The 2026 CFAA Seminar Kaleidoscope designs were outstanding and inspiring.
The Creative Floral Arrangers of America’s newest initiative is the brainchild of current members, Kathleen Hawryluk, one of our former Presidents, and Cheryl Scheid. A “Designer of the Month” will share a member’s background, inspiration, and CFAA story each month. Enjoy!
2026
August - Barb Jacobson
July - Jim DelPrince
Designer of the Month
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July 2026
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Dr. Jim DelPrince, Ph.D., AIFD, CFD, PFCI, AAF
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Designer of the Month ~ July 2026 ~ Dr. Jim DelPrince, Ph.D., AIFD, CFD, PFCI, AAF ~
Jim was a first-time attendee and presented a design that everyone was talking about and admiring because of its uniqueness.
Dr. Jim DelPrince is a horticulture specialist with MSU Extension where he leads the Master Floral Designer program. He has taught floristry at Mississippi State since 1992 and is the author or co-author of books on floral design, interior plant-scaping, floristry history, and floristry terminology. He is a Laureate Member of the American Institute of Floral Designers.
The Design: ‘Keep It Green’
The Kaleidoscope design used ornamental foliage bound into two separate garlands and arranged using ikebana nageire principles. Composite flowers were crafted from Galax leaves. Plants included Asparagus setaceus, Aspidistra elatior, Galax urceolata, Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’, and Xerophyllum tenax.
Dr. Jim DelPrince,
Ph.D., AIFD, CFD, PFCI, AAF
Getting to know the CFAA Designer of the Month
Why I Attended:
CFAA 2026 offered a number of exceptional demonstrations and workshops, including one on foliage manipulation by Sandra Deery that I attended. The various programs allowed attendees to appreciate (and learn about) design form, techniques, and various design movements without the pressures inherent to running a retail florist shop. This emphasis is similar to the one that I provide in my Master Floral Designer course. CFAA’s overall program was a helpful learning experience and a terrific value.