I have been sitting staring at this screen for some time tonight. Looking for things to write you.
I'll start from where I am.
Which is sitting here, staring at this ranunculus. It is one of the most spectacular flowers I have seen in some time.
I spent a lot of time with this ranunculus today. This afternoon and evening, studying it in the apartment. Gazing at it, touching it, photographing it. Then I went to the grocery store. There was a long line and I watched my irritation at this line. Watched the irritation in the people around me. In the line. I came home and made lamb chops. I love lamb. I love eating alone.
I've heard a few people lately use the phrase 'Brooklyn Flower Mafia.' Am I a mobster in this mafia I wonder?
(and also WHO SENT YOU???)
I've had a few conversations with friends about the flower world recently. All the players. Someone should make a deck of cards of all these players. It wouldn't take long to get to 52. Who would be the ace of spades or the queen of hearts? The joker? The jacks? Good grief.
The world of floristry is changing so fast. You can throw a stone and hit a florist these days in Brooklyn. It's an exciting time for flowers. I watch my feelings about it shift. Watch myself relate to the struggles of new florists, watch myself be in awe of their talent, watch myself get irritated by how easy some of them seem to have it. I try to see where those feelings come from.
Growing pains maybe. All in the name of beauty. And trying to make a living. What's wrong with that, I think?
In the end the flowers speak for themselves. Magnolia. Queen of hearts.
33 comments:
So exquisite.
i read a book recently which had a bit in it about getting annoyed in queues, how it's almost indistinguishable from being right wing. how that particular kind of unpleasant bottled fury/tedium is hardly going to break out in celebrations of brotherhood and the commonality of human experience - not when one and all are in your way and your own experience is uniquely pissed off with every other human on earth. made me laugh anyway. also that ranunculus is knockout
It's starting to happen in Philly right now... the influx of floristas. People are figuring out that they can find some rough space and make flower arrangements in it... that they don't need a brick and mortar palace on the high end street in the good part of town. I know that my ending up on this scene early was pure dumb luck, and I watch with mixed emotions as others stumble in. Mostly it is interesting and exciting, but it is also tinged with this feeling that I need to FOCUS... no more dithering. Rambling beginning, commence end of comment!
this might not be what you were getting at in your post, but i've seen so many imitators of the saipua style, flat-out replicas that makes me wonder why these people have no dignity. or the respect to leave well enough alone.
i don't care if you post this comment or not, but know this: your work is just that good.
Its a good thing that the world is flowering, that Brooklyn is singing with flowers.... When I lived there 30 years ago, it was not nearly as pretty and fresh and artistic, it was sad, dark and if there was a flower shop it was plastic flowers in a window. As for others doing what you do, as for copy cats, you are a leader and don't worry, we all lead at one time, we all follow at times, we all copy, we all create. There is enough beauty to create still, there is enough room for all those who want to create beauty.
Having children has taught me that you don't have to be everything or the best or perfect or original. Its just important to be "enough".
I work in a prison and see people with NOTHING going for them and its my job to motivate them. Lets not loose site of how much we have going for us! There is enough beauty for everyone to open up a flower shop. Live and let live. There are millions of us out here, none of us has to be the best or the most original.
Celebrate the beauty you are so capable of making! We celebrate your teachings! Allow yourself to see others as just trying to bring beauty and health to themselves as well.
Flowers are supposed to make us feel passion, health, love, inspiration, NOT competition and envy.
I always thought gardening was a luxury and was determined to stop when it became a chore. I know many of us has decided to make it a career which then edits its luxury but lets embrace the core of it and let its fleeting beauty appreciate each phase we are in.
You're still the queen of spades in my eyes, ma'am.
Amen anonymous #2.
Totally hit home.
I always love reading your words Sarah, and how they resonate in me. Thank you.
I feel that tinge of annoyance as an artist, too. It almost hurts my feelings to see that other artists seem to so effortlessly thrive, and I have to squeeze my inspiration out with a vice. As artists of all kinds, I don't think of it as competition. We are what we are. We make what we make. Being true to ourselves is what makes it beautiful.
And speaking of beautiful, I think you should produce a calendar with your amazing photographs. Do it before the rest of them do. ;)
when you're at the top of your game, there are always people trying to imitate, or just plain breathing down your neck. I'm all for the "sharing/collaborating for the good of the industry" but, honestly, I'm trying to make a living too, and it doesn't help that cause. Too much time and energy spent to develop what I do, just to have someone copy it and reap the benefits? Figure it out yourself or read a book!! I'll collaborate/share with people outside my business demographic.. Gosh, I'm mean-spirited.
above not directed at Saipua, just some musings on the topic, I sounded so harsh!!
I love the way you writing this article. Love your words it makes me very happy. boost youtube views
Sarah, its all good. I too started a farm in Florida about the same time you started yours. Envy, as I see your four seasons and i work through days with an insane amount of insects, and humidity, is what I feel. When you work outdoors in the Everglades one is in fact part of the food chain. But I ran through all my money, and back to selling wholesale. Again. But Florida is not awash with hip floristas, far from it. Flowers for some of us are just a love deep in the soul.
One of the wonders of Magnolia is that they are so old, the flowers had to be waxy and firm to support the beetles that pollinate them, the trees having evolved before most flying insects. Its all good.
THE ACE OF SPADES!!
Stunning photos! Can you tell me what camera you used and how you shot them? You retained the beautiful, rich colors within a dark, murky, atmospheric ground--so evocative!
queen of hearts, ace of spades.
