Following her 4 week stint at the Zita Elze Flower Academy earlier this Summer we were delighted to have the opportunity to interview floral art student Shilbe Lim.
Which course or class did you take at the Academy? “I took the Summer 4 Week floristry course in July and the Wedding Design Advanced Master Class in my final week instead of the usual Bridal Week. So it all lasted 4 weeks. It was my first time learning with Zita. She was recommended to me by a lovely florist friend, Daisy (flowers.by.daisy).”
What were the highlights for you? “I loved how Zita taught us to rely on our emotions and subconscious to give us cues to design. Even when I struggled, Zita was always very supportive and positive, which gave me the confidence to bring to life beautiful pieces that touched the heart. I loved that her classes are really heartfelt and emotion based.”
Did you have a special reason to choose this class? “For the Wedding Master Class, I really wanted to understand the design process on a bigger scale, from concept design to sourcing and finally execution. Her process made so much sense to me and it made me realise why I was struggling so much prior to coming to Zita.”
Did you have a special reason to choose Zita as your teacher? “Daisy felt that Zita would be a good match for me and I trusted her recommendation completely. I also visited the blog to read the interviews with her students and felt that it was aligned to what I needed to progress in my floral journey.”
What do you think taking the class has given you for the future? “It has paved the way to a new perspective and approach to flowers and now the possibilities of what I can do are endless. I am so excited for what’s to come and I owe this to Zita! Thank you so much Zita!”
What are your future plans with floristry and working with flowers? “I really enjoy styling and would love to arrange flowers for editorials and space styling as well as focus on intimate weddings.”
Did you give your Wedding Design Advanced Master Class final project a name? “Yes, it was entitled ‘Heuchera’.”
What was your inspiration? “Saint Lucy, the patron saint of the blind was my initial inspiration. Her name Lucy means ‘light’. I was immediately drawn to this idea of ‘seeing the light’ as I was struggling to find my voice in the floral world and desperately wanted to find an answer to that struggle.”
What were your chosen colours for the project and did you have a special reason to choose them? “The palette was inspired by some heuchera leaves that were outside the academy. I love heuchera and I feel that the colours and tones are somehow representative of me. I am quite drawn to darker elements within my works.”
Did you want to share a special mood or emotion for the project? “There was a sense of calm and lightness that in hindsight was a perfect reflection of me after having been through this journey with Zita. This represents me to the core, from the design inspiration to the final result and I am so happy with it. It was magical.”
Which flowers did you choose for the project and did you have a special reason to choose them? “I picked allium, palm fruit, grasses, ferns and heuchera. I’m naturally drawn to unique elements in my work, and perhaps it was my subconscious calling them to me because even after I chose the elements, I had no idea that I would create what I did. I guess that is the magic!”
Is there anything else that you would like to add? “Coming to Zita’s was the best decision I have made since starting my floral business and I would recommend it to everyone who wants to connect to floral art on a deeper level.”
To round off the interview we asked Zita what her thoughts were regarding Shilbe and her creative designs: “It was such a pleasure working with Shilbe. She is extremely talented, pays great attention to detail and her styling was so gentle and magical. I am so glad to hear that I helped to inspire her. I hope to see her again soon and wish her all the best for the future.”
Find out more about Shilbe Lim’s floristry work via her website and Instagram pages. To check existing and new courses at the Zita Elze Flower Academy, please visit our website. You might also want to join our mailing list – there’s a link on every page.
With special thanks to Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium for the wedding cake and cupcakes.
Photography © Fiona Caroline Photography