INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE / VOL 2
FLEURVANA Mid April 2022
EXPANDING THE ART OF
FLORISTRY
Fleurvana
Welcome to Fleurvana Expanding the Meaning of Floral Artistry I have been so fortunate to meet some truly exceptional souls during my floral journey. What has always inspired and impressed me the most in others is seeing their innovation and adaptability in their art forms. In this issue of Fleurvana Interactive Magazine I invite you to explore and challenge yourself to expand your own definition of floral artistry. From Designing in Miniature Form to expanding the industry through mentorship I welcome you to the Mid-April Issue.
- Shawn Michael
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EDITORIAL SHAWN MICHAEL FOLEY
Editor-In-Chief SHAWN MICHAEL FOLEY LLC
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Shawn Michael Foley AIFD PFCI Gina Thresher AIFD EMC Becky Bridger Brenna Quan AIFD Kyle Mayer Neville MacKay Sue Weisser Laurie Zelinski
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Interactive Magazine
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Index
Welcome Navigation Index
02 03 04
Our Contributors Featured Creatives
06 07
Florcuterie
08
The Fleurvana Vault
11
Reconnecting with Creativity
14
The Mini Form Challenge: 2 Years Later
16
I Just Want to Design 34
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Table Scraps
36
Re-Sorcery: Encore
40
Fleurvana Floral Artists
42
My Mother's Bloomers
44
The Creative's Connection to the
44
Cosmos 7 Best Essential Oils for Creativity
48
Meditation: Emotional Recalibration
52
Oopsie Daisies!
54
Catalyst
56
Fleurvana
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Fleurvana
Floral Artist & CEO of Bexbloomz
Noun[flor-koo·tr·ee]The art of curating, arranging, and presenting a smorgasbord of seasonal blooms as a beautiful, bountiful centerpiece display, in the tradition of the art of preparing an enticing charcuterie as a dinner party’s highlight. “Florcuterie” may not appear in the Oxford English Dictionary—yet—but integrating this innovative concept to my floral lexicon has opened up a bold new design opportunity for my workshop offerings in Newport Beach, California.
I first conceived of the term while talking with Shawn Michael Foley. We were chatting business on a Zoom call. Offsides, his charcuterie board called, delectable and stunning, overflowing with purple and green grapes, almonds and Macadamia nuts, color and texture of all sorts. In my mind’s eye, I found myself picturing this sensory bounty translated into florals, and—pop!—in an impromptu brainstorm, the word “florcuterie” was born. I love the word florcuterie. That it includes the word “flor,” of course, the Old French root of “flower,” but, also, “cute,” because, well…who can’t use more of that in their world today? This concept of florcuterie has already whetted the appetite of Bexbloomz clients eager to unleash their inner floral artists and add unique and innovative focus to their tables when they entertain.
Florcuterie pays homage to the French art of charcuterie, a form of cuisine that focuses on prepared meats’ quality, detail, and geography. Charcuterie presents in surprising and delicious ways and is, for good reason, currently exploding in popularity. As with the creation of a charcuterie board, florcuterie offers an opportunity to work in great detail, using unique, local, seasonal offerings. Here in Southern California, there is always something blooming— abundant mustard flower, spiny succulents, sun-burst acacia. Much like a spiral of seeded wafers, cut cheeses, or olives, small distinct blooms like these can be layered and grouped for dimension and depth. Reflexing a tulip for added shape and color, like fanning a tomato, is simple, but it is revelatory for workshop participants.
The technical challenge of florcuterie is exciting, requiring floral designers to consider the mechanics for the “board,” while integrating a water source. Departing from floral foam and teaching sustainability and reusability is integral to Bexbloomz’ philosophy and the charcuterie-themed presentation. My “aha” moment struck when I sourced a rectangular ceramic dish. This dish, with a low rim, was able to hold water when I positioned a chicken-wire pillow inside, to secure the stems. The dish paired perfectly with a gorgeous cutting-board-size piece of blue slate, but it looks just as pretty on olive wood or bamboo. This combination allows twenty-plus thirsty blooms to drink and also gives them a long vase life.
