Joyce Mason-Monheim, AIFD, AZMF, PFCI, of Designer Destination, won the grand prize in the 46th Annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition on Sept. 21 during SAF Phoenix 2013. As grand prize winner, Mason-Monheim received $3,000 from Smithers-Oasis, an engraved silver champagne trophy and complimentary registration to the next SAF convention. (Click here to see Mason-Monheim’s designs.)

Sylvia Cup grand prize winner (third from right) Joyce Mason-Monheim, AIFD, AZMF, PFCI, flanked by first runner up Jacob McCall, AAF, AIFD, FSMD, and, on the right, second runner up BJ Dyer, AAF, AIFD. Also shown, from left, competition coordinators D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NAFD, NMF, and Heather de Kok, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Jacque Sir Louis of Smithers-Oasis, which sponsored the cash prizes and, far right, Kasey Cronquist, CCFC Ambassador, which provided the fresh product. D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NAFD, NMF, of the Bill Doran Company in Omaha, Neb., and Heather de Kok, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, Grower Direct Fresh Flowers, Inc., Edmonton, AB, Canada, provided commentary for the competition in full-blown Steampunk style.

Jacob McCall, AAF, AIFD, FSMD, of The Elite Flower in Miami, Fla., was named first runner-up and received $500 (Click here to see McCall’s designs.); and BJ Dyer, AAF, AIFD, of Bouquets in Denver, was named second runner-up and received $250. (Click here to see Dyer’s designs.)

The Sylvia Cup Design Competition is the longest running live, national annual floral design competition. Sponsored by the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC), the Sylvia Cup tested the skills of 24 designers. Among them were winners of state and regional floral industry design contests, designers of the year and members of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD).

The Sylvia Cup is similar to Food Network’s “Iron Chef.” Contestants received the same materials — flowers and foliage from the CCFC and design supplies from Smithers-Oasis — and challenge. Contestants were asked to create a standing sympathy piece, floral brooch for a bride and a lobby arrangement, all three in the style of steampunk.

“Steampunk is a science-fiction subgenre, typically featuring steam-powered machinery and a fusion of the Victorian-Industrial aesthetic brought to life with imagined or implied time travel from the Victorian to Futuristic eras,” explained the contest’s coordinator D Damon Samuel, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NAFD, NMF, of the Bill Doran Company in Omaha, Neb. “It is a style that is growing in popularity.”

A panel of three judges appointed by the PFCI Board of Trustees evaluated the contestants’ designs. The judges scored each design based on nine factors covering design elements, design principles, mechanics and execution and creative applications. The highest combined score determines the winner. Judges were:

• Toomie Farris, AAF, AIFD, of McNamara Florist, LLC – Design Center in Fishers, Ind.
• Patti Klawans, AIFD, AzMF, of Tucson, Ariz.
• René van Rems, AIFD, of Rene van Rems International in Carlsbad, Cali.

 

Save the date! The 47th Annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition takes place during SAF Marco Island 2014, SAF’s 130th Annual Convention, August 13-16, 2014, at the Marriott Marco Island Resort in Marco Island, Fla. For contest details, contact SAF’s Jenny Scala at jscala@safnow.org.

The Sylvia Cup Design Competition began in 1967 and is named for Sylvia Valencia, a prominent designer and long-time SAF supporter.

 

—Jenny Scala