STYLE MAKERS
Meet Terri and Katie, owner creators of Worm, which specialises in fabulous floral installations
In the cool of a church hall in Clapton, east London, working their creative magic with flowers of every shape, scent and form, Terri Chandler and Katie Smyth are in their natural element. Here in their inspirational studio – wild flowers nudging the poshest of blooms, shelves lined with dazzling vases – their creations for numerous events, fashion shoots, weddings and the small, special moments in life, begin.
‘We started on Valentine’s Day 2016,’ says Terri. ‘Katie was a stylist and I was an actor, so we were both working in creative jobs, and our initial idea was a book and bunch delivery service – we’d find out about the recipient and send flowers and a book we felt they would like. After attending a basic local authority floristry course, we fell in love with making flower arrangements. As we both grew up on the Irish coast, we’re drawn to haphazard grasses and wild flowers, so we’re in tune with each other.’
The business soon blossomed. As well as creating arrangements for restaurants and weddings, they also conjured up eyecatching designs for magazines and devised stunning installations for fashion events. ‘It was a huge learning experience,’ says Terri. ‘We started doing photoshoots for magazines and soon realised that something that looks amazing in a vase doesn’t necessarily look impressive on camera.’
‘We’ve done some amazing projects – there was even
‘We’ve done amazing projects – even a shoot based on Winni e-the-Pooh at AA Milne's house’
a shoot based on Winnie-the-Pooh at AA Milne’s house, where we needed to make the Hundred Acre Wood look like it does in summer as we were there at the wrong time of year. We added foxgloves and plants you would find growing there naturally – the result was really magical.’
Terri and Katie’s church hall studio is blessed with good light and a warm sense of neighbourly sentiment. The people who live locally enjoy having the buzz and colour of these floral creatives in their midst. ‘We’re involved with the church community,’ says Terri. ‘Many of the women who attend the church are in their 80s, and they’ve all done some flower arranging. They’re delighted that we’re here, and like to show us how they used to do it. It’s really lovely.’
Creative hard graft and early morning visits to the market lie at the heart of Terri and Katie’s working life, but they love the challenge and they particularly love Fridays – wedding-flower day. ‘We put on some music or a movie in the studio and just get on with it – we’ve got weddings down to a fine art,’ says Terri. ‘Anyone who knows us would say there is never a quiet moment… we can’t stop talking. We’re so comfortable with each other and our workspace. It’s like a marriage really!’
Find out more at weareworm.com