Essential Floral Techniques

Last Tuesday was my final session of Essential Floral Techniques and, honestly, it was disappointing. The topic of the class was packaging, which basically meant wrapping arrangements in tissue paper and cellophane. Zzzzzzzzzz.

Oh! Sorry, dozed off there for a sec. But we're back!

Boring topic aside, the class was actually action packed, complete with a bloody accident and a snappy country arrangement.

Preppin'

I gave myself a boo boo.
(Update: it still hurts)

So snappy, am I right?

Wrap it before you tap it.

Dick Roses in a box.
(That joke will never get old for me)

Ribbons and Bows, Bitches!

I literally just got home from my all day ribbons and bows intensive and I can't wait to share my work with the world! Not that it's that great or anything. It's not. Don't get your hopes up. But I just had so much fun today that I want to instantly re-live it through my blog. (A blog that apparently my mom doesn't even read. Jerk. See if she gets a Mother's Day arrangement this year.)

Today we worked on three major projects. First, we tied a bunch of bows. Next, we made the obligatory harvest arrangement in a basket, incorporating some of the bows we tied. And finally, we made a so cute gift box ribbon/flower arrangement which is perfect because I'm going to a house warming party tonight and now I have something nifty to wrap my gifty in.

Let's take a look, shall we?

Ribbon attempt #1. A bit of a flop.

Attempt #2

Attempt #3

My ribbons in a basket. Just cus I felt like it, yo. 

Ribbons on wooden picks for the harvest arrangement.

Securing the Oasis foam to the basket. Oasis foam is SO bad for the environment. But if god didn't want us to use it why would he have invented harvest centerpieces?

Viola! Thanksgiving has arrived! Also, notice my instructor in the background. 

Other side of arrangement. See the bow peeking out?

And here's the arrangement in it's natural habitat on my kitchen counter. That's my roommate there in the background. Hi Patrick!

This gift box adornment is by far my favorite project I've done in class. I wish I had taken more pictures of the process to show how it works, but basically it's a little Oasis foam 'igloo' that you thread onto ribbon and decorate with fresh flowers before tying it to the box. Love it. 

Floral Class #2: Wiring and Taping

I have a confession to make. It's shameful but please try not to judge. My mom and I have been making boutonnieres without wiring and taping them! Gasp. I know. I know what you're thinking--"what amateurs! Who do these broads think they are trying to pass themselves off as 'freelance florists'?"--but in our defense, the boutonnieres always looked pretty profesh.

Thank god I took this floral arranging class before I showed up to my first day of work (assuming I land a job) fumbling around with the roses and lemon leaf like an f-ing kindergartener. I guess I just have problems with lapel flowers for men in general. First I can't spell the damn word and then I go around securing the little buggers straight up with floral tape* and no wire. Oy.

In last night's class we made corsages with orchids, filler flower and leaves, and boutonnieres with yellow roses. Another blah project, but remember, you gotta crawl before you can run (a bourgeois flower shop). Plus, it was so much fun!

The wristlets really took me back to high school, specifically homecoming junior year when Adam Anderson gave me the BIGGEST corsage that was ever wired and taped. I wish I had that awkward dance-photo to post up in here. It was no lie, seven gigantic roses and a sizable bow strapped to my arm. That might not sound like a lot--but it was. That thing not only looked crazy because it went almost all the way up to my elbow, but it seriously weighed me down and hindered my dancing. Poor Adam was so embarrassed, "umm, my dad picked it out."

But enough of memory lane. I digress. You came to see the goods and I won't let you down.

Prepping my Miniature Cymbidium orchids

Corsage #1, w/ orchids and heather as the filler.

Simple boutonniere. On second look the leaf seems a bit wonky. Must do better next time.

The wristlet a-la-Adam Anderson.

Corsage #2. 

A shitty little arrangement in a crappy little vase. But I made the vase on a pottery wheel, so that's pretty badass.

* I learned yesterday that floral tape can refer to any number of tapes florists use, so the correct term to use in this situation is stem wrap. Who knew?

My First Floral Arranging Class!

Apologies to my loyal fan(s) out there for the lag time between posts. I just finished my exit exam for school which was a major time suck. Plus, I was on my death bed for the past week with the worst cold of my life. But now that I'm healthy and so close to being completely done with school, I'm ready to dedicate my life, mind, body and soul, to flowers.

And the big news is I've started taking floral arranging lessons through the New York Botanical Garden! Bam.

I just had my first class last Tuesday and even though I was SO sick I had a lovely time and made a badass (sort of) arrangement of roses, lemon leaf, and filler. Super tacky, I know. But roses, regardless of my bomb taste, are ubiquitous, so I gotta learn how to turn them out. Behold:

Original arrangement in class

Dick Roses in a box

Re-arranged at home (ignore the messy dresser)