Friday Speakers and Sessions

Andi Gretzinger

Andi is the Owner and Executive Floral Artist of North Wood Blooms LLC, established in 2018. She credits the implementation of formal art and design training, years of teaching art in the classroom, simple business training, consistent social media marketing and a goal-getter mindset as major contributors that transformed NWB from a dining room side-gig to the full-time Wood Flower Design Studio she runs today.

Most of Andi’s pastimes include enjoying the northwoods of Wisconsin with friends and family - especially her two young daughters and husband. When she’s not online promoting her own wood flower floristry, she is there advocating for the expansion of the wood flower industry and encouraging others to achieve their biggest business dreams.

Canva Basics, Tips and Hacks
Ever wonder how to make those graphics that say everything in just a few words? It’s more than just graphic design. It’s content creation, photography and an overall marketing and branding plan coming together in one place. I’ll help you identify the needs of your brand, social media and website and how to use Canva to meet them! We will have a quick basic tools overview of what Canva has to offer, and I’ll jump right into helping you create right in the app! Make sure to have a device with the free Canva app pre-loaded so we can take all of your content from the weekend and create stunning graphics you will be proud to use in your business!

Kristen Salinas

Kristen Salinas is mama of three boys (one set of identical twins!) and owner of Common Dwellings - wood flower florist and crafting studio, based out of Bentonville, AR. From what started as creating a thousand paper flowers for her wedding in 2016, to just a mom dabbling in an Etsy shop while giving classes at local breweries, became a full blown brick and mortar shop in 2022 where she now teaches 2-3 classes per week. Kristen has been featured on the local news program, "Good Day NWA" on several occasions for wood floristry and is the only professional wood flower florist in Northwest Arkansas. Common Dwellings stands for crafting and decor that brings us all together. We love sharing in life's moments no matter how big or small with our clients.

Boho Bouquets: Tips, Tricks, and Trends
Stuck on how to create that "wispy style" bouquet or how to use preserved or dried florals? You'll learn hands on techniques to create a wild, boho style bouquet as well as other tips and tricks to hone your inner boho vibe.

Jennifer Ruiz

Jennifer Ruiz started doing paper flowers for events in 2015 and is now the owner of Petal Loft. One of her favorite things about being a paper flower artist is the “WOW” factor – when people see the flowers and are like “WOW, that’s Gorgeous!”

She received her degree in visual communications and uses her well tailored skill to convey whimsical displays with her medium of choice, crepe paper.

In 2021 Sarah Campbell from Intrigue Designs and Netflix’s “The Big Flower Fight” reached out on ticktock. Jennifer was able to participate in a workshop in San Diego and shined a light on the talent of paper flower artists. Her social media following more than doubled from this collaboration.

With her family’s support every step of the way, Jennifer has been able to achieve goals never imagined. A few things you should know, she loves chips and salsa, eats peanut-butter by the spoonful, and though ice cream does not always love her, she loves it.

Keeping up with her husband and 4 year old son Jennifer is always on the go. Like all of us with small or big families, thankfulness is the beginning of every prayer. 

Making Giant Paper Flowers
Learn how to manipulate crepe paper to mimic the petals of a natural flower and create giant, showstopping paper flowers for backdrops and installations.

Jennifer Angle & JEnnifer RUIZ