Tuesday, December 8, 2009

European Floral Design Class

DSC02159 Armature bouquet
Yesterday was the first day in a long time that I was feeling well enough to sit at the computer for any length of time. Thank you for your kind well wishes - they made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.



The portfolio for my European Floral Design class is due tomorrow. You've already seen the sushi flowers and the pumpkin arrangement, and you've seen my midterm, here's a sampling of other designs we did. The design you see above was one of my favorites. We made an armature of salt cedar branches for the base of this bouquet. Here's a closer look at the "skeleton" of this design:

DSC02161 Armature bouquet closeup

I still have the armature and I can use it over and over again.

Here is a wreath we made. It is meant to feel like a bird's nest, created with found items.

DSC02603 Euro Wreath

Here is our class listening to our instructor's critique:

DSC02874 Fan Design class

This one is mine:

DSC02877 White Fan design

This fan design is a quick and easy design that requires only a few flowers.

I would like to thank our wonderful instructor, Wendy Pine, for another great class. The College of San Mateo is suffering horrendous budget cuts and the floristry program is in grave danger of being eliminated. It would be a huge loss to the community if we lose this important program that gives students practical, professional training.

14 comments:

Pretty Zesty said...

Great job! These are all so beautiful and professional!

melissashook said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
melissashook said...

dear Dutchbaby, I apologize for sound flippant...I'm sure that this is a valuable program and I hope that it isn't cut due to funding! It's clear from the photograph that many are interesting in learning these skills...or this art...

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Kris,
Thanks! I'm glad you like them.

Dear melissashook,
Please do not apologize for your honest opinion. I value it tremendously. How boring would this world be if we all agreed on everything?

European floral design is very different from what we are used to seeing here on the other side of the Atlantic. I didn't like all the designs we did for this class but there were some, like the sushi arrangement, that I loved. I also am very grateful that I learned how to make an armature as depicted in the top photo of this post.

Given the budget constraints for floral materials, I think the instructor did a wonderful job in planning assignments that gave us solid lessons in a wide variety of designs.

I thank you for taking the time to visit Dutchbaby and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Ruth said...

I have enjoyed seeing the results of your class. It is so sad how the economy is affecting programs. We have had severe cuts, being Michigan and a state university. It's great you had this instruction before anything drastic happens.

I am so sorry you were sick so long. Glad you're better now, I missed you.

I remember when I first saw floral designs in Paris in 1997, and I was stunned with the difference from FTD, and of course I was never the same after that. We were very fortunate to have a local florist who never arranged "pedestrian" pieces, and Don and I always ordered from him. He even designed arrangements for the Academy Awards! Wow, I had some gorgeous bouquets with exotics and unusual found pieces. But alas, he has closed up shop. I don't know of anyone else here in our little community who does what he did.

Marilyn Miller said...

That would be sad to lose a program that gives great job skills.

I love your arrangements and now have some new ideas for the future.

A Cuban In London said...

And here's a secret for you. I recently organised a Family Learning Week at my school and we included flower arrangement and it went down so well, that I decided to give it a go. And I loved it!

Thanks for your photos, they were great. And nice to know that you're on the mend. :-)

Greetings from London.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Ruth,

It's a crying shame how education all over the nation has been injured in this faltering economy.

Thank you for your well wishes.

How great that you had an innovative local florist. The Academy Awards - nice credentials! Do you know if you relocated or quit the business? I can tell you that it is nearly impossible to make a decent living as a florist. Working with perishable goods is very risky. It is a labor of love

Dear Marilyn,
The horticulture department is fighting tooth and nail to retain the program that took decades to build up.

I'm glad that some of these arrangements are inspiring to you.

Dear Cuban,
That is the best secret!!! Let me know if you need any curriculum ideas. There are some incredible florists in London. Paula Pryke has a flower school and wrote many wonderful books. McQueens also has a school and a great floral artist named Ken Marten has a beautiful photostream on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenboutique/

I'm feeling much better; I'm down to a only lingering cough now. Thank you.

Relyn Lawson said...

You create such beautiful pieces. What wonderful experiences you create for yourself by being open to trying new things and learning new skills.

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Relyn,
You are so kind. I love taking classes and learning new things. I'm always very sad if I'm not enrolled in a class.

rochambeau said...

Especially love the wreath you made DB!! My other happiest memory is of Burlingame. We lived across the street from San Mateo. You are making me think of so many nice things, thank you!

xox
Constance

Dutchbaby said...

Dear Constance,

Thank you. I have to be honest, when I first started making this wreath, I couldn't make sense of the materials our instructor supplied. Even when I finished it, I was not all that happy with it, but I hung it on my front door anyway. The design then slowly grew on me.

Too bad you don't live here any more; we could be making a wreath together.

paris parfait said...

These are fantastic! Well done, you!

Dutchbaby said...

Dear paris parfait,
These are really more my teacher's creation than mine because she chose the materials and design. I'm glad you like them.

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