Today I’m featuring images from a floristry event at LeSoCo in London. It was organised to celebrate over 60 years of floristry being taught at Southwark College.
LeSoCo was formed in August 2012, following the merger of Lewisham College and Southwark College. And it was at Southwark College that I studied floristry.
Other former students include Jane Packer, Paula Pryke and Ercole Moroni.
Carol Campbell and Annette Parshotam gave us a wonderful demonstration of floristry through the eras.
And above is a close-up of a stunning vintage hand-tied, which Annette made.
1960s
Purple carnations were used to make this wreath below…
Carol and Annette showed us some pomanders, which they had made.
They explained how, by removing the ribbon, they could be used to create a contemporary design.
1970s
Tropical flowers and foliage were combined to make these colourful arrangements below.
1980s
And to mark the marriage of Diana Spencer and the Prince of Wales in 1981, Carol created a small version of Diana’s wired bridal bouquet.
Then whilst she created a Ballerina style stacked bouquet, Annette made a domed hand-tied design, inspired by Paula Pryke.
She used ‘Cool Water’ and ‘Heaven’ roses, hydrangeas, peonies and salal.
1990s
Next, Annette showed us a design which had been made using bullion wire and the ‘crushed metal’ technique…reminiscent of a Wally Klett creation.
2000
My favourite design from the whole event was Annette’s vintage bouquet on the right below…inspired by the trend for vintage style wedding flowers.
She used ‘Amnesia’ and ‘Hypnose’ roses, eryngiums, mimosa foliage and stachys, together with mini diamante butterflies which she’d mounted on sticks.
It was wonderful to see how styles in floristry have changed over the last sixty years.
And so much thought and attention-to-detail had gone into the demonstration by the two ladies.
It was also lovely to catch up with my teachers and some past students.
LeSoCo run a range of floristry classes and full details can be found on their website.
My floral journey started initially with an evening class at the college…
P.S. Apologies for the delay in posting these images. I had planned to earlier in the month…I’m not quite sure where the time’s gone!
(Images : Rona Wheeldon for Flowerona)
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