We had a terrific group for our first class of the
RISD Floral Institute - which we are teaching right here at
Stoneblossom!Students came from as far away as New Hampshire and Cape Cod to take part - and they were a talented bunch indeed!
"Beginning to Bloom" is the prerequisite basic class in the exciting series. Participants who complete the program get a
certificate from RISD.
Here they are - hard at work designing tall arrangements with mostly fresh cut material from instructor John Orton's gardens. They did a great job working on the challenging high pieces (and had fun getting them into their cars after class!).
Here are some fab creations from their homework assignment. They were given a brick of oasis and asked to
go foraging in their yard, gardens, fields, vacant lots... No purchasing of material was allowed. They could select a container that inspired them and then go picking - or go picking and them select a container that worked with what they found!
Here are a few of their wonderful creations:
The piece above features a handle created with berries and Japanese lanterns and a lush garden array.
Sue Daley used a wrought iron garden chair filled with seedum, hydrangea and loads of ivy.
Love the addition of a horseshoe crab in this wonderful display above - which also incorporated found objects from the beach such as oyster shells.
Kelly Sousa's husband had made this birdhouse which she embellished with some wonderful components: Solomon's seal, hydrangea, ferns, ivy and pokeberry. Love the birds nest at the bottom and the tiny feather. The nest was particularly special, lined with hair the birds had collected from her shedding pup!
Simple and elegant above - full and lush below...
Both of these designers used garden tomatoes. The chartreuse teapot was fun!
A twiggy obelisk centers the design above.
Below: Inspired by a broken piece of antique pottery, the artist worked her magic around it!
A pair of simple, elegant displays...
A free flowing design was the perfect match for the lovely urn above.
The white pumpkin below was delicately etched, and an LED light inside gave a warm glow...
The designs were judged in three categories: most creative, most saleable and overall favorite. Here's the design that one Best in Show by Marissa Koggan:
Below is the talented Winner's Circle with their creations!
From left to right is: Kelley Sousa, Susan Daley, Wendy Bagley, Marguerite Crocker, Marissa Koggan, Meg Fitzelle and Mayara Paim.
All of our students did an excellent job. We look forward to working with you throughout the program!
Note that additional sessions of this basic class have been added. Click here to check out the RISD catalogue and be on the lookout for their new winter catalogue due out soon!
Sweet bouquet of Lilly of the Valley.
Cruise ship as backdrop!!!
Our low designs in creamy white, apricot, champagne and touches of pink and chocolate:
Everything was designed in milk glass. These are two sizes of tall, graceful vases. The filigreed lanterns and the drapey pepperberry looked great together.
The Island House is the smaller of Belle Mer's two reception areas. Great billowy drapes like South Beach's Delano catch the breeze.
Candles lit and ready for a party!!!
Lighting - the magical finishing touch...
Half of the guests were seated at wooden farm tables - including the 30 ft head table. We built 
Lanterns and 
Comfy lounge furnishings and black and white 
The flower girls just love those 
Guests enjoyed fresh squeezed 
Glass hurricanes with floating candles capped each display - here seen with the Newport Bridge as the backdrop!
