BACK IN BLOOM Floral designer Cathy Graham inspires with her artful life “I felt abandoned, lost, unloved, heartbroken, untethered. I had been living in a protected bubble and the bubble burst in a moment.” When Cathy Graham’s marriage of 30 years came to an end, the finality of the announcement was devastating. Her world, as she knew it, came crashing down. But as often happens in times of heartache, there is room for growth. Room to bloom. This is Cathy Graham’s inspirational story. Graham is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, from which she holds a BFA in painting, and she studied fashion illustration at Parsons School of Design. For more than a decade, Graham worked with the late floral designer and event planner Robert Isabell, renowned for his lavish and innovative parties. Graham put her incredible talent to use in many ways while also raising her two children. However, at 61, she began to really let her independent light shine. “‘Second Bloom’ for me is my second chance in life to stand on my own two feet and go forward emotionally and creatively. Some flowers have a second bloom in a season, so it became a metaphor for women later in life,” Graham said. SECOND BLOOM I first met Cathy Graham in Phoenix when I had the good fortune to sit next to her at the Independent Woman Luncheon benefiting Phoenix Art Museum. The event was chaired by philanthropist Char Hubble, and Graham was the keynote speaker. It was a perfect setting for Graham to take the stage as the luncheon’s signature décor was breathtaking: one-of-a-kind, themed centerpieces created by top Valley design firms. Graham captivated the crowd with the story of her book “Second Bloom: Cathy Graham’s Art of the Table,” and how it came to be. She talked openly about the pain of her divorce, and what she learned about herself — and her strength — in the process. “It turned out I had been so repressed,” Graham later told me. “My self-esteem so beaten down. Having him out of my life released all of this pent-up creativity. I started giving dinner parties on my own , which was scary yet empowering.” At 61, she began to build anew. With the support of her two grown children, Graham found excitement and intrigue in the new life unfolding in front of her. “In women’s lives we are made to feel no longer viable, needed, desirable when we get older. If it be an empty nest, divorce, widowhood,” Graham said, “if it be an unexpected twist and turn that throws you off your path, force yourself to stay positive and move forward. Live in the moment.” Graham has been able to find the beauty all around her, and is on a mission to help others do the same. “Second Bloom” is not only a beautiful Carey Peña | Contributing Writer CAREY’S CORNER {carey peña reports} 14 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MAY 2019

Artist and entertaining guru Cathy Graham is famous for her signature style and gracious get-togethers. MAY 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 15