Education, Energy and Opportunity: Interview With Jenny Thomasson AIFD, PFCI, EMC and Beth O'Reilly AIFD, TMF

Episode 92: We are strong advocates of education for both personal and business growth and so are our special guests, Jenny Thomasson AIFD PFCI EMC and Beth O'Reilly AIFD TMF. Jenny and Beth join us to share their thoughts on continuing education as well as give some insight on what to expect when you take their Floral Structure workshop. These women are energetic, enthusiastic and authentic.  Listen to the end as Jenny shares a secret!

Here are the links for our Rock Star Guests:
Floral Sculpture Fundamentals
2 Day workshop
December 5-6th, 2021 in Dallas TX.
Click on one of the links to sign up today for the Structure Class.
Enter Code CLIQUERS for your 10% discount before October 10th (and before it's sold out!)
Jenny T. Floristry 
Beth O'Reilly
 
IG @JENNYT.FLORISTRY
My FB https://www.facebook.com/jenny.thomassonaifdcfd/

Our Sponsors:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School 

Sponsored by:
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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Yeah, what problem do I need to solve design-wise? That I just needed the confidence of learning a technique that would take me there because there's not one right or wrong way to do things.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Welcome to the Business and Pleasure of Flowers. We're your hosts, Wonda LaFever and Lori Wilson.

SPEAKER_03 0:24

And we believe that business and fun are a perfect combination. Kind of like us, Wonda.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Lori, I am so excited to be here today because we have some of our good friends returning. We do. We have some super women power on the podcast today, I think. We do, man. We're just packed with educators on here. It's just kind of fun to look at the screen and see all four power women, right? We could call ourselves that, don't you think? Sure. I like it. I'll call myself that. Well, we have Jenny Tomlson, and she is here to share some exciting stuff she has going on. And Jenny is a returning guest. Last time, I think we talked about your book, right, Jenny?

SPEAKER_00 1:11

We did, yes, Perishable Poetics. Thank you so much for having me then and having me back on today. I really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Yeah, it's great to have you here. And Beth O'Reilly. Glad to have you back. Last time was about when you were a movie star, I think.

SPEAKER_01 1:25

Yeah, it was about this time last year, right before, uh, well, right after, maybe a month or so. Maybe it was November when the HBO show came out.

SPEAKER_03 1:34

Yes. We were supposed to have you and Ace Barry at the same time, and he was going in and out. Remember that?

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Like technical difficulties. It's called adapting, ladies.

SPEAKER_03 1:45

We do it all the time, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:48

We have learned so much over the last couple of years. I'm I have anyway, as far as technology goes and like what we can get done and accomplish, and it's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, they were saying that technology has advanced five years in the last eight months or something. It was just like crazy night numbers. And I'm like, yeah, I can believe that. Because all of us, you know, a year ago, we were just learning the technology field, right? And now, Jenny, you can do it.

SPEAKER_00 2:16

I can. Yes, I know. It's amazing how how far we've come and how many Zooms that we do. I was actually on two different Zooms last night.

unknown 2:24

Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_03 2:25

I was on a Zoom last night, and it's a quite a big group. It's like, well, 15 to 16 women. And there's only two, I think, that are stay-at-home moms. The rest are career-driven. Every single one of us at one time or the other, like, oh, I can only be on this one for 30 minutes because I'm another one at this time. And I'm thinking, this working from home thing has almost been worse because there's no cutoff time. You know, like you guys, you're doing a lot of your shows virtually, right? Where you would be traveling and it would be a whole thing. And so that would be the thing you would really be focusing on just for that time. And now absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

I actually had my dad here, and he was amazed at he kept saying, I'm just amazed how you and your husband both just jump into work and then out of work and into family stuff, like right in the same, you know, couple of breaths. So it for him, and he's in his 70s, he was just mind blown.

SPEAKER_03 3:29

Yeah, yeah. It is we should feel mind blown too. Like, how did we get to this point? You know, and and it's cuz because we didn't have a choice.

