Do you ever use that term, Glitterinas?
I heard it many time as a teacher......but now that I'm
retired, I am a life long learner!
My most recent foray into the realm of learning
was at a two day
floral design workshop at
Texas A&M.
I'm a graduate of that university and love
any chance to be on campus....
do you ever return to your
college alma mater, Glitterinas?
I love strolling around campus and
soaking in all the beautiful trees
and the friendly
"Howdy"
greetings that the students say
when you pass them.
Yes, I love it there!
Now that I've chased that rabbit.....I'll get back to
my new learning.
This was our teacher.
He is a Texas Master Florist.
He is a graduate of The Benz School of Floral Design.
He teaches floral design I and II at a large high school
along with other classes.
He makes beautiful designs for weddings and funerals.
Oh, and most importantly to me.....
he's my better half.
He has been for 37 years!
Hey, handsome!
I sat way in the back of the classroom.....I was a bit
worried about being the prime example of how
NOT
to make all the designs we were going to make!
Day One was all about taping, wiring,
and preparing flowers.
There was all kinds of style and
shape design.....
.....how to grade, what to grade, and
some simple, inexpensive floral items to
have students make and re-make.
Day Two.....
We started out with a boutonniere.....
we wired, clipped, and then assembled the pieces
and taped it all together.....
.....not too shabby.
Next, we made an arrangement in a
tall, glass bud vase.
We watched how to do each step and then
were told to get busy.
This is how mine turned out.....
A bit of ribbon decoration on the vase to start
and then
the cute Billy Balls (round, yellow puffs) were added
and
wire coils were created to support the Gerber daisies.
I also added jewel pins in the center of the
Gerbers......yes, I did!
I was so pleased with myself I could have stopped here and
been quite happy with my learning attempt!
But on we went.....
......next up was an arrangement that was a bit more masculine.
It would contain fresh asparagus and mushrooms along with
some other interesting greenery and dried orbs.
This arrangement was the hardest for me.....
I just kept adding little bits of greenery until
the design wasn't quite so pitiful looking.
From here we went on to a design that
had lots of PINK!
I love pink.....it's been my favorite color
forever!
Yay PINK!
I don't think this design looked any better than my last
one, it just was more fun because of the color!
The base of this design is a square pink bowl
with florist foam and green trick
carnations.
I followed directions and added the lovely,
pink roses and filled in with small pieces of
purple lymonium.
Midolino sticks of pink and green went in next.....
......and I used some scrap ribbon to make a butterfly.
This was not part of the example design, but what was
the teacher going to do.....
ask me to leave?!
This was my finished piece.
We finished up with a corsage.....
I didn't want mine to look like anyone else's
so
I didn't use any flowers,
I used hypericum berries.
The base of the corsage was a twisty wire
wristlet with
loops of pink, sparkly ribbon......
.....I wondered if I could make a ring base
out of wire too?
Sure enough, I could......and I did!
I topped the wire with some greenery, a small piece of
purple lymonium, and a light pink flower.
Fun!
I enjoyed making these floral designs and I
didn't get into too much trouble.....
when the day started I thought that was
a distinct possibility!
I even got a certificate!
Yay Gigi!
Handsome teacher got a big hug and smooch for
putting up with problem student at the
back of the room!
Glitterinas, thank you so much for letting me
share my learning experience with you!
If you ever have a chance to take a floral
design class and you have an interest in it....
do it!
You'll have as much fun as I did!
Until next time,
Tammy, the floral Glitterina
Beautiful work!
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