MEET BB OF FLOWERS BY BUSY BEE
| Happy Friday Guys…..let’s start the weekend off with lots of gorgeous florals designed by the oh-so-talented and she’s super sweet, BB of Flowers By Busy Bee….BB is based in New York City and available for events in the Tri-State and New England….and she will definitely consider traveling for an event, particularly abroad. BB’s floral designs are simply beautiful…I love her mix of beautiful blooms and the combination of the color palettes truly make me smile…her designs are totally swoon worthy….I’m so happy to have BB stop by the cafe today to share a little of her world with us….Enjoy!! |
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| TBC: What’s a typical day like for you?
BB: I mainly focus on events, so it really depends on the day. On the weeks preceding an event, I find myself at the flower market around 5:30-6am on the days that wholesalers receive shipments. I’m researching flower availability and pricing, finding inspiration, placing orders, etc. On the days that I pick up flowers, most of the late morning is spent processing them and allowing the flowers to re-hydrate and, depending on the timing, arranging flowers in the evening into the next day. TBC: Describe your client? BB: I’ve been fortunate that my clients so far have been very flexible. They generally tell me their color palette, flower likes and dislikes and we work together to come up with something fitting and unique for them.
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| TBC: Describe your design style.
BB: A lush rambling garden. I like to have my arrangements feel as if they were freshly gathered and reflective of the season. TBC: To date, what has been the highlight of your career? BB: It has to be the first time I landed an event from a stranger. It’s a joy to do events for family and friends but it’s a different sense of satisfaction when a third party puts their trust in you. |
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| TBC: What was your “big break”?
BB: I still consider myself a newbie and so far, having The Bride’s Café and Botanical Brouhaha feature me is pretty awesome. TBC: What advice would you give to upcoming floral designers? BB: Gosh, I consider myself upcoming and I’ve learned a good deal through the trials of setting up a business and pursuing clients. On the business side, I learned that bookkeeping is a terribly boring and tedious exercise. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to keep your accounting neat which can enable you to run all sorts of fancy reports on your profitability, budgeting, etc. On the client side, it’s really learning how to identify clients who understand your style; the process of designing and executing instantly becomes easier and more enjoyable when you and your client are in sync. |
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| TBC: What wedding trend would you like to see disappear?
BB: I’m not sure whether this is a trend, but I’m not a huge fan of designs that deviate from the season. I’m a big season pusher and it sometimes feels wrong to go against Mother Nature. TBC: Name one of your favorite “vendor” sources that you just can’t do without. BB: I rely heavily on the NYC flower market, but when I want something special it’ll be the farmer’s market, the local nursery for plants to clip (and plant in my garden later, of course) or my garden in western Massachusetts. I’m always looking to add a little je ne sais quoi to my designs. |
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| TBC: What’s your favorite part about weddings when it comes to the florals?
BB: The bridal bouquet. It’s my absolute favorite to do. I love delivering it to the bride and it completely sets the tone for the entire event. TBC: Finish this statement: A bride’s bouquet should reflect…… BB: The culmination of all she imagines for her day. |
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| TBC: Describe a “wedding weekend and how many additional staff do you hire?
BB: I typically do just one event per weekend, unless a second event is small. I may hire an additional person or two to help out depending on the size and complexity. Wednesday through Friday is picking up, processing and arranging flowers. Saturday morning is loading up the van and set-up. TBC: Where do you find inspiration? BB: I often draw from nature. For instance, as I’m writing this, it’s mid-spring and I’ve been obsessed with anything sprouting from a bulb and I want every single flowering branch that I can get my hands on. I’m also inspired by other florists as well and love that other florists are so open and sharing with their work. |
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| TBC: When I’m designing, I love to light my candles and play “old school” music. Do you have a ritual that you like to do when designing?
BB: My boyfriend and partner-in-crime, Pete, is my DJ and controls the tunes while I’m designing. He’s my barista too and always brews plenty of coffee to keep me energized for those late nights and early mornings.
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| TBC: If you had to make a career change, what would you do?
BB: This is my second career. I’ve been dreaming about flowers forever – being around them, growing them and designing with them.
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TBC: Describe your personal style…what are your favorite stores to shop at?Personal as in your fashion style or your home. BB: I’ll confess that I’m not a big shopper so when I do shop, I try to purchase items that feel timeless and are somewhat durable. I generally prefer style over trends and typically gravitate toward silk print tops and boxy outerwear. My stand-bys are J. Crew, Madewell, Uniqlo (for decent, inexpensive blazers) and A.P.C. (particularly for their coats). I’m still looking for a pair of cropped pleated slacks that I could wear with any top. |
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| TBC: Just for fun:
Do you prefer tea or coffee? BB: When in Rome, do like the Romans so when I’m in a place that is known for its tea or coffee, I always choose the house specialty. But most mornings it’s a single-origin coffee brewed by Pete; African-varietals are my favorite – it’s like I’m drinking berries and flowers. TBC: Do you prefer blogs or magazines? BB: Both! TBC: Chocolate or Vanilla? BB: I’ll take both please. After a long day of gardening in Massachusetts, I always get a soft-serve twist with chocolate sprinkles or the Hoodsie cup. They work together perfectly. TBC: And, I have to ask…what’s your favorite flower? BB: So many, but it’s the sweet pea. It’s simply perfect. |
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| Flower Image #5 courtesy of Maggie Harkov!
All other floral images captured by BB…did I mention that BB is also a photographer…how cool is that…the perfect combination, flowers + photography!! |