Poppy Emuss
Which course did you study at Tallulah Rose Flower School?
I completed a 2-week career change course in the Summer of 2019.
I already had some exposure into the floral world in Australia, working as a floristry assistant, I learnt lots BUT I didn’t arrange, ever, therefore lacked confidence.
This Tallulah Rose flower school course was perfect and encouraged me to get creative, learn technique, practice, and gain the confidence to kickstart my business.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
I loved the freedom in creativity, we were encouraged to select our own flowers and get stuck in, each and every one of us worked with a completely different style, no two pieces ever looked the same. Also, it goes without saying, Rachel & her incredible teachers were fabulous and continue to offer us ongoing support.
What was the most important thing that you learnt?
That there really are no rules when it comes to creating, be authentic, confident, and more importantly enjoy it.
Obviously, there is a lot to learn. Skill and technique plays a big part, and then there are the flowers (and there are lots) but in terms of aesthetic, to just get stuck in, have a go, don’t be afraid.
Oh and practice, practice, practice.
What was your first big break or most memorable moments so far?
Workshops, initially I wasn’t going to run any, I am not keen on being the centre of attention, however I found I was being asked about them quite a lot and so I gave in.
I totally surprised myself and loved it, I now have quite a few various workshops in the diary.
It is still early days for my little business, and I am very excited to get cracking with the weddings that I have booked in for the rest of 2020.
I have also been working as a freelance florist for other businesses (a few being ex Tallulah’s). Freelancing is a great way to gain experience & network. We really do have a fabulous community.
What are you doing now?
I have recently worked alongside a fabulous and full team on a styled shoot at a beautiful venue in Surrey, it was so much fun letting loose and creating a divine environment with no boundaries.
As vendors we all had a similar vision and worked hard to set a scene that suited us all.
Describe a typical floristry day…
Unsurprisingly flower days usually start early, my day might involve a very early trip to the flower market then to my local growers to collect flowers, followed by conditioning, brekkie, and then preparing everything to start arranging. Sometimes I have the flowers delivered to my house which saves my super early alarm!
Preparation includes cleaning vases, making sure my packing crates are ready, tools are out & then portioning the flowers.
I like to be organised and make sure I have my recipes and colour palette printed off before I start arranging so that I can tick things off as I go. This also helps with minimising waste and ensuring I have enough of each of the flowers to go around.
What’s been your highlight to date?
Teaching workshops and seeing people enjoying themselves (as I said the teaching part really surprises me).
What advice would you give to a new student starting out?
Work hard, stay passionate, be as consistent as possible this helps to solidify your brand and build trust in potential clients.
Also remember this is meant to be fun, enjoy your journey – it may take some time to get going but the satisfaction is worth the wait once the ball starts rolling.
Click here for more information about Poppy Wild Floral
