Bloomin: Oceans
My own coloring book of hand-drawn ocean life
Floral designer & customer-service professional · Lansing, Michigan
Katherine Dattilo
I build flower arrangements, pull good espresso, and genuinely like taking care of people at the counter. After a couple of years designing florals for a busy Kroger Marketplace, my family and I have made Lansing our home, and I'm looking to join a local team where I can do warm, hands-on, customer-facing work.
Floral design
Floral work
For about two years I was a floral designer at Kroger Marketplace, building fresh arrangements for walk-in customers, phone orders, and events, and keeping the department looking its best. I loved the pace of it: standing at the counter, hearing what someone's day calls for — a birthday, a sympathy piece, a "just because" — and putting together the right thing for them, face to face.
It was never only the flowers, either. Day to day I kept the live plants and displays healthy and full, rotated stock, placed orders, handled the register, and coordinated delivery orders — the ordinary reliable work that keeps a shop running. Now that we're settled in Lansing, I'd love nothing more than to bring that to a florist or grocery floral team here and get to know my new neighbors one arrangement at a time.
- Fresh & dry arrangements
- Sympathy & event work
- Live plant & display care
- Walk-in, phone & delivery orders
- Inventory & ordering
- Cash handling
Portfolio
A few arrangements I've made
A selection of pieces I designed and built on the job — everyday bouquets, seasonal and holiday arrangements, and a few novelty keepsake designs. Every one of these went out the door to a real customer.
Beyond the flower counter
Customer-facing work is where I'm happiest, and I've done it in a few forms. I've worked as a barista at a Starbucks kiosk and a grill café — making drinks, running the register, and keeping things clean and moving during a rush. Before that, I spent nearly two decades as a pet groomer with PetSmart, Petco, and a local shop, caring for dogs from their first puppy trim into their senior years and building the kind of repeat clientele that comes from people trusting you with what they love.
Different counters, same job, really: show up on time, do careful work, and send people home happy. There's a fuller picture — dates, places, and skills — on my résumé.
About me
I'm a maker at heart — happiest when my hands and my eye for color are both busy. That's true whether I'm wiring a bouquet, steaming milk, or sitting down with a pencil and some watercolor of an evening. I learn fast, I like being part of a team, and I bring a steady, upbeat attitude to a shift.
My family and I are putting down roots in Lansing, Michigan, and I'm here for the long haul — I'm not looking for a stopgap, I'm looking for a place to settle into and do good work. If you're a local shop, café, or florist looking for a reliable, friendly pair of hands, I'd love to hear from you.
What I bring
- Floral design
- Customer service
- Merchandising
- Cash handling
- Barista skills
- Reliability
- Team player
- Attention to detail
Creative background
Art & books
Away from the counter, I've drawn and painted my whole life, and a bit of that has made it into print. It's the part of me that keeps my eye sharp for color and detail — the same thing that makes me a better florist.
Shellshock: Ch. 1
Colorist · written by Lisa Mitrokhin
Shellshock: Ch. 2
Colorist · written by Lisa Mitrokhin
I also painted the covers for the Nemia Rising series, my husband Joseph's science-fantasy world — read about it at nemiarising.com. The occasional art commission is still welcome now and then, on the side.
Get in touch
The best way to reach me about work, floral, or customer-service roles is straight to my inbox — I read it myself and I'll get back to you quickly.
My husband, Joseph, looks after my published books and any occasional art commissions on the business side, so I can keep my focus on my work. For anything about the books or a commission, you can reach him through josephdattilo.com.