gratitude and the value of small wins. As I was wading through the surf, trying to catch a shell that was rolling along the bottom, a wave came up and soaked me up to my chest.
I missed the shell, but I ended up with a full net of small pieces of rubble. I brought the net to shore, and my mother and I started sifting through it, looking for any shells that might have gotten caught up in the debris.
At first, I was disappointed. I had been so focused on finding the big, beautiful shell that I had missed my chance. But as we sifted through the rubble, something unexpected happened. We started finding some of the tiniest, most intricate shells I had ever seen.
We spent almost an hour collecting these petite seashells, and as we worked, I began to feel a sense of joy and excitement that I hadn't experienced in a long time. It wasn't about the big, showy shell anymore. It was about the tiny treasures we were discovering along the way. As we made our way back to the beach house (me still soaking wet), I realized that this experience had taught me an important lesson about gratitude. Instead of always focusing on the big goals we want to achieve, we should take the time to appreciate the small wins and blessings that come our way.
It's easy to get caught up in the pursuit of success or achievement, but sometimes, it's the little things that matter the most. The treasure trove of small seashells we collected that day brought us joy and excitement that lasted far longer than the excitement of finding the big, intact shell we eventually discovered. As I thought more about this experience, I began to realize that gratitude is a powerful force in our lives. When we take the time to appreciate the small things, we become more aware of the abundance that surrounds us. We start to see beauty and wonder in the world around us that we might have otherwise missed.
Gratitude also has the power to transform our relationships with others.
When we are grateful for the people in our lives, we treat them with more kindness and compassion. We become more patient and understanding, and we are more likely to forgive and let go of past hurts.
In many ways, gratitude is a muscle that we can strengthen with practice. By taking the time to focus on the wins in our lives, we can cultivate a sense of joy and contentment that is not dependent on external circumstances. As I think back on that day at the beach, I am filled with gratitude for the small, beautiful wins that brought us so much joy. And I am reminded that sometimes, the most important lessons in life come from unexpected sources.
So, the next time you find yourself focused solely on achieving a big goal, take a moment to appreciate the small steps you’ve taken along your way. These are the moments that compound and add excitement to our lives and remind us that the journey is just as important as the destination.
Shawn Michael Foley Fleurvana
FLEURVANA
Invest In Yourself Interview with I Li Hsiao AIFD EMC Kat Castagnoli AIFD CCF This talented freelance floral designer based in Oak Park, IL, is enthusiastic about floristry education and in fact, just completed his European Master Certification (EMC) this past September.
If you have attended any floral workshops lately, virtual or otherwise, most likely you will find I Li Hsiao, AIFD, CFD, EMC, among those attending.
Hsiao’s passion for flowers stems from his bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign.
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From there, he says, he has continued to invest in himself and his floral education – learning as much about floral theory and techniques as he can. Feel free to listen in to our conversation on Hsiao’s EMC journey, what inspires him and more.
Kat Castagnoli AIFD CCF Fleurvana
I Li Hsiao AIFD EMC Fabulous Floral Art
MARCH 2023
FLEURVANA SHAWN MICHAEL FOLEY LLC 2023©
