Woman of Influence Awards 2012

Back in September 2011 we took the crazy idea of an orchid lunch to the committee of the Woman of Influence Awards in aid of Action for Children. Soon after,  the concept grew arms and legs and before we knew it we were on our way to meeting some of the most influential women in Scotland and designing 32 different table centres representing past winners, this year's nominees, sponsors and a host of personalities.

Nick travelled the length and breadth of the country meeting, conceptualising and designing the centrepieces, catching up with the likes of Katie Melua just before she jumped on a plane to Berlin, rummaging through Kirsty Wark's kitchen cupboards for the perfect vessel to display her flowers and talking Olympics and orchids with Liz McColgan.

Last Sunday the team from Mood Flowers presented our orchid lunch to 350 guests at Mar Hall and the response was amazing. More importantly the lunch raised more than £100,000 for Action for Children.

We bring you the stories behing all 32 designs. Photos are courtesy of our good friend Fiona at Fiona MacNeill Photography.

Katie Melua was the amazing entertainment at the lunch. Her centrepiece was inspired by the cover of her new album "Secret Symphony" and featured James Storey and Vanda orchids behind a 3 sided gold embossed picture frame structure.

Lesley Orr is a feminist historian, theologian, writer and activist and was this year's Woman of Influence.  Her table design featured Vanda orchids and was inspired by the colour purple which represents "with all due respect" and has long been the colour of the women's movement beginning with the suffragettes.

Mel McLean was the winner of this year's Action for Children Community Award. Her table design was a reflection of her vibrant personality and features Vanda and Dendrobium orchids.

Amy Newlands from The Catwalk Academy worked with Nick to create a miniature catwalk featuring this year's models "Liberty", "James" and "Makora" - all varieties of orchids.

Law firm Morton Fraser's design represented their website http://www.mydivorcingfriend.com/ The broken heart design featured stunning Cognac Vanda orchids.



Blythswood Square Hotel generously gave a fabulous afternoon tea auction prize. Their design featured Cognac Vanda and pink cymbidium cupcakes as well as orange and pink makora orchid  "cheese and ham" sandwiches.

Bridget McConnell is the Chief Executive of Glasgow Life. Her table centre was inspired by the oragnisation's logo, a circle of eight different coloured "G" shapes, and featured James Storey, Makora and Phalaenopsis orchids.

Cruise is one of the leading luxury clothing retailers in the UK. Their elegant table design featured elusive white Vanda orchids presented in a signature Cruise shopping bag.

Dame Elish Angiolini's design was inspired by her passion for mushroom picking and featured Dendrobium, Makora and Cognac Vanda orchids.

Fred MacAulay is a stand up comedian and presenter. His orchid design featured a Vanda orchid microphone and plug connected with a Dendrobium orchid cable.

Homes & Interiors Scotland is the country's leading interiors magazine. The table design fetaured decoupage homes situated in a landscaped orchid garden featuring Dendrobium and Cymbidium orchids. 

Jo Mickel was Chair of WOI 2012 and is a property stylist. Both her table designs featured vintage umbrellas which respresent the shelter that Action for Children provides to vulnerable youngsters and featured beautiful 'Sensation' Phalaenopsis orchids, pink Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids and red James Storey orchids.

Kirsty Wark is a leading journalist and broadcaster. Her table design was inspired by last year's runner up spot on Celebrity Masterchef and features 'French Mustard' Cymbidium orchids. 

Lesley Sawers is Chief Executive of Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI). Her table design was inspired by China. SCDI was the first organisation from the West to lead a delegation to the People's Republic in 1971. Her centerpiece featured 'Shangai' and 'Happy Valentine' Phalaenopsis orchids.

Athlete Liz McColgan is a two time Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Olypmic Silver Medallist and London Marathon Winner. Her table design featured a yellow Cymbidium orchid gold medal and a white Vanda and Dendrobium orchid running shoe.

Lorna McGowan's stunning candelabra display featured a variety of pink and purple orchids to reflect the branding of her company http://www.ek4me.com/

Lousie Martin is Chair of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. Her design represents the Glasgow 2014 Games logo and featured James Storey and Cymbidium orchids.

Established in 1826 Lyon & Turnbull are Scotland's oldest firm of auctioneers. Nick worked with Campbell Armour, this year's auctioneer, to design a centrepiece featuring a mass of orange Makora orchids presented in an 'ancient Roman urn' found on the shelves of Mood Flowers!

The Mood Flowers table design was inspired by co-founder Vivienne Priestly's childhood city Hong Kong and featured delicate 'Tikal' Phalaenopsis orchids and Dendrobium orchids.

Natasha Marshall is one of the brightest stars in the world on interiors. Her table design featured "wallpaper vases" filled with beautiful Pompadour Dendrobium orchids.

Previous Woman of Influence winner Olivia Giles is Chief Executive of http://www.500miles.co.uk/ , a charity which supports amputees and other disabled people in Malawi and Zamia. Her table design used a crutch and orchid foot to represent a limb and featured Dendrobium and Cymbidium orchids with a 'One Smile' bumble bee hovering in the grass.

The RSNO is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Their centrepiece was inspired by the RSNO logo and featured James Storey orchids along with some musical notes.

Ruth Davidson is the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. Her table centre was inspired by the tree logo of the Party and featured green Cymbidium and Dendrobium orchids.

Sarah Heaney is a leading television presenter now living in London with jeweller husband Ed Adams. Inspired by her recent work trip to Dubai presenting for 'Daybreak', Sarah's glamorous design featured beautiful white 'Sensation' Phalaenopsis orchids.

2012 Nominee Professor Seona Reid is the Director of the Glasgow School of Art. Her design was inspired by the stylised rose design of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and featured pink Vanda and Phalaenopsis orchids.

2012 Nominee Shirley Robertson double Olympic Gold Medallist. Her sailing deisgn featured 'Sensation' Phalaenopsis sails and Dendrobium orchid waves.

Slaters is a leading UK clothing retailer with 22 stored nationwide. Inspired by the colours of the Slaters Womenswear branding, the floral dress featured Phalaenopsis and Vanda orchids.

This year's host was comedian Tom Stade who hails from the wilds of suburban Canada. The table design was inspired by the colours of the Canadian flag and featured Phalaenopsis and James Storey orchids.

2012 Nominee Tricia Marwick is the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Her design was inspired by the "thinking windows" of the Parliament and featured white Cymbidium orchids.

Previous winner, business woman Vera Weisfeld has a passion for handbags with over 400 in her collection! Her orchid handbags design featured Vanda, Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis orchids.

Alan 'Roughy' Rough is a former Partick Thistle and Scotland Goalkeeper. His orchid football featured the colours of Partick Thistle and used yellow Vanda orchids and red James Storey orchids.