We recently connected with Cailla Quinn and have shared our conversation below.
Cailla, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
What is purpose? Do we only have one of those in our lives? Im not so sure.
My career has been a long winding road::: Ive been a gardener, project manager, nonprofit assistant director, herbalist, bartender, server, curator, archivist, studio manager, caterer and the list goes on. And Im not lying to you when I admit at a certain point in my life I felt so unbelievably frustrated with all of this. I wanted a ‘purpose’ and was jealous of the people who were born knowing what they wanted to do in life. I never thought it would, but one day it just clicked.
Today I am a florist. I am the owner and lead designer of EPHEMIRUS, a full-service event + wedding floral design studio based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Do I think all my past gigs have significantly influenced where I am today? Absolutely.
How did I figure it out? A lot of soul-searching *cue groovy music*
What does that mean? A lot of curiosity, a lot of research, a lot of journaling + reading, a lot of optimism and gut-listening, a lot of conversations with people already working in the field.
I know I love beauty + the natural world. I also love food, dining culture, working with large teams and a schedule where everyday is different. The wedding + event industry merges all of this.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hi! My name is Cailla (pronounced Kayla) and I am the owner + lead floral designer of my company, EPHEMIRUS (/əˈfem(ə)rəs/).
From my website:::
EPHEMIRUS is a full-service wedding + event floral design studio based in Boston, Massachusetts. With an emphasis on local and foraged florals, EPHEMIRUS celebrates seasonality and space. Like cooking, we know the quality of each ingredient <flower> is paramount to achieving the final vision. Inspired by lush gardens + old world paintings, we strive for our designs to be moody, romantic and sexy. We love to think outside the box, push boundaries of what wedding flowers ‘should look like’ + exceed expectations.
From my brain as I drink my morning coffee:::
I’m an artist that has the privilege to design with flowers, foliage, branches, grasses and other materials from the natural world. With this material I get to create a vibe, illustrate an aesthetic and translate how our clients want their wedding or event to feel for them and their guests. I get the opportunity to completely transform a space in just a few days, work closely with flower farmers in Massachusetts and make our clients gasp in amazement over and over again. *heart swoon*
Its important to me that my work is diverse. While EPHEMIRUS will primarily be an event + wedding floral studio, I am also interested in working in a multitude of industries that allows me to work alongside a lot of different individuals and organizations.
Exciting news for 2024::: some really stunning weddings are on the horizon, new restaurant partnerships are in the works and we will be participating in this year’s ART IN BLOOM event at the Museum of Fine Arts. As an art school graduate, this is an absolute dream! Stay tuned, well be posting behind the scenes content as we brainstorm + execute our flower sculpture for this exhibit in April.
xoxo
Cailla
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Good Communication Skills
2. Optimism
3. Audacity
My advice is for everything is TRY IT! Try new things, try things again for the second time with an open mind. Ask a lot of questions, really explore all the options. The more diverse your experiences are, the more fluent you’ll be in your field. Even if the experience wasn’t great, I guarantee you’ve learned something you’ll use in the future! Its just important to know what you don’t like and what didn’t work.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking for collaborations as I think that’s where the best work comes from. To problem solve is to think outside the box and create something really magnificent.
I want to collaborate with everyone! Restaurateurs, club promoters, fashion houses, editorial stylists, nonprofits, painters, sculptors, curators, social media strategists, DJs, and the list goes on.
Say hi! Lets chat, id love to hear from you~
@ephemirus
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ephemirus.com
- Instagram: @ephemirus
Image Credits
Xana Turner-Owens Hayes and Baker Photo Ally Schmaling Photography
