The Kishwaukee College Floral Design Department hosted a guest designer as part of the Artist In Residence program offered through the American Institute of Floral Designers on Feb. 19 at the college.

Students in Janet Gallagher’s Floral Design class watched a demonstration by Stacey Carlton in the morning and then created pieces with her during the afternoon for hands-on experience.

Stacey Carlton is the floral design specialist at Whole Foods Market in the South Loop of Chicago and works with a downtown event company on a freelance basis. She has studied Ornamental Horticulture in college, as well as through many workshops and special classes from both international and domestic designers. She is a gifted designer who incorporates many aspects of nature into her designs, creating unique designs that reflect nature’s beauty in new ways. During her day with the Kishwaukee College students, she demonstrated and led the students through creating “wristlets” and composites as well as more traditional centerpiece designs.