For the last seventeen years I have been very busy growing my business, not to mention having children. I have never taken the time to even consider a business trip.  One of the many ways I market my business and keep up with current trends is through social media. I Twitter, on Twitter I learned about an event called Wedding 360. This event was organized for wedding planners and event designers. I am currently in San Francisco attending my very first conference. This is a really fabulous opportunity for me to see new things and meet other leaders in the wedding industry. I will finally be meeting some of my new florist friends that I gathered on Twitter. 

Upon arriving in California the first thing I did was hit the San Francisco Flower Market. 

 

I actually purchased flowers and designed in my hotel room. I brought scissors, tape and ribbon with me on the trip. I know, crazy right?

 

I made five different bouquets. The hotel glasses were not tall enough to hold my designs, so they ended up in the bath tub in a bucket I purchased at the flower market.

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This little bud is Jasmine vine. I have been dying to use this element. I saw it on a fence  as I was walking to the flower market. I was so excited because I was sure I would be able to purchase the vine at the market, since it was in full bloom on the street. Much to my surprise there was none to be found. Being absolutely persistent  and craving to use this blossom, I walked all the way back carrying the bucket, my camera, and five huge bundles of flowers. I just had to have the vine and it was growing on abandoned lot, so I figured it would not hurt if I pinched just a little. Please don't tell the San Francisco Police Dept.

 

I love the way these bouquets turned out and I am glad I took the time to design in my hotel room. It is time to go to the first event of the weekend. I have more to share from my day, so I will try to post that later tonight.