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Josette Brose-Eichar
I received my BFA in fashion design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1979. Unfortunately the next 17 years were spent in the business of Electronic Banking. I like to say, I drove off to LA in my pick up truck one hot summer day in 1979 and I woke up 17 years later working for Visa Credit Card in San Francisco. My love of the natural world led to a career change to floral design. I studied the basics at City College of San Francisco for two years. The highlight of this experience was studying Ikebana, observing how design occurs in nature, rather than forcing plant materials in a less than natural manner. The principles and philosophy of Ikebana can be used in even the most abundant English garden designs.
Owner and Designer
There are no hard and fast rules. You and I will use our imaginations to work together to create your dream. It can be romantic, intimate, crazy, bold, subtle or soft. I work with natural materials, ribbons, fabrics, and many types of containers to fulfill your vision.
The changing of the seasons in the Sonoma Valley holds abundant inspiration. I take my cues from nature; add my background in fine arts and fashion design to create floral design that is abundant, organic and original. Here is the wisteria on my deck last spring and an all white wedding inspired by that feeling of spring a few weeks later.
I follow the principle “Do the least harm”. This means many things; recycling all unused organic materials by composting, keeping the use of floral foam to a very bare minimum, buying flowers grown organically or with as little pesticide use as possible and not using spray paint, dyes or hot glue.
What you will see in my design galleries, are flowers and organic materials used to their best advantage, in a natural and uncontrived style.
What you will not see in my design galleries, are big massive balls of flowers. This includes topiary styles on poles and balls of flowers balanced on vases without water. Both of these styles require large amounts of floral foam.
Once, several years ago I saw an entire commercial dumpster filled with floral foam. This was the result of one of the largest and most well known floral design studios in San Francisco, after they had decorated a large event at one of the art museums. Just a few months ago, I happened to be behind one of our local florists shops (they shared a parking lot with our car repair shop). There were two large waste cans filled with floral foam and plant matter. No attempt was made to separate biodegradable waste from floral foam. What I believe is that floral design must not just be beautiful to look at on the day we create it, but consciously beautiful in it’s construction and effect on our environment.
Floral foam never breaks down. There are very few designs where it must be used, such as very low lying centerpieces and flower girl baskets. I use natural mechanics like curly willow or recyclable ones like chicken wire in over 95% of arrangements.
Each year the floral "industry" comes out with new products, and each year potential clients bring me photos asking me replicate designs using these products. So this year, I am putting in a little disclaimer for my readers. "If it does not look natural or reusable, it probably isn't." The latest product is a gel like substance. Just the thought of it being dumped down drains everywhere, is giving me green nightmares.
In almost all cases there is a natural or reusable alternative to achieve the same look. Washable, reusable colored glass marbles or stones have been around for years and look even better than this gel product ever could.
It is not unusual to have temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees for the wine country in summertime. We have a state of the art, energy efficient walk in cooler to keep everything in peak condition until it is time to deliver. We also use an air-conditioned van. I will guide you in picking flowers that will hold up for the expected weather.
Lavender
Sonoma, CA
800-566-9901
Copyright 2003-2008, Lavender