Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Food Stations for CCSF Final



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The above are photos of our final projects for the "floral designs for events" class taught by Jenny Tabarracci, AIFD. We were assigned one of 5 "food stations" to design and install in the floristry workshop/classroom in mid-December.  There was a "winter wonderland" desert station; an English tea; a farmer's market display; and and a sushi station, all lovely.

Joyce & Kim's "martini" station
Joyce Kessler and I were assigned a "Martini" station. We decided to go with a fruit Martinis theme; green apple, lime and kiwi, all in shades of green and brown. We decided to add a hanging floral element with a hint of the holidays, constructed of gold branches with white twinkle lights, noble pine, green spider mums, dianthus, hypericum, and belles of Ireland with green and brown holiday ornaments. We filled clear cylinder vases with green apples and limes and used them to support glass shelves, lit underneath with LED lights. There was a display of "kiwi martinis" on a gold tray front and center.

This was a great class, and we got lots of practical information out of it. Highly recommended!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Taste - Microsoft Party



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These large arrangements of magnolia, greens, berries and roses were created at Taste Catering and Event Planning for a Microsoft holiday party at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. The finished arrangements were placed on top of large glass vases filled with clear water and floating branches of holiday greens.  These were incorporated into the food stations in the main ballroom.  The event had an overall 1940's theme.

Structures for Holiday Arrangements

Yesterday, my CCSF floral design class prepared some arrangements for the annual Environmental Horticulture/Floristry Department sale, benefiting the department's scholarship fund. They sell poinsettias, holiday wreaths, centerpieces, all kinds of arrangements, and indoor and outdoor plants. This year the sale is on December 8th from 11 am to 3 pm at the Horticulture building (Judson at Gennessee) on the CCSF Ocean campus (415-239-3236 or 415-239-3140 for more info).

The photos below show the "mechanics" of these designs, to be finished with fresh flowers right before the sale. Many of these designs have many uses outside of the holidays.

The framework for a topiary arrangement. Moss and greens are wired to a bent coathanger, then flowers will be added to the bottom.

Jenny Tabarracci's finished sample. I've used this design myself for Easter, new baby gifts, and other occasions.

A "tree" made of a foam cone and cut holly leaves. All it needs is an ornament on top.

Cubes of foam covered with holly leaves have a modern, streamlined appearance. These will be topped off with moss and one beautiful flower.

Garlands of moss and holiday greens coil around votive candles. The tray will be filled with water, with fresh flowers arranged in and around the coils.

This simple, modern design is perfect for a desk or cocktail table, consisting of two water tubes affixed with decorative wire and uglu to a small square vase. There's a votive candle in the vase.

This arrangement is meant to hang, I'm going to finish the bottom with ribbon and pine cones.

This grid of ribbon will support an arrangement of holiday greens and fresh flowers.