I happened to click over to the Jane Packer website last night and read the sad news of her death. I felt heartbroken. I didn't know Jane personally but she was probably one of my biggest inspirations as a floral designer. Meeting her and taking a masterclass from her in London in 2002 is one of the highlights of my life. I feel the same way about Jane's death as many people felt when Steve Jobs passed away.
During my sophomore year of college, I started dreaming of going to a flower school in England. I would send away for brochures and stay up til one in the morning so I could call London and inquire about the different courses. There were all sorts of flower schools. Many of them were quite stale and old-fashioned but one day a fresh, colorful poster arrived from The Jane Packer Flower School. It was covered with soft-focus images of flowers, close-ups of tulips, and black and white shots of flower girls working in the shop. It felt incredibly fresh for the time (Think: 1997) I knew this was the school for me! That poster decorated my dorm walls for years.
My first job out of college was at a garden nursery where all the florists had been trained at Jane Packer. She had inspired their entire floral department whose main feature were hand-tied bouquets wrapped up in clever aqua packs.
In 2002, I finally got my trip to London. I took courses from three different flower schools but I spent two whole days at Jane Packer. One of the courses was a masterclass from Jane herself. She came and chatted with everyone personally before the class and was surprisingly down-to-earth and humble but at the same time very passionate about her art form. She treasured the technicalities that are often forgotten these days.
Like Jane, I started my own flower shop around the age of 23. She inspired everything from my flower classes to the little wrappings I make for bouquets. She was an amazing business woman with shops and schools in the UK, Asia and America. She was also responsible for Sarah Ferguson's wedding flowers and you can hear a really lovely interview on BBC with Jane as well as a tribute right here (around 22:25). What I love about Jane is that she was always open to new ideas, constantly re-thinking how to use flowers by placing them in a new context, making them fresh and interesting again but, most often, very effortlessly. Her passion for flowers was contagious and inspiring and she wasn't afraid to share her knowledge. Here are my favorite Jane Packer flower books:
Jane Packer Guide to Flower Arranging
Jane Packer: Flowers, Design, Philosophy
"I have always thought that one beautiful flower in the right vase says as much as a hundred flowers." -Jane Packer
Thank you for everything, Jane!
Photos: 1- Peter Brooker/The Guardian/Rex Features. 2 (collage of 4),4 (collage of 2),5- Janepacker.co.uk. 3,6-Jane Packer, Hong Kong. 8- Amazon. Quote via The Independent. BBC Program via Flowerona.
That's so sad. I had no idea that she had passed away. I was a huge fan of hers as well. How fantastic that you took a course with her. I'm going to check out the tribute now.
Posted by: janis-pinecone camp | December 21, 2011 at 04:29 PM
It was a sad, sad day when Jane left us. Such an inspiration.
Posted by: Tina | December 21, 2011 at 06:51 PM
Oh Chelsea, I had no idea about Jane! A couple of years I had the privilege of doing a workshop at her London shop, and it continues to inspire the way I approach flowers (http://camillestyles.com/2009/flower-power/). She left behind so much beauty that will be her legacy. Thanks for this post and for your touching reflections on the way that Jane affected you - she would have loved this!
Posted by: CAMILLE STYLES | December 21, 2011 at 07:30 PM
She was an inspiration to us all...
Posted by: Sofia {Brancoprata} | December 22, 2011 at 04:19 AM
Beautiful post and tribute to such a talented woman. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Ladomestique | December 22, 2011 at 10:39 AM
she definitely had a modern aesthetic, but was a true english rose. how lucky you were to take a class with her - wow. thank you for sharing your thoughts of jane and her influence on your work. xo, c
Posted by: cindy | December 22, 2011 at 01:03 PM
What a lovely tribute, Chelsea!!
Posted by: mary | December 22, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Such a loss, Chelsea! And, while the world lost a great talent at least she was able to share her gifts so brilliantly in the time she was allowed. Makes on contemplate on just how short life can be. At least hers was a brilliantly beautiful one.
Posted by: Uncle Beefy | December 22, 2011 at 04:11 PM
thank you for the lovely post
Posted by: Amelia | December 22, 2011 at 06:55 PM
Oh I agree completely. So sad! I worked for her New York shop when it first opened. The experience changed my life. I am continually in awe her her work and business sense. A beautiful tribute, Chelsea. Thank you! Xox
Denise
Posted by: Denise | December 23, 2011 at 11:06 AM
thank you for making me aware. wish she had gotten to share more with us all - she was truly an innovator.
Posted by: Erin | January 08, 2012 at 10:53 AM
I was lucky enough to do a career course at Jane Packer at a time when I felt I was unsure what direction to take with my career, I did not know Jane personally but her designs in floristry were inspiring!
Since finishing my course I began working in the industry and continue to work as a florist today and LOVE my job!
The news of Jane's death is so sad. Thank You Jane for helping me and so many other florist realise there potential and help us on our way!
Posted by: Ricky | January 17, 2012 at 02:31 AM