Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Duby-Tharpe
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hello! I’m thrilled to share my journey with you and your readers. Many are surprised to learn that my passion for the arts began in childhood. Growing up with an artist mother and a math- minded father, I embraced creativity early on. My dad, ever supportive, took me to my first bead store on my 10th birthday, where I bought my first supplies. Each time we went to the bead store from that point on he would tease me mercilessly about my “very expensive, tiny bag of supplies.” My lovely mother nurtured my artistic development, teaching me to think creatively about art and design. Although I wouldn’t dare revisit my early creations, those experiences were the start of what I now lovingly call my therapy, where I express myself through floral design and metalwork. Looking back, to my astonishment, I’ve now been a florist for 30 years and have been making jewelry for 34. It’s been a wonderful ride!
I grew up in a tiny town called Bradley, on California’s Central Coast, with just 79 residents and a two-room schoolhouse, yep you read that right! The region is commonly referred to as the salad bowl as agriculture was the main focus in our rural community. With limited activities available, I immersed myself in 4-H, raising livestock and growing food. At 14, while helping at a local winery, I learned about a florist in nearby Cambria who needed assistance for the holidays. That experience sparked my love for flowers, and I’ve never looked back.
Over the years, I’ve worked in various dynamic markets—from Los Angeles to the Midwest and now Charleston, SC. I found and married my wonderful husband 20 years ago and we decided to set down roots close to his Charleston family. We now have lived here for over 17 years with our beautiful children Lexie, and Chloe and our collection of rescue pets. Do you remember Charleston almost two decades ago? Wow, incredible progress!
A true stroke of luck was the opportunity to cut my teeth in Southern California. It was particularly rewarding; as I had the chance to create floral arrangements for celebrities and high-profile events like the Emmys and Golden Globes. Seeing my jewelry worn on the red carpet is a definite career highlight. Since my time in LA, it set me on the path of always researching and experimenting with the new, up and coming floral techniques and cutting edge metalsmithing techniques. We recreate West Coast style right here in our slice of East Coast heaven with a southern twist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall I can say I’ve had more victories than defeats in my career for both flowers and jewelry. For the most part challenges are what makes you grow as an artisan and a business owner. I don’t know about other artisans, but for me adversity or problems push me to think harder about how to make things happen. The challenges don’t define anyone, what you do to overcome the challenges speaks to your character. The hardest most current challenge is getting noticed in a fairly saturated field in the area. While I have been a florist for 30 years, I didn’t start my own business full time until January of this year. The vast majority of my work over the years has been under the umbrella of other businesses. So while I have a ton of knowledge and experience, my business name is relatively unknown. I am always so grateful to the brides who take a chance on the lesser known companies to help bring their dream wedding flowers come to life. For the Jewelry side of things my biggest challenges are creating things that people will love, staying in front of trends and educating folks on why handmade artisan jewelry is typically more costly than mass produced works.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Full time I am a wedding and events floral designer. I make floral dreams come true for Brides and Grooms, Corporate clients, Moms to be, Birthday celebrations and even teens proms and homecomings. My ultimate goal is to make memorable pieces to make these events beautiful and memorable and to exceed the client’s expectations. It is a true sense of satisfaction when you see the vision come together and a client comes back following an event with joy and praise.
When I am not working with fresh flowers I am usually at my jewelry bench, playing with my torch and banging on metal, or working with resin and pressed flowers for any number of products I make, from jewelry to trays, bowls, notebooks, wine stoppers, propagation stands, tumblers, and whatever else crosses my mind to try to make at least once. Sometimes those one off trials become big hits and others are never to be attempted again! Sprinkled into all of the other things I create, I also preserve flowers from weddings or from sympathy pieces for clients to cherish always.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how beautiful and captivating our city is. There is a reason Charleston is a top wedding destination city in the world. For the most part we have amazing weather and it’s a joy to be outside enjoying all the city has to offer. We have some of the most superb restaurants I’ve had the joy of supporting and am always planning with my daughters new places to try. There truly always is something to do, see, or experience which is especially great when you have guests to introduce to the city. What I love most though is how everyone supports one anothers small businesses, they are truly appreciated and valued above the impersonal big box stores. We come together through adversity and show that people of all walks of life can not only coexist – but thrive.
The things I like the least are the crazy heat and humidity in the summer, trying to keep flowers alive and beautiful in the dead of summer is just brutal. The only other thing I really dislike about our city is the traffic. There’s a reason there is a pretty constant flow of people wanting to move to the Lowcountry, it’s a wonderful area! The infrastructure just wasn’t intended for this much growth in a short period of time. Still, Charleston’s charm far outweighs these inconveniences!
Pricing:
- Full Service Peek Wedding Season $4,000 minimum
- Full Service Non-Peek Wedding Season $2,000
- Elopement/Microweddings starting at $300
- Jewelry from $15-$300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fontefleur.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fontefleur
Image Credits
Headshot: RIchard Bell Photography @richardbellphoto
Beachy Wedding : Tiffani-Amber Photography @tiffaniamberphoto
White Wedding: Sarah Elaine Photography @sarahelainephoto
Jewelry : Heather Duby-Tharpe @fontefleur