SPEAKER_01 3:41

And I think I've had an aha moment just with the kids because they're all on devices now, at least our school district gives devices. And I had this aha moment where I'm like, where's your textbooks? We don't have any textbooks. I'm like, you don't have any textbooks. It just took me a minute. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:59

Yeah, see, I didn't even realize that either, Beth. It's like, whoa.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

Yeah. I don't I love a textbook though. Like, I need a book. I so Jenny, I love that you have a book out. Like, it's important to have a book for referencing to go back and reread.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

Don't you think? Yeah, I think so. I love the feel of a book in my hands. I love the smell of a book. I do too. I love the doggy or the page, even though that drives a dumb book enthusiast like baddie. But right, I don't know. I love it.

SPEAKER_03 4:32

Yeah, yeah. I'm the same exact way. We have a brand new bookstore that opened, a local one here in my town, not like a franchise. And it just opened last weekend. And I've literally been following on on Instagram and waiting for the countdown. And so Saturday was the first day, and so I grabbed my coffee and I was like, I'm leaving, I'm running errands. And I knew exactly where I was going. And I went straight to the bookstore. I was there for over an hour. I met the women that own it. I I like in certain areas of books and met other people that were like looking for the same kind of books. I was like, this is like therapy for me. This is so great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

Well, today we're going to talk about education and really the power of education and what it can do to bring you to another level in in your profession. And whether you're just starting in the industry, maybe you're a clicker and you're like, hey, I follow you gals because I'd love to know a little bit more about the floral business. Well, there's some pretty great classes. Of course, Flower Click has one, Flower Prep School, which takes you from knowing nothing to being able to design. And then there's other classes which Beth will teach and Jenny teach. And now they've joined forces and are going to have something pretty exciting. But I'd like to hear a little bit about your take on the value of education. Jenny, do you want to start?

SPEAKER_00 6:06

Yeah, for sure. I have been in the floor industry for almost 20 years, and I believe that education is so important for me, especially. I still study every single year with a different artist, sometimes in the field, sometimes not in the field. But I think that it's always an evolving part of who we are as individuals, that there's never kind of a stopping point with education. You can only get better and stronger the more that you do, and the more that you give yourself to the experience of being educated by different individuals in different concepts. And when I get to teach individuals, and Beth and I came together and talked about can we do this structure class as a duo? And we've talked about the fact that we're going to be so excited just to watch the people attending and how excited they are. As a teacher, that really gives you so much joy. I can't even explain it. I mean, it inspires me, and I know Beth's right there with me, and I know both of you ladies are there too. Like when you see someone get it and like you see that light click, and you're just like, wow, it almost gives you goosebumps, and it makes you want to keep teaching and keep pushing and keep giving, but then also giving to yourself too. It's just that love for education, that fire in me. It's it will never go out. It's it's very important.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

I totally agree. And I would say for me, you know, mentorships have always been really key for me in just my whole journey in the industry. And I've been in the industry over 25 years, and I had a wonderful mentor who still is mentoring people. His name's Kobe Neal. And, you know, for me, that's where the education journey with floristry really started because I had no idea what all was out there for Floris. And he opened up that world for me, and I love to do the same. So I do a lot of mentorships with students from all over the country. We do them virtually, we do them in person. You know, Jenny and I are working on this workshop, and it's going to be in person, which is so exciting. You know, we've talked about all the virtual stuff, but there's nothing like just getting your hands in the materials. That is the best education that you can have, is just really grassroots where you're in it, where you're in the process and you're experiencing the materials and the possibilities. And then, like you said, the light bulb goes off and you level up. So it's a really exciting, exciting thing to be a part of, no matter what end of the fence you're on.

SPEAKER_03 8:39

Yeah. Okay. So I have questions since you brought up your class that you guys are doing. Number one, how did this evolve? Like, I know you guys have known each other for a long time, just because everyone in this industry kind of knows everybody. But was it at the Texas State or where you guys connect? I mean, I like to feel like I was there and saw it.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

So it was at Texas State, but I think it goes back a little bit further because Jenny and I were both presenters in Kansas City for a main stage program. And we were both doing our first mainstage programs for AIFD, and she was working on this amazing structure stuff, and I was working on structure stuff. And, you know, at that moment, I just remember like, hey, this girl has something special, and I would love to do something with her in the future. And we've always been friends, and I've always followed and loved what she's done, and I think that's mutual. And so it makes it really special. But we were at the Texas Expo in it was July, and I was working on the Cala Tower with one of the, I guess it was a student, you could call it a student. It was one of my volunteer helpers and kind of teaching. And Jenny was over there working with her dried stuff, and we were just really in the moment. And she says, Hey, you want to do a structure workshop together? And I was, of course, overjoyed.

