{Living sustainably comes with learning to see the world in a new way}
Terri Trespicio
Kelly Acock has been in the event and floral design arena for over 11 years as a published writer, educator, speaker, and designer. Kelly has taught many local classes and national webinars, been featured in several local publications by Mary Carol Garrity of Nell Hills, EA Bride Magazine, Florist Review, and the Kansas City Star. Published Internationally for her floral art creations in the latest publications of International Floral Art by Stitchting Kunstboek 2010/2011 & 2012/2013. reEVENT is 'painting the town greener' with reEVENT and looking forward to sharing the inspiration and the education it will bring.
November 18, 2011 Tackling Wedding Waste: One Woman Aims to Redesign the Industry Recycle, resale, redesign. That's the theme this weekend in Lee’s Summit, Q: What is the reEvent? A: The reEvent provides florists, event designers, brides, and others the ability to clean out those basements and sell event items that they no longer need or use. Rather than collecting dust, these items find new homes and new purposes in the hands of people who do have a use for them. Q: What inspired the reEvent? A: It came from seeing so much waste with events. People buy so many things they don’t need, often for the “big day,” and then toss it or store it in basements. I try to get people thinking about their purchases in a different way. If it can’t be reused, redesigned, or resold, then maybe it’s not a good purchase. Q: How many reEvents have there been? How did previous ones go? A: The first reEvent was this past spring; this weekend will be the second one. My plan is to hold it twice a year in spring and fall. Spring tends to be more wedding-oriented, while fall tends to draw those looking to buy holiday decor. The first time out of the gate, we had a hard time defining what this was to the public. But word is getting around and people are starting to understand and love the concept. Q: You have workshops at the show? A: We have some amazing workshops about everything from jewelry-making to upcycling and even how to turn beer and wine bottles into works of art. Q: What types of items can people get? A: Generally only decor items, like vases, chargers, linens, ribbons, planning materials, and some fashion items. Someone even consigned vinyl records that had been repurposed into bowls!
Q: Is this type of event helpful to brides and event professionals, and are others invited? A: Everyone’s invited! The first reEvent in April was geared more to the engaged crowd searching for green-thinking vendors, but we really did draw shoppers who were searching for home decor items as well. Q: If they can’t organize a giant resale event, how can others begin to make a difference? A: Take baby steps. People should feel good if they can get in a groove with recycling simple things like glass and plastic. Then when they can make another habit, add one more thing, like cardboard, and then another thing, like using mason jars for food storage, and then another. Before they know it, they’re super green without much planning or effort. I make a note to do something new and put it on my calendar. Then when it becomes a habit, I take it down and put up another one. --interview by Carolyn Cotney / photos by Rachel Holt of Salt and Light Photography and Anne Kelly Acock Posted by Green Life at 01:05:19 PM in Business and Money, Current Events, Education, Events, Home and Design, Recycling, Shopping
{Florist Review ~ Oct 2011}
{KC Star ~ Spring 2011} Re-Event offers ways to repurpose leftover items from special events
Ashley Hotka (left) and Kelly Acock demonstrate a tablescape invention for the All things Green contest. Participants will gather supplies from Habitat ReStore and refurbish or reinvent an item for a display. Photo by Garvey Scott A new expo aims to reinvent what’s left after special events. Anne Kelly & Co., an event design and floral company in Lee’s Summit, is taking repurposing to the next level, hosting the Re-Event, an ecoCHIC Shopping Show. The Re-Event is an event item expo and consignment sale showcasing new and gently used products, services, educational demonstrations and industry vendors focused on sustainability. “I see so much waste going on … especially with special events,” says Anne Kelly & Co. owner Kelly Acock. “I kept running into people who were spending money on things and then stuffing them in their basements. Why not sell those items and give them a new life to someone who can use them? If you’re planning a wedding or party, you can shop for things such as centerpieces, linens and tiaras. The Re-Event also will include cake makers, photographers, a couture dress shop, contests and prizes. Acock says she plans to show visitors how items can be transformed into event displays or home décor.
{Jill Reitz, Special to The Star}
{Greenability ~ Spring 2011}
{Lees Summit Lifestyle ~ Spring 2011}
Wake up. Get the kids ready and dropped off at school. Pick up the kids. Prepare dinner. Bedtime. Sleep. Repeat – and squeeze a career in during the day. Such is the routine of Anne Kelly Acock, an event and floral design specialist, and owner of The Monarch Flower Company She loves the busy routine. Sometimes it’s a struggle to balance the many demands of being an active creative professional and the mother of two boys, one of whom has special needs, but Acock juggles the best she can and enjoys the freedom working from home brings her. “Even though I may work more than the average person, it is nice to be quickly available for the boys.” Manufacturing engineering probably doesn’t normally produce excellent event and floral designers, but for Acock, a lay-off from designing and building circuitry and cables meant an opportunity to try her hand at floral design. After spending several years running her own retail shop, Acock closed the store and started The Monarch Flower Company from her home. Eleven years later, she is busy designing floral arrangements for large themed parties, weddings, and fundraisers, planning her first Event Industry Expo, and serving as a Creative Contributor for EA Bride magazine. One of the important keys to Acock’s success is the time she spends getting to know her clients before putting together floral pieces. Acock sets aside six to 12 months to plan large events so that she has adequate time to explore the client’s likes and dislikes, and create something fabulously unique for each. “I still have clients from years ago that rave about their flowers—that’s what it’s all about for me,” Acock reflects. Flexibility is a major aspect of being a Mompreneur, and one that has enabled Acock to create beautiful, fresh pieces for large events with less than two weeks’ notice. Currently, Acock is excited to be planning reEVENT, a consignment event item sale. Acock hopes this expo will give a second life to many of the event and décor items that otherwise collect dust in storage closets. If you have ever hosted a party, or are planning an upcoming event, stop by the expo to meet Acock, exchange ideas and materials with other event planners, and give a second life to those pretty ribbons and bows.
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{Salt & Light Photography} reCycled wreaths created by local artisans and Lees Summit High School Art Department at the November reEVENT benefiting The Rainbow Center for Cognitive Disorders.
Created by Vanessa Little of V's Creations and Habitat for Humanity/ReStore.
Created by Michelle Volkmer of Artisan Innovations and featured in the Kansas City Star.
Created by Kelly Acock of The Monarch Flower Company, founder of reEVENT, wreath featured in the Kansas City Star. {Radio}
click logo to listen Interviewed by the Famed King and Queen of Green ~ Gary and Trish Walker, we appeared on their weekly radio station in April 2011 'Going Green with the King and Queen of Green"...Kansas City's FIRST all green talk show.
Click to visit The Monarch Flower Company
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