Q & A with Anne Ryan
Q. How do you get into the floral design business?
A. I guess you could say say that I went from pedals to petals... After I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1991, I headed up after-market parts sales in North America for a Japanese mountain bike component manufacturer, and then I was the sales and marketing manager for a pallet jack parts company (yes, pallet jacks). Just your natural transition to floral arranging. (Laughter …)
OK, the truth is that I've always wanted to work with flowers but I had to pay the mortgage and a sales career seemed like an easier way to do it. When I married, my very generous husband gave me the green light to follow my dreams of floral design and, after attending floral school and doing extensive self-study of European design, I launched my business.
Q. How would you describe your creative style?
A. I think of my work as much like painting. You start with a blank canvas and, if you want to do something new, you never know how it will turn out until you begin. You can mix colors (in the case of flowers you "mix" them by placing them a certain distance from each other), use different mediums, create different textures, reflect a mood, and much more. Most important, just like paintings, no two designs are ever exactly the same.
Q. How did you come to write a book?
A. Pure serendipity. A few years ago, Kristie Coia (the book’s photographer) and I both worked on a wedding in rural Washington. She loved my designs and, after learning the bride and groom were running a bit behind schedule, she spent the time photographing my flowers. A month later we had another wedding together. When she showed me all the wedding photos, I realized that Kristie's photographs of the flowers somehow captured the personality of the arrangements; the flowers seemed to jump off the page.
For years clients have suggested that I put my designs in a book, but I never I gave it any thought until I saw Kristie's work. When I mentioned the idea to her, I found out that flowers were her favorite subject. Two and a half years, 80 pounds of limes and thousands of flower stems later it’s here at last!
Q. Your book introduction conveys a delightful perspective on working at home and balancing family and career. How do you do it all?
A. I'm fueled by Starbucks, laughter and adrenaline (in the form of excitement and stress). Anyone who has known me a long time knows I always have a "full plate." I must not know any other way to function. It is definitely tiring (exhausting!) but it's also very exciting.
I have procedures and check lists for everything. These lists make it easier for me and for my assistants on big events. I also rely on typed documentation and lists with customers to make sure we are all on the "same page."
I made a promise to myself and my husband that I would never take so much business that I needed full time day care or a nanny, so I manage my business by saying no a lot. I only take two or three large events per month…I can always do floral design, but my kids will only be young once.
Q. Any quick tips when you have unexpected guests arriving for dinner?
A. My suggestion for any event is “keep it simple!” Buy two bunches of the same type (and color) of flowers and put them in one vase for a centerpiece or cut them short into mini vases or votive holders so each place setting has one or two flowers. If you don’t have votive holders or mini vases purchase a sturdy flower, such as chrysanthemum, and put one stem on top of each napkin (or roll napkin and tie the stem on with raffia).
Q. How can you make one of those supermarket bouquets into something special?
A. I tend to dislike the random selection of color and texture in most supermarket bouquets (but that doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t like it …thank goodness everyone has different tastes or my job would be boring!). My approach would be to pull out all the various flowers and divide them either by color or by type. From there I would create two or three small bouquets. If you want to “beef up” the size of the bouquets cut some greens from bushes or plants in your garden.
Q. Any suggestions for color and flower combinations?
A. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can make suggestions but everyone has a different opinion. If you have had some art training, think about what you learned on the color wheel. If art is not your thing, keep it simple: do monochromatic arrangements (all the same color family – various yellows, etc.); in monochromatic arrangements, it is easy to incorporate a wide array of flower varieties and still keep it elegant.
Read Raves & Reviews about Design on a Lime, and see the press the book is getting. Order your copy now.