The Lotus flower has a deep connection with many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Egyptology & Bahai.
In Buddhism, they represent purity of mind, speech & body. The Lotus grows in muddy water and blossoms at the top, still attached to it’s long stem in the mud below.
Lotus look so gorgeous on their own in a simple bowl/vase on your desk or bedside, and are a great reminder to be present and breathe.
It was an absolute delight having Andrea in our Career Change classroom in 2018. Andrea had already started her floristry business before coming to Bloom and since graduation Andrea has been moving forward in her floristry career in leaps & bounds! We are so thankful for her giving up her time to tell us about her floristry journey…..and her pooch Prince!
Before studying floristry I travelled quite a lot and lived overseas. Prior to that I completed a Diploma in Interior Design at RMIT, I always knew I wanted to do something on the creative side career wise.
I grew up in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne in Blackburn for most of my childhood, we then moved overseas to South Korea for 3 years (yes I know crazy right!?). By 10 years old we came back and settled in Croydon North, our family home where I still live. I will be moving to Croydon Hills with my beautiful partner very soon! So excited as I’ve wanted to live in Croydon Hills ever since I can remember. I love this area, green everywhere you turn and so many cute cafes. I have so many favourite things! Don’t we all!? But to name a few… my dog Prince, he brightens every single day, he’s a gorgeous border collie we like to go for walks in the reserve behind our house where I can admire all the greenery and nature while he can prance around! I love the beach it heals me and is my happy place and gives me clarity, as well as the Warrandyte river. Outdoors is a big yes for me! Ahhhh I could go on and on, just going to a cafe for breaky with my partner, mum and brother is gold, spending time with the fam, travelling and of course creating. Floristry is my therapy, my creative getaway and other happy place. And lastly, chocolate chocolate & more chocolate.
I have been saying for quite a few years that I really wanted to complete a floristry course, years!!! It was just about finding the right time and letting everything fall into place, which it did! I worked at a cute local florist around my area for a few years while completing my Interior Design course but thought nothing of it in terms of my future in floristry until I started to travel, see things, the beauty of nature and stepping into every florist shop front I came across. All my experiences have lead me to this floristry path.
I chose Bloom College because it seemed like the perfect fit. I would go to the Melbourne Flower Show year after year and would see the Bloom College stand every time and loved the work they did and kept looking into it the courses they provided online. I saw that they offered a 6 month course which I thought was great, not too short and not too long! Their course structure appealed to me as well as their style and the hands on part of it too. So, I had to do it! I had enough of umming and aahhhing, it’s the best choice I ever made! Woohoo!
Happiness, therapy, satisfaction & a challenge. The four best and most important things for me.
I currently have my own business, I started it in March 2018 right before I started the course. I already had some experience and thought it would be great to progress along the the way while studying with Bloom College. I don’t specialise in anything particular at the moment I’m giving everything a go to see what I love the most. At the moment though I am loving weddings/events, installs and workshops!
I would absolutely love to have my own studio and shopfront that is my absolute dream and major goal!
All creatives inspire me, I will spend about 30 minutes each day on social media admiring the work of florists, artists and all creatives really!
Organic & flowy.
Find Andrea online here, here & here!
– BOOKINGS CLOSE FEB 7 |
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Waratah
Spring is the only time of the year we get to see Waratah, which is second to why they are so special to me. First is their immense beauty. Early in the season, we see them available in Red and soon we will have the choice of stunning pinks and creamy whites.
Although Waratah are in the Proteaceae family, they are native Australia with some varieties growing in Southern NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania. Many Proteaceace varieties are native to South Africa and some native to Australia such as Grevillia, Banksia, Hakea & Macadamia . Whilst the ever popular Protea varieties including the King Protea varieties are native to South Africa yet do grow extremely well here.
The botanical name is Telopea Speciosissima. Thankfully we use their indigenous name ‘Waratah’
Telopea is derived from the Greek ‘telopos‘, meaning ‘seen from afar’, and refers to the distance from which the crimson flowers are visible. The name speciosissima is the superlative of the Latin adjective ‘speciosus‘, meaning ‘beautiful’.
Understandably the artists amongst the Early European settlers fell in love with the Waratah and it was heavily used in artworks.
