Week Four - Basket and Posy Arrangement

Two new designs today using white and purple flowers.

Different foliage inserted into wet foam for basket arrangement 

Finished basket arrangement 

In the afternoon I used the same flowers for an all round posy with a candle centrepiece. It's amazing how the same materials can look so different.

Week Three - Tied Floristry

This Thursday saw the first assessment! Luckily, just a cone wrap. I liked the flowers and foliage we were given this week and was pleased with my merit grading.

I had 15 minutes to put this together, wrap it and make the bow (industry standard timing). Not bad going :-)

In the afternoon I used the same materials with some added foliage to make a tied sheaf. I love the bright green chrysanthemums, which are called 'Kermit'.

This is a funeral design so doesn't have any cellophane, which would just mist up outdoors. It reminded me that flowers cover a wide range of life events. I decided to take this to my grandparents grave. I think they would have liked this arrangement :-)

Week Three - Floral Arrangements

I learnt two new designs today using some lovely orange flowers including roses.

I used a posy pad for the base of the first design and some interesting material such as banana bark, lotus heads and slate.

I started off with long stems in the middle.

Next shorter foliage, flowers and materials were added to finish the arrangement.

 I recycled a lot of material for a parallel arrangement in the afternoon.

Week Two - Tied Floristry

Today I was back to the practical work and a different unit - tied floristry designs.

We started with practising a cone wrap several times in preparation for an assessment next week. It's a simple design for presenting flowers that a customer would take home to arrange in a vase.

I also learnt how to make a pompom bow. Quite pleased with this one :-)

In the afternoon I used the same materials to make a flat back bouquet - a very typical design, but still looks attractive and professional.

I'm going away for the weekend and this bouquet is a gift for my host - hope she likes it ;-)

Week Two - Floral Arrangements

I had a really good day today. We did our first floral arrangements and I was impressed with how modern the designs were. As cut flowers are expensive, we did one design in the morning and then recycled the flowers and foliage for another one in the afternoon.

I was pleased to be using one of my favourite flowers - the gerbera.

The first arrangement was a vase arrangement. This is a cube vase filled with oasis which is hidden by pink sisal.

This sadly had to be dismantled ready for the decorative limited line arrangement with leaf manipulation. Some tropical foliage was added to the mix as well as a feature sphere.

Leaf manipulation including plaited palm leaf

As we were done for the day I got to take this one home :-)

Week One - Back to School

I've always liked September - summer turns to autumn and the crisp air brings new beginnings. This September was very wet as I started my NPTC City & Guild Level 2 Diploma in floristry, but it didn't dampen my spirits.

The first 2 days were taken up with paperwork and campus tours, but on day 3 we finally got our hands dirty :-) The first thing I learnt to make was a moss animal. These can be used in window displays. They are made from lots of sphagnum moss compacted and bound with floristry wire. The body parts are made separately and wired together at the end. Here is my rabbit, which would be nice for Easter time.

I'm quite pleased with him as a first attempt. His new home is outside the front door.

Yesterday I also learnt some wiring and taping skills by doing a rose buttonhole. It's quite fiddly work and I will have to do lots of this for wedding flowers. Here is my first attempt.

It's been a good first week and I feel excited about all the new skills I will be learning. I will also do a photography qualification alongside my course so you can expect some better photos here as time goes by ;-)