Flower Arrangements- the beginning

Who doesn’t love a nice flower arrangement? Flowers are in our lives for just about every occasion– hostess gifts, decor for a party, weddings, funerals, love interests, birthdays, congratulations, cheer-up, new birth, new house, new job,  prom… you name it-the list goes on and on. They are there for happy times and sad times.

And flowers and food go hand-in-hand. Pinterest searches are up during the holidays with hosts trying to create the best center piece to go with their fabulous meal. I just recently did an outdoor small party and where the host spent a fortune on flowers. She wanted nice arrangements for each table- that was about 15 vases filled with gorgeous petals and greenery for about $50 a piece- you do the math, ok I will- so that’s about $750 just in flowers, not to mention the delivery, tax and tip.  I thought, wait I can make the food and I love designing bouquets, maybe this is something I could offer for parties and small events. So, I decided to take a flower arranging class. I searched all around my area. I found one from an amazing plant and flower shop, but it was way too expensive for me-45 minute lesson for $125 dollars a person, even if we were 10 people… not a bad gig for the florist. I also found some community colleges that offered a certificate program, but the more I looked, it wasn’t totally right for me and not to mention, most colleges right now are mainly online during the Corona pandemic, so I may as well just look for a perfect online class aside from free Youtube videos. 

I have recently started a  6-unit flower certificate course with a school in NYC. It’s perfect as I can take the classes when I want with no really deadline of completion.  I’ve really enjoyed the first two units. Below are a few examples of flowers arrangements I’ve designed since I started… I still have a lot to learn, but so far it’s really satisfying.  I love having flowers in my house, always have, but now it makes it even more fun to have mini creations… and most arrangements cost peanuts… meaning I can make 3-4 depending on size for less than $30- I basically source my flowers from Trader Joe’s and Nino Salvagios. In the spring and summer, I hope to check out the farmers markets as well as my garden! I plan to plant an area just for picking flowers. 

I’m off for now to start my 3rd unit in flower design.  I’m not sure where this certificate will lead me, maybe just enrichment or maybe in the spring I could offer farmers market flower tours with an ending of arranging classes… who knows, all I know is it’s a lot of fun and a change from cooking…

To see my class website please click https://karineatlavieenrose.wordpress.com/blog/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGnJeJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXlXe2vF7BOAskpxrgr8zjoSRP821vhaDSNRoB18QrBZd9FrTWNRv14qlg_aem_zlCkEMOs_YyxlwwGsfPK6A