Florcuterie does not follow a prescribed recipe. It is a new and improvisational way of designing that allows me to selectively purchase premium bunches or forage from my local trail. For workshop participants, florcuterie is a sampling bonanza, a less scripted way to select, design, and present dazzling centerpiece work. And the final results are breathtaking and appetizing.
Embellishments, or garnishes, such as a rippling piece of eucalyptus bark, candles, one or more seashells, or a long-lasting lone orchid stem, finish up a florcuterie board. Like a small bowl of cornichon or a stem of red grapes, they serve as visual continuity. I have partnered with Le Pain Quotidien in Newport Beach to introduce and teach the new floral concept of florcuterie. I fill a generously long farm table in the center of the space with many glass vases overflowing with Wabara spray roses, dark pink scabiosa, and ranunculus in deep rich tones, along with many other seasonal blooms. The table alone is sensuous and dramatic. The café offers tasty French charcuterie and a beverage of choice (red, white, or rose?) to accompany the two-hour hands-on demonstration.
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The Fleurvana Vault Learn on Your own Schedule & at your own pace
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Where do Fleurvana Masterclasses go when after they've been unlocked? They go to the Fleurvana Vault of course! The Vault allows you to watch all of Fleurvana's Masterclasses at your own pace and as many times as you like during the course of your membership. You can watch on nearly any smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop 24/7. Here are a few of our newest Masterclasses added to the vault. New classes are added every month!
Instagram Demystified
Shawn Michael Foley Natalie Ryan
The organic Instagram Strategy and guide to content creation every creative needs.
Floral Freelancing
Shamay Andrich
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How to grow your career in floral freelancing.
Valentine's Day Calm & Cozy on Camera
Patience Pickner Order, Design & Sell Smarter with Patience Pickner's Valentine's Day Masterclass
Shawn Michael Foley Conquer the 5 biggest fears of being on camera with Shawn Michael Foley
The Art of Wire, Tape & Glue
Woodland Wreaths
Rebecca Raymond The must watch Masterclass for learning mechanics for boutonnieres, corsages, flower crowns and more
Shawn Michael Foley The Art of the woodland wreath with Shawn Michael Foley
Fleurvana
Reconnecting
with Creativity
Shawn Michael Foley Interviewer
I had the opportunity to sit down for a video interview with my long time floral friend Kyle Mayer. Kyle is based in the Twin Cities area and currently works at Lake Harriet Florist. In this chat we discuss Kyle's journey through floristry and where he finds his inspiration when selecting his luscious floral pallets.
Floral Artist
Fleurvana
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It was March of 2020... the month the world went into lockdown due to the COVID-10 Pandemic. Florists all over the world were closing up shop not knowing if they would ever be reopening. Being stuck at home myself, I was starting to get a little stir crazy. On a whim I masked up and went to my local Target and purchased a few Barbies. I found some flowers at Trader Joes and clipped some foliages out of my yard. Since I wasn't able to work with live models the Barbies would have to due. I designed a few Human Form styled designs on the dolls and I thought it might be fun to challenge a few flower friends to make some as well. The "Mini Form Challenge" was born. The original challenge was to create 5 miniature designs and challenge 5 people each day to do the same. Needless to say it spread like crazy through the floral industry to the point where I couldn't even count how many designers were enjoying the challenge! To commemorate the 2 year anniversary of the original challenge we invited floral artists to submit their designs to us. We are proud to feature our top 15 submissions!
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Fleurvana Two Years Later...
10 Shawn Michael Foley AIFD PFCI Floral Artist, Author & Mentor
Fleurvana
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!
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.
Shawn Michael Foley AIFD PFCI
Floral Artist, Mentor, & Author
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!
