February 8th, 2010
Last week I went to visit Honeyhill Farms Nursery in Raleigh Hills. Owners Jim and Audrey Metcalfe are hellebore hybridizers.

What ‘eye candy’ to see hundreds of flowering hellebores: they start blooming in January and still look gorgeous in April. What a treasure in the garden!
Call them at 503-292-1817 if you’d like to visit their garden and purchase plants in bloom. Or you can visit them at the Hillsdale Farmers Market on February 21 or on March 7.


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Tags: bridal bouquet, centerpieces, creative, european floral design, flower purses, hellebore, Portland OR florist, reception flowers, spring flowers, texture, wedding flowers Portland OR, whimsical bouquets
Posted in Bouquets, Flower Power!, Personal Flowers, Reception Flowers | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2010
The post on Nu Bouquets from last week Thursday mysteriously disappeared and I wanted to feature it again:
A few weeks ago I did a post on whimsical bridal bouquets inspired by ideas of european designers. I sparingly incorporated new textures – pearls, feathers, wire,…- juxtaposed fresh and traditional combinations and figured out new techniques to realize these fun bouquets.
Thank you Joni for the fabulous pictures – and for the clever name . I like it!


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Tags: bridal bouquet, bridesmaid's bouquets, creative, european floral design, texture, wedding flowers Portland OR, whimsical bouquets
Posted in Bouquets, Details, Personal Flowers | No Comments »
January 26th, 2010
Come join us for this hands-on class and learn to design creative Valentine Posies on Sunday afternoon, February 7 or Monday evening February 8. You will take your creation home!
Valentine’s Day does not have to mean red roses… Flower varieties are so plentiful around this holiday. Delight your loved one with a scrumptious design: a topiary, a flower purse, a textured arrangement with succulents,…
Sunday February 7 2:00 – 4:30pm $75
Monday February 8 6:30 – 9:00pm $75
Call to reserve your space @ 503-236-5829
http://francoiseweeks.com/wordpress/classes
The hands-on classes are limited to 8 students per class and are conducted at Françoise’s Studio – 2754 SE 33rd Place. Prices include flowers, supplies, use of tools, and best of all, your creation goes home with you! Receipt of your check (or payment with Paypal) for the full tuition secures your place in the class.
Groups Welcome
If you’re thinking of bringing together a group to take one of our classes, we’d like to help you out: If your group is between 5 and 8 people, the organizer receives 50% off their registration price. You may choose from one of the existing classes, or coordinate a time and date of your choosing.
A fun idea for birthday parties, showers or team-building events, call 503 236 5829 to coordinate a time that works best for you and your friends.
Gift Certificates Available for All Classes
Here are some examples of what you will learn. If you would like to order an arrangement for your Valentine’s Day, please call at 503-236-5829

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro
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Tags: centerpieces, european floral design, flower purses, Portland OR florist, succulents, texture, topiaries
Posted in Classes Winter/Spring 2010 | No Comments »
January 21st, 2010
Fun and different!
Flower purses make wonderful hostess gifts and are perfect centerpieces for smaller tables.
Or would you like a unique bride’s bouquet or bridesmaid’s bouquet? As always, the possibilities are endless!


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Tags: bridal bouquet, creative, european floral design, flower purses, pink flowers, Portland OR florist, table decorations, texture, wedding flowers Portland OR, white flowers
Posted in Bouquets, Details, Personal Flowers, Reception Flowers | 5 Comments »
January 19th, 2010
Two more months before the Spring officially starts – but luckily there already are plenty of cut spring flowers available: tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, anemones, hellebore and primroses as well as blooming branches like forsythia, hamamelis and quince. What a treat!
In my garden the crocus and miniature daffodils have been poking through the soil for the last 3 weeks. Soon I will cover them with a warm blanket of black gold: mushroom compost. It is such a fabulous soil amendment and the plants thrive on it. I am thrilled that the various hellebores – a favorite! - have started to bloom already – in my book, spring is right around the corner…

