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.

Decorate your home for Christmas. Demonstration

A christmas demonstration on creating beautiful floral and creative designs for your home this festive season. With simple and easy ideas and some tricks of the trade! Come along to The Mackays Hotel, Wick. Tuesday 2nd December. 7.30pm - 9.30pm.

Featured designer on Floral.Today

I was delighted to help floral friend Garrett with his American blog floral.today, and pages which are published world wide.  I met Garrett in 2013 at the Fusion Flowers Summer School, which that year was taught by Germany's Bjorn Kroner. Pop over to Floral.Today to find out how I answered Garretts questions :) xxx

Amanda Coghill Featured designer on floral.today

Tina, Matthew and a dog named Pheobe!

I first met Tina 11 years ago when we both stayed at the same halls of residence in Edinburgh. 

The vast majority of designs I took home from college were put straight in to Tina's room! 

So it was an absolute pleasure to be asked to do her wedding flowers. As it happens I also knew her fiance from school! 

Tina wanted something very natural looking to co inside with getting married outside in the grounds of the Loch Ness House Hotel. So we went so the country garden look. She also asked if I could make something for her gorgeous black lab Pheobe as she was to be their ring bearer. 

The photos of the lovely Tina, Matthew and Pheobe are by 

Chantal Lachance Gibson Photography

Shelley's bouquet.

When Shelley came to me to talk about her wedding bouquet, it didn't take long for me to find a picture of a bouquet to show her. In the 2013/2014 Fusion Flowers wedding magazine there was a design by Alex Segura from Spain. I was lucky enough to be at the photoshoot and to see the bouquet in all its glory. It was stunning and Shelley thought so to! 

So with hours and hours of work the frames were made for Shelley's bouquet, Kerri's bridesmaids bouquet and two smaller wand designs for the two smaller girls. 

The frame was made from Gold decorative wire and hundreds of crystal and pearl beads and then diamante's on the white phalaenopsis orchids. 

I was delighted with the way that it turned out and as was Shelley when I arrived on Saturday morning with all the flowers! 

 

Shelley's Bouquet

 

Kerri's Bridesmaids bouquet

 The flower girls bouquet and the Mini maids bouquet