EP71 - ALTERNATIVE FLORAL DESIGNER - Chloë Draper

Chloë aka The Copper Cacti is a floral designer from Benfleet, then Hungary, then Southminster, then the final destination of Braintree. She has been obsessed with cacti since she could walk. Cacti is the plural of cactus btw. Chloë looks to be more sustainable in her business, and makes beautiful geometric terrarium centrepieces for weddings, that can live on beyond the special day. Terraria are like mini greenhouses - they can have a mini ecosystem within them, growing their own little world. Layering and the amount of water are very important. Ferns love a terrarium. Terraria can almost live forever. Desert-style cacti terrariums are open systems. Chloë will sometimes add fun little figures sometimes, like Bulbasaur, or Ewoks. These mini worlds are amazing to watch as they grow and develop. Desert terraria need a little more care, occasional misting, but they do thrive on neglect, not over watering. Cacti are not native to Essex - shock! But Chloë grows them and propagates them from cuttings. Adelle thinks all florists are gangsters. Chloë doesn’t do any traditional wedding like white roses, she wants people to get more individual, creative and emo. Chloë will now call her autobiography Me, Myself and Cacti. Chloë made dinosaurs for a dinosaur themed wedding, and added audio roar buttons to them. Chloë talks about the ‘booby cactus’. What would Chloë do for a Little Shop of Horrors wedding? Planning a Viking themed centrepiece. Chloë stays in contact with her couples after building a strong relationship with them planning their wedding flowers. Chloë often works on the same weddings as previous podcast guest Lucy Can’t Dance - like the Wedding Avengers. She loves asymmetry and individuality in plants. Convincing people to trust the creative process. The Copper Cacti started accidentally after Chloë had a mental breakdown and was signed off work, she started making terraria, and ended up with so many she had to sell some… The things you don’t see coming, bring you the most joy. A background in cheffing and catering gave transferable creative skills to Chloë when she started her floristry company. Chloë taught herself floristry from YouTube and having the eye. Building a supportive creative network. Are AI mock-ups making floristry briefs impossible? Pinterest and other sites are full of impossible AI floristry mock-ups that end up on wedding vision boards. Sustainability is important with weddings, to cut waste, and allow the centrepieces and spirit of the wedding to live on afterwards. Guests can take them home. Chloë calls herself a ‘sweaty little flower mechanic’ - her Instagram and social media presence is very honest, unhinged and relatable - perfect marketing. Anthurium flowers look like willies on a plate. Multi-award winning Adelle (not that one) is back to co-host.The Copper CactiThe Copper Cacti on InstagramAre You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEXWith live sound mixing by Kate BishopEdited by Nick HearneArtwork by Alpaca AntennaDon't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos  Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram Thanks to NGDA for their support