MEET JEANETTE OF TRUE FLORETTE FLORAL DESIGN

TF:  My company is fairly new, so every day is filled with growing my business and strengthening the foundation. When I’m not working on the business end of things, I’m usually out meeting other vendors, doing site visits, writing proposals, or the best part, shopping the NYC flower market. 

TBC:  What wedding trend would you like to see disappear? 

TF:  I’m not a huge fan of artificial vase fillers, especially if they’re raised and lit up in bright colors. I prefer a more natural approach.

TF:  I can’t say I have a typical client, but I think most recognize casual elegance and beauty, and appreciate attention to detail. 

TBC:  Where do you find inspiration? 

TF:  I would like to say I find inspiration in nature, but actually I find it in the everyday objects all around me. It doesn’t matter what it is: jewelry, broken ceramic, books- pretty much anything I look at, I imagine how I can work a flower or a bit of nature into it!

TF:  Lately I can’t get enough of the trim shops in Manhattan- I love shopping for bouquet ribbon and embellishments. I like to shop locally as well- Nyack is a great little walking town on the Hudson River full of hidden treasures. 

TBC:  Describe your design style. 

TF:  Earthy and elegant.

TF:  I’ve worked in some big name venues in NYC that I was pretty excited about, but I think one of my personal victories was when I bought a floral cooler…that was a very happy day for me.

TBC:  What advice would you give to upcoming floral designers?  

TF:  I like this quote and I think it applies:‘You study, you learn, but you guard the original naiveté.’ Henri Matisse

TF:  I enjoy the work of Francoise Weeks, Ariella Chezar, Carissa Jones from JL Designs, and Sandra Ovando, to name a few. I love the ladies from Poppies and Posies too. Don’t get me started on the European masters…this is a favorite topic of mine! 

TF:  I like loud music of any kind and I like to start with an organized work area, which usually doesn’t last too long! Nice as it sounds, I don’t think I could light candles while I work, there’s usually too much stuff flying around once I get going.

TF: This is the dream career I created for myself. Eventually I would love my business to grow into a retail storefront.

TF:  Although I live in New York, The CA girl in me never left. My personal style is jeans, a t-shirt and a nice bag…unfortunately designer bags are my weakness. I try to incorporate bits of CA style into my home in NY, but if I could go all-out, my dream home would be light-filled, open and airy and include just about every piece from Tuvalu Home in Laguna Beach.