Letter of introduction


Letter of Introduction.

Lena Hallstrom, Floral Designer




I was born in a small village in Sweden, in the province of Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle.

My interest in biology and the natural environment was raised early in my childhood. My mother and I used to plant seeds and flowers during the three short and often chilly summer months in our garden.

After high school graduation, I moved to the southern part of the country, for periods living and working both on the Baltic coast and in the interior of Sweden. I gathered experience and knowledge of plants and flowers from different climates and conditions, which provided me with a broad understanding of the Swedish flora. My fascination with the beauty, expressiveness and quality of each flower is endless. I use characteristics of selected flowers in my floral designs to express my creativity and unique style.

Following my formal training, and graduation from Ingvar Strandh’s Institute of Floral Design in Malmö, Sweden, I continued my studies at Vea College at Lillehammer in Norway. Professor and floral designer Runi Kristoffersen and fine arts instructor Kai Bragtbergsengen directed my continuing education towards increasingly artistic floral design.

My early professional work consisted of floral decor for public and private events, small and intimate as well as large corporate gatherings. I have also had the opportunity to present my creations at professional exhibits in Sweden and Russia.

Based on my artistic ability in floral design, I have been requested to participate in several large events of various kinds. One of the more interesting assignments was to participate in the design of the floral décor at the royal palace in Stockholm for the celebration of King Carl IVX Gustaf’s 50th birthday.

During my professional career in Sweden I have owned and operated floral design studios on three different occasions, under the name of Botaniska Äventyr.

Since 2001, I have been the head of the floral design department at the Herrgårds Gymnasium junior college in Säffle, Sweden. My association with the students at the college was stimulating and fascinating.
In my own development of the artistic works, I find it very inspiring to participate in mentoring young people during their life process as well as their education. The process of mentoring young artists creates a dynamic environment and makes you aware of different ways of expressing yourself in abstract themes.
In 2006 I met my husband. In March 2008 we married and I moved to California.

With great enthusiasm and curiosity, I look forward to develop my design in my future home country, with a new climate, a new fauna and a new culture. I hope to find opportunities to show my way of expressing different kinds of themes, both abstract and concrete in floral art, with skills developed through European education and with a Swedish point of view.





Lena Hallstrom
Floral Designer


Jag är född i april 1952 i en by i norra Lappland 5 mil ovanför Polcirkeln.
Invånare ca 200 personer
Intresset för natur och växter har funnits sedan min barndom, då jag tillsammans med min mamma satte frön och planterade blommor under de 3 korta sommarmånaderna, juni, juli och augusti i det vinterkalla Sverige

I 20-årsåldern flyttade jag söderut i Sverige och bodde då en tid både i inlandet och på kusten. Detta gjorde att min kännedom om växter och deras livsbetingelser i olika klimat gav en förståelse och fascination om blommors individuella skönhet, egenskaper och uttryck.
Vilket jag använder mig av i mina blomsterbinderier.

Efter min utbildning på väl renommerade Ingvar Strandhs blomsterskola i Sverige och vidare vid Vea folkhögskola i Lillehammer i Norge, under Runi Kristoffersens och Kai Bragtbergsengens ledning, har jag utvecklat mitt binderi mot en mera konstnärlig inriktning. Förutom de binderier som utgörs av dekorering, och brudbinderi, har jag haft möjlighet att få delta i utställningar både i Sverige och Ryssland

Detta har resulterat i många stora uppdrag som jag haft under åren, där dekorationerna till kungens 50-års dag har den största digniteten. Till det firandet dekorerades kungliga slottet i Stockholm, Globen, Vasavarvet och Dramaten.

Efter att ha drivit 3 egna butiker under namnet Botaniska äventyr i Sverige, har jag sedan 2001 arbetat som floristlärare.
En tid som har varit både stimulerande och fascinerande.
I mitt konstutövande finner jag det mycket utvecklande och stimulerande att arbeta med ungdomar i en livsprocess. Och att få delta i den dynamik som uppstår när en grupp människor genomgår en kreativ och konstnärlig utveckling.

2006 träffade jag min nuvarande man, och i mars 2008 flyttade jag till USA.
Med stor nyfikenhet och entusiasm, ser jag framemot att få utveckla mitt binderi och att få presentera mitt uttryckssätt med blommor för en ny publik.

1991-1993 Education to Floral designer Ingvar Strandhs blomsterskola Malmö
1992 I started my own business, my first Floral Design Studio inHova
1993 Continuing studies in Vea College in Lillehammer, Norway
1993 I opened my second Floral Design Studio in Hova, Sweden
1994 I opened my third Floral Design Studio in Mariestad, Sweden
1994 Exhibit in Moscow, Russia
1995 Several floral exhibits in Mariestad, Sweden
1996 Decorations to the King of Sweden and his 50th birthday
1996 Exhibition “The fairy tale and the Reality” Stallet,
The Museum of Mariestad
1998 Exhibition “The set table”
an exhibition at the market placeof Mariestad according
to the European event “The Capital of Culture for the Year”
1998 The Christmas exhibit, Stallet the Museum of Mariestad
1999 “The Show No 3 ” A show about a mans life in different
dimensions. The Theatre of Mariestad
2000 Exhibit “The Change” The Gutenberg gallery of Mariestad
2001-2008 Teacher in Floral Design Töreboda Naturbruksgymnasium and
Säffle Herrgårdsgymnasium Sweden
2008 I moved to USA