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10/2/2009
On-Demand Designs, Timeless Talent Earn Cindy Anderson, AIFD, the Sylvia Cup
Long before the Bravo network turned every creative pursuit and profession into a made-for-TV, dramatic competition (cooking, rearranging your furniture, selling houses), floral designers were sharpening their knives and competing in a high-pressure, time-limited challenge known as The Sylvia Cup.
This year, Cindy Anderson, AIFD, impressed the judges and became the star of the show, winning the 42nd Annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition. Just hours after designing on demand with 23 other contestants during the two-hour showdown, Anderson, a designer from Colorado Springs, Colo., found out she won. During the Awards Dinner at SAF Phoenix 2009, Anderson received an engraved silver champagne bucket — the coveted Sylvia Cup — along with a $2,500 prize provided by Smithers-Oasis and complimentary registration to SAF Orlando 2010.
"Her mechanics and attention to detail are impeccable," said Jerome Raska, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, CAFA, MCF, of Blooms By...JRDesigns in Ferndale, Mich., chairman of PFCI
Two honorable mention winners each received a $250 prize provided by Smithers-Oasis, an award plaque and recognition during the awards presentations:
* Cathy Grim, AIFD, of Inglis Florists in Tucson, Ariz.
* Tonja VanderVeen, AIFD, MCF, of Designing Dreams, LLC, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (She was sponsored by the Michigan Floral Association and underwritten by Teleflora.)
Grim told the Arizona Republic that she prepared by running drills with her co-workers. "I had them put together some practice boxes and give me a theme," she said.
Coordinated by SAF's Professional Floral Communicators-International (PFCI) and sponsored by Rio Grande from Rio Roses, the Sylvia Cup Design Competition tested the skills of 24 top designers this year. Among them were winners of state, regional and international floral industry design contests, serial design competitors, designers of the year and members of the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).
Contestants were allotted two hours, the same product assortment — which included roses provided by Rio Roses and hard goods from Smithers-Oasis. Their surprise task was to create three pieces: a prom floral necklace, a bridal bouquet in the Oasis Luxe Bouquet Holder, and a sympathy easel tribute for someone who had a passion for roses.
Each design was judged based on interpretation of the theme, principles and elements of design and mechanics. Judges wereTim Farrell, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Farrell's Florist in Drexel Hill, Pa.; Joyce Mason-Monheim, AAF, PFCI, AZMF, of Tucson and Dean White, AAF, PFCI, AIFD, of Dean's Designs, Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Sylvia Cup Design Competition began in 1967 and is named for Sylvia Valencia, a prominent designer and long-time SAF supporter. The competition counts many of the industry’s top designers among its winners.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Start running through your own drills and get ready for next year’s competition, at SAF Orlando 2010, SAF's 126th Annual Convention, Sept. 22-25 at the Omni Championsgate in Orlando, Fla. For information on the Sylvia Cup Competition, please contact Jenny Scala at (800) 336-4743 or
jscala@safnow.org.
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