Fleurvana
About the Cover
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Table Scraps
Why Table Scraps? After years of running my own retail shop I was ready to pivot into a freelancing lifestyle. As I started doing more freelance work I soon realized I really didn't have much original content to post anymore on social media. One night after cleaning up a wedding I asked if I could take a few scraps leftover from the event back to my hotel room with me. I started playing around with them and made a cute flat-laying design and took a few photos of it.
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I posted it to my facebook page and woke up to over 100 likes and a few dozen comments. I never thought people would be so excited by a few leftover flowers but I realized in that moment I had stumbled onto something. I decided to turn it into a regular series that I would post after freelance jobs and workshops. I discovered there was an added bonus to doing this aside from creating content. I had wanted to have more practice with taking better images with my smartphone and this was a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Over the years I upgraded my phone and kept experimenting with photography in small scale and have found so much joy in creating the Table Scraps Series.
To this day, every Table Scraps image is still designed by using leftover and discarded botanical product.
Sue Weisser
I think as designers we fall into wanting everything to be perfect and end up forgetting to look at the little gems of beauty already around us.
Fleurvana Encore Viewing: A Fleurvana Fan Favorite
ReSorcery
Meet Your Mentor
Brenna Quan AIFD CFD
Floral Artist, Freelancer & Mentor
Free Encore Class
ReSorcery Masterclass
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Become a Fleurvana Floral Artist! Full Access to the Masterclass Vault New Monthly Masterclasses with LIVE Q&A Sessions Mentorship & Coaching Monthly Mentorship Calls with Shawn Michael Foley AIFD PFCI
Exclusive Membership Perks Early Access to New Events Be the first to know what Fleurvana is up to next! Members of Fleurvana Floral Artists get early access to sign-up and tickets for Fleurvana Academy Programs & Events!
Private Facebook Community If one of us wins, we all win! Connect with your Fleurvana Family and Team Fleurvana through the Private Facebook Community.
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Retreats & Conferences Fleurvana offers you both virtual and in-person events. All of our in-person events are recorded, so you can still join in the immersive experience even if you're unable to join us there!
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My Mother's Bloomers
One of the foundational pillars of Fleurvana is the element of mentorship. Encouraging, supporting & nurturing the next generation is crucial for the survival of the floral industry. Finding a true mentor in this field sadly can be quite challenging.
Shawn Michael Foley Interviewer
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That being said, there are a few gems out there who believe in the importance of mentoring the next generations of florists. One of my long time mentors is none other than the outspoken Neville MacKay. Join Neville and I in this intimate interview where we chat about his journey through floristry, mentorship, where the industry is headed and how to stay passionate about your art through the lifetime of your career.
Fleurvana
Neville Mackay Floral Artist, Entrepreneur & Mentor
Fleurvana
April 2022 Jupiter Conjunct Neptune in Pisces Astrology is all about planetary energy, timing, and cycles. Any time 2 planets come together or form a conjunction it is the beginning of a new cycle. On April 12 Jupiter the planet of expansion and abundance meets up exactly with Neptune, the planet of illusion and mysticism in Pisces, starting a new cycle. Neptune is the ruler of Pisces and is said to feel at “home” in this sign. However, in ancient times before Neptune was discovered, Jupiter was the ruler. This conjunction brings the both the modern and traditional ruler to their home base, where they can easily express their native energies. Why is this important?
While Jupiter and Neptune meet up about once every 12 or so years, they only meet in Pisces about every 150 years making this a once in a lifetime event. The last time they met was 1856 and it won’t happen again until 2188. This conjunction sparks a new cycle that will be intense in April but create themes that will last until they meet in Aries in 2035. This is BIG mutable water energy, which all about spiritual awareness, emotions, and creativity. In their home signs Jupiter is especially expansive, creative, spiritual, and Neptune is exceptionally dreamy and intuitive.
This is a time when creatives may experience heightened states of inspiration and even downloads in dreams. This can be the stuff of magic! How you will experience this energy specifically depends on where Pisces is in your birth chart.
Things like having a consistent spiritual practice such as prayer or meditation can help. Dream big, but don’t get carried away. Wishing you a magical Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Pisces!
