A Unique Florist

Campus Floral has become a community of learning due to Smith’s efforts. (Ty Mullen)Corrine Smith started her student florist position at Campus Floral in September 1992. Floral design was always something that helped her pay her way through college, until it became a skill that redirected her career path.Now, 26 years later, she has worked for five years as Campus Floral manager and 30 years in the floral industry.Since becoming manager at Campus Floral, the business’ success has only grown. The business served 116 weddings just last year — averaging about three weddings a week for every working business day the shop is open — according to Smith. Apart from weddings, the shop has an extreme amount of work during Valentine’s Day season, Mother’s Day, prom and graduation, Smith said. Campus Floral fosters relationships of learning, mentorship and professional development while maintaining itself as a competitive full-service flower shop, according to Smith. Smith sees Campus Floral as her home and said she loves the distinct difference in the environment that working with students in a full-service flower shop can make.“Campus Floral is a unique place because I get the chance to work with a lot of students that are eager to learn, not just their major, but other skills as well. I feel like I get to be a manager, mentor and teacher throughout the day to these students,” Smith said.Student florist Aubrey Nielson said Smith creates relationships that help the shop thrive. “Corrine is more than a boss. She is like our friend, our mother and our counselor. Working and learning from her … has been an amazing experience,” Nielson said.Smith never knew she would end up back at Campus Floral, but said it is where she belongs.“I graduated from BYU with a major in travel and tourism geography but kept gravitating back to floral,” Smith said. “I had no idea I would end up being the manager of Campus Floral, but now, seeing how life has led me b...

Joseph's has been in Libertyville for 56 years, and is owned by Daniel Dugo and his sister, Christy Dugo-Rudie. Joseph's does unique floral design for major events and special celebrations throughout the Chicago area, including large events for many well-known celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey. Daniel Dugo came to the club's November meeting and demonstrated how to create beautiful and unique Thanksgiving table arrangements. His inspiring message was that you can use things you have to personalize your arrangement and create something unique and beautiful. He created stunning arrangements with ordinary flowers, unique flower and plant accents from Joseph's, natural elements from the yard, and common place home decor. Daniel's eye for design, and use of textures, layers, colors and scents make Joseph's arrangements unique and recognizable. His love of floral design and knowledge of flowers came shining through, and he made amazing arrangements, all while chatting and laughing with garden club members. Joseph's Florist was established in 1962, because of a love story. Daniel's father, a floral designer in Chicago, fell in love and decided to start a floral shop in Libertyville and married Daniel's mother, who was from the area. As they say, the rest is history. • To submit Your news, go to dailyherald.com/share.#article_video {width:100%;margin:25px 0;overflow:hidden;} ...

Owner Caroline Atkins said that while the plants used for the workshop would all be fresh, the foliage chosen would also look lovely dried and would last the Christmas season. “We’ll use gum nuts, little pine cones, that kind of stuff,” she said. “We definitely need to have some conifers, to have that nice pine scent. I’m prepping now, and it smells amazing. “The idea is that you can make a foliage garland for a mantelpiece or staircase banister, or a table runner for your Christmas table, if you want to go all out.” The workshop will be held on Saturday, December 15, from 12pm to 4pm, $120 including materials, nibbles, and tea and coffee. Bookings are essential, to the florist shop on 6362 2144. TALKING POINT: An example of a festive table runner. Picture: SuppliedFound in Earth florist in Deloraine will be holding a workshop on crafting a unique holiday decoration: a festive foliage table runner or garland. Owner Caroline Atkins said that while the plants used for the workshop would all be fresh, the foliage chosen would also look lovely dried and would last the Christmas season. “We’ll use gum nuts, little pine cones, that kind of stuff,” she said. “We definitely need to have some conifers, to have that nice pine scent. I’m prepping now, and it smells amazing.“The idea is that you can make a foliage garland for a mantelpiece or staircase banister, or a table runner for your Christmas table, if you want to go all out.”The workshop will be held on Saturday, December 15, from 12pm to 4pm, $120 including materials, nibbles, and tea and coffee. Bookings are essential, to the florist shop on 6362 2144.