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Kathy Knight is an
artist in flowers. Her “Designs by Kathy” creates
floral arrangements to meet a lifetime of requests. From
the baby’s first flowers in a music box, to the prom
girl’s very special corsage, to the wedding, Kathy
can make unique creations. As one’s life continues
with congratulations, holidays, and get wells, she can
provide beauty. And for a funeral, her flowers with memorabilia
tucked in among the sprays, make a loving tribute.
Because most of her creations are custom designed to meet a special need,
Kathy works with her clients personally. She has a huge scrapbook with
photos of her work to give customers ideas. If they have none, she is
full of them.
Kathy Knight, a graduate of Grand County High School, is a self-taught
artist who has learned by doing. She has always been interested in art
forms. She paints rock animals, weaves pine baskets, works with batiks
and paints with watercolors when she has time. But for the past thirteen
years her first love has been for plants and cut flowers.
Kathy got her start working part-time in the City Market floral department.
Eventually she moved her work into the front of her home at 75 North
300 East Street. Today when you walk into “Designs by Kathy,” you
see a wonderland of bouquets, hear the hum of flower coolers, see a variety
of vases, and rainbows of colored ribbons and balloons. She also has
a shop full of props for weddings and other events. Her daughters, Lisa
and Megan, often help at the counter, her mother Judy Tangreen does the
books, and husband Robert delivers the creations. Kathy’s creativity
involves the whole family.
As with all true artists, Kathy is very particular about her supplies.
She buys only the freshest flowers and foliage from wholesalers in Salt
Lake City. They have received their flowers from as far away as Thailand
and South America. As soon as the orders arrive in Moab, often early
in the morning, Kathy must process them. She cuts the stems under water
so that no air bubble will develop in the stem and cause premature wilting.
She uses only sanitized vases and puts a flower food of bleach and sugar
into the liquid. Her arrangements last up to three weeks because of the
care she uses. Her coolers are for flowers only because the fruits and
vegetables in a home refrigerator produce ethylene gas which may kill
cut flowers. Her potted plants come from Orchard Mesa in Grand Junction.
Kathy also creates artistic designs with silk flowers. Again, she uses
quality supplies, so it is hard to tell the silks flowers from the living
ones. “Sometimes we want our arrangements to last a long time.
Silks will do that,” she says, “All you need to do is occasionally
turn your blow dryer on them to get rid of the dust.” Her artistic
wall hangings, wreaths, and large bouquets of silk flowers are popular
with businesses and at Christmas time.
While silks will last, living flowers will not. It is tricky business
to know how many fresh flowers to order. She’s never sure when
an FTD request will arrive. Of course, Kathy can anticipate big Moab
events such as the Prom, but some flowers will never get selected for
an arrangement. Once they are past their prime they will not be used.
They have to go into Kathy’s compost pile (probably one of the
loveliest in town.)
Hers is a pleasing art form which brings smiles of pleasure to the recipient
and delight to Kathy as she expands her new creations and her business.
Kathy Knight may be reached at 435-259-7080 or
stop by “Designs by Kathy” to see her work. |
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