"Become" is a strange verb for this. The profession basically fell on me. Growing up, I have always been creative and crafty. I was the kid foraging for flowers, pines or branches in my parent's backyard and creating impromptu arrangements for family gatherings. My middle years were full of art lessons on charcoal drawings, watercolor and oil painting, and provided the discipline for an artist looking for new techniques. Did this translate to a career in flora? Not exactly. I went off to college and embraced the concrete campus of Boston University during my undergrad years, and then used my commute to Bentley College for my masters as a great excuse to need a vehicle while living downtown. I embarked onto the journeyed life of a consultant with a brief stint in the private sector, working for some pretty large firms such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and Teradyne. During that time, I met a special guy, fell in love, and got engaged. While planning my own wedding, I realized the New England area needed some new sources for modern design.
A good friend of mine got married a year later, and asked me to do her flowers. I took on the challenge. The feedback was resounding. While we were unloading, we heard whisperings of "wow" trailing behind as we brought items inside. Hotel guests followed us to the ballroom to view the finished products. That evening, wedding guests and hotel employees sought me out, offering words of amazement and encouragement to do more. Later that year, I did another friend's wedding and received even stronger support from guests and industry professionals, who were amazed at the creations I provided. Many social and professional referrals later, I decided to "officially" enter the floral design industry and hone my skills. The journey has taken me through vigorous trainings with AIFD, SAF, and famous floral designers, through buying trips and exchanges with local and international growers and distributors, and has allowed experiences to bring technique, skill, and design curiosity to new levels. That journey has actually never ended, and brings us to today.
 Gigi actually stands for two letters: G and g. And it's a long-standing joke among friends (and now, you too). My husband's name is Grant, and for some strange reason, saying "Gwen and Grant" can become a tongue twister. To alleviate tongue pain, friends started referring to Grant as Big G, and me as Little G. We were forever dubbed G&g. While brainstorming catchy business names, the G's just stuck out. There was GG, which was interpreted to Gigi. And here we are.
Why does the hubby get a piece of the biz? Well, because when we agreed that I would pursue this industry, he knew he would get sucked in somehow. And not to be underestimated, I am forever thankful to have a sidekick with backgrounds in manufacturing engineering, operations and project management, and power tools. Be marveled with the things "we" can build.
Oh boy, do not be deceived by this 5' stature. In this petite package is a wham of design skill, an eye for color combinations and textures, the brains and professionalism of a business major, the quick wit of a comedian, all tied with a passion for great parties and the willpower to make it all happen. And I eat my multi-vitamins… sometimes.
Gosh, favorite… hum. I guess it would be the fall. I love the crisp clean smell of the autumn air, apple pie, and the abundance of flora in earth tones. And I have a lot of cool-weather jackets that are perfect for fall weather. I'm not a big fan of frigid temperatures, but the wintertime affords skiing, and more skiing (snowboarding for Grant, I have yet to convert). And I think snow is pretty romantic, although shoving it is another story. I do like the warm and bright sunny days of summer, enjoying a nice walk on the beach, or dining outside around Newbury Street in a snazzy outfit. And I think my shoe collection is mostly sandals, so I really need warm weather so I can wear them all. However, nothing beats the flower availability of the spring. Flowering branches galore, local tulips and crocus, and chirping birds all bring us signs of life and growth and its so invigorating. So, I guess you could say there are things I look forward to during all of the seasons.
|
