Misty Looby is striving to to bring a ray of hope to women in war-torn Africa ? as well as helping locals to realise their dream wedding ? through Misty Bleu Event Planning and Elements Floral Designs & Gifts.

?Flowers are one of the things most women love,? Ms Looby said. ?The ability of flowers to cast a spell on a room or enhance a special moment with their presence persuaded me to learn more about their sublime powers. I love using flowers to express my visions and dreams.?

Ms Looby, a former spa director of the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Southampton, was able to realise her aspirations of combining spa-themed events with an element of exotic floral design.

After obtaining a certificate in floral design she established Misty Bleu Event Planning and Elements Floral Designs & Gifts on May 1.

?After working in a number of spas here and abroad where I had seen some floral arrangements, I realised I could develop my own ideas to offer unique, custom-made designs.?

The business has hit the ground running as the company has offered its services in arranging 24 weddings so far. But that kind of success is not enough for Ms Looby as she wants to help women in under-developed regions of Africa to become self sufficient farmers.

Ms Lobby, who has always wanted to trade with Africa, has set up relationships with African vendors in war-ravaged countries such as Rwanda.

?When we use these African vendors, if we buy, for example, $365 worth of flowers from them, that allows them to buy 25 hectacres of land to feed, hire women as farmers on those lands and educate their children,? she said.

Misty Bleu is an event-planning company that specialises in high-end weddings, corporate and spa-themed events.

?I like to see a lot of colour in weddings and have fun with the bride?s personality and let her true nature come out,? Ms Looby said.

?I had a bride who loved daisies so we went nuts and put daisies everywhere and she was so impressed because it was whimsical and fun and wasn?t traditional.?

Ms Looby said she looks for vendors who can provide a degree of elegance and sophistication.

?We want our clients to know that whatever you dream we will go the extra mile to create the wedding to remember,? she said.

Elements Floral Designs & Gifts offers a wide selection of rare and exotic flowers from all over the world such as orchids from Africa and the Philippines, or roses from Ecuador.

?Not anyone can take flowers and put them together in a vase and call them an arrangement,? Ms Looby said. ?I like the unconventional and the unique, something that you look at as art, more than floral design.

?When flowers come into your home or the corporate office the ?wow? factor is the most important thing to look for.?

For more information on Misty Bleu and Elements contact Ms. Looby at 734-3482 or www.elements-mistybleu.blogspot.com or mistyloobynorthrock.bm.