SPEAKER_03 9:54

Oh, so she did the ask.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

She did, and I'm so glad she did.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Yeah, when I walked into that workroom in Texas, you know, you walk into the workroom and you know, because you see on the roster who's there, but it's always like when you see that person for the first time. She was the first person I saw in the workroom that day, and she had her tunes going and she was in her zone. I just like creeped over there and walked up, and I was like, hey lady. And she turned around and we just like grabbed each other and hugged each other, and we were right across from each other. So the whole time she'd walk in, we'd say hi. I'd walk in, she'd say hi. And there was just so much love like we always have. And I just thought at the end, we gotta do this. It would be a flat.

SPEAKER_02 10:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

Even through the planning process, we've been doing conversations and emails and and whatnot. And it's been fun, huh? It's been fun just to plan this with you. And we're not even to the workshop yet.

SPEAKER_01 10:49

Yeah. We still got a couple months, and we can have our seats filling up, which is super exciting. We have people coming in from all over the country for this. And I know it's gonna be a special, a really special workshop.

SPEAKER_03 11:01

So here's my question number two who's your target audience for this? That's my big question because you guys are like Vonda was saying, we have basic design courses and they're great for onboarding new employees, people that want to put their toe into the design world. I I feel like that's not your target audience, but I could be wrong.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

I would say really our target audience is anyone who is inspired by design and art. And it doesn't even have to be a florist, to be honest. Right structure goes beyond floral. Floral is just the medium that we use to enhance what we've already created, right? That's what brings our color in for most of the time. Um, it's really for anyone who wants to come to a workshop to push themselves, to be inspired and to create something fantastic, to have this experience to really immerse themselves. I think that anyone who is willing to come authentically as an artist, that's who we're looking for. No airs, no cockiness. We want everyone to come with just this overwhelming sense of giving to their peers and giving to themselves.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

And it can be kind of tricky for a beginner florist because if they sit back and say, Oh, I'm coming as an artist, that could be a really hard statement for someone to make. But we are all creators, and I think that Jenny and I are really passionate that every single person has something to bring to the table, no matter what level of floristry that they're at. I've had some beginners approach me and say, What do you think about me taking this class? It would be fabulous. You would learn so much. We are not having a class that's so big that we can't have one-on-one time. We plan on that. We plan on being able to work with people at their level and what whatever it is they're working through in need. And in working through structure, there's so many design problems that we can teach people how to solve just in the real world with designing. We may be working on one type of structure that is very artistic, but if you take those same principles and you apply them to something that's a little bit more like a wedding scenario or building an arch or something like that, those same principles will still apply. And we're hoping that, you know, they create like a bag of tools, uh virtual tools, if you will, of just knowing how to problem solve, feeling comfortable and confident, and being able to call himself an artist.

SPEAKER_00 13:38

Yeah, for sure. And if I may get on that tool bag bandwagon real quick, I was at a workshop uh studying with a designer that I've studied with a few times, and there was a process where the teacher was going around and talking to the students, and the question came to me, why are you here? Almost as if to say, like, I've been here so many times, like, why am I back again? You know? And it took me about a second and a half, but I said, Arsenal. And that's what it is. It's every time I attend a workshop, I'm gathering arsenal for that everyday life experience. What am I gonna pull out of my tool bags? What's my arsenal? What do I need for this instance?

SPEAKER_01 14:20

So yeah, what problem do I need to solve design-wise? That I just needed the confidence of learning a technique that will take me there because there's not one right or wrong way to do things. We need a foundation. The principles and elements of design are definitely a foundation that we build upon, but having the real world experience to draw those out and use them in a in a situation is invaluable.