I'm compelled to write this. I agree with anon #2 as well. I got the flower bug after taking a class at the Little Flower School. To me, you Sarah and Nicolette were the true instigators of this style, brought it to the forefront many years ago and I think it spoke to a lot of people --- including me. You have definitely influenced a new generation of florist for good and bad. But at the end of the day, I hope you realize just how beautiful, inspiring and exquisite your work is. You can maybe capture the mechanics of the "saipua" style but you can never capture it's essence...
You are an artist. You chose flowers as your medium, and words, here. Artists always get imitated. The question is how you can best benefit from your enormous talent. Makes me think of Michael Porter's competitive strategy thinking, barriers to entry and all that, but that's wayyyyyy too capitalist.
You have every right to make as much money as you want, as long as you harm as few beings as possible. And whether that's with flower art, flower growing, or something else, that's the tricky bit. Luckily you are very intelligent, as well as aesthetically talented, so I hope your general fortitude supports the rest of your gifts.
<3, Sarah. You are wonderful.
you were there first...own that spot like queen bey...
i love what you do but there will always be imitators..
Just do what you do so beautifully and throw the rest of the deck of cards away..x
gorgeous gorgeous pics as always.
as to florists in bklyn: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
but can they take as gorgeous photos and write as funny and moving posts as you? you will always stake out new territory to excel in.
i just hope it all means that the ranunculus you have been contemplating will become more common and everyday too!
Comparison is the thief of joy...
Don't worry about what other people are doing. (that's what I tell myself at least)
You inspired a movement... that's no small feat.
When I was in elementary school, I noticed that my friend's handwriting matched her whole being. It was beautiful although not especially unique. Try as I might I could not quite absorb it into my own penmanship. Your photo of that arched ranunculus in a vase reminded me of the setting of your old shop on Van Brunt. I could tell in those days that you too had that special signature that is inimitable. You have a free ride.
Haha, my wife and I were joking about making florist power rankings, but I like the deck of cards idea, too.
You're leading the way and it's such a beautiful thing to witness. So many eyes on you, watching, waiting for their next cue…
I'm sure it's a bit nerve-wracking, teaching your future competition but as you know, there is no greater gift than sharing what you know. And then seeing someone get it and crack wide open with possibility; damn there's nothing better!
All of the good you put out into the world, all of the lives you've impacted in such a beautiful way, all of the dreamers you've inspired into action, it will all come back around.
I worked for very briefly for a floral designer (I do love that someone used the name "florista") in the early 80's who was working in a similar naturalistic style in Colorado Springs. We had flowers coming in from all over the world, amazing materials. Sadly, over the course of many years, he lost his way, his fire, interest, what? Fast forward to yesterday when after 20some years, I finally walked into our one downtown florist shop. I live in a very expensive part of the world, but the window displays in this shop had not changed in style since the 1960's. I just never went in because it seemed that I wouldn't find one truly inspiring or beautiful thing. In retrospect I was wrong. The beautiful thing I found was the the elder florista who was at the bench there. The gentleman was probably in his 80's. With much focus and intensity he was removing aged petals off a standard, no thrills, no scent, no feeling of life rose. Complete absorption- sound familiar? I was fascinated, endeared, and repelled at the same time. I quietly stepped away, but will be back to talk someday.
Where am I going with this? Working with flowers over the long haul is hard creative work; keeping it fresh, keeping oneself inspired.
Thank you Sarah for all you've done. There had been a wave building and you and Nicole and others got out and rode it, told the world about it and invited us to come along for the ride.I hope floristas will eventually find their own voice , tap into their own imaginations, and see where this takes us.
Mafias and florists are so trending right now. Im redirecting and putting more energy into the mafia side. Last tuesday, after some serious glaring and name calling in Dutch, Deanna and I started a fight in the parking lot. She punched me in the face, I pushed her over and kicked her in the ribs. Min watched while smoking a cigarette. Luis tried to break it up. I have Vinny running bets for me now... i think maybe we should just call an organized battle, Gangs of New York style and stop pretending to be nice. Gotta take out the big dogs if you want to get to the top. Brooklyn, we go hard. Watch yo' back.
it does sometimes happen that when you turn your passion into a business and the business becomes incredibly successful that that passion becomes just work. and, when you are successful, people will copy you.
the difference between you, what you have accomplished and all of the newcomers is that you know what it takes not only to make things pretty, but how to source the pretties, store them, get them to where they need to be in shape and in a timely fashion, deal with all the the personalities involved in a big event--in short, you are a gifted artist who is also a smart business person who is not afraid of hard work.
most of the newcomers to the floral trade in your area will eventually fade away. they are getting into the business because of the romance of it, the pretty pics they see in floral blogs and the talent that they think they may have. most of them will not have the toughness and work ethic to make it long term. been there, done that with old school, hand photography.
just keep doing your thing, learning new things, keep on top of the business/p.r./marketing side and your business will the one of the best and most sought after as long as you want to maintain it.
March is gray and we need flowers to remember life beyond the clouds. Here is the song that was playing in my head while I read your post. It's called "King of Diamonds" by Motopony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWl98QBOmmM&feature=kp
I really glad you feel this way too Sarah. I always wonder/worry if there will be enough clientele for all these new florists. Maybe Brooklyn is different but around here it's like, "wake up and buy the roses man!"
Nice comedy in this one.
ps, spring is almost here! XOXO
I just wanted to say I love your pictures and your flowers of course.
Great post, thanks!
hello,this post is really wonderful....it's really very intersting and informative....keep sharing....
Florists
This post is amazing
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