Tina Chiotti-Stewart lives by two rules: Be true to yourself, and make sure whatever you do gives you joy. That is why she is in the floral business. “Flowers just bring so much joy,” says Chiotti-Stewart, who owns Calistoga in Bloom, a floral design studio. She also helped start Point West Flower Market, located in Rohnert Park.
Growing up in Sonoma County, Chiotti-Stewart was exposed to flowers at an early age. As a child, she spent countless hours gardening with her parents in the backyard. She also created floral displays wit her mother at the Sonoma County Fair. “They used to do these little shadow boxes. They would give you a theme and you would have to make it with flowers,” says Chiotti-Stewart. “I found that the floral displays at the fair were very much like a puzzle–they gave you just a little bit of information and then you would have to fill in all the gaps. I loved that.”
Throughout high school, she continued to garden and play with flowers. She studied business and floral design at Santa Rosa Junior College. Despite her passion, she went into banking because in the ‘80s, being a “career woman” seemed more practical. “It was not my forte,” says Chiotti-Stewart. “I loved the people, but there was no creative aspect to it at all, and I’m definitely a creative [type].”
In 2006, she purchased a storefront floral shop in Middletown and ran it alongside her daughter, Tenae for 10 years. Then, after some life-changing events, Chiotti-Stewart found her way back to Sonoma County and started her floral design business. She is in the process of rebranding and will soon change the name of her studio to SoCo in Bloom.
Chiotti-Stewart considers herself an in-season florist, meaning she only uses what is locally available at any given time of year. This has some hidden benefits. Using local and in-season flowers cuts out the extra time and cost of outsourcing. Less time in transport means more time in someone’s vase, she says.
Instead of asking clients what types of flowers they would like in an arrangement, she asks for preferred color palettes, such as pastels or jewel tones. This allows her to work with what is available and create something the client will love. After she picks out the flowers, she chooses a vessel and begins designing. “I let the flowers talk to me,” says Chiotti-Stewart. “When I’m unwrapping and cleaning, I’m connecting with the flowers and figuring out where they want to be.”
While creating arrangements is fun, the floral business is not without its challenges. It consists of early mornings and long hours. With her work at Point West, “My phone starts ringing at 4 a.m.,” she says. This is because information about who needs what comes out first thing in the morning. Much of the information also comes in last minute. “A lot of the day is problem solving and logistics, and I’m usually home by 6,” she says. “It’s a long day and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.”
However, it’s completely worth it. Chiotti-Stewart recalls making up arrangements without knowing whom they were for. A customer will come in and gravitate towards a particular arrangement for a girlfriend who is having a bad day, or a relative who is sick. “Then I think, ‘Oh, that’s who I made that for,’” she says. And she relishes the moment of handing a bride her bouquet. “It’s like the first look, or the 20 minutes of glow after a wedding. When a bride takes hold of her bouquet, it’s a magical moment,” she says.
It’s satisfying to make something that speaks to an individual in a profound way, and this circles back to her driving force. “The root of my life is: What am I doing to give other people joy, that I’m also getting joy from?” she says. “In the creative part of it, I’m getting the joy first, and then it goes on to the next person, who also gets joy from it.”
Caring for your Flowers
Want to know how to keep your flowers fresher for longer? Here are some tips.
Daily Dos:
- Check the water level daily. Top off the water and re-cut stems.
- Remove any flowers that are past their prime. This allows the rest of the flowers more room to expand.
- Place flowers in the coolest part of the home/building whenever possible.
Don’ts:
- Never place your flowers with (or near) fresh fruit or cigarette smoke. Both produce ethylene gas, which will shorten flower life.
- Never place flowers in direct sunlight, near a heat register, ceiling, or floor fans, or near any other source of excessive heat.
- Never use flower food in crystal or metal containers, as the acid in the flower food will react with metal (including the lead in crystal).
Source: Calistoga in Bloom
[M. Cuppies Photography]