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Kathryn Elsesser
Tags: centerpieces, creative, european floral design, Portland OR florist, reception flowers, spring flowers, table decorations, texture, yellow flowers
Posted in Flower Power! | 1 Comment »
January 16th, 2010
The new class schedule for the winter/spring classes is up on my website.
http:/francoiseweeks.com/wordpress/classes/
You will learn how to utilize the bounty of the Willamette Valley, whether from backyard gardens, the local farmer’s market or the grocery. Classes emphasize readily-available materials and common household items to create one-of-a-kind arrangement that are an expression of your unlimited creativity and ingenuity. These classes will change the way you look at your own garden, our abundant landscape and the world around you. Please call early to reserve your place!(503-236-5829).
The hands-on classes are limited to 8 students per class and are conducted at my studio – 2754 SE 33rd Place, Portland, OR 97202. Prices include flowers, supplies, use of tools, and best of all, your creation goes home with you! Receipt of your payment by check or Paypal for the full tuition secures your place in the class. Deposits are non-refundable, but exchanges will be considered.
Groups Welcome
If you’re thinking of bringing together a group to take one of our classes, we’d like to help you out: If your group is between 5 and 8 people, the organizer receives 50% off their registration price. You may choose from one of the existing classes, or coordinate a time and date of your choosing.
A fun idea for birthday parties, showers or team-building events, call 503 236 5829 to coordinate a time that works best for you and your friends.
Here are some examples of what you will learn:
Fresh Flower Arranging For Beginners

Joni Shimabukuro

Ron Weeks
Valentine Posies

Joni Shimabukuro

Ron Weeks

Joni Shimabukuro
Early Spring Living Wreath

Joni Shimabukuro

Ron Weeks
Creative Easter Baskets

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro
Woodland Arrangements

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Nicole Wickens
Mother’s Day Gift

Jamie Bosworth

Jamie Bosworth

Joni Shimabukuro
Tags: centerpieces, creative, european floral design, Portland OR florist, texture
Posted in Classes Winter/Spring 2010 | No Comments »
January 12th, 2010
Last week I participated in the Art of Wedding Bridal Show at the Gerding Theater; it was a perfect opportunity to introduce a few whimsical bridal bouquets. Inspired by ideas in european design books that I bought during my last trip back home, I sparingly incorporated new elements: sisal, a natural fiber, along with a variety of decorative wires, a few pearls and feathers. Et voilà! what fun it was to patiently add a new set of details in bouquets!


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Tags: bridal bouquet, european floral design, texture, wedding flowers Portland OR, whimsical bouquets
Posted in Bouquets, Details, Personal Flowers | 1 Comment »
January 8th, 2010

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro
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Tags: centerpieces, Ceremony Flowers, creative, european floral design, outdoor wedding, pink flowers, Portland OR florist, reception flowers, texture, wedding flowers Portland OR
Posted in Ceremony Flowers, Reception Flowers | 1 Comment »
January 2nd, 2010
There may not be an extensive variety of green flowers, but the ones that are available such as hellebore, alchimella, cymbidium orchids, viburnum, bouvardia and buplurum are all favorites. However, there is so much green texture available that makes these arrangements fabulous: green berries, such as hypericum, unripe black berries and blue berries, berzillia, to name a few and many herbs, for example: rosemary, sage, rue, thyme, lavender, parsley… Amazing seedpods of poppies, nigella, moneyplant, peonies, scabiosa, lotus and so many others add interest to bouquets; succulents and unusual foliage of begonias, some ferns, heart-shaped leaves of cyclamen are great choices also. Are you intrigued? Check out some examples:

Jamie Bosworth

Jamie Bosworth
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Tags: bridal bouquet, creative, european floral design, green flowers, Portland OR florist, texture, wedding flowers Portland OR, woodland bridal bouquet
Posted in Bouquets, Personal Flowers | 1 Comment »