Rising Stars: Meet Christina of Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina.

Hi Christina , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Christina Ignatius AIFD, EMC, PFCI, AzMF. I am a Master Florist and Educator. I have been in the industry for 30 years. I started in a flower shop a week before Mother’s Day. I washed buckets, processed flowers and swept the floors. A week later, the owner asked me to stay on to learn how to tape and wire flowers for Prom. I was hooked. I loved learning the Nomenclature, studying flower and foliage material behavior outside of water, flower and foliage manipulation techniques. It still is intoxicating for me! Most recently, I have satisfied my European Master Certification. For my one of my exams, I had to go to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France and pick out a painting which then, had to create a 3-D interpretation in flowers, then defend my work in front of a panel of master florists. Currently, I am a student at the Boerma Instituut in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. I am working towards my International Master Certification under Gregor Lersch and Mike Boerma.
I have been in many facets of the industry; retail, wholesale, competition, garden clubs, presenting, but have found I am most happy teaching. I teach workshops at Flower Bar in Old Town Scottsdale, and have recently moved into a studio space in DC Ranch in the Arizona Sunset Realty office. There, I am able to give private lessons, workshops, and classes. Check me out on social media:
Instagram: mommaiggy
Facebook/Youtube: Christina Ignatius

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey of accreditation in the floral industry has had trade offs. First and foremost I am a wife and mother of three. Therefore, the work/life balance is never 50/50. I am fortunate that my husband and children see the investment I am making in myself and support me.
There is a large financial investment with classes, hotel rooms, flights, meals abroad. However, I see it as a personal validation for myself. I am a big advocate of continued education, as well as committing to my craft. My hope is to inspire others, elevating language, and putting value into flowers by utilizing the elements and principles of Floral Design, studying Nomenclature, and advanced design schemes.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
One could describe my design style as decorative with evocative elements. In my designs, I try to captivate my clients and have them linger in my design. I love foraging and incorporate unexpected materials in my work.
I have more of an organic design aesthetic. I try to be conscious of using materials in an intentional way. I am not a 100% sustainable florist, but definitely make an effort to convey my message with being as ecofriendly as possible.

I am most proud of my ability to assess my students and meet them at their level of design. If I have a beginner or professional in my class, I am able to get them where they want to be. Whether it is someone preparing for a competition, or someone wanting to learn how to take grocery store flowers and elevate them, I can.

What sets me apart from others, is my accreditations. I am not just a self-taught, out of my garage florist. I have dedicated myself and have elevated myself through education by learning floral design styles, techniques, and Nomenclature of flowers from all over the world.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe one makes their own luck. Putting yourself out there and being relevant affords you opportunities that you may not get otherwise. The best way I have found to have luck is showing up, doing what you’ll say you will do, and executing to the best of your ability.

Pricing:

• Private Lessons $125/hr plus the cost of flowers
• DC Ranch Workshops range from $25 per person to $155 per person
• In-Home Holiday Decorating $150/hr (minimum 4 hours)
• Flower Bar Workshops (check out www.azflowerbar.com
• Presentation/Floral Demo $400/hr plus the cost of flowers

Contact Info:

• Instagram: mommaiggy
• Facebook: Christina Ignatius
• Youtube: Christina Ignatius