Y21 Woman #2 / Elaine T.

Y21: Why did you decide to strike out on your own as a floral designer?

Elaine: I’ve always loved using flowers as a medium of creative expression. It wasn’t till I created wedding flowers for an ex-colleague that I realise I can enjoy working with flowers and make someone’s day!

Y21: What does your typical day look like?

Elaine: Every day is quite different! I would usually work on admin and sourcing early in the week, be knee deep processing flowers mid week, arranging them on a Friday and setting up weddings on weekends! There are some days where I plan to do nothing because that is what my creative mind needs.

Y21: What challenges do you face in your day-to-day life?

Elaine: It really varies but I’d say the biggest challenge we face day to day is finding unique ingredients and creating one of a kind arrangements. There’s always a pressure to be better than your last piece of work!

Y21: Where do you look for creative inspiration?

Elaine: Nature, fashion and art.

Y21: What's your personal style?

Elaine: 80% classic and 20% "I didn’t know you can do that!" Sometimes the percentage varies :)

Y21: What makes you happy?

Elaine: Opening a box of flowers and feeling grateful for what nature’s creation has to offer.

Y21: What does freedom mean to you?

Elaine: Having someone put 100% trust in me to create.

Y21: Any tips on maintaining a healthy work life balance?

Elaine: Recognise that achievement is a long game! It is normal to ride through seasons of highs and lows and there is no need to break your mind and body to get somewhere fast.

Y21: You’re both a mum and a floral designer. How do you balance your time between the two?

Elaine: It helps that I’m my own boss and I get to decide the cadence of my work life. I also love to be very organised (hello task lists!), setting mini goals everyday for my work and my time with my children.

Y21: What advice would you give young florists?

Elaine: Practice, practice and practice. Embrace failure and not be afraid to be different.