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When you enter your first floristry competition you do so with  a mixture of fear and exhilaration. There is nothing quite like the adrenalin created from designing an original and exquisite piece of floristry that is technically perfect. This gives true designers the most pleasure, winning the competition is just the icing on the cake. For the floral designer it is all about stretching the boundaries of design, developing new techniques, enhancing personal knowledge and skills and becoming a more creative florist. Obviously not everyone can be the winner and there will always be the fear that you will not do well in the competition but this should not be a deterrent because if you have achieved your personal best and had the opportunity to learn from the winners and discuss with the judge how to obtain more marks then it will be a most rewarding and motivating experience. Everyone has to start somewhere now could be your chance to show what a great florist you are.
There are many opportunities for florists to enter competitions both within your own area if you belong to a flower relay organisation or nationally at exhibitions and shows like the Society of Floristry show held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.
When the competition schedule plops through your letterbox this is the time to start planning your competition entry. Because the winner will be the florist who has studied the schedule, dissected every word, analysed where the most marks can be gained, practised the design several times and stayed behind in their own time late into the night to perfect the design. You cannot whip up an award winning design in half an hour. Commitment is the first step to winning.
 • READ THE SCHEDULE CAREFULLY
• The best piece of advice when entering a competition is to learn to read the schedule correctly and analyse every word. The schedule is a discipline; the wording will hold clues to what the judge is looking for. For example if the schedule asks for an arrangement suitable for a Christmas gift it would be foolish to make a hand tied design incorporating Easter eggs. Likewise to make an everyday arrangement disregarding the Christmas theme is daft. Your design should immediately tell the judge the occasion or theme.
• Abide by the rules it’s a total waste of your time if the schedule has a size limitation and you exceed it.
• Think of the types of design you can make using your imagination and creativity within the boundaries of the schedule.
• Achieving maximum marks is easy in the technical section of a schedule. Even if you are not a great designer here is a way of gathering the highest marks by meticulous workmanship, the use of perfect flowers, exquisite attention to detail and finish, firm anchorage, and a guarantee that the flowers and foliage will be durable and have suitable lasting qualities for the occasion stated on the schedule. Immaculate presentation will gain excellent marks.
• Have one simple clear picture in your head of the finished design and stick to this idea. Do not deviate. Floristry styles have changed dramatically and for inexperienced competitors this can be confusing, do not try to mix different styles of design together, simplicity can be the key to winning.
• Do not over flower the design; the key to good design is knowing when to stop adding material. Restraint is a good lesson to learn to avoid clutter.
• The use of flowers and foliage should state the occasion the design is for. If you need accessories such as toys, gnomes, ornaments or drapes to suggest the theme you will never win. The flowers should portray it all and do the talking.
• Using accessories around your design will detract from the overall look and will not be considered when judging the design unless asked for in the schedule.
• Colour is a section on its own in the marking schedule. Colour will capture a mood, show a personality or inspire a theme. Choose colour creatively with care, it can make or break a design.
• Study and use the design principles and elements to help plan and organise your design to give maximum visual appeal.
• The judge will want to inspect your design thoroughly make sure the design can be handled easily by the judge. If it is a bridal bouquet competition the judge will want to hold the bouquet, a headdress will be worn; a hand tied design will be taken out of a container to inspect the workmanship and technique. You could loose marks if the judge cannot get at the design.
• PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO THE JUDGE. Whoever the judge is they will want to talk to all the competitors, most judges have been competitors and they want to help you identify the best in your design and give you hints and advice on how to gain more marks. The best accolade a judge can get is if you win the next competition you enter. Finally entering a competition is like making a design for your very best customer, only this time the person you want to impress most is yourself and of course the judge. Enjoy being creative, who knows you could be the best in the bunch and you will be proud to be a FLORIST.
Caption for photos.
1. In October the Interflora World cup qualifying competition took place, the theme of the competition was ‘The Spirit of Oz’ inspired by the Australian continent where the Interflora World Cup will take place in September this year. The winner was David Denyer of Corrine’s of Gosport and Joan Kail of Fareham. His breathtaking designs depicted ‘Sunset on the Rock’. His table for two shown here had all the atmosphere and brilliance of sundown on Ayers Rock. Immaculately presented with exquisite attention to detail and stunning use of colour, texture and form his designs were an inspiration for florists and an aspiration for competitors. 2. At the Europa Cup that took place in Salamanca, Spain last September (2007) eighteen countries competed for the premier European floristry competition and the winner was Torjorn Akesson representing Norway. In the background is Torbjorn’s revolutionary planted design, where the plants were set into three wall-mounted drawers. The simplicity of the design is the key to its success with a woven embroidery of Ceropegia and ferns; one large Kalanchoe leaf (top left) captures the eye. In the forefront there is brilliant use of turquoise and lime green colouring in the innovative table design creating a truly electrifying effect. This atrical was commissioned for and featured in Fusion Flowers
Copyright © 2008 Lynda Owen. All Rights Reserved.
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