SPEAKER_02 14:43

Yeah, Laura, you talk a lot about confidence in whether it's sales or our design classes, and that's what they're going to instill in people, which is pretty exciting.

SPEAKER_03 14:52

Yeah. I think the other part, if I'm hearing you correctly, if again, I don't ever see myself at that level. I love flowers. I love to play with flowers, but I get very intimidated. I think going to a class like yours would just be so inspirational, is the biggest word. Like I think of when you go to seminars on topics you're not super familiar with and you leave and and you've written down all of these great new ideas just in how to live as a better person, and then maybe you implement three or four of them and not 70. That was time and money well spent, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:36

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

And so that's that's kind of what I think here's now. So where, when, all of the what are all of the details?

SPEAKER_01 15:43

So we're gonna be in Dallas, December 5th and 6th, and we plan those days because it's a Sunday and a Monday. So a lot of event florists take those days off. It's a little easier, hopefully, for retail florists and anyone who's interested in coming to kind of take those days and devote them to education. It's going to be at the Dr. D Design Center and Floral Institute, which is amazing, but I haven't seen it yet, but I've heard so much about it, I can't wait. Um, maybe Jenny can tell you guys a little bit more about that, the design center that we're gonna be teaching this in. Uh, but it's a great facility. It's really close to Dallas Market Center. So if anybody is familiar with that area, we have people that are coming and staying at different hotels around that area, uh, and it's very close. It's Uberable and ride shareable for sure. And we're gonna start every morning, take care of people, love on people. We've got lunch planned, we've got lots of really, really cool stuff planned throughout the day, but it'll be a full day for two days.

SPEAKER_03 16:44

Okay. Yeah, I saw that snacks were included. Yeah. It's like, oh, what is snacks? Snacks are the best. I love that you guys put that in there because most of those women were like, oh, sign me up. I love snacks.

SPEAKER_02 17:00

So how much hands-on time or how many projects do you have built into the two-day program?

SPEAKER_00 17:06

The hands-on time is the majority of the two days. There will be inspiration and demo from Beth and myself, but we are not trying to take our styles and mold them together into one. She is definitely doing what she does best, and we're celebrating that about her. That's why she's here. And I'm gonna do what I do, you know? And then after that, it's practical hands-on for the students all day. And the end of the second day, we're gonna do a group project together. And at the facility we where we are at, like Beth was saying, we're at the Dr. D Institute here in Dallas, Texas. Um, it's actually within the design center for Dr. Delphinium Design and Events, which is one of the largest flower shops in the country. And at the design center, the really cool thing is a lot of the attendees have never seen anything to this scale. So they get the kind of behind the scenes, and with it being the beginning of December, there's lots of activity and hustle and bustle. So they'll get to see the other designers and how they're really putting things together. And then in our space that we have for the institute, the the scales of things that we can make, uh, really there's no limit. We've got super high ceilings where we can suspend stuff from, a great open area, and they can really have the opportunity to play. That's what our main goal is. Play and experiment with ideas and concepts and kind of feed off of each other.

SPEAKER_01 18:36

And we're excited about really delving into geometrical form. I think that is a bread and butter meat and potatoes place to start when it comes to structure. Um, so we have some fun ways of incorporating, you know, just getting people warmed up with that thought process in mind. And then some amazing products. We're working with some companies now. Uh, it's really exciting, but one of them uh is a grower in Ecuador that I'm super excited about coming on board, which is Much Flowers. And they grow all kinds of stuff: um, Delphinium and Scabiosa and Alstrameria, and one of my favorites lately is the uh lipendium, which is the pennycrest. I just love it. It's super long lasting, it tints really well. We're still developing all of those great products that we're gonna get from Much Flowers, but I definitely wanted to mention them and their generosity for helping us and just kind of getting their product in people's hands. A lot of times we miss that part of the equation when we're working with flowers, and it's so important, and it's definitely something I'm passionate about just with my experience in wholesale and logistics and the growing side. I haven't grown before, but I've visited a bunch of farms, and it's a whole world that I think it's really important to just at least give some pause to when we're working with these flowers. So I'm definitely excited about them coming on board.

