The third in the series but the end of the unit. Read through Kathryn's diary entry and see what wonders she has created this time.
Diary of a Master Florist in the Making
Kathryn Delve
19th Nov 2018
Today is the end of the first unit, the demonstration unit, how time flies! Our task for this lesson is to create a whole demonstration with a title of our choice. In line with the current climate of up-cycling and reducing our single use plastic, my title is ‘Waste Not Want Not’ and all my designs have come into my head during my regular Yoga sessions. (Yoga is great place for inspiration and also a necessity for any florist to remain supple and look after their backs.) I want to use everything I have to hand, the challenge I set myself is to create some great designs without buying anything other than the flowers and foliage.
My first challenge was to find lots of empty cardboard tubes, the type you get inside floristry wrapping. I had a few hanging around my workshop but called upon my friends at Country baskets to see if they had any going spare. I covered the tubes with some great paper, which I was introduced to by a French florist. It’s from a company called Claytons, who have awards for environmental management. The paper is stocked by Country baskets and comes in a number of colour ways.
I then hunt around to find an empty gift box, I have a number of nice boxes at home which have come containing lovely treats, and they are too nice to throw away (florist problem, hoarding!!) so an empty Molton Brown gift box is re-purposed into a gift box design. Not wanting to line the box with cellophane, I use a washed out foil tray which previously contained food. The box is a lovely chocolate brown colour so I thought it only fitting to use Chococino spray roses, complemented with peach Dianthus and Caraluna garden roses.
Whilst the practical side is great, there is also much more written work when you study at this level so it’s time to start the first assignment. It looks in detail at the design process, where your inspiration comes from, and how to start designing from scratch. I have to admit that I do sometimes struggle with the design process, some of the tried and tested methods don’t always take my designs to the level that I am looking for at level 5, so Tina Parkes (tutor, Master florist) gave me some new suggestions and I am going to try these out for the next module which starts in January. The next module will focus on designing for Competition work, an area that I definitely need help with. Competitions really allow you to push the boat out and take compositions forward to a very high level of design and techniques.
http://www.kathryndelveflorist.com/
http://academyoffloralart.com/product-category/city-guilds-level-5-floristry/