First scottish Florist...

 

Earlier this year I received a phone call from the lovely Chris Wolfe from Southeast flowers Ltd, asking if I would like to decorate a room at the Leeds Castle Flower Festival, in Maidstone, Kent. Who would turn down a chance to have that as your blank canvas??? I was assigned the Queens bedroom, which belonged to Catherine of Valois, who was the widow of Henry V. A room occupied by the most glorious four poster bed. Our theme for the event was art deco. After some research I decided to create peacocks. I created the bodies with different metallic wires, and the tails from the gorgeous blooms supplied by Southeast Flowers Ltd. I had the most amazing time in the most gorgeous setting! The castle and the grounds ( which boast their own peacocks, including several young chicks who were super cute) are absolutely breath taking! I also found out that I was the first Scottish Florist to take part in the festivities. I can't thank Chris and all the staff at Leeds castle for the chance to take part in such a fantastic festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To hand tie or not to hand tie?

Its something that's stirred a bit of a hornets nest here in the UK lately! Supermarkets, corner shops, garage forecourt... doesn't matter where you turn it seems to be almost "unskilled" bouquets massed produced. Is there still a place in commercial flower shops for the hand tied designs? OFF COURSE! We just need to show them off better, present them better and bring them up to date with the times! Customers love them, so why should we dismiss them?

 

Customers find them easier to care for, easier to present and have a better understanding of the flower and skill value that goes in to them. We just need to show them what we can do as skilled and professional designers.

 

With a hand tie bouquet you can create value and design with fewer flowers than it may take for a traditional hand tie. Do they have to be "round mounds"? Off course not. Get out some twigs, some wire and have a play with creating beautiful frames for your bouquets. Make your designs stand out from supermarkets, garage forecourt's and even your nearest competitor!

 

 

 

wearable art?

I am my own worst critic! Always picking faults and wishing id made something or approached a design differently. So when I'm excited about a piece I've made... its usually because I've been happy with the majority of the elements!

This floral collar was constructed using a solid metal base and then building up the support frame with branches and vines before attaching any botanicals and accessories. The little circles you see are metal rings wrapped in tapestry threads.

This design was created again as a competition piece. This time as an entry in thru RHS Chelsea florist of the year competition. Unfortunately that year I didn't qualify but has "happy" with the outcome none the less.

I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to leave a comment below to let me know you were here!!

 

Happy creating!!

Amanda.

 

 

"Origins" on many levels....

Every year Fusion Flowers Magazine run their International designer of the year competition. This year I am delighted to again announce that I have been awarded a silver for my "Origins" design.

 

When I first sat to plan, I knew that I wanted to create more than on meaning to the overall piece. So I came up with the idea of birth. Linking it to the origins of humans, the origins of flowers and to the season of birth... spring.