Wednesday, October 26, 2011

5 Questions for Madeline, Florist and Designer


1. How long have you been doing flowers and what is your level of experience.

I am a self taught florist designer and have been working with flowers for as long as I can remember. I began doing it for others in 2007, when I designed the flowers for a friend's wedding. I have always been passionate about art, design and gardening. I went to college for architecture, where I got a degree in creative problem solving. Professionally I gravitated to interior design where I worked as an interior architectural designer learning to arrange and dress a space with different finishes, fabrics and furniture. Combine my knowledge, experience and passion and you get a green flower and event design business, by Madeline Trait.


2. What do you love most about your work?

I get really excited when I meet with my clients to brainstorm about ideas and concepts for their wedding. I love the whole process from beginning to end. From the inception of a unique idea, to figuring out how to make it work and then making it a reality on their wedding day. However, it all seems to rush by so fast, that I really love seeing the amazing pictures from Aurora of what it looked like on film a few weeks after the wedding.


3. Why green?

I can't remember a time when I wasn't telling my family that they needed to recycle or conserve water. I have always had a concern for our environment and for how our actions can affect it. This mindset is not only how I guide my daily decisions but also how I conduct my business. A wedding is a special one day event so it is up to us to make sure it doesn't have a lasting imprint on the environment. I am continually researching and exploring new sustainable flower sources as well as ways in which I can conserve, reuse and recycle. It is also a goal of mine to have all my products be from fair and socially minded companies as well as goods that are locally manufactured. I believe in sustaining our communities in conjunction with our environment.


4. Do you only do weddings?

Weddings are the majority of my work but I have done other private events and want to continue to do so as well as expand into corporate events. I view each event as a design opportunity to create unique, spaces and experiences for my clients and their guests  no matter what the celebration is.


Locally Grown Weddings Featured Members:
Madeline Trait, Florist and Designer
Aurora Meneghello, Photographer

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

SF Swappers- A San Francisco based food swap event

Have you heard about the food swapping events taking place across the country? These events started in Brooklyn with a group called BK Swappers.

Their mission:
To help build community and empower others to turn their home food production from a hobby to a habit. Eating well just got more self-reliant!

SF Swappers was started by Locally Grown Weddings' Caterer, Chef Stephanie and Aimee Goggins in early 2011.

Our mission:
To provide an opportunity for home cooks to share food they enjoy creating with a community of like-minded food lovers. We encourage supporting our local food systems and sustainability whenever possible.

Welcome table
Pickled goodness by Aimée

We have hosted 3 successful events so far and they have been a blast! We include potluck snacks and drinks, mingling and talking food with your neighbors and then a very animated and fun food swap.
Our next event is on October 25th, 6:30-8:30. For more info on what to bring, how it works, etc. check out Aimee's blog (there is a great video on the Swapping How-To page) and our Facebook page.

Come join us!

SF Swapper hosts Aimée (left) & Chef Stephanie (right) with Kate Payne of HGGH

Wednesday, October 12, 2011