A FLORIST who made the 'winner's crown' for I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! is keen to bring what she has learnt "down in the big city" to Wales.
Kate Jordan, of Tremeirchion near St Asaph, trades under The Craft Shed Flowers. The lead designer, who also works in TV as a set dresser and props buyer, has worked internationally on large scale installations in Paris and the city of London for Chelsea in Bloom and bespoke events.
Last year Kate worked on the I'm A Celebrity crown which was presented to Danny Miller, known for his role as Aaron Dingle on Emmerdale.
The series was filmed at Gwrych Castle, near Abergele, in 2020 and 2021.
Kate said: "It was kind of a pinch me moment seeing it on Danny the ‘King of the Castle’ and featured on the tv and in various newspapers etc and to be honest, it still is.
"On the night, when everyone was enjoying the final, it was nerve-racking for me praying the crown would fit and that it wouldn’t fall off. Luckily it did so I could breathe."
Talking about when she got "that call" asking her to make the crown, Kate, who describes herself as foremost a florist and got into TV by providing the flowers for ‘Songs of Praise’ when filming was conducted at St Asaph Cathedral, said: "I’ve worked on a lot of tv productions including The Responder with Martin Freeman, The Curse, Hollyoaks and Welsh soap Rownd a Rownd so it was word of mouth really how I got the call.
"I’m A Celebrity at Gwrych Castle is definitely one of my favourite jobs because it was filmed locally, and we got to show off the beautiful surroundings of North Wales - although it did rain quite a bit and of course, we had that storm.
"A big team worked within the art department from painters and chippies. I was one of three on the dressing team responsible for the dressing look of the campmate living quarters and Ant and Dec's live set. The dressing of all the props, the furniture, books and bits, had to be piled to look like they had fallen from the floor above. We also looked after the outdoor courtyard and the rocks for the fireplace. They were as heavy as they looked.
"It was definitely a privilege to have been asked [to provide the crown]. When designing the crown, I really wanted to make sure it had a Welsh influence so used a lot of daffodils. It took me a morning to make."
Kate, who used to run florist and gift shop 'Bella Fiore' in Rhos on Sea, recently launched her new website www.thecraftshedflowers.co.uk
The former St Brigid's School pupil in Denbigh is keen to promote her craft to make people aware that they don't have to bring in the big companies from over the border.
"I’m currently covered in glitter with the Christmas season in full swing," Kate added.
"It is my dream to bring back what I have learnt in the big city to my beautiful homeland.
"I grew up in Tremeirchion near St Asaph so have been heavily influenced by the wonderful surroundings in my work - I use twigs and foliage a lot.
"I feel that floristry is more of an art form these days and that people and businesses don’t have to rely on outside companies from the big cities but have the skills and talent to create right here on our doorstep."
This year's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! is back in the Australian jungle.
TV presenter and property expert Scarlette Douglas was the second celebrity to leave the jungle on Sunday.
Kate will be holding workshops in Christmas wreaths and garlands through December. See www.thecraftshedflowers.co.uk for more.
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