Saturday, 22 October 2016

Workshops 'galore'


  Over the recent years Flowerarranging Workshops of all sorts and kinds became quite popular.
Why wouldn't they, as it is an interactive event in a relaxing atmosphere where 6, 8, 10 or a few more ( usually ) women gather together and enjoy a few hours of creativity, a bit of a laugh and a cuppa.
I always do look forward to those workshops, which I have been organizing over the last 15 (plus ) years. Meeting up with different people - mostly women, some advanced, some novice and also total beginners, can be sometimes a challenge. Not only do they come from different backgrounds, but also their ambitions vary from Person to Person.
The Lady owning a Hotel would like to get tips how to improve her floral decorations for guestrooms or the hallway, while long-term Unemployed are thinking about a career in flower arranging and some of them succeeded. Then you get the different women groups and retired Ladies, who are full of life, chatting, sharing their material, sipping tea and just enjoy the few hours of creating something to bring home with.

If people do not want to create something they also can book me for an evening. This can be any organizations who would like either to raise money and have a night out. A few times I used my skill for my own Charity Fundraisers, like for the Alzheimer Association, Cystic Fibrosis or Crumlin Childrens Hospital. During those events I do up about 6 - 8 arrangements, which get raffled off at the end of the night. While putting the arrangements together I ask the audience to throw questions at me, but often I m just 'forced' to talk along - daft and silly quotes .... about my various animals, my hubby and children and other wild stories.
With a bit of promotion, by selling door tickets this can be a rather successful event.
The workshops/demonstrations can be held at your own hall/home/center or the smaller workshops I do from my own home. It's no problem for me to travel and I do enjoy meeting new groups or organizations.

So what is my 'mission statement' and what might differ from other workshops available throughout the area.
The brand name 'Nature inspires' gives it away:

The focus is on not just providing all flowers and foliage, but more so trying to encourage the participants to study the natural environment around them.  Look out what is growing in your own garden, your estate, along the roadside and in the forest.The 'Homework' would be always going for walks along the hedgerows, stroll through forests, walk along the river, over the bog, through a meadow. Experience those difference scenery settings during sunrise, sunset or even at dawn or in a full moon night. Discover your 'flora' (and its not the margarine) around you in mew light and rethink your evaluation chart especially about insignificant plants.
If we go for a short stroll before a class I sometimes ask, so what do you see now: 'Weeds' is the most common answer .... and for sure 'weeds' they are a lot. But even with rushes and common reed, ordinary branches, ivy, ferns or moos you can do incredible things within arranging natural materials. Your imagination will expand from arrangement to arrangement.
Along with plenty of imagination you will also receive a lot of 'hands on' Tips and get professional Techniques how to go along with arrangements of all sorts.


Without further ado I would like to introduce you:

'HALLOWEEN SPOOK'
Tuesday, 25th of October: 11:00 am - 1.00 pm


Every participant will be supplied with a pumpkin and with some flowers and a lot of Inspiration we make a spectacular centrepiece for your Halloween Week.








'IN LOVING MEMORY':

Tuesday, 01st of November: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
this is a new course for bereaved people - it doesn't matter how long your loved one has passed away, but it might be helpful to create something very personal for the grave. you might like to bring some flowers or foliage from the deceased persons garden or remember their favorite flower ... it all might help in taking away the pain and maybe leaving a personal message at the grave.



South Sligo Enterprise Gala:
4th and 5th of November 
at St. Attractas Secondary School:
Nature Inspires is one of many business's of the South Sligo Region who will present and exhibit their work at this special event. There will be all sort of entertainment for the public and I will demonstrate and introduce my business. I also will have some samples of my work on display and for sale. Hope to see you there  




Know your Pot-plants:
Talk at Sligo Park Hotel for the Sligo Garden and Flower Club
Monday, 14th of November: 8.00 pm sharp



This is a talk about House Pot-Plants. Old-fashioned Plants and new sorts, easy to look after and the more delicate ones, benefits of green plants and also how to get many more years out of them ,,,








Adult Education Program at St. Attractas Secondary School:
Tuesday, 22nd of November 7.00pm - 9.00 pm



Christmas Essentials - Candle-Posie and/or Wreath making.
Bring your own material/foliage/decoration


Advent - Center - Piece:



Date, Time and Venue will be announced soon
Just before the Advent season starts, we will create a beautiful long-lasting Center Piece with 4 candles. This can be a traditional advent wreath or an individual arrangement, which can be used throughout the Christmas Season.





Wreaths - Wreaths - Wreaths

Date,Time and Venue will be announced soon
during a Demonstration I will explain the different techniques of making a wreath with traditional and unusual materials. Afterwards you can design your own wreath for a grave or the front-door. A very popular course!





Back to the 'roots'
Date, Time and Venue will be announced soon.
do you owe a piece of bogwood, driftwood or even a piece of turf?
Why not brighten it up with an elegant arrangement, which would just look stunning beside the fireplace, your front-hall or even on the grave. We will develop our own 'oasis' and work with mostly dry plant-material and longlasting evergreen foliage and flowers - even a candle can be integrated.


There will be other events during the Christmas Season and I will keep you updated.

If some of you would like to have a course at a certain location and to a certain time, please feel free to contact me.

Also do spread the word of those workshops, as many of my valued clients are not on social media.