Mercedes Pilgrim - CCSF Featured Alumni



The Special Events class (RF 88) at City College of San Francisco https://www.ccsf.edu/ was delighted to have Mercedes Pilgrim present a program on Wednesday, May 10th, 2017.  Mercedes is an alumni from the Retail Floristry Department at City College of San Francisco.  She was an award winning SAIFD member who competed on the college's floral design team.  Mercedes was an outstanding student in all aspects during her time in the department.  She also completed the European Master Certification program with Tomas De Bruyne and Hitomi Gilliam AIFD http://emcprogram.com/.  Mercedes is now the Floral Department Manager at McCalls Catering & Events http://www.mccallssf.com/.  McCall's is a leading catering and event management company located in the San Francisco Bay area that provides in-house floral and event design specialists.

Mercedes spoke about her career path beginning as a CCSF student and now working in the industry for several years.  She explained  the benefits and importance of freelancing for different event companies to keep busy, learn the business and eventually working with a regular team of designers.  She discussed the current wages in San Francisco for a freelance floral designer.  Mercedes described her current job operations from consultations and pricing to the logistics of setting up and striking an event.

Designing an elevated centerpiece for a themed event is each students final semester project. Mercedes presented many different themed designs the company does in popular venues through out the Bay Area. She explained the hot trend of "Futuristic Tech Events".  Her expertise inspired the students further for their final projects and gave them more insight into this type of designing.

Mercedes explained how this centerpiece has a mushroom shape which is currently popular with brides. The flowers are designed in a lomey designer dish that is attached on top of the vase.  The mechanics are floral foam, chicken wire and waterproof bowl tape.

Mercedes gave tips on  how to transport/deliver elevated arrangements by using mache containers upside down.  Then placing arrangement inside a custom wooden delivery box.  The arrangement is initially attached with floral clay to the mache.

 

The popularity and effectiveness of Illuminated designs was discussed and how this design works well for cocktail tables. 

Floating flowers are another quick and simple way to decorate an event.  The cymbidium orchids are inserted with 12 gauge aluminum wire and reinforced with decorative wire.

This Futuristic Event prop can be used  with or without flowers.

Themed centerpiece design for a fundraiser at the San Francisco Zoo.  Mercedes explained how the arrangement coordinated with the animal print linens on the guest tables.

"Yosemite National Park" themed centerpiece design.  Christmas greens, rocks, lichen branches, hydrangea, hypericum berries, feverfew and tiny clusters of waxflower are used to achieve the environmental look of that area.

Mercedes gave tips on making handtied bouquets and rubber banding them so the flowers don't fall out on delivery or set up.  She also discussed using waterproof faux greenery to cover the mechanics in a clear vase.  The faux greenery does not create bacteria and is reusable.

 Mercedes plans to attend the American Institute of Floral Designers National Symposium http://aifd.org/ in July.  She was invited to test for their PFDE.  This is the on site process/step to become an AIFD member.  We applaud and congratulate her on the beginning of this great journey and all of her remarkable accomplishments.  Thanks Mercedes, for presenting and visiting us. We wish you great things with all your future endeavors.

 

Jenny Tabarracci AIFD

Leopoldo Gomez - Floral Interiorism

 Leopoldo Gomez is a renowned international teacher of Floral Design.  He is the co-founder of Centro de Arte Floral located in Mexico City which provides an in depth curriculum of floral design classes.   City College of San Francisco's Environmental Horticulture/Floristry Department and the American Institute of Floral Designers North West Region partnered together to host and coordinate an amazing program that featured this exceptional new talent who is rising quickly in the Floral Industry.  The program was sponsored by the Master Florists Association http://www.masterfloristsassn.org/, City College of San Francisco https://www.ccsf.edu/, United Wholesale Flowers https://unitedwholesaleflowers.com/ and Accent Decor, Inc. https://www.accentdecor.com/.   Many thanks to these wonderful industry sponsors for the beautiful fresh product, unique containers and supplies.

 

Floral Interiorism was the program topic which is described as "Creating multi-use designs that your customers can enjoy again and again.  Leopoldo explored this topic using his striking color palettes, vivid combinations of textures and masterfully-crafted armatures and structures.  Many of Leopoldo's designs are influenced and inspired by the culture of Mexico where he lives. 

 

The stunning Aura Planter from Accent Decor, Inc. above was used for a featured design in the program. Wooden dowels were inserted and glued into styrofoam and then floral foam was placed on top for the water source.  Emil Yanos AIFD assisted by creating a band of woven raffia to compliment the texture of the planter.  Leopoldo completed the design by adding gorgeous snowball viburnum harvested from the department gardens.

 

Susan Ishkanian AIFD glued, stacked and layered beautiful Wood Slices from Accent Decor, Inc.  The green vase was used as a mold to create the shape for this unique container.

Water tubes are wired to structure for the water source. 



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Susan and SAIFD student Jungwa Han created water tubes from hot wax and then added crayons for striking color effects.