SPEAKER_02 19:59

That's really great. One thing that I would have to say is our listeners might be really intimidated to take a class from the two of you. And I'm I'm saying that with all respect because I'm here with two rock stars. I mean, we see Beth out there on Instagram and Facebook and all this. We see Jenny T and all that she's doing. And I'm like, oh my gosh, would I take a class from them? I would feel so stupid. I would feel like I'm over my head in what's going on. And I would just have to encourage whoever's listening. These ladies are real, they're they're authentic, they're caring, they're loving. They're not going to make you feel like, oh my gosh, why am I here? They will make you feel like you made the right choice to be here at this class. So I just want to encourage you, just because they're such huge names out there, and you're like, oh my gosh, I don't think I could do that. It's true, they are so authentic, and you will not feel like you're in over your head. Please, if you're thinking that you've got that weekend open and you really should be here or make that weekend open, I'm gonna encourage you to take the class because you will take yourself to a different level and as we say, give you the confidence and the tools to bring you to another level. So I don't know if you guys want to add anything to that, but I you know I know people will think that. I know that's what so many designers are thinking.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

Well, Ivana, I think maybe the intimidating part might be the structure because it's an approach that maybe some people haven't had towards you know, building floral arrangements and designs. But what I can say to that is Jenny and I are both really passionate about structure. I uh I'm a sculpture major, I have a bachelor's degree in fine art sculpture, and I remember the moment where flowers and my sculpture degree came together for me, and it was one of Those moments like you're talking about, where you're just in the right place at the right time. And I think our passion lies there, but it also lies in really building people up and having a growth experience. And it doesn't matter what level you're at.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

Yeah, I would say that anyone who really wants, again, not to be redundant, but who wants to give to themselves and wants to be inspired and push themselves, that this is definitely the place where you can feel comfortable doing that. You don't have to feel intimidated by coming and thinking that people are gonna judge you. Uh, everyone's gonna love on you. That's why we're all here. I really believe that with Beth and I and our energy and what we put out there, that we are gathering like-minded individuals to this space. I believe everything happens for a reason, and all of those people will come together. It will be the right energy, it'll be the right feeling, and everyone will just be celebrated in a really beautiful way and with flowers. I mean, what I love that is more stunning than that.

unknown 23:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

I got goosebumps just listening to you about that. I'm ready, let's go do this. Um no, and I just kind of want to add one more thought to that is it I'm a true believer that every everyone's on their own journey. And you know, whether it's a flower journey, for me, a lot of what's behind what I do for a living is a flower journey. And and when you follow your heart and you're just following your heart for what's what the next step is, and you're open to the universe, so many great things can happen. And I think this is one of those moments that if somebody is really on the fence, like I really am interested about that, but I just don't know. This would be the this would be the thing to push yourself into to do. And your flower journey is just gonna, it's it's gonna level you up and it's gonna take you on the path that that is just uniquely you.

SPEAKER_03 23:56

You know, I always think of designers as artists, right? I mean, it's what you are. I've seen both of you in action, and it's like watching, you know, an artist just create right in front of my eyes. It's phenomenal. So if I'm a let's say my medium is paint and I'm gonna go to a convention to learn a new type of artistry, that's only gonna benefit me. It doesn't mean it's gonna be my thing, right? But there's something there that might inspire me. I might take a couple of those things and add it to mine and make it even better. And and I think even if I went to your thing, I would walk away with some sort of new idea or an inspiration, also new friends, ladies.

SPEAKER_01 24:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 24:49

Who is who else is craving like face-to-face relationship, like touching other people?

SPEAKER_01 24:55

Well, I think the camaraderie when you get a group of people together in a room that may never be together in a room again under the same circumstances, there's true power in that. And we, Jenny and I know the importance of what you know, having this group of people together working on something larger than themselves can do. So we're excited about all the connections that are gonna happen.

SPEAKER_03 25:17

Yeah, I I'm excited for you. You both are in, as well as Vonda, AIFD, and you talk about the principles and elements of design. You guys have already mentioned it. So for some people in the flower world, they're not AIFD, and maybe they're not well versed in that. Is that a foundational tool that they need to have before going? Are you gonna be talking a lot about that and they're gonna be going, I don't know what you're talking about?

