Texas State Florists Association Texas Cup Competition 2006!
“A Floral Fiesta…Alamo Style”
The Flower Studio’s own, Beth O’Reilly, competed in July for the state title of Texas Designer of the Year, bringing home the coveted Texas Cup.
The Texas State Florists Association's Texas Cup is an annual floral design competition. Membership in TSFA is required for entry to the Preliminary Phase of the Texas Cup Competition. Contestants must pass the Preliminary Phase and only five contestants are chosen to move on to the Texas Cup.
The winner of the Texas Cup is awarded entry to the Society of American Florist's Sylvia Cup Competition and the National Alliance of Floral Association's Designer of the Year competition, the James Kana Memorial Scholarship to attend the American Institute of Floral Design Symposium, and cash prizes.
Floral designers compete in the following categories: Interpretive Design, Sympathy Design, Wedding Bouquet, and Surprise Situation. Every category has a specific time limit of its own and all the materials are given to the contestant prior to competition. Every contestant is given exactly the same type and amounts of flowers and foliages to do with what they will as the competition evolves.
The Interpretive Design is the only category where contestants must bring their own prop for the design. It cannot contain any fresh material and must mot exceed a wholesale cost of $50. This year’s theme was “A Floral Fiesta Alamo City Style”.
All judges are qualified and knowledgeable to the principles and elements of design. This year’s judges were Ken Sentar AIFD, Dov. E. Kupfer AIFD, and Norman Northern TMFA. All the components that make up a solid design are scrutinized and scored. Floral designs are judged on the following criteria: Category Interpretation, Creativity, Scale, Unity, Balance, Focal Emphasis, Line, Depth, Color, and Mechanics.
After each entry in each category is scored, their designs are brought back on stage for commentary. This year Ted Bruehl AIFD kept the audience aware of the different techniques being used and what the judges might be looking for.
Dov. Kupfer AIFD noted after the competition that “unique presentations were created by each of the contestants.” Easel designs ranging from traditional to contemporary were produced. Bent easels, allowing a horizontal flow, bamboo treatments such as grids, lines and curved thrusts of flowers, foliage techniques were all incorporated into the designs.
During the TSFA’s Awards Luncheon, the 2006 Texas Cup winner was announced. Texas Cup chair Scott Hasty AIFD and TSFA President Jimmy Klepac announced the results.
“It is a great honor to have won. All the competitors are very talented designers and I was proud to be on stage with them competing,” says Beth. With 13 years of design experience and a degree in fine art, sculpture, Beth’s passion for sculptural floral design has given her an edge.
One of her favorite techniques in competition is the use of armatures. For instance, her Surprise Situation design consisted of binding dried river cane into a form around a vase. “I start with a concept and work from there. I have to be flexible with the material and let it dictate how I will finish the piece,” she says.
“I think it is important for floral designers to take an initiative in whatever way suits them to promote the industry as a whole. We are everyday people making a living doing something that we have a passion for and that gives our lives a special purpose. It’s important to let the general public know that what we do is a meaningful contribution and worth taking note of.”
Beth says that she is excited about the opportunities winning can bring. She has since gone on to two national competitions and won second runner up in the National Alliance of Florists’ Associations 2006 National Designer of the Year Competition. After placing fourth in the Sylvia Cup Competition for the second year in a row, she hopes to return to The Society of American Florists’ annual competition again next year and win the title.