Did you watch the ROSE parade?

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shannonlovesflowers

shannonlovesflowers

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Oct 16, 2007
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I had every intention of going to the rose parade this year and helping with the floats, I have wanted to do this for years. But again, I didn't make it. bummer.

How many of you have done this?

What are your thoughts on the parade?

I know some florists who just HATE the parade because they say it sucks up so many flowers and then us florists get bad flowers right at Valentines especially with Russia's womans day (or whatever it's called).

So do you love it? Or do you hate the parade? And why...
 
Shannon,
I LOVE the parade! One of my dreams also is to work on the Rose Parade some year. I just am in awe of all the stuff that goes into building the floats, and how well it shows off the wonderful things that we work with each and every day.

Cheryl
 
I got to watch the last hour on HGTV (only way to watch it) cause I was doing funeral flowers and don't have cable at work (too cheap I am)
Yes, it has had some supply problems for us in the past but usually just the first part of January.
 
I watch the Rose Parade - And now that the insurance monies are coming in......I WILL be able to travel to Cali next year and work on the parade.
 
No parade, didn't even watch on the tele.

the best part is my sister lives in Pasadena and the back of her house overlooks the rose bowl. She keeps inviting us out, but .................. ?????

joe
 
No didn't watch, to much house things to do, and yes on the parade thing,,,,But when I do them I like to get paid to do them, unless for children things,,,But hey that is just me...
 
I'm not sure WHY the FTD float did not win an award, I can tell you that I personally thought this years float was not as pretty as what they have had in past years. WIth the change in ownership and management and the like, I was not even sure that FTD would HAVE a float in this years parade.

Not taking anything away from Raul Rodriguez, Jim Hynde AIFD, or Tim Estes of Fiesta as they did the float and their company did win a good many of the awards.
 
I was too lazy to get up early enough to watch so I recorded it on my PC, get to fast forward the commercials that way. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the popularity of it just isn't there any more. I love watching it but just wasn't blown away by the floats this year like I usually am.

Trish
 
I watched the parade, I thought all the floats were very nice. It was a shock that FTD was passed over, there were several winner that were not as nice. But this year looked small scale, could have been the angle on HGTV.
Our own flowerchatter "cherrie" from Colorado generally works for Fiesta,
I have had the pleasure of working on the parade for 13 years, it has been 3 years since my last visit, but Fiesta (Tim Estes and Jim Hynd) is the best, 9 winners overall, the most of any company.
Also Charisma is a good float builder, (they also do Academy Awards) but they did not place this year. Both are excellent quality.
Be sure to go to the Fiesta Parade Floats web site to volunteer for next year, there is usually a place to go to for that on their home page.
OR
Tournament of Roses website also takes volunteers at some point.
I agree with Trish that the coverage was just not the quality it has been, but the quality of the products/floats were excellent. Clean, crisp for the most part, well done for the TV to capture the design aspects.
 
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I have done the Parade floats a couple years. They were tremendous experiences that I truly value. Here's what I posted last January:


For those of us who have worked with Fiesta Floats before, it kind of gives me a lump in my throat to know what exactly goes into that kind of production. Jonathon and I went and worked two years with Fiesta. The second year we took my 14 year old son with us. He has wonderful memories of this as do we.

There is a type of emotion felt, when they roll out the floats for final judging that is only even close to what is felt at childbirth. You are so exhausted, yet you didn't know that such pride could exist. Perhaps you women with fast labors wouldn't make the connection-mine were all extremely LONG. Our last shift on the floats was something like 32 hours straight. We could hardly walk or feel our extremities, yet when they got everything on the floats going...it was magical and emotional. I cried... even what's his name cried (but don't tell him that I told you). Just to know that you had something to do witH something of this magnitude is truley AMAZING.

They have been trying to get us to come back and do it year after year. I truly believe that everyone should do it at least once. But my answer has been for some time now, "Been there, Done that, and it's on the resime'." Besides, my brother and sis-in-law usually take off for the PI the day after Christmas for 5-6 weeks. That's the day all the designers show up for the finishing touches.

Actually, I met several of our FC members while working on those wonderful floats. I regard those people as very close friends. Eddie Payne actually helped me during my AIFD process. Tony from PJ's in Phoenix and I were inducted together. Just to name a couple...

Just couldn't help myself when the subject came up about Fiesta Floats.

Thanks for allowing me to go on and on. If you ever think you would like to have the experience...Go for it. It's worth it.

Twila


And here is what my big brother had to say:


Thanks for saying it for me - it's an awesome experience.

One of the few things that's choked me up in many years - you do actually cry when you see your incredibly hugely awesome overwhelming work come to life like that.

THAT'S what I call a floral arrangement!

What kind of single arrangement could you make with a million bucks? (That's what Thai Airways spends on theirs)

Eddie and I worked side by side on the FTD float back in '00 when I was the #1 FTD basher in the US. And we won, too!

Jim Hynd (Fiesta) does consistently win most of the awards - I think they pass the rest around "just to be fair" cuz he is an utterly incredible artist.
 
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We had a few of the Fiesta designers for dinner tonight: Carol Inskeep, David Powers, and Jo Jarvis (UK) among others. They were exhausted and elated (Eddie, you remember the feeling? :) )

Rainbird was masterful. I''m hearing the FTD float was DQ'd on size.

Cherrie did the Queen's Float and it was gorgeous!

Congratulations to all - and to all the float alumni for making the floral industry look so fabulous for all these years. It's truly a labor of love.
 
Thanks Cathy,
This was the fourth year I've done this float.
I have it down to a routine.
Jim and Beverly told me today that I'm doing it next year.
I guess I'm the "Queen".
I would do anything Jim would ask. Love him dearly.
Actually, all of the Fiesta folk are great.
I feel honored to be part of their family.

I'm exhausted, going to sleep.
It's been a long week......
 
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In one of the Rose Parade pre-shows, Unless I am badly mistaken, they credited J. Keith White AIFD with doing the Grand Marshal's car. - That one was a gorgeous work of floral art.
 
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It was my extreme pleasure to work with Keith White at the SCFA convention in July. He is one of the nicest persons you'd ever want to meet.

I googled Rose Parade Grand Marshall's car, and all that came up were articles about Cloris Leachman being the Grand Marshall. Can anyone find and post a picture?
 
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For many years, the car decorations were created by the wonderful designer, Els Hazenberg http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/01/local/me-dutch1

She had been working with J Keith White and a fantastic designer, Michael Garcia, to be her replacements. About three years ago, Michael gave up all US onnections to work full time for a company in China. Michael grew up at Fiesta. A great young man and an amazing designer. He came to visit us at Fiesta on last Thursday and was going to help Keith with the cars. I was thrilled to see him.
I was sad when he said that he wasn't going to do the cars anymore. Begged him not to give it up when I was working in Hong Kong for a very short time. Told him that he should come and visit his mom at Christmas time every year and then he could do the cars.
I think he's come for the last two years to help with the cars.
Jim Hynd and Fiesta have nutured many incredible designers.
 
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tournament.jpg
 
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Didn't watch and I'm okay with that. It was a glorious day so I spent most of the day outside with various and sundry dogs. :)

V
 
Watched part of it. Then ALL of the Rose Bowl game.

My beloved Penn State did not fair too well, and was beaten by a team who played better...NOT a better team!

Oh well... JoePA has a new contract, and at a young 82, will take us there once more I predict!

- H.
PSU '91


We Are !!!
 
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