West End Flowers

This week is Industry Week at college with various trips and events on offer. Today we went on a day trip to London to visit some top West End florists.

First up, Wild At Heart on the Pimlico Road

The florists were working outside when we arrived on some beautiful handtied bouquets. The flowers are also on display out front.

Next we walked to Neill Strain in Belgravia. Such a beautiful and stylish boutique. It reminded me a lot of the flower shops in Paris.

Stems ready to use in the "flower lounge"

Opulent orchids

After a lunch break on Oxford Street we made our way to Marylebone to Jane Packer.

Fabulous flowers at Jane Packer

Window display at Jane Packer

I loved these bud vases so decided to treat myself :-) I also bought two beautiful roses.

I had a really nice day in London today and it gave me lots of food for thought about the style of shop I want to have one day.

Buffet Table Arrangement Assessment

Assessment time again today. I had to make a themed buffet table arrangement in 40 minutes. I chose a baby shower theme.

White roses, mini gerberas, delphiniums and lisianthus

I made the ancillary items myself using free printables found online

I was given a distinction for this assessment :-)

In the afternoon we used the same materials for a much more modern design incorporating a frame. This one includes items for a Valentine's/engagement theme.

Display of Goods Assessment

This week saw the culmination of many weeks of group work for the Display of Goods unit. Our task was to create a promotional window display for a florist shop based on a calendar event. My group decided on the start of British Summer Time, when the clocks go forward. The display was divided into a country picnic and seaside scene.

I was really pleased to be given a Distinction for my part in the task.

It was a real team effort with each of us taking the lead on different items in the display. I did the tree, bunting and parallel seaside themed arrangement. The beach hut prop is from my bedroom :-)

The thing I most enjoyed doing was the parallel arrangement. It is my own design and is made using lots of items I found on Southend seafront. I added narcissi bought at the supermarket and some blue eryngium I had leftover from Christmas. I made the paper windmills myself from an online tutorial.

Front view - sea grasses, oyster and mussel shells, driftwood and seagull
feathers give the arrangement a natural beachcomber look.

Back view - thrift, succulents and dried grass seed heads from the garden

The arrangement is on a shelf in my bedroom now and the narcissi smell wonderful :-)