The response to this year’s contest theme, An Affordable Luxury, proved that flowers are indeed both a luxury and a bargain. At least, they can be, when the skill and imagination of a professional designer adds to their value. The contest elicited a wealth of elegant, imaginative designs capable of retailing for less than $50.
In our August issue, we published the 10 designs chosen as finalists—and our readers voted for their favorites, using the postage-paid ballot card provided. Now, the identity of those designers is revealed, including the top three winners, as determined by reader votes.
The top three win cash prizes and are profiled in the November issue. All ten of our finalists, however, deserve recognition for their exceptional design creativity. In addition, a few other contestants are identified here as worthy of honorable mention.
FIRST PLACE: Scott Hasty AIFD, J Scotts Aflorist, Orange, Texas
SECOND PLACE: Caitlin MacLean, West Van Florist, West Vancouver, British Columbia
THIRD PLACE: Nicolette Lynch, Festive Designs, San Luis Obispo, California
Remaining finalists:
Dean S. Shover, A Blooming Basket Flowers& Gifts, Millersville, Maryland
Ekaterina Klepikova, American Beauties Florist, Buffalo, New York
Ann Blick, Brown’s Botanicals, Wichita, Kansas
Jessica L. Woodard, Arlene’s Flowers & Gifts, Odessa, Texas
Susan McLeary, Uniquely Yours, Northville, Michigan
Jennifer Matlack, Matlack Florist Inc., West Chester, Pennsylvania
Lucia Guggiari, West Van Florist, West Vancouver, British Columbia
Honorable mention:
Frances Davis, The Flower Merchant Ltd., Springfield, Missouri
Nick Decker, Ken Miesner’s, St. Louis, Missouri
R’cena Denney, Flowersama #142, Springfield, Missouri
Alicia Herrle, Sheer Style, Maple Heights, Ohio
Lara Mathias-Santos, West Van Florist, West Vancouver, British Columbia
C. Pat Phillips AIFD, The Flower Merchant Ltd., Springfield, Missouri
Ivana Royse, Golden West College, Huntington Beach, California
Congratulations to Nicolette, Caitlin, Scott, and to all of our design contest finalists! Look for the announcement of next year’s contest in the January, February, and March 2010 issues of Flowers& magazine.
