LATEST NEWS...........
In November Nina Tucknott presented her demonstration entitled Fashionable Flowers. Nina focused on famous people across the centuries who had been still-life floral artists, or were influential in the fashion or arts and crafts industries and interpreted their contributions through flowers. Firstly an arrangement based on a painting by the Dutch master Ambrosius Bosschaert who was famed for his floral still life, in particular for one painting of his in 1621 which he presented to the Prince of Orange and was rewarded with an astronomical fee of 1,000 guilders. Nina used white birch twigs to give height and included frilly cream germini from the 'Pasta Range', white cabbage flowers, pink curcuma longa flowers from the tumeric plant, white parrot tulips and purple statice to replicate the still life painting in real-life. Secondly Levi Strauss's contribution to the fashion industry in utilising denim to make his famous jeans was celebrated by a beautiful display in a denim jeans covered vase included phoenix palms, yellow bloom chrysanths, cordyline black ti leaves, purple statice and yellow roses. Christian Dior famously said 'After women there are only flowers' which was reflected in a bouquet presented in a hand made 'paper mache and petal' covered polstyrene shell using phoenix palm, purple/milk carnations white single bloom chrysanths and green flowers manipulated from asbidestra leaves. Other colourful designs interpreted the abstract flower art works of Georgia O'Keefe, and the 'strawberry thief' material of the arts and crafts fabric designer William Morris. We learned so much about these designers and Nina's flower interpretations were fabulous. A wonderful evening.
COMING UP...............
Next up on Tuesday evening 2nd December we are welcoming back Gill Smaggasgale who will be giving our special Christmas demonstration entitled 'A Christmas Carol'. It is sure to be an enjoyable evening and get us all into the Christmassy mood, so why not come and visit us and enjoy a great evening. Special discounted visitor fee of £5 for the evening. Buy a few raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the fabulous arrngements.
The Bring and Buy table theme in December is Christmas Treats - anything loosely Christmas-related goes... mince pies, sweeties, small gifts (soaps, candles). See what you can find to donate for sale to raise club funds.
Don't forget the Christmas Wreath Making Event taking place Thursday 11th December at 7.30pm in the English Martyrs Church Hall, Vicarage Lane. We are looking forward to meeting all those who have signed up for the evening. The club will provide a wreath ring, some foliage and some decorations but ask you to bring additional foliage and any specific decorations you want to add to your wreath. Don't forget to bring your scissors or secateurs. Contact the Chair, Janet Aslett at janetaslett@hotmail.com if you have any questions.
The Horley Methodist Church in Vicarage Lane are holding their annual Christmas Tree Festival in support of St Catherine's Hospice. Why not pop in, grab a bite to eat or a hot drink and spot our flower club's tree - Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star amongst the glittering forest of trees. The event is free and open both Friday 5th and Saturday 6th December 10am to 7.00pm and Sunday 7th December 12 noon to 6pm.