Conversations with Yoko Stetson

Hi Yoko, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career studying three dimension design as well as European arts history and culture (opera history) in England and Italy. It was so much writing and reading in English, which is my second language, that I was exhausted. I took a break and did something completely different but still slightly related; floral design. Since my mother used to be a landscape designer, I always loved flowers. So I signed up for Jane Packer’s floral school. I wanted to learn as much as possible in a short period of time, so I jumped into a career course without any previous experience. It was so much fun. I had no knowledge of floral design, so I had nothing to lose but everything to gain in technique and knowledge, and working with beautiful flowers. At that time, Jane’s school was in her basement, and we could just go to her backyard to collect some foliage. Jane always told us to observe nature, how flowers are blooming, growing and branches extending.

Soon after I finished the career course, I started teaching flower design as requested from my friends. I was not confident enough to handle fresh flowers and my technique was not fast enough to create fresh flower arrangements. So I started teaching dried flower arrangements, which is related to 3D design.

For a while I had been teaching flower designs until my other passion – opera producing and lecturing – took off. So I became busier with opera work.

After marrying and moving to NY, I continued leading flower classes. But when we moved to Phoenix and later Dallas, I had opportunities to get involved in opera and at the same time was struggling with my flower business. I often participated as a vendor at the local holiday market to sell wreaths and arrangements. It was not successful and I felt totally defeated. So I decided to focus on my opera business. No more flowers….except for myself.

However life does throw you curveballs. My husband became ill and unable to work, so we moved back to NY to be close to his doctors. In NY, when my new friends were visiting, they saw photos of my younger self at Jane Packer’s floral school. They asked me to teach them. But they wanted to learn “FRESH FLOWER” arrangements. So I did. Again, being fatigued from all the stress of life, working with flowers gave me some kind of sanction. When you are creating something, often you become so zen no matter how tired you are.

After juggling my opera and flower business in NY, my number of students increased. In the meantime, my husband became legally blind due to multifocal choroiditis. Then life changed again. My husband wanted a quieter, easier life so we made a change; moving to Austin.

Since 2018 I frequently traveled between NY and Austin for my opera and flower classes until the start of the pandemic. I stopped everything like everyone else. No in-person opera, no traveling. But flowers were there. OK, no fancy flowers from Holland, but there were beautiful and amazing Texas wildflowers everywhere. My local growers had beautiful ranunculus, anemones, poppies, snapdragons, and marigolds.

Again, flowers saved my spirit.

Although COVID is still here and things are returning to normal, it is not the same as before. So I thought – this is the time I should branch out here in Austin. I now teach floral arrangement classes and workshops using local grown flowers, as well as beautiful flowers originating from everywhere through local wholesalers.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
NO. Every time we moved, I had to find a reliable wholesaler and recreate a network of students and clients.

I do listen to trends and what the markets want. But not necessarily following what they are. As a result, I have no sales in some events! But I have never created something which is not ME.

Also, as a wife and mother, it is always a challenge to focus on your work. I could be totally obsessed with my work and nothing else but I would miss out on family time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My design is inspired by English gardens with a twist of New York and Texas Hill Country. It is like bringing a piece of a garden inside your house, but not just a “garden.” It has a hint of arts and culture. Since my other passion is opera, I infuse some drama in my floral design too.

How do you think about happiness?
My family, flowers, gardens, plants, nature, and opera!! I cannot live without culture. Also most of the music and my chickens in the backyard.