Waterlily Pond Design Studio, has become recognized in the San Francisco Bay Area for their artistry and innovation. One of the most sought-after sources for weddings and special events, Waterlily Pond was voted “Best of the Bay Wedding Flowers” by San Francisco Chronicle readers. Natasha Lisitsa, owner and lead designer, is known for her unique style fusing Eastern and Western design principles, often referred to as “exuberant ikebana.”

Waterlily Pond’s creative team was commissioned by SFMOMA and the de Young Museum to design and craft large scale floral installations for high-profile art openings. In March 2009, Waterlily Pond created a magnificent 800-pound floral display that floated in mid-air above the atrium during the de Young Museum’s 25th Anniversary of Bouquets to Art exhibit. Find out more at www.waterlilypond.com.

Roberto and Ramone Ponce
Americana Flower Brokers
San Francisco, CA

Catherine Tompkison-Graham
The Tompkison Group
San Jose, CA

Kiwi DeVoy Designs
Kiwi DeVoy, designer
Atherton, CA

Katharina Stuart, Floral Art & Design
Katharina Stuart, designer
El Cerrito, CA

Randy Ortega, designer
San Francisco, CA

Michel’s Design
Lucy Michel, designer
San Francisco, CA

Hoogasian Flowers
Larry Hoogasian, designer
San Francisco, CA

Utsuwa Floral Design
Hiroshi Roy Hayama, designer
San Francisco, CA

Natalini Flowers by Crispy
San Francisco, CA

Bella Fiora Florist
Mark Leahy, owner
Dino Bocala, designer
San Francisco, CA

Floramor Studios
Laura Little, Steve O’Connell, designers
San Francisco, CA

Violetta Flowers
Arlene Boyle, designer
San Francisco, CA

Katie Schmid was born November 23, 1983, in Peoria, Illinois. Her mother, who is also an artist, helped her craft her drawing s and portraits at an early age. Her practice continued and led her to greater study. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts and graduated Cum Laude from Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, California in 2007.

Although a Naturalist in her approach, her work touches upon both symbolism and realistic aspects of life. In the many significant art periods Schmid has learned from, the High Renaissance has left the deepest impression upon her. Today, she continues to value and study these masters and speakers in paint. She aspires for the same poetry and vigor in her visual renderings. Michelangelo, Francisco Zurbaran, and Abbott Thayer are among a few of her noteworthy inspirations. In each of her pieces, Schmid strives to demonstrate sacred truths while depicting a humble representation of true beauty.

Schmid's work can be found in public and private collections across the United States and Europe. Some of her paintings are found as close as churches in Southern California and as far as the Papal Apartments at the Vatican. She works from her studio in Southern California and is continually inspired by humanity of the past and present and the ever -present natural beauty around us.

Leon Kortenkamp is a San Francisco Bay Area artist who lives with his wife, Ginny, in Belmont, California. They are the parents of five grown children. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where he studied under the direction of John Howett, Waldemar Otto and Marc Chagall.

He grew up in rural Iowa, and memories of those formative years are often reflected in his work. His recent series, Reconsidering Familiar Forms, reflects his conviction that ordinary objects and everyday events are deeply charged with spiritual reality.

In 1986, he began studies in the Archdiocese of San Francisco diaconate formation program, was ordained a deacon in 1990, and presently serves the Archdiocese as director of the permanent diaconate.

His drawings, small paintings and brushed-plate monotypes have been exhibited, published and collected throughout the Midwest, and more recently, in California, Washington and New York. In the San Francisco Bay Area, his work has recently been exhibited at Skyline College Art Gallery, Porziuncola Gallery, Rotunda Gallery and at Wiegand Gallery, Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, where he has been a professor for the past twenty-five years.

Marsha Heckman is returning as an exhibitor here at St. Mary’s Flower Festival, displays creative crowd pleasing pieces each Spring for Bouquets to Art at the DeYoung Museum, and is the author of seven books, five of them about flowers. Making a beautiful bouquet for your dinner table, a party or fundraiser, or your parish altar requires inspiration as well as a container fitting the location and some flowers. She will create easy to make displays while giving useful tips for designing and about preparing the natural materials she uses. Marsha’s style is warm, truly informative and delivered with passion and humor.

"Vases of Inspiration" Floral Demonstration
Saturday, October 1 | $10 | Register now »

Marsha’s demonstration and talk will center on how to make arrangements

Inspired by the beautiful earth
Pay attention to the greens, branches, leaves, cones, pods, mosses, rocks and water; include a nod to each of the elements in nature: earth, fire, air, water.

Inspired by flowers
What’s in the garden or at the market this week? BIG volume is better than complexity, discover that flowers have been assigned meanings. What are the new trends?

Inspired by glory
Flora associated with holidays entertaining and tradition, holy days and seasons, celebratory bouquets.