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Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Flower Woman
By Kara Mae Muga Noveda
Who takes flowers seriously?
Thirty-something designer and consultant Elaine Joy Cooper of Centerpiece means business in saying it with flowers.
Though essentially a new bloom in this flowering biz— Elaine has been involved with designing for the past half of her life.
A city girl all the way, she accomplished her fashion designing course in Slim’s Designing School in Manila and later, at the tender age of 20, opened her own boutique, Harvest. Restless, Elaine also enjoyed a working stint with Ben Chan of Bench and as a visual merchandiser of White Gold. She also proved that a designer’s best model is herself, as she wore her own creations in some magazines.
A walk down the marital aisle as a starry-eyed young bride eventually pushed Elaine to switch career gears, interests.
With a part time job, demands became home-based and there were four children to raise. As a homemaker, she also explored not only her own interiors but ended up designing homes of friends’ and then, clients’.
“It’s a long story. One thing led to another and art always became a focal point in my career. I was prodded by others to channel my energies to florals and I’ve been at it for three years,” Elaine sums up.
Flowers have always been a traditional element in celebrations and the presence of florists has somehow encouraged people to go out and buy these short-lived ornaments. And best of all, exotic flowers, such as Japanese lanterns, papyrus and cigarette, are blossoming in local farms, easily converted to fresh arrangements.
Choices in flowers are said to speak a lot about personalities.
While most clients still stick to classic roses, Elaine likes to play with tropical pieces in vibrant colors accentuated with feathers, beads and rhinestones.
Besides being lucky to be doing what she loves to do, the ultimate perks of the job, Elaine beams, are when celebrating clients thank and say you worked beyond their expectations.
And she’s received such a compliment more than once, too.
(August 17, 2005 issue)
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