14/07/2025
‼️ 🎆 It's official so let me reintroduce myself!....✨Stefanie Rutherford ✨AIFD✨,cfd, cf.
I have officially been induced into the AIFD ( American Institute of Floral Designers) family!
What a rush! This has been a long time coming!
Since I started going to our MI state convention in 2015 and got certified therein 2018, I then heard about the national AIFD convention and certification. I knew it was something to put on the bucket list but never did I think I would have the nerve to follow through. Seeing how absolutely incredible each and every AIFD designer was I didn't know if my skills could hold up to their level of creativity and standard. I mean these people are the best of the best!!!!!!
After attending my first AIFD symposium in Chicago 2023 I knew it was time! From that moment I had one year to get my self and skills together to test at the following year's symposium in Orlando 2024. I got my book, I had a whole list of mentors, and I made it happen. Surprising myself (but no one else, because they knew I could do it) I passed on my first try!
From there I had to wait another whole year till now, Palm Springs 2025, to be induced into one of the world's finest organizations, AIFD!!
From admiring all of these impeccable designers to now being able to call myself one of them..... Leaves me speechless.
Although AIFD is the highest certification you can get in floral design, this is not the end but, the beginning. This is a stepping stone to all of the other incredible things to come in the future. It is encouragement to keep trying new things, pushing myself further, and to chase every single dream I have, because with this incredible family behind me.... Anything and everything is possible.
I am proud to be AIFD.
I have to say a special, heartfelt thank you to my mentors....
( Especially )..for seeing something in me and pushing me towards new heights, for broadening my horizons, for passing on their knowledge and for being a pillar to lean on. You all have changed my life in the most important ways.
Now... What's next 😉