About Us and Upcoming Events

William and Sandra Fuller

I first met William and Sandra Fuller at the Groovin on Gramatan Street Festival in September 2007. The Fullers were vendors, and had a wonderful tent, featuring silk flowers. Their display was gorgeous. I was able to take their picture. Mrs. Fuller gave me her business card, and I kept it for future reference.

When my website launched in January, Mrs. Fuller was one of the first people to contact me! She sent me a lovely note, and within a few weeks, we had a great conversation about her life here in Mount Vernon, and her business, Silk Flowers of Care - Creations By Mrs. Fuller.

A former New Rochelle resident, Mrs. Fuller has called Mount Vernon's Vernon Heights neighborhood home for more than 35 years. “I love Mount Vernon. I love the area, it is very comfortable, nice and not too far from New York.”

The Fullers have been married for 46 years. Their adult children, Dasche and Randy are graduates of the Mount Vernon City Schools. They are also proud grandparents of Amber and Kayla Gaines, who live in Georgia.

For 11 years, Mrs. Fuller cared for children in her home. “I had an upscale daycare center. I taught them both about their culture, and we did crafts.” Now in retirement, Mrs. Fuller said that she and her husband, William, have had more time to devote to their community activism work throughout the area.

Mrs. Fuller mentioned that she has had a life-long appreciation for both interior design and fashion. Five years ago, she discovered another passion, arranging silk flowers. “Initially, I started out making floral arrangements for girlfriends as gifts. In the beginning, I was inspired to create pieces for the love and feeling that I had for the person. Eventually my friends would ask me if I would ever consider selling the flowers. 

The hobby soon grew into a full-fledged business, with the dedicated support of her husband, who is also retired. He was the proprietor of a sheet metal concern located in the city. Mrs. Fuller credits him with being an integral part of the venture. “I could not do this without my husband. There is so much that you have to do to make an arrangement. He makes many of the soil mixes, the boxes, and takes pictures for the website.” Additionally, Mr. Fuller constructs the unique fountains that their business also sells.

On most days, Mrs. Fuller can be found at her in-home studio, where she devotes many hours assembling a variety of arrangements, which reflect her design philosophy. “I don’t just put flowers in a vase. I use lots of color in the floral arrangements. I try to work on the principals of blend, scale, and balance. When I walk into my studio, it’s almost like the flowers are at attention. I’m always surrounded by them.”

Mrs. Fuller explained how she selects flowers, and vases from markets and vendors nationally. Her flowers are often known for their life-like quality. Her favorite plant to work with is the bird of paradise, which is indigenous to South Africa, and known for its stalks of purple and orange flowers resembling a bird.

Customers have come to Mrs. Fuller to design arrangements for many occasions, including weddings, birthdays, and various holidays. The flowers come in an array of sizes, colors and textures. While she has some standard designs, she also works with clients to create custom orders to meet their needs.

Mrs. Fuller is often complimented on the beauty of her work. However, she is equally proud that she has received accolades for the longevity of the pieces. “Once I put my flowers into an arrangement, they stay. I only use top quality silk and other materials. I want the best.”

Mrs. Fuller’s meticulous attention to detail, and artistic vision has led to a loyal following, and a substantial roster of clients. She named several prominent New Yorkers in politics, the arts, and academia, who have her arrangements in their homes and offices

Over the past five years, Silk Flowers with Care has received print media coverage, and the subject of a feature story on “Ancestor House” a popular Manhattan based television show. The company's customer base continues to grow, because the Fullers keep a full calendar to sell the arrangements at events throughout the New York metropolitan area.

One of the more intriguing discoveries over the course of our conversation was that Mrs. Fuller has also expanded her brand globally. For the past several years, she and her husband have traveled to Ghana. Mrs. Fuller spoke with pride of their commitment to paying tribute and honoring their African ancestry daily.

An outgrowth of this love has been their investment in the 30-room Sanaa Lodge Hotel with several long time friends. The hotel is located in Cape Coast, Ghana, and has views of the Atlantic Ocean. As hoteliers, the Fullers have had the opportunity to decorate the property with many of their silk flowers. Floral arrangements will soon be sold at the hotel’s gift shop.

Overall, Mrs. Fuller enjoys a full life as she is committed to her family, community activism, travel, and of course her flowers. “I love doing what I am doing."