It started a long time ago.
Momo was just six years old being raised by my grandmother and my great grandmother in Hiroshima where they grew rice, vegetables and to her delight, had a large field dedicated to flowers.
She has been working with flowers ever since.
She has trained at the highest level at all the practical aspects of the art of flower arrangement. She has worked in many flower shops. From Japan to Vancouver to New Zealand to California.
I asked her recently what it was about flowers and flower arrangement that kept such a fascination for her. Her answer was as wise as it was whimsical:
“Flowers are beautiful” she said, “A single flower is beautiful,
all on its own. I put another flower next to it. To see if they can be friends.
And then another. What I’m doing is putting together a group of friends.
Somehow that original single flower is even more beautiful with all her friends
around her. And I am finding the right placement of all these beautiful
friends.”
Beautiful Friends.
Momo feels that cut flowers are a message. That the customer is saying something and using flowers as the medium through which they are communicating.
“As a flower designer I am the messenger. I am helping the customer express themselves. I am helping to deliver a message. But unlike the post office, the flower shop is also making the message, putting it together.”
I asked her what would be different now that she was starting her own flower shop in Albany, California.
“Whenever a customer comes in, I want to listen. To hear their stories. To know more about who the flowers are for. What they like. What they want to say. I want to make their world… nicer.”
Momo’s Flowers and More promises to make the world just that little bit nicer.
Momo in her element, selecting the perfect messengers.
Opening a flower shop is an involved process.
You have to find a location.
There are permits and policies and contracts and other hurdles to cross off your list.
There are appointments and governmental agencies and waiting rooms.
There are fictitious name statements to be published.
Once all that was done and we had our shop and the new business secured, you have to actually create a shop.
We decided to make it personal. Like a flower shop should be.
We made furniture.
We did the lighting.
We made shelves.
We combed the Northern California beaches for the perfect driftwood to add to our hand picked succulents.
And Momo made products. Beautiful hand made bags from vintage Japanese Obi, exquisite Momo style jewelry, superb Buro style table runners.
We had to wait more than a month while the shop had a wall repaired and we could get in to paint.
We painted.
We scrubbed.
A carload of Japanese goods arrived thanks to our loving Mom.
It was starting to take shape…
All we needed was the refrigerator. And at long last it came. All 520 pounds of it. With the help of our dear friend Mike, we got it into the shop.
We were finally ready.
Time to bring in the flowers.
Time for all the beauties to be brought together. All the beautiful friends.
Time to start helping people to tell their stories. To send their messages.
Time for Momo’s Flowers and More…
