Fearless Flowers was the first website dedicated to flower arranging with their streaming high-quality videos showing how to arrange flowers quickly, easily and, since the arrangements used fewer flowers, economically! The brainchild of Annie Vanderwarker, a Keswick artist and arranger, the site regularly added new videos featuring arrangements that reflect available flowers, various seasons, and current holidays. The streaming videos are organized by degree of difficulty so you can enter at the level you’re most comfortable with. Guys could even check out their own videos in ‘Even For Guys’.
When it comes to the arts, there are few areas Annie hasn’t been involved in. From making Nantucket baskets to oil painting to weaving with shredded pop cans to decorating furniture with found objects—her artistic output has been varied and adventurous. “While you can never figure out where you’re going to end up, I think that all the various artistic turns I took have really benefited my arranging, “ Annie explains. “That’s what Fearless Flowers is all about,” Annie says. “We’re not after blue ribbons or splashy arrangements, our goal is more about making you feel better about your ability to put flowers together and come up with pleasing and interesting arrangements.”
Annie and Tony hang out at 20 Gates in Cismont with their dogs, tending the gardens and staying in contact with their four children, two of which had consulted on Fearless Flowers. “It’s been a family affair which is fun,” Annie says. “It’s great to be able to bounce ideas off someone you’re close to and trust.” And the fact that their daughter is a theater director has been a huge help. “Our daughter Krissy spent a few days with me early on working on my presence and delivery, without her I never could have progressed to the point where I am now.”
Arrange some green on your table combined with deer antlers and Christmas balls for a festive holiday arrangement. Put some water tubes on your wreath and add fresh flowers for a lovely look that can change at the drop of a hat. Tuna cans repurposed can make for a lively contemporary look.
Check out the videos, still active today, on YouTube, under Fearless Flowers – with nearly 7k followers!