Enjoy Waratah in your home while they last,
Yvette
Yvette was recently asked by Wellness Daily to offer her top 5 favourite stress relieving creative hobbies. Follow the link to read on; https://www.wellnessdaily.com.au/balance/5-creative-hobbies-help-alleviate-stress-busy-career-woman
Roses
Roses are one of if not the most popular of all flowers. Their immense beauty and intoxicating scent are some of their greatest qualities but what we know now is that they have deeper powers we can not see but only feel. Roses are the most powerful of all blooms. Scientists have been able to rate their vibrational energy levels at over 300+mhz with some of the Red varieties rating at over 320mhz. To put it in perspective healthy human beings rate somewhere between 60-80mhz and an organic apple rates at 15mhz. No wonder roses make us feel so good. These guys are also ancient with the oldest Rose fossil found to date is over 300 million years old. Middle Eastern belief says the energy of God can be found in a Rose, which I thank my Uber driver for sharing with me. Roses are one of the best healers too, once cut from their source they immediately start to seal over forcing them to preserve any water they have within their stems. With this knowledge florists and flower lovers must ensure they re cut the stem just before placing water, best practice is to cut the stem under water. We are so fortunate in Victoria to have so many wonderful Rose growers of both indoor and outdoor grown roses. We are honoured to be creating a display on behalf of The Australian Rose Growers Association at this years Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show,
Yvette x
Recently Yvette along with Bloom Graduates ran a charity flower arranging event by Floral acts of kindness. Bloom College graduate Isabelle De Solier came up with the idea for Floral Acts of Kindness last year when her synagogue (TBI) was holding its annual “Mitzvah (Good Deed) Day”, Isabelle said “I wanted to run a volunteer activity that would share the uplifting power of flowers with others. I thought there might be the opportunity to run an initiative with flowers, to rescue those that might otherwise be thrown out and use them instead to bring a smile to someone’s face”.
“I did some research and modelled the event on the charity Random Acts of Flowers in the USA, who were kind enough to share their advice with me”. My wholesaler Mr Fresh generously donated a trolley of open flowers for the event, which TBI volunteers arranged with guidance from myself and two of my Bloom classmates Lindy Dorne and Helen Patrikios, before volunteers hand-delivered the bouquets to residents at Montefiore nursing home”.
For this year’s Mitzvah Day on November 19th we were lucky to have another wholesaler partner with us, Van Gogh Flowers, and the volunteers at TBI watched a demonstration by Yvette before making their arrangements with the assistance of four other Bloom graduates, Lindy Dorne, Lou McLaughlin, Liz Wise and Lyn Scott. In total, our 20 volunteers made over 120 bouquets, which were hand-delivered to residents at Central Park nursing home.
Following the success of these annual events, Yvette and I are keen to hold more regular events in 2018, partnering with further florists, wholesalers, community organisations with volunteers who’d like to arrange flowers, and health organisations with people who’d like to receive flowers. If you’re interested in donating your time or flowers, please email us at: floralactsofkindness@gmail.com. Good feelings guaranteed.
Dr Isabelle de Solier (The Doctor’s Flowers)
With special thanks to Reuben Urban for the photographs
On my recent trip to the US, I stopped by Flower Girl NYC in New York. Owner and renowned florist Denise Porcaro and I broadcast live online from her shop to share insights into the Floristry industry and to create their signature arrangement, Flower Girl. You can watch the recording below.
And here’s a few of my favourite photos from my time there.
Create and contribute in October
“The secret to living is giving”, Tony Robbins
Ever wanted to create beauty using gifts of nature and contribute to the lives of others all at the same time? YES…. Then join us as we ‘create and contribute’
October is the month of giving here at Bloom College & we have a range of options for you to choose. From as little as $20 you can learn a new skill.
‘Petal it Forward’ in the USA is on October 19, It’s were flower lovers create bouquets and give them away. We love the idea and it just so happens that it coincides with the our annual creation of the table centrepiece for the pink ribbon breakfast. Join us at the Pink Ribbon workshop – create a table flower design for the National Breast Cancer Foundation biggest breakfast event on the calendar – donate your time and $50 to this cause that is literally close to all our hearts. (BOOK NOW) You might also like to join us at the breakfast $55 per head. (Details- link to pink ribbon breakfast booking page)
‘Blooming Business’ – Business start ups session perfect for those starting a floristry business, newly commenced or need to make changes to an existing floristry business. All proceeds go to Supporting women in business & business start ups in Uganda. Creating sustainable communities is the answer to world hunger and women have the power to make it happen – ‘The Hunger Project’ Minimum donation $20 (BOOK NOW)
‘Care & Share’ – create Bespoke designs, get guidance support and network with other likeminded florists. Workshop is designed for those with intermediate to advanced floristry skills. Perfect for Career Change Course graduates.
All proceeds go to Supporting women & children in Uganda. Creating sustainable communities is the answer to world hunger and women have the power to make it happen – ‘The Hunger Project’ Minimum donation $20 (BOOK NOW)
You can choose 1 or attend all, the choice is yours and what makes it even more fun is sharing it with friends
Create & Contribute Events
OCT 19 -‘Petal it Forward’ – Pink Ribbon workshop
OCT 22 -Date- ‘Care & Share’ – Bespoke designs
OCT 24 – ‘Blooming Business’ – Business Start Ups