SPEAKER_01 25:49

So the principles and elements of design to me are a foundation that I revisit constantly. It's not anything that I learn and memorize and then I put it away and I never have to revisit it again. So even for me, I'm still learning principles and elements of design. So no matter what level you're at, that's totally okay. But will we talk in those terms? Yes, because those are the foundations. That's how we're able to. I mean, it's great if we just step back and say, Oh, that looks really pretty. I love that. But why? The movement, the line, the texture, the balance, what are the things that make that work? And those principles and elements of design are seen everywhere. If in a car, in a billboard, in art, in fashion. And it's just another way for us to really understand what is successful about a piece or what we might need to work on. So we're not gonna intimidate anybody with the principles and elements of design, but we're gonna talk about them in a way that's really casual and makes sense. And and one of the things that I think is so fun about the principles and elements of design, whenever I study them and pick them back up and study them, then I go out in the real world and I'm looking, like I said, like at a billboard, and I'm like, oh, I really love the emphasis that is made by the contrast of the colors and that design. So it always hits me just after I have reviewed them, that I get to see them in real life. And I think that's really exciting.

SPEAKER_00 27:13

If I may add on to that, um, even more than exciting, I have to say that I find the principles and elements of design to be poetic. I think that we are really the unique ones. Um, other people talk different words in their industry, you know, maybe spreadsheets or numbers or whatever. But in our industry, we get to talk about things like color and texture and line. I mean, to me, it's beautiful. And to really bring that emotion and that human connection into the workshop, people are gonna not only start to understand and appreciate the principles and elements, but they're actually gonna start like feeling it, which I think is really important. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 27:57

As professional teachers, you're incorporating that with whatever you do, so whatever your structure is, and when you're adding that to it, you're talking about those principles and elements, and you're explaining them as you're going so instead of just knowing the book knowledge to be able to have the definition, you're like seeing it and experiencing it. And that's how we learn, right? Is is not to just read it, but to it and feel it, like you're saying, the feeling of all those principles and elements. That's how you really learn.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

And I think in in most of us, it's innate for us to understand those things, but we might not have put words to them. We might not have the words to say why something is really popping out because it has that contrast. We just when we hear other people using that terminology and using it, it really helps us to make those connections.

SPEAKER_02 28:50

For sure. So we will drop all of the information in the show notes so people be able to click on that and go to the website and uh register for the class because I'm super excited about that. And what happens if it's full? Is there gonna be another one or is there something else that they can do? Is there gonna be a wait list? I mean, we're hoping that this thing sells out.

SPEAKER_03 29:10

And their friend like FaceTime and let them watch.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

I've actually been asked by people that are from other places in the world. I have a lady just two days ago from Australia, and she said she can't travel, but she would love to attend. Are we doing anything virtually? And I said, as of right now, we're not, because we were really focused on like that human interaction, like we were talking about. Like Laura, you were asking, right? Um, but we also talked about the fact that this may be the beginning of a very beautiful evolution in workshops with us too. So we don't sky's the limit.

SPEAKER_03 29:49

That's right. Love it, love it. All right, I have to ask my final question, ladies. I ask everyone this. There are no wrong answers. Beth, I will start with you. What is inspiring you right now?

SPEAKER_01 30:05

So, what is inspiring me right now is the transition that has happened in my life over the last few weeks that really is centered around young minds and children. So we just got a foreign exchange student from Germany, and it was a really last-minute um, you know, my husband, he's from Sweden, and he really felt passionate about hosting and what it would do for our family. And so we just went for it. And we have I'm a teenage mom all of a sudden to a senior crazy. Like I learned the high school and all of the ins and outs, and then I realized that she doesn't need it in textbooks because it's all on the computer. But I'm inspired just by our children and um building a future for them and spending time with them, quality time, and taking time away from what we always think is so important to do for others that really doesn't matter as much as the young minds and the children that were growing around us. So that's what's inspiring me right now.

SPEAKER_03 31:11

I love that. That's awesome. All right, Miss Jenny, what about you? What's inspiring you?

