If you’ve been admiring the wreath that’s on the door of 10 Downing Street during all the recent TV coverage, then give a round of applause to Stephanie Stanley who, for the second time, won the competition to décor the world-famous entrance of both the Prime Minister’s home and No 11 to boot!
Stephanie, who runs her studio florist in Shearsby, Leicestershire, won the accolade alongside her work with the Friezland Christmas Tree Farm.
Placing the wreath for a second time was just as exciting … albeit involving a couple of very early starts, and with the worlds press watching!
Describing how she started her business, Stephanie says “I started attending evening classes when I was 11, the youngest by some 50 years! Being dyslexic academia didn’t really interest me but I loved the creative lessons.
At 14 I started as a Saturday girl and after my GCSE’s went to Brooksby College and completed the floristry course with distinction.
After working for the Bosworth Florists an opportunity came up to open my own shop and although I was only 19, I opened Flowers by Stephanie in Barwell, where I had the honour of creating hundreds of bride’s floral dreams for their special day, floral tributes for many people who have passed, which again I feel is a true honour supporting and helping the families to say goodbye to their loved ones and of course the everyday orders that brighten up the day and put a smile on people’s faces.
One husband, two daughters and 15 years later, life has taken me to Shearsby and whilst it meant I had to make the hard decision to give up the shop, has allowed me to have a bespoke studio where I can not only continue to create but fulfil my passion for teaching and hosting workshops as well as specialising in Christmas wreaths"
Whether she can make it a hat trick and be back at No 10 in 2023 who knows but in our opinion the 2021 creations have been one of the brighter spots of the interminable close ups of the hallowed doors.
