Emmy bloom

Meet our friend Emmy. A ridiculously talented florist and creative, Emmy Bloom had the bright idea to create a Mother’s Day Flower Box with us. On a sunny day in Mile End, we were treated to a first hand floristry workshop between Emmy and her son Noah.
Below, Emmy talks us through obsession, juggling, floral style and the magic of receiving flowers.

Can you juggle?

I can't physically juggle, I used to in school very badly with my friend Chloe Jordan who was very good... we all did it in school... we had nothing to do! I can just about mentally juggle though, I have mastered doing the foodshop whilst organising the kids' bits and dreaming up floral arrangements but I shouldn't say it like it's a flex, it is not a flex.

When did you first realise you were obsessed with flowers?

From my retired neighbours growing the most beautiful flowers which I was in awe of...to picking my university purely based on the fact it was a campus uni so I was surrounded by nature... to always going for the floral related items and prints... to being really fussy about which flowers my now husband should buy me at 16... to realising my tumblr/piczo/bebo/instagram contains curated floral pics... i've never really noticed I was obsessed :)

How would you describe your floristry style?

Joyful, textured, fun, dancey

Who/what/where inspires you?

I am very inspired by textiles, clothes, cakes, nature - walks or sunsets / sunrises - the colour hues that come out of those things. I am inspired by my heritage, sage flowers, who I did the future flowers course with and who I still lean on for advise. I am inspired by my friends who are so encouraging and many of who have thriving businesses - which is fun! so many things, people and places.

Lessons learnt from floristry?

To sleep well, stay hydrated and remember to use the toilet and eat! it is very easy to get immersed in what you are working on. On a serious note though, to be kind to everyone, it is such a large industry and a small industry at the same time, you never know who you're going to bump into!

Tools you could do without?

Everything is important, but I could do without gloves though...I am a fan of being gritty with my hands

Your favourite event/commission/project?

My favourite event / comission / projects are the ones where the client says here are the colours, here is the venue, work your magic, I love the opportunity to create art freely, drawing inspiration from my surroundings or the clients. One client asked me to make a bouquet based on all the places her and her partner had lived (it was a lot of different countries) it was so fun to think outside the box and present the flowers in a way that was beautiful and told their love story!

Do you enjoy receiving flowers still?

Yes, most recently my son’s friend (age 4) bought me flowers. It was so sweet, some pink tulips! It was actually the first time I had been bought flowers in almost a year! The gesture and joy from receiving flowers never gets old!

One flower you couldn't do without?

It changes every season, i'm a sucker for tulips and ranunculus, they are so versatile and fun. I try to work them into every arrangement, but I also couldn't live without amaranthus, they are so fuzzy and beautiful big-headed peonies and dahlias!