Flowers by Karen is owned by me ... Karen McIntosh. I have been working with flowers since I was a little girl and picking bouquets of violets for my Grandmother. I have truly found by gift and passion in life.
I started working for Elin's Flowers in Redlands CA when I was 18 years old as a delivery driver. While there, Elin saw that I had a natural talent and taught me all the mechanics not only in big designs but in the smaller items such as boutonnieres and corsages, plus I made all the nosegays for proms. I was also taught the art of floral design so I could make arrangements. Through the years that followed, I created weddings for friends and different events.
In browsing through pictures from my mom, I found this one of my first years of delivering flowers. I hope you enjoy... it brought back smiles of where I started!
After marrying the father of my boys.. I learned to work with orchids as my father-in-law had a greenhouse full of orchids and the back patio had many cymbidium orchid plants so I am versed in the care and creating designs with them.
Another aspect of my eye for design and texture is sewing. I started at a very young age helping my grandmother design my barbie clothes... picking out the fabric and as I got older, cutting the patterns and eventually sewing them with her. My mother was also a seamstress and as she made my wardrobe, I was by her side picking out the fabrics and later learning to sew my own clothes. In high school I earned a first place awared for a dress that I made. So this has extended over into my life with flowers and their texture and colors.
My husband encouraged me to purchase Kade's Florist (established 1984) 6 years ago and I am loving the ability to bring the beauty of flowers in an artistic way to my clients. I have a passion for every aspect of this business .. from picking out the flowers to designing to my clients ideas or just by their description of the event or person receiving the flowers. They have always been delighted by the results.
I am excited to bring quality flowers and design to each and every order!!!
