MEET
MOVERS & MAKERS
DEANNA RUSSO What an honor to be a Mover & Maker in Gradient. I’m Deanna Russo, inventor and owner of Bow K®, a patented line of ribbon and floral design surfaces and accessories. My story may resonate with many of you who have ever had an idea and thought, someone should make that. As my friend’s maid of honor, I was tasked with creating a
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ribbon bouquet during her bridal shower. I was given a paper plate and a pair of scissors to work with. Using the bows from each gift, the goal was to create an arrangement that she could carry during her wedding rehearsal. The task was an epic failure. Each gift decoration that was added caused the paper plate to bend under its own weight. What was supposed to be a beautiful bouquet of ribbons, bows, and
silk flowers ended up being a flop, literally. I knew there had to be a way to improve upon this decades-old tradition. Thus, the Bow K was born. The design was simple and efficient, consisting of a 10-inch circular structure, 4-inch handle, and 48 small holes to receive the gift trimmings. I soon realized that many other materials could be used with the Bow K such as
Fall 2018 • Gradient
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8/21/18 2:33 PM