Karin Pasman: Flower artist, teacher and lover of the lily

In Voorschoten lives and works Karin Pasman, a creative jack-of-all-trades with a heart that beats for flowers. As an independent flower artist and teacher, she knows better than anyone how to tell a story with flowers. "I love being challenged every time," she says. "No week is the same."

Karin runs her business "Karin Pasman Floristry" with an energy that is contagious. She is active on numerous fronts: from building exhibition stands and product promotions to flower parades, mourning and wedding flower arrangements. She also shares her knowledge as a Flower & Design teacher at MBO Westland. "It's great to train young talents and pass on my love for the profession," she says.

She can rightfully call herself Master Binder and previously won both the Dutch Floral Art Championship and the Hazelaar Trophy. Her work has been published several times in the prestigious book Floral Art and since 2015 she is also a certified judge. "I have done many competitions myself, now it is nice to be able to judge the craftsmanship of others."

Lilies appeal to Karin because of their powerful appearance. "They are flowers that really stand out. They don't need anything to stand out." Her preference is for mono arrangements or even a single stem in a vase. The scent, the shape, the opening of the flower are little miracles for Karin.

She finds choosing a favorite lily difficult. "They are all unique. The white 'Bowl of Beauty' has such a beautiful layering and at 'Dutch Design' it is precisely that orange color with dark markings that fascinates me."

For Bredefleur, Karin made two special bridal bouquets with lilies, a conscious choice because the flower is often associated with mourning. "Especially in bridal work, you can use a lily to create something powerful."

For the first bouquet, Karin chose a Biedermeier shape that looks classic, matching the lily's character. To give the design a fresh and summery look, she created a homemade base using a bridy. She complemented this with colored Asparagus and Passiflora tendrils. The stem was given an extension, giving the bouquet an elegant shape. The lily 'Fluorite', a double light pink variety, played the leading role in this. The photos were taken on the beach, a place where Karin likes to walk and is inspired by light and space.

The second bouquet was given a hanging shape and was designed to be carried as a purse. The metal base was fitted with a rope handle wrapped with silver ribbon. Three long threads were incorporated into the construction, from which the lilies were strung. Halfway through, the threads came together in a single line ending in a graceful drop shape. The lily chosen was 'Bowl of Beauty', a flower whose elegant layering made it a perfect fit for this sophisticated design. The tendrils of Ceropegia provide a playful frame and a large pearl acts as a subtle finale. The photos were taken in the forest, a place where Karin comes to rest and is inspired by nature.

Karin: "I loved getting to work as a BFF. It challenged me to create something new and I hope to inspire others with this." Mission accomplished, if you ask us. Because whether in the classroom, on the beach or in the woods, Karin brings her love of flowers to fruition everywhere.