photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

Joni Photo

Joni Photo

Joni Photo

Joni Photo

Photo: Aaronstadt Studios

photo: Aaronstadt Studios

photo: Aaronstadt Studios

photo: Aaronstadt Studios

photo: Ted Mishima

Honeysuckle Photography

Honeysuckle Photography

My friend Joni photographed the shoes and purses at my studio. Thank you Joni!

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: Tom Hassler

Joni Photo

Joni Photo

Joni Photo

Joni Photo

photo: Nicole Wickens

photo: Nicole Wickens

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

hosted by Victoria Clausen

of Romance of Flowers, located in Reisterstown, suburb of Baltimore

Class size limited to 5 students!  Create and keep your designs.

Lunch Noon to 1PM: there is a restaurant nearby or bring your own

Monday, August 12 - Sculptural Beginnings

For Françoise, the Woodlands sprouted from a childhood memory that took a life of its own. Using foliage, bark, berries, seedpods, twigs, mushrooms, herbs and some flowers, we’ll explore how to make woodland bouquets as well as centerpieces. We’ll discuss color, texture, form, ideas and techniques.

photos: Nicole Wickens and Joni Photo

Tuesday, August 13 – Botanical Couture

We’ll explore different ideas for botanical purses as centerpieces or in bridal arrangements and will discuss sourcing materials and the mechanics involved to create a wide variety of these unique designs. In the afternoon we’ll make flower rings and other botanical jewelry.

photos: Joni Photo and Lori Eschler-Frystack

A huge thank you to my friend Joni who came to the studio last Thursday to photograph the botanical shoes and purses that I made for the opning night last Friday.

13 artists partcipated: Abigail Merikel, Judith Harvey, Melody Robichaud, Micki Shampang-Voorhies, Françoise Weeks,  Mark Nielsson, Cathleen Rehfeld, Shawn Daughton, Judy White, Dawn Elle, Mike Friton, Charan Sacher, Damon Clegg.

Last summer I was contacted by Dawn Elle, the curator at the Gallery; she invited me to participate in the show with the botanical shoes. I was so honored by the request but told her that it would not be feasible, as the botanical shoes, made with fresh materials (without a water source)  only would look nice for a few days. But Dawn didn't take no for an answer and asked if I could provide fresh botanical shoes for opening night and also make some with silk flowers. Silk flowers…. it never had crossed my mind to work with them. But after some research I found a nice selection of silk flowers and texture and once again decided to get out of my comfort zone and explore something new. Besides the obvious that the materials don't wilt, I discovered that the silk flower petals and leaves also stretch a bit – a perfect quality as shoes do not have flat surfaces….

So here are some examples of the silk botanical shoes as well as many marvelous pieces from several of the other artists. Tomorrow I will do a post of some 'real botanical shoes and purses'  that I also made for the opening night.

Shawn Daughton, who made jewelry with the shoe theme took many pictures at the show. Thank you Shawn!

Melody Robichaud:

Judy White

Neils Harvey

Shawn Daughton

Mark Nilsson

Charan Sacher

Micky Shampang-Voorhies

Cathleen Rehfield

photo: David Barss

This Wedding/Event Workshop is intensive and inspiring, providing insights and techniques developed over many years of European floral design. Classes begin with a lecture and presentation, where your input and questions are welcomed.

After a demonstration of floral techniques and mechanics, you will design your own pieces. You will hone your artistic talents, and will be encouraged to listen to your intuition and further your own vision. Classes are limited to five students to ensure valuable individual attention.

Dates: Monday June 10, Tuesday June 11,  Wednesday June 12

Time: 9am til 4pm (1 hour lunch break)

Where: At Françoise’s Studio

Cost: $900 – A 50% deposit is requested to reserve your space; the balance is due May 27.

For more information, please call 503-236-5829 or check my website

There is only 1 space left for this workshop!

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

Jamie Bosworth Photographer

Jamie Bosworth Photographer

photo: Deyla Huss

Jamie Bosworth Photographer

Jamie Bosworth Photographer

Honeysuckle Photography

Honeysuckle Photography

Jamie Bosworth Photography

Joni Photo

Jamie Bosworth Photography

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

photo: David Barss

This workshop was a dose of pure inspiration: from the minute I walked into the studio, I felt the buzz of creative ideas rocketing around in my head. Françoise is a brilliant teacher who has a clear excitement for sharing her methods, and also for encouraging the unique voice of each student. Her generosity was truly a special gift: it is quite rare to find someone so willing (not just willing, thrilled!) to share the secrets behind their work. Françoise did just that and more- demonstrating techniques and mechanics, then encouraging us to follow our own instincts and ideas, helping us along the way with one-on-one feedback and suggestions. It was so fun, inspiring, informative and encouraging- I left feeling elated from three days of flower-filled learning, with tons of new ideas and little tricks to bring my own artistic vision to life. It was fantastic in every way- thank you so much!!!!!

