Holly Chapple, owner of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers, LTD and Chapel Designers and  Joost Bongearts, owner of Florabundance are producing the Chapel Designers Conference in Santa Barbara, CA on January 20-22.

Holly Heider Chapple and Nancy Liu Chin  and Joe Massie, an extraordinary British designer will be teaching. Social Media will be handled by Alicia Schwede of Flirty Fleurs.

And I am thrilled that Holly invited me to teach a woodland class!

You will find all the information about the conference, accommodations  and how to purchase tickets here.

Like at every at other conference that Holly has organized, you will learn so much and benefit from the incredible support system that the Chapel Designers group and forum will offer after the conference.

We’ll be delighted to meet you!

Holly Chapple’s designs:

photo: Genevieve Leiper

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Jamie Bosworth Photographer

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Three years ago I discovered this very inspiring book while doing a search on the internet. As it was not for sale yet in the US, my husband emailed Jo Jarvis, who graciously mailed a copy from the UK.

Botanical Art for Your Eyes Only is a collaboration of award winning and incredibly talented British Designers Jo Jarvis AIFD and Sarah Horne AIFD. This magnificent collection of 160 unique and exquisite botanical sculptures is bound to inspire Flower Lovers and Art Lovers alike. The photography by Gary Maxwell is stunning.

I’ve leafed through this treasure dozens of times: the selection and combination of botanical materials and all the detail work are simply eye candy. Every time I discover new interesting details. Clever concepts for botanical couture and woodland arrangements abound, as well as ideas for parties and weddings, unusual designs with plants and art for art’s sake.

Foliage for Florists is a fantastic guide to over 170 cut foliages, published by The Society of Floristry Training Fund in the UK.  This valuable resource includes full color photographs of  plant materials from all over the world, currently used in the flower industry. You will find clear and concise information, including botanical and common name, commercial availability, usage in design as well as care and conditioning.

Many of these foliages are sold in bunches, others require to buy plants and snip the leaves.

I’ve always loved using interesting foliages; 36 years ago, while interning with a florist in Antwerp, Belgium, I learned to incorporate foliage of houseplants. Buying plants for this purpose expands the selection texture tremendously and I constantly have a selection of dozens of houseplants in the studio.

Consider having these 2 gems in your library! Please contact Jo Jarvis if you would like to purchase these books.

Wedding Date:  July 27, 2013

Venue: Cooper Spur

Photographer: Olivia Schiley with Yahyah Photography

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Wire shoe decorated with many varieties of succulents, ferns, cucumis and other textures

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Yesterday Ted Mishima, Candace van Houten and I collaborated on this foto shoot. Lots of snippets of textures, succulents, tillandsias and small phaelonopsis orchids were the main ingredients to make the headpieces, rings and necklace.

Thank you Ted for the fantastic images and much gratitude to Candace for modeling!

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Wedding Date: September 14, 2013

Venue: Ponzi Vineyards

Photographer: Honeysuckle Photography

Thank you Maggie for the great pictures!

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photo: Ted Mishima

Tuesday and Wednesday, January 28 & 29, 2014, 9AM to 4PM each day

Hosted by Lori Eschler Frystak

with Blossom Alliance, centrally located in Miracle Mile, Los Angeles

Woodland and Botanical Couture Workshop

Class size limited to 6 students! Create and keep your designs.

Lunch 12PM to 1PM: there are many restaurants and food trucks in the neighborhood or bring your own.

Please bring your own tools, i.e. clippers, scissors, wire clippers and knives.

Tuesday, Januaruy 28 – Woodland Arrangements

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: Joni Photo & Sara Gray

Wednesday, January 29 – Botanical Couture

We’ll explore different ideas for botanical shoes as centerpieces and will discuss sourcing materials and the mechanics involved to create a wide variety of these unique designs. In the afternoon we’ll make botanical headpieces.

photos: Jamie Bosworth and Ted Mishima

Workshop Info
Françoise Weeks
Atelier Botanique Françoise Weeks
francoise@francoiseweeks.com
503-236-5829
Lodging Info
Lori Eschler Frystak
Blossom Alliance
blossomalliance@gmail com
323-251-9160

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What a great workshop it was in San Francisco last week! Thank you so much  Mindy Rosenberg ,with Mindy Rosenberg Design, for hosting the workshop in your studio. Here are pictures of the delightful woodlands, botanical purses, shoes and rings that everyone made. Thank you Susan Kelly, with Three Sisters Flowers,Tanya Slye, Sharri Robinson and Kasey Hansen for attending. It was a delight to meet you all!

And thank you Mindy for the pictures!

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photo: Lauren Brooks

Starting with a fir bough wreath, you will create a rich arrangement that includes clusters of bright berries and fruits, dried seedpods, cones and succulents, holiday spices and woodland gleanings .

 Monday, December 2, 2013      6:30 – 9:00pm   $85        sold out

Tuesday, December 3, 2013      6:30 – 9:00pm   $85        sold out

 Please call early to reserve your place!  The hands-on classes are limited to 8 students per class and are conducted at Françoise’s Studio – 2754 SE 33^rd Pl.  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.  Deposits are generally non-refundable but exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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