It has been nearly a year since I shared my experiences creating a botanical installation for Hoogstraten Groenten & Bloemen in Belgium. Although the website has been quiet since then, my life in floral design has been anything but quiet. This past year has taken me back into the classroom, onto the stage as a teacher and demonstrator, and behind the scenes of an international floral competition. Each experience has reinforced something I have always believed: no matter how long we have practiced our craft, there is always more to learn.
Returning to IMF+
One of the most important experiences of the year was returning to the International Master Florist program as a student. I participated in the inaugural IMF+ course in 2021–2022, but I wanted to take the course again—not because the first experience was incomplete, but because I had changed. Time, practice, and new experiences had given me a different perspective. I wanted to revisit the material with fresh eyes, continue to challenge myself, and keep growing as a designer. Returning to the program reminded me that education is not simply about reaching a destination or earning a credential. It is about remaining curious, questioning familiar habits, and being willing to see new possibilities in materials, form, technique, and expression. I was extremely proud to complete the program and graduate cum laude. The distinction was meaningful, but the opportunity to immerse myself in learning again was the greater reward.
Sharing Sculptural Botanical Design at CFAA
At the 2026 Creative Floral Arrangers of the Americas Seminar in Tampa, I had the opportunity to share my approach to sculptural botanical design through both a presentation and a hands-on workshop. My presentation, “Beyond Arrangement: The Art of Sculptural Botanical Design,” explored the ideas that continue to shape my work: structure, line, tension, movement, and the expressive possibilities of natural materials. I also taught “Sculpting with Wire: Unlocking Creative Potential with Handmade Chicken Wire Technique.” Wire is often hidden inside floral work as a practical mechanic, but it can become much more. When shaped by hand, it can establish rhythm, create volume, hold space, and become an important part of the visual language of a design. Teaching always gives something back to the teacher. Watching participants interpret a technique in their own ways—and seeing their individual ideas take form—was one of the highlights of the seminar.
Beyond Borders with Ikebana International
For the Founder’s Day program of Ikebana International Chapter No. 1 in Washington, D.C., I presented “Beyond Borders: Weaving European Floristry into Sogetsu Practice.” This subject is especially close to me because my own work lives in the conversation between these traditions. European floristry has deepened my understanding of construction, technique, and the design process. Sogetsu Ikebana continues to shape the way I see line, space, balance, movement, and the character of botanical materials. Bringing those influences together is not about making one tradition resemble another. It is about allowing each to expand the way I think and create. Sharing that evolving dialogue with the members of Chapter No. 1 was both an honor and a joy.
Behind the Scenes at Gateway to the Americas Cup
Another memorable experience was serving as assistant to my friend Coral Shortt, who represented South Africa at Gateway to the Americas Cup. A major floral competition is exciting from the audience, but working behind the scenes offers an entirely different view. It requires preparation, organization, adaptability, focus, and trust. My role was to support Coral so that she could concentrate fully on her designs and represent her country at the highest level. It was a privilege to be part of her team and to witness the creativity, discipline, and energy brought together by designers from across the Americas and beyond.
Continuing the Journey
Looking back, the thread connecting all these experiences is growth—growth through study, through teaching, through collaboration, and through supporting another artist. The website may not always show everything as it happens, but I regularly share new work, works in progress, demonstrations, travels, techniques, and behind-the-scenes moments on social media. Follow my latest work on Instagram @keithstanley and TikTok @keithstanleydesign. Thank you for continuing to follow my journey. There is much more to share—and always more to learn.