 

Leopoldo completed the design with stunning materials provided by United Wholesale Flowers, Repetto Nursery, Blossom Valley Floral, Inc. and Mt. Eden Floral Company.  Thank you sponsors!!

 

SAIFD student Dahee Han gluing marbles on a glass mold to create a unique container.

Water tubes are hot glued inside for water source. 

Leopoldo creates dancing flowers. 

CCSF Alumni Imelda Iraeta created a container designed with Leopoldo's custom chicken wire technique.  This was achieved by twisting and shaping bale wire. The Reclaimed Wood Base is from Accent Decor's collection.  Orchid grass was adhered with wood glue to complete the container.

Water tubes covered with orchid grass and gold wire is the technique for the water source.  Tubes were glued into container with oasis glue.

 

 SAIFD student Sohyun Kwak assisting with Leopoldo's creation.  Pencils were used to achieve order in disorder.

 

Leopoldo explaining above the mechanics for his design concept.  Attendees worked in groups for the hands on part of the program.

Attendees enjoying working together on the group projects.  Great learning atmosphere. The Riva Tray by Accent Decor was use as a water source and base to this design.  12 gauge aluminum wire was used to bind birch branches together. 

 

Leopoldo explaining a group project using galax leaves and a Reclaimed Hollow Stump from Accent Decor's collection.  Holes were drilled into four large dowels then galax leaves were wired with binding wire and inserted into holes.   Water tubes with flowers were added.

Great job Ruth, Grace and Armando!

Design created with bale wire, newspaper and water tubes.

Technique using nails, yarn and water tubes.

Attendees learning lots of new techniques.

 

Christmas ornaments covered with pine shavings and used as a decorative water source.

City College Student So-yeon Kim creating one of Leopoldo's designs by gluing tiny branches into flat cane.

 

Many thanks to Leopoldo, Sponsors, Steven Brown AIFD, Katie McCormick AIFD, AIFD NW and all assistants for making an amazing program come to life.  You and the attendees created the most wonderful learning environment. I wish great things for you in our industry!! 

 

Jenny Tabarracci AIFD

 





Hitomi Gilliam Inspires at City College of San Francisco



Design by Hitomi Gilliam AIFD

The students in the Environmental Horticulture and Floristry Department at City College of San Francisco www.ccsf.edu were intrigued, fascinated and inspired by internationally renowned master designer Hitomi Gilliam design358.com/hitomi  at their annual fall semester Artist in Residence Program.  Hitomi focused on new and exciting mechanics in the industry, trends, and how to be a profit minded floral artist.  She discussed the importance of education, investing in yourself and charging appropriately for creative talent and time.  Her designs and presentation enabled the students to gain insight and encouragement to explore possibilities within the industry and to reach their full potential.

 

The photo above is a  horizontal construction displaying the importance of the handcrafted look and her artistry with interesting materials and line.  The fresh materials were gathered from the horticulture greenhouses and gardens of City College with beautiful specimens of Adiantum tenerum, Jasmine polyanthum, Agapanthus africanus and Senecio cineraria.  Hitomi purposely accents her materials to show the pleasing imperfections which is a sought after trend. One way she does this is wrapping water tubes and the wooded supports with natural twine such as jute in an uneven manner.  She also discusses the importance of transparency in her designs.  This is an important topic taught and learned in the European Masters Certification Program (EMC) which Hitomi and Tomas De Bruyne  www.tomasdebruyne.com have partnered and jointly run together. emcprogram.com













Hitomi Gilliam AIFD, Jenny Tabarracci AIFD, Tomas De Bruyne, Holly Money-Collins AIFD
at San Francisco Flower Market

 

Wonderful opportunity and privilege for the students to work with floral artists such as Hitomi.  (above) Students of the American Institute of Floral Designers (SAIFD) Hee Joo and So Yeon Kim assisted and demonstrated in Hitomi's presentation.  Also Sue Tabbal-Yamaguchi AIFD assisted with Hitomi's presentation.

Hitomi sketched in large scale the beginnings of her design process for the group on the chalk board.  This provided a clear vision for all.  Sketching your designs before executing them is a fantastic way to initiate the creative process.

Hitomi executed the constructions of her sketched designs and proceeded to place fresh materials within her compositions.

Hitomi demonstrated ways to reinvent glass vases with flat wire and spray paint.

Steven Brown AIFD Department Chair gave the welcoming greetings to the group and was the point person for procurement and coordinating facility.  Special guest Wil Gonzalez AIFD the representative for AIFD North West Region spoke about upcoming scholarships and the American Institute of Floral Designers National Symposium in Orange County.  

 

http://aifd.org/

 

Hitomi shared her designs and concepts with the European Master Certification Group that was visiting City College.

 

Hitomi's construction and mechanics for a chandelier design.

This was a fantastic educational learning collaboration with City College of San Francisco, American Institute of Floral Designers and European Master Certification Program.   Many thanks to everyone and especially to Hitomi for sharing her expertise and floral artistry.

(picture above:  So Yeon Kim, Hitomi AIFD, Hee Joo, Young Joo Pak, Jenny Tabarracci AIFD)