Floral Inspirations: A Look Inside the Creative Processes of My Mentors

Hey there! In the vibrant world of floristry, flowers aren’t just products; they’re a medium for expression, celebration, and connection. Every design tells a story, breathing life into memories through the beauty of nature. As seasons change and trends evolve, we constantly diversify and refine our skills to meet our clients’ needs and satisfy our creative appetites.

I often share my own opinions and perspectives here—after all, it’s my blog! However, running this business solo means I don’t get as much interaction with fellow creatives as I’d like. That’s why I’m excited to hear from others about their experiences, inspirations, and the joys that come with their work.

I’ve reached out to some of my Favorite fellow florists, teachers, master florists, and award-winning floral designers. Each of these individuals inspires me daily and encourages me to think outside the box.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible florists Zoey Mills (A Willow In Bloom Florist), Debra Pemble (The Posy Crew), Debby Birac-Mayer (Master Florist and Director of Flowers to Impress School of Floristry), and Bridget Reynish (Director/Floral Designer of Birde Florals) for generously sharing your expertise and insights with me. I’m truly grateful for your time and wisdom—so please read on to hear from some of the best in the business!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in floristry?

 Debby Birac-Mayer “I went to boarding school in Croatia in an old castle and it was next door to another castle that had a floristry school from the 18th century, and it had the most beautiful garden. After a stroll in the garden with a close friend I just fell in love and knew I wanted to become a florist. I have always loved flowers and all things nature. I enjoyed being outdoors from a young age. So after high school I started studying floristry for 3-4 years and then pursued my passions further at university for 2 years studying horticulture.  After that started my own business in Bosnia and ran this shop for 7-8 years until war broke and I traveled to Germany as a refugee. After that I moved to Australia and opened a store in Sydney. After 8 years I moved to Toowoomba, and opened “Flowers to Impress, School of Floristry”. I then went back to Holland to complete my masters in Floristry.”

Zoey Mills “It was never really a ‘dream’ or lifelong goal of mine to become a Florist which is surprising now that I live and breathe blooms and own my own little business.

I helped out a friend of mine who owned a florist in Charters Towers one Valentines Day and absolutely loved it. She offered me a job and a traineeship that same week. So, I packed my life up and moved from Mackay to Charters. I completed my course in Charters with Flowers to Impress School of Floristry, moved back home to Mackay and now own my own shop here.”

Q: Can you share what ignites your creativity on a daily basis in your floral work?

Debra Pemble “I will admit my creativity may not be ignited on a daily basis; some days can be hard to find that creative spark.  However, I am always inspired by the textures and forms that surround me in my Rainforest Home. The ever-changing nature all around and the changes over the wet and dry seasons are really amazing.  I also love to look at works by European designers like Gregor Lersch, Klaus Wagner and Hanneke Frankema much of this style of work isn’t really relevant to my work as a Wedding Designer, however seeing the different textures and creative use of material can spark ideas that I can bring into my work.”

Bridget Reynish “I love a challenging floral brief. Someone comes to me with difficult corporate colours or an unusual bridal request that you must turn into something amazing. I don’t’ want to do the same thing as everyone else colours, textures and style. I like getting out seeing colours in nature as I feel that is the best colour combination.”

Q: How do seasonal changes influence your floral arrangements? What flowers are you currently excited about?

Bridget Reynish “I LOVE seasons! We are so lucky in Melbourne that we get the best of all our four seasons floral produce. Seasonal change influences our designs hugely. Like spring florals being delicate and little with lots of stunning colours so it makes our designs intricate with amazing smells! Summer florals have a boldness to them with lots of bigger blooms bursting with vibrant colours which changes our designs to bold and structural.

I love all varieties of flowers and using them in a specific way so that even the most undesirable flower can be a game changer in a floral piece. Changing the way that people view a carnation or a gerbera for example.

A lot of clients will ask for flowers out of season so trying to guide them into using what’s in season and educating on seasonal availability is vital. Seasons do range from year to year depending on what mother nature gives us so recording flower patterns is essential.”

Zoey Mills “I am based in Mackay QLD, so blooms don’t love our climate very much unfortunately. So, we rely on wholesalers from down south to supply our fresh product. We are so used to the changing seasons – The cooler months being our fav of course- That way we can order flowers accordingly. We love the change of seasons and the different products that we can order in certain times of the year. We are currently loving delicate, garden style arrangements”

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face in the floral industry, and what do you find most rewarding about your work?

Debra Pemble “The biggest challenges for me in my business are staying true to yourself and creating the type of business you want, that aligns with your personal goals.  Honestly some days, this is much easier said than done.  There are so many opinions and customer predetermined expectations in floristry and if you are trying to do something a little different it can get difficult.  Obviously constant messaging around what you do and how you do it is important along with finding your ideal customers, but it can be difficult some days if you have enquiries from customers that have a strong idea of how “you should do their florals” and this doesn’t align with how you want to run your business.  On the flip side, some of the most rewarding days are when you create an event for your ideal client and the final product is just as you had imagined, and the client is over the moon.  This really is the best feeling.

