Isadia
Isadia
Caker Crush
In a whimsical studio in Tāmaki Makaurau, we chatted and baked with Izzy and Lydia from Isadia, who create the most beautiful bouquets that charm stores, restaurants and homes all over the city. We get a lot of the florals for our cakes from here too! Both agree that one of the coolest facets of working as a florist is how seasonality plays such a huge role in their day-to-day work, which is something that we really relate to at The Caker.
The ladies make my Coconut Raspberry Lime Leaf cake kit while being shot on film by Pictvre and Joseph Griffen x
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Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started and what a day in the life of working at Isadia looks like?
IZZY
I started my floristry career about 10 years ago after returning home from living overseas and not knowing what to do with my life, but knowing I wanted to work with nature in some way or form. I did a six month floristry course and the rest is history!
LYDIA
Prior to becoming a florist, I studied fine art and landscape design and worked as a Landscape Architect - having a background in art and design definitely gave me a good base for floristry. I did a short floristry course and started working at a flower shop at the start of my floristry career; I continued to learn and enhance my practice through workshops with florists overseas. I gravitated towards wedding and event floristry and eventually became a freelance florist which is where Izzy and I met, we chatted ideas and formed Isadia mid 2020.
Our days at Isadia usually start early with either Isabel or I heading to the Auckland flower auction at 4am to source our product. On the auction days we meet back at the studio with our team to process flowers, make our online bouquet orders and create arrangements for our various interior clients. Depending on the week we may have a wedding or event to prep and be on site to set up; often we also have meetings with clients, couples for weddings and anything else that pops up for us like PR send outs and floral styling jobs. Each day can be really varied! -
What does food mean in your family? Are there any classic dishes?
IZZY
My family loves food. However, growing up my mum was raising four children on her own so meals were mainly focused around feeding us on a budget. Spaghetti bolognese is a classic that I still love and always a go to when I am needing some comfort food. Now that my siblings and I are all adults we love to get together with mum to indulge in oysters and prosecco for special occasions.
LYDIA
Growing up in a rural coastal isolated part of the country, food was mostly seasonal with lots of homegrown and very little processed ingredients. Some favourite food memories include hand churned tamarillo ice cream one hot summer, fresh fish on warm bread straight from the oven, making pavlova with a hand beater (everyone taking turns for an hour haha) and amazing pot luck dinners. When we gather as a family for meals we often still naturally stick to this ethos with lots of seasonal salads and delicious desserts - we all appreciate and love fresh, simple and nutritious food. -
What was your birthday cake of choice as a kid?
IZZY
Lemon madeira cake! To this day I still love a simple citrusy cake served with yoghurt.
LYDIA
My birthday is mid April and I remember Feijoa and apple cake being popular around my birthday. As an adult, the Caker Gluten free chocolate cake is now one of my favourites. -
Is there a flower that makes you especially happy to add into a bouquet?
IZZY
Any flower that has fun movement or interesting form. Gloriosa lilies are a favourite of mine as they are tall and curly and bounce around in arrangements which always makes things more interesting!
LYDIA
I feel this is a hard question for a florist to answer! One of my favourite things about working with flowers is that they are so fleeting and seasonal. It's easy to be inspired every season by the new flower varieties available. I have an appreciation for the smaller, more delicate flowers, which have an amazing fragrance and I love to include these potent flowers in bouquets when available. -
How do you spend a perfect weekend day?
IZZY
I am happiest when I am at home in the garden (or at the beach) hanging out with my fiance, my cat and my dog. We recently moved into our own house out west and I love working on the garden. We recently bought a weed wacker and I am obsessed with doing the lawns.
LYDIA
Well, last weekend I was on a yoga retreat which was pretty perfect! -
What star sign are you and which traits from it resonate with you?
IZZY
I am a pisces and I tick all of the classic traits that come with it - highly sensitive and extremely emotional with a splash of creativity.
LYDIA
I’m an Aries - often described as career-oriented, fiery, energetic, independent, optimistic, intelligent, creative, unconventional, spontaneous, strong. I resonate with the creative, unconventional and independent traits with a strong sense of equality. According to online sources Aries shine as self employed so I’ll take that. -
If you could go back and capture a memory from your life in HD, to rewatch whenever you wanted, which would it be?
IZZY
I went sailing in Croatia a few years ago and I have been daydreaming about it a lot recently - it's a sensory overload of glorious ocean, colours, landscapes and food!
LYDIA
Swimming with dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf - somewhere between Aotea and Hauturu; in what felt like the deepest ocean - floating on the glittering surface with the ink black invisible depth below. The memory still conjures the slight terror of being in water so deep, paired with the excitement and magical playfulness of being so close to dolphins. -
Fav colour combo?
IZZY
This is a tricky one! I get inspired by different colour combinations week by week but I guess I am always drawn to soft pastels with a bright pop of something fun. We recently did a wedding that was soft lilac and butter yellow with brighter pops of orange which I loved.
LYDIA
Another hard question for a florist! Lately I’ve been loving mauvey-lilac paired with shades of tomato red - a combo I got to bring to life for my friend's wedding recently.