Tracey’s sensational summer!
Tracey Griffin has recently been crowned runner-up in the Florist of the Year Grand Finals 2011 held at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show.
Our Step by Step Listening friend Tracey was runner-up in the prestigious Interflora Florist of the year 2011 representing the South in the Grand Final Held on Saturday 23rd July 2011 at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. Commenting on her win Tracey says “Hooray, I still can’t believe it coming 2nd in the UK is just amazing, all the hard work and weeks of preparation paid off, it’s still sinking in and maybe for some time!”
After two years of Gruelling heats 11 florists from across the UK and Ireland went head to head, the crème de la crème in the world of florists. Tracey was put through her paces in front of a live audience at Tatton Park, in Knutsford, Cheshire which attracts around 90,000 people. She created a series of unique and inspiring designs. A rose inspired bridal design, a cottage garden party hat, a Japanese themed free expression piece, and a surprise item for the Woodland Trust dinner dance.
Tracey fended off tough competition to rein 2nd overall, and also 2nd in the Cottage Garden hat in 2nd in a Japanese themed Free expression where Tracey made (from scratch) a 1.5 metre bonsai tree; the judges were extremely impressed with the entire design commenting on the outstanding colour combination and the “feat of Engineering” that was the tree.
First place was taken by Neil Whitaker from Manchester, no stranger to Competition on a world scale, Neil was ranked 7th in the world at last year’s world cup he will soon be representing the UK in the Czech republic after winning the BFA Florist of the year last Autumn (where 7 UK Florists were invited to take part…. of course Tracey was one of the 7 competitors) coming second to this seasons competition is a great achievement.
What a summer Tracey has had, as if the FOY Competition wasn’t enough she was honoured to be asked to demonstrate at the World famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, demonstrating in the talking flowers marquee the demonstrators were made up of the very best UK florists & some celebrity florists. Tracey demonstrated on the Wednesday and the Friday doing what she loves sharing inspiration with others, creating some elected beautiful designs, and having a great deal of fun.
Next on the agenda is creating some designs for the book ‘International Floral Annual 12/13’ an International Best seller sold in 64 countries, Tracey was featured in last issue one of only a handful of British Florists, and hopes her work is chosen again.
Congratulations Tracey it has been a pleasure listening to as you gain clarity focus and direction on how to best approach these competitions. It is a pleasure to watch you blossom
Sheryl
Step by Step Listening 