What is the best way to work with this energy? All this mutable, water energy needs a container to have form. If you don’t already, now is a great time to keep a journal, create an inspiration board, or even a vision board. Because it can also be overwhelming and seem “out of bounds”, staying present and grounded in reality is important.
Laurie Zelinski Astrologer & Wellness Mentor
Fleurvana
Best Essential Oils for Inspiration Bergamot I diffuse Bergamot oil when I need a little mental pick me up. I've found it helps balance conflicting emotions and boosts confidence when brainstorming new creative ideas.
Frankincense Considered to be a sacred oil, Frankincense is believed to connect us directly to the divine. When I'm feeling creatively blocked or like I'm on the production hamster wheel I diffuse Frankincense to help reconnect with my purpose.
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When Sourcing Your Essential Oils - Always make sure your oils are Therapeutic Grade to ensure they are not synthetic - Buy organic oils and oils free from pesticides - Read labels and use caution if applying to the skin, not all oils are skin safe - A little goes a long way - Fragrance is a very personal experience and is the strongest memory trigger. It's ok if you don't like every one.
Lavender Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils out there. I have found it helps to lower anxiety and promote relaxation.
Jasmine Jasmine is believed to help promote creative ideas and a sense of euphoria. This highly fragrant oil can also be used to aid in tapping into your creative flow before communicating your ideas.
Fleurvana
Rosemary Herbal yet citrusy, Rosemary oil has been studied and shown to help improve memory and focus. Diffusing this oil while drafting proposals can be very beneficial.
Wild Orange One of my personal favorites. Wild Orange is a deliciously sweet orange oil and is also said to be the oil of abundance. Diffuse this oil when you need an energy boost or you're feeling brain fog. Conversely it can also help to quiet the mind when falling asleep
Diffusing Essential Oils: Diffusing Oils while working is often a great way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while you're being productive. If you're new to using essential oils in this way remember to start low and slow. It may be tempting to put 10 drops in your diffuser and crank it on high. There is no need to overload your olfactory receptors. Start with one or two drops of your desired oil and take note of how you respond. Some people are much more sensitive to fragrance than others.
Rose Although one of the most expensive essential oils on the market, Rose oil helps us to tap into our deepest passions and desires. It enhances romance and promotes an intense love for your artistry.
Shawn Michael Foley
AIFD PFCI
Floral Artist, Reiki Master & Mentor
Fleurvana
Creative Energy Meditation: Emotional Recalibration
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Find a Quiet space where you won't be interupted and enjoy this guided meditation
Play Meditation
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Oopsie Daisies!
Where the heck is my phone?
Have you ever found yourself in that frantic state after you have cleaned up a wedding, and finally hop in the driver's seat to go home and then you realize you have no idea where your phone is? Well I certainly have! I ripped through all of the flowers and supplies I had stacked up in my car trying to find my phone and I finally found it in the most unlikely of places. Check out where I finally found my phone in the video clip. Oopsie Daisies!
AIFD EMC Floral Artist, Entrepreneur & Educator
Fleurvana
A few years ago I was fully committed to the floral grind lifestyle. I was overworked, underpaid, under valued, exhausted and ultimately didn't have anything left in me to give. I had two choices. Continue working through extreme fatigue and burnout or start looking for a more energetically sustainable approach to my career. I chose to find a better approach. This sojourn lead me into healing and reconnecting with my creativity on a deeper level and intimacy than I ever thought was possible.
The past four years I have redefined myself as a guide to help other creative souls find their way through the dark to discover their own unique success. I have taken the best practices that have not only helped my clients over the years but have also helped me to accomplish amazing things in my life. I invite you to take this journey with me to reconnect with and discover your calling through the Catalyst Program.
CATALYST
RECONNECTING WITH CREATIVITY
Shawn Michael Foley AIFD PFCI
Floral Artist, Mentor & Energy Guide
MID-APRIL 2022
When the Student is ready... THE TEACHER WILL APPEAR
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