SPEAKER_00 31:17

I took a leap of faith and I called a gallery and asked if I could show my work. And they asked me my work, and I showed them um some things I've done, and they said, Great, uh, we were just gonna have you show in October. Will you show October and November?

SPEAKER_03 31:36

So Oh my God!

SPEAKER_00 31:40

I've been um working on finishing my pieces, and they're unlike any floral pieces that I've ever done before, they're actually more like paintings. So it's a completely new avenue for me, but I threw myself in it and I'm kind of um obsessed about the idea of getting them hung by the end of September. So okay, so now I'm inspired. Can I change my answer? Because I'm also inspired by Jenny.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

You can add to change it because I love her interview. You can add to your okay.

SPEAKER_00 32:11

You can add to way to go, Jenny. Oh, you're sweet.

SPEAKER_03 32:14

Wow. So Jenny questions Is it in Dallas? Is the art gallery in Dallas or where?

SPEAKER_00 32:22

It's not, it's not in Dallas. Oh it's in St. Louis.

SPEAKER_03 32:27

Well, that's exciting for St. Louis. I was gonna drive to Dallas to see it.

SPEAKER_00 32:31

Oh, yeah, I'm really I'm hesitant on posting, if I can be honest with you guys. Really? Because it's a new, it's a new thing for me. So I'm like, I'm I don't know, I'm normally not self-conscious about that, but I'm I'm hesitant for this one for some reason. I'm not sure. I'm I know there's underlying emotions there that I haven't quite tapped into yet about why I'm feeling the way that I'm feeling. Um I feel like I don't know, I should just do it, I should put it out there.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

Yeah. So if I can just be a cheerleader for a minute, like, you know, showing your work professionally in an art gallery, I know we share a lot of the same, we we share a lot of the same thoughts and feelings behind the art of flowers. And this is a moment for you. I mean, it's definitely a moment to celebrate where your floral art becomes high art. And that is really big and really special. And you should definitely share it with the world. And if you don't, I might say, I'll share it for you.

SPEAKER_03 33:36

Here's the other thing. I totally agree with Beth, but on the other part of that is isn't your goal too as a teacher to help inspire others? It's not like you're sharing it to say, hey, look at me. You know, that's really not your heart. Your heart is look, come and celebrate with me. And I hope this helps inspire someone. That's where I I think it's really important you do that. Heck, I will figure out how to go to St. Louis to come. I love seeing yourself. I would hang some of your things in my office because it is art. I just don't know how long it would stay alive.

SPEAKER_00 34:18

Yeah, it's it's all dried perishable materials. So and it's they're in black shadow boxes, so it is very distinctive and distinguished in how it's presented, which is it's inspiring, but to your point, like there is that like I don't want it to be like I'm I have airs about it. Like, look at me. It's not that at all, which is I maybe that's the underlying emotion about why I'm like having this back and forth about actually posting.

SPEAKER_03 34:46

It is, and you gotta get you gotta move past it because that's your own. We all I think that just means we're all good people, like we don't like to go, ooh, look at us, but that's not what you're doing, you're sharing what you do with others. Yeah, and that's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 35:04

Sweet, you just inspired me. I'm gonna share it.

SPEAKER_03 35:06

Yay! And we'll all share. So tell let us know when and where, and we'll put it out there for you because we like Vonda says, we love to elevate our people.

SPEAKER_00 35:18

Yeah, for sure. I know. We love you girls so much too, and we are so appreciative who had us and took the time to do this podcast with us and shout from the rooftops, our structure class.

SPEAKER_03 35:29

Yeah, we're excited. Yes, exactly. So, all right. Well, thanks for coming on, and I'm sure this will not be the last time. Thank you, ladies. Thank you so much for listening to our podcast. We hope you enjoyed spending time with us because we enjoy spending time with you. If you did, make sure you hit that subscribe button or add the Business and Pleasure of Flowers to your Google morning routine or your Flash briefing on Alexa. We look forward to seeing you next week.

SPEAKER_02 36:02

So please come back and join us to discover how a bit of knowledge and one small change in your mindset that can take you to new levels in your life and business.