OHM and don’t get me started on social media, it has done so much good for our industry in how we can share ideas with clients, but it has also created this huge “follow along with the latest trend” phenomenon and a lot of us can lose our own style/voice.”

Debby Birac-Mayer “The most rewarding aspect for me is teaching my students and watching them grow from beginners to professional florists. It’s incredibly fulfilling to witness their progress, recognize their potential, and know they will succeed in the industry. I also find great joy in seeing the passion of those who attend shorter, recreational classes—many of whom have never worked with flowers before. It’s rewarding to see how they develop a new appreciation for flowers, often gaining a fresh perspective on life.

The most challenging aspect of living in Australia and promoting floristry is the difference in mindset compared to Europe. In Europe, flowers are seen as a necessity, not a luxury—people incorporate them into their daily lives. However, in Australia, there is often reluctance to spend money on flowers, making it difficult to elevate the industry to the level that Europe has achieved. When I first started teaching, the floristry education system was nowhere near as developed as it is in Europe, and it’s still a challenge to advance the learning opportunities here. It’s an ongoing struggle to bring together growers, florists, and the government to support the growth of the industry. At the same time, I strive to instill enthusiasm in my students, encouraging them to dream big and envision a bright future in floristry. Many people don't realize that flowers and nature are not just aesthetic; they are an essential part of maintaining a healthy mind and body, contributing to our overall well-being.”

Bridget Reynish "I feel like we have a lot of challenges in our industry. A big one for me is physical and mental exhaustion especially when we are in the thick of busy season. Not getting the right balance and having enough down time. It requires very long hours from market days right through to seeing the guest arrival early evening and pack down after the event ends in the middle of the night.

At the start of my career 20 years ago it was hard getting people to believe that it was an actual profession. I love that now our industry is respected. We are floral artists and from what little people know about it “playing with flowers” It’s very tough but a hugely enriching job.

My favourite part of my job is being onsite. It’s where all my hard work comes to fruition.”

Q: Can you share a memorable project that stands out to you and why it was special?

Zoey Mills “So many – But the first one that came to mind was a wedding we did a few months ago. The bride had a large budget as she just loved flowers so much. We had creative freedom basically as she loved our style and trusted in us fully, so we went with a garden party vibe and made an awesome baby’s breath hanging piece and big full flower arbour – and our team here at the shop was amazing at the time so it was just the best fun and most amazing day, miss you Shan hehe xx ”

Debra Pemble “There are lots of things that come to mind when asked this question, but I really think the most memorable was Winning the Gold Medal at the Melbourne International Flower Show earlier this year.  It was my first ever large-scale competition piece, my first time at the show and logistically it was a challenge to send all our flowers down.  The installation went together just as I had imagined (although maybe a few things were not quite as perfect as I had hoped) and it looked amazing. Seeing the general public interact with the design and discover all the little elements was really fun to watch.

Winning the Gold medal was just the best feeling and knowing that I can create work as good as some of the more well-known designers in Australia is a really good confidence boost.  The show was just a great experience all round”

Bridget Reynish “I’m very lucky to have so many memorable projects! That is a hard question!

Working on a wedding with 15 staff and the biggest budget in my floral career stands out! It was a MASSIVE week but also amazing. I will never forget that feeling of walking through the completed floral installations taking in what we achieved.

Melbourne Cup carnival with 7 marquess and 7 unique designs. A big challenge making 10 days of floral installations look perfect. I have many more but that will fill the page!“

Debby Birac-Mayer “In 2016, I was invited to create a stunning floral exhibition in the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb. I brought 4-5 students with me, and together we designed a large floral display that ran for an entire week. The theme was "How to Be Happy," and it was a wonderful experience, filled with positive memories for both my students and me. We also conducted two floral demonstrations each day, and it was truly beautiful to have a full room of people listening and watching attentively. The gratitude and engagement from the audience made the experience even more special.”

Q: What are your top tips for customers on how to care for their floral arrangements?

Debra Pemble “Unwrap your bouquets, please!  I see this too much.  A bouquet of flowers should be unwrapped, stems cut and placed into a vase of the correct size for the design to sit supported.  The wrapping is just like any other type of wrapping, it is to be admired upon receiving the gift but removed so that the gift can be fully seen and enjoyed.  Oh, Florists remember this when you create a bouquet, it needs to look just as beautiful without the wrapping!”

 Bridget Reynish “Cutting the stems on a nice high angle and fresh water does wonders. I would recommend doing that every 2-3 days depending on the water colour. If it starts looking murky change more frequently. NO direct sunlight and keep in the cooler part of the house.”

And to any of my readers (though I suspect it’s mostly my husband LOL) I truly hope you found this blog post as insightful and inspiring as I did! Whether you’re a seasoned floral enthusiast or just beginning to explore what the floristry world has to offer, I hope you’ve gained a deeper understanding of the beauty and creativity that goes into this amazing, ever-evolving industry. If you’re curious about floristry or eager to dive in further, I’d absolutely love to connect with you! Don’t hesitate to reach out for a chat. I’m always excited to share insights, answer any questions, or simply discuss the challenges and joys that come with creating beautiful florals. Floristry is such a rewarding and dynamic field, full of endless opportunities for growth and discovery—so let’s talk flowers!