Craig Sole didn't know what he wanted to do for a career after getting an English degree at Rockhurst University, but he had always made money with flowers. "I won all the ribbons at the Johnson County Fair when I was 15, beating out the old ladies and retired lawyers," he says. "And I made $35!" He earns quite a bit more than that now, having gone pro in 1982. He built his reputation on style ("I'm all about textures"), a track record of society weddings and high-profile events (he's done most of the big charity balls), and personal service. His studio lacks the glamour (and big-money patrons) of high-profile rivals, but his clientele loves him for his distinctively creative soul.
