Meet Little House of Flowers Senior Designer, Auburn

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Auburn Torres a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Auburn, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I work in an industry where trends are constantly coming and going. Keeping up with design trends, both locally and internationally, and staying abreast to new and exciting developments in horticulture and floristry offers continual knowledge that I am able to use in my work. I love experimenting with new materials and incorporating non-traditional elements to keep me on my toes creatively. In addition, traveling and spending time in nature and designing with the seasons gives me the most inspiration and keeps me from feeling my work is getting stagnant.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the senior designer at Little House of Flowers in Point Loma. We are a full-service boutique florist specializing in weddings and events. In our beautiful shop we offer fresh seasonal flowers, a variety of plants, as well as locally made chocolates, cards, candles, and jewelry all from women-owned businesses. We’ve been in business for six years and overcame many hurtles as anyone who owns a small business will tell you. From our humble beginnings starting off in a small outdoor shop to our beautiful studio in the Point Loma community we have flourished and established ourselves as the premier florist in the area.

I’ve been in the industry for almost 20 years, however it was not the vocation I expected to be in. I went to school for psychology and intended to be a therapist. While I was in college I moved in with my grandmother to help care for her. I would have my morning classes then drive home to make her lunch and check on her. I got a job at a small florist nearby having no knowledge of flowers at all. I learned how to take care of the flowers in order for them to last to their fullest and worked with customers to make bouquets. When it was slow at work I would do a little arranging and experimented with different color schemes and textures together and placed my creations for sale. The owner noticed I had an eye for design and took me under her wing teaching me the basics. Seeing customers enjoying my arrangements and wanting to purchase them gave me the confidence and desire to learn more. I took some floral design classes to get the fundamentals down, however I credit most of what I know from on the job training. My grandmother would visit me at work and I brought home flowers for her to enjoy whenever I could. She was a big part of my life and inspired me to take the road less traveled.

My life took some unexpected turns and I found myself in a bad marriage that consumed me for nearly 10 years. After breaking free of that situation and now being a mother of two I found myself at a crossroads and answered a craigslist ad for someone looking for a floral designer. Starting Little House of Flowers with the owner, Hilary Bateman brought me back to life after that tumultuous period. The difficulties I’ve encountered have made me stronger and I am determined to continue to grow and show my daughters how to thrive in spite of whatever challenges come their way.

Our shop continues to grow and our team consists of amazing women who inspire me every day.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Don’t be afraid to fail. I truly believe rejection and failure teach us more valuable lessons than just getting things right the first time. Learn the basics, take workshops and classes, work with people that have been around your industry longer than you have. Take criticism but don’t let it hold you back. Not everyone will love your art, and that’s okay. Finding your niche and putting your unique spin on things will set you apart.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am always wanting to expand my art by experimenting with different mediums and working with other artists. I love when clients bring in a unique container or want a custom dried floral piece for their home. I work with a jewelry-maker to design dried arrangements for her displays at different store locations. When we first started collaborating, she brought in a huge vintage frame that she wanted preserved florals on to display her jewelry. It was so fun to make something to represent her and her brand. We work with companies to showcase their products for conventions and special events and are always looking for new people to partner with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.littlehouseofflowerssd.com
• Instagram: @little_house_of_flowers