Kelly Sullivan, Seattle, WA

Venue: Swedenborgian in San Francisco

Photographer: Summer McCorkle

When Renée contacted me and asked if I would ship a woodland bouquet, along with corsages and boutonniers to San Francisco, it took me  a while to agree to make and ship the bouquet overnight: so much could go wrong: from dealing with icy roads and delayed flights to rough hands handling the package or what if the package got lost? I am very glad that I chose to go ahead. My husband did a fabulous job packaging it all and everything arrived intact. As you can read below, Renée was thrilled.

"We looked into having flowers done locally and were not seeing anything up to my exacting standards, having lent a hand to a few friend's wedding myself. After seeing Françoise's samples on her website, even though it was hundreds of miles away, I knew she would be the only fit for our ceremony. Through the months of preparation she was extremely easy to communicate with, and understood perfectly what ideas I had in mind for the big day. As it turns out, having a bouquet and an assortment of flowers ready to travel means quick packing and shipping, and for this reason alone Françoise would earn five stars. Everything was shipped so solidly, in a package that was virtually bulletproof, exhibiting a fastidiousness and attention to detail that would make an art handler or preparator feel like they were dealing with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Clearly, this is no second rate operation, and were it not for a simple matter of distance I would recommend Françoise not only to everyone I know, but for every possible occasion that would merit a floral arrangement from simple corsage to extravagant, near avant garde bouquets. And what a selection of flowers, too! I can only imagine what her garden must look like because I know the breadth of materials could not have come entirely from a commercial flower market. Truly, seriously, unbeatably lovely."

Renée Delores, Emeryville, CA 1/27/2013

photo: Jamie Bosworth

hand-tied bouquet with peonies, sweetpeas and alchimella

photo: Jamie Bosworth

whimsical bouquet with narcissus, sprayroses, cyclamen, bouvardia, succulents, accacia and succulents

photo: Jamie Bosworth

hand-tied bouquet with narcissus, sprayroses, freesia, tulips, ranunculus, kangoroo paws, accacia, viburnum berries, eucalyptus pods

photo: Rebekah Johnson

hand-tied bouquet with cymbidium orchids,  roses, asclepia, succulents, ranunculus

photo: Lauren Brooks

whimsical bouquet with ranunculus, roses, euphorbia, kalanchoe, sweetpeas, feathers

hand-tied bouquet with roses, sprayroses and succulents

FotoVitae

woodland bouquet with piano roses, succulents, maidenhair ferns, texture

photo: Jamie Bosworth

woodland bouquet with narcissus, hellebore, succulents, berries, maidenhair fern, andromeda, texture

Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LTD: http://thefullbouquetblog.com/?p=25873

Celebration Florals:  http://bit.ly/11Bc48t

Gertie Maes: http://www.gertiemaes.com/blog/

Soiree Floral: http://blog.soireefloral.com/

Colonial House: http://colonialhouseofflowers.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/bouquets/

Stacy K Floral: http://www.stacykfloral.com/blog2/?p=4489

Wild Bunch Studio: http://wildbunchstudio.blogspot.com

Passionflower: http://www.passionflowerevents.com/main/blog.jsp

Alicia Jayne Florals:  http://aliciajayneflorals.com/blog/?p=162

Goodness-Gracious! Florals: http://tulipiere.com/2013/04/29/46/

Urban Petals: http://myurbanpetals.wordpress.com/?p=3233

FloressenceFlowers: http://floressenceflowers.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-favorite-bridal-bouquets.html

Wild Bunch Studio: http://wildbunchstudio.blogspot.com

Passionflower: http://www.passionflowerevents.com/main/blog.jsp

On Butterfly Wings:  http://onbutterflywingsblog.com/?p=356

Fleur:ology : http://fleurologydesign.com/?p=721

Alluring Blooms: http://alluringblooms.com/chapelbouquet/.html

Posh Floral Designs: http://poshfloral.com/memory-monday-favorite-bouquets

Exquisite Designs http://www.exqdesigns.com/blog/?p=2225

Sherwood Design and Events: http://www.sherwooddesignandevents.com/a-few-of-our-favorite-bouquets-and-meet-our-friends/

Courtenay Lambert Florals, Weddings, and Events: http://courtenaylambert.blogspot.com/2013/04/bouquets-with-chapel-designers.html

Affair With George: http://www.affairwithgeorge.com.au/blog/?p=80

photo: Becca Dryer

photo: David Barss

photo: Rebekah Johnson

photo: Lauren Brooks

photo: David Barss

photo: Jessica Hill

photo: Jessica Hill

photo: David Barss

Jamie Bosworth Photographer

Jamie Bosworth Photographer