A Pop Up School keeps on popping!

Although today wasn't a 'school' day as such and our hard working students get to have the weekend to recover we are still 'Popping'!!

We invited Hels from Lion Heart magazine to come along and experience the Tallulah Rose Flower School.... For those of you unfamiliar with Lion Heart we can't praise it enough, visit the website and you'll see what we mean...... :-)) ..... (Lucie this ones for you!) Hels

www.lionheart-mag.com 

"Lionheart Magazine is a magazine for those looking for something that reflects their personalities and preferences. Editorial that’s smart, funny, friendly and a little irreverent, together with beautiful design, illustrations and photography. You’ll find craft, fashion, art, interviews and features that are interesting, inspiring and hearty."


Hels and Gem arrived excited but a little nervous too.... we had tea and macaroons, (of course!) then began their workshop... to make a hand-tied bouquet.
Neither of them had ever made a hand-tied bouquet before so we started slowly spiraling simple rose stems however they soon picked it up and before long were confidently adding more and more flowers to their bouquets.

Hels bouquet even passed the 'stand alone' test.... very impressive!
We then aqua packed their flowers and packaged them beautifully before sending them on their merry way in the general direction of more tea and cake!

Hels was SO happy with her bouquet, after all she made it!

Gem was thrilled with her bouquet and so she should be it looked beautiful!

Mmmmmm what a great scent....

 A very proud Hels.... big smiles!

Hels in full spiral flow! (Charlie 'the photographer moving quickly to get that action shot!)

And todays demo recipient....??!  Well that went to Jamies Deli. After noticing their wooden crate of 'Flour Power' were else could it go?! 

Until tomorrow...... X

September Career Course - Day 5

Well we can't believe it's friday already..
All to quickly the first week of the career course has past.

We finished off the first week with an 'away day'. Reminiscent of a school trip we left Bath exceedingly early this morning armed with winter woollies to help against the cold temperatures of the flower market.
With bleary eyes we chatted on route of what the students might expect...

I think it's fair to say that their expectations were in fact exceeded as their eyes fell upon the rows and rows of beautiful flowers.... Tiredness was soon forgotten as they immersed themselves in the flowers, foliage and plants, not literally of course!  

Everyone found it a great exercise in seeing new flowers and making notes of there costs for future ordering ... everyone felt really inspired and eager to get their hands on the flowers!

We visited the Bristol flower market, Flower Vision wholesaler and vase and sundry suppliers too... what a morning!

We returned to Bath and the school in time for lunch (much needed!) and then spent the afternoon looking at the all important costing formulas. We worked back through the week and costed each of the arrangements we had made some with some surprising end results....

With an early finish the students left buzzing and fizzing (if not a little tired!) with everything they'd learnt this week. I advised a restful weekend before we hit the ground running again on monday for our week of wedding and event flowers....

Here are the flowers we bought at the market today, watch this space to see them transformed into beautiful arrangements...

September Career Course - Day 4

There was a real buzz around the flower school today, mainly because Carluccios were offering free food!  They're opening a new restaurant here in Milsom Place on saturday and in the lead up they need guinea pigs to test both food and service.

We're hoping for a taster or two tomorrow.... it's a trip to the flower market for the Tallulah Rose students and I think we'll all be in need of a coffee and a pastry!
We will of course present them with good luck flowers from all our students...  

Today was a very hands on practical day as you'll see the results speak for themselves....

Both of todays arrangements were constructed using Oasis, sometimes the only way!

                                   Our conditioned roses ready to be made into rose 'trees'

    An Oasis flat heart beautifully made with Hydrangea, berries, eucalyptus and ornamental cabbage!      

                                                Beautiful rose trees in vintage painted pots

                                           

Tallulah Rose Flower September Career Course - Day 3

Another great day in the school of Tallulah Rose!

 We began with a recap on the previous day to cover any questions that may have arisen from buzzing brains!!

With tea and pastries the students sat back and rested their florist fingers while listening to the 'Theory of Color'.... we talked about all aspects of the color wheel and how this relates to our designs within floristry. It's always interesting to hear each of the students color preferences, it shows how different we all are!

We followed this by each producing a color mood board designed to help the students and their future clients choose a great color scheme together. For some an eye for color doesn't come naturally and it's a great tool for our 'up and coming' florists.    

We kicked off the afternoon by introducing Peter Kay (no not that one!). Peter is a Social Media expert and we asked him to come along and explain the benefits to our students. Lizz was a little apprehensive to begin with, struggling to see where she was going to find the time to keep up regular posts on Facebook, Twitter and Pintrest!! Lizz was quite prepared to be convinced and Peter managed just that!
By the end of the afternoon the students were all buzzing and eager to sign up to Social Media...

We'd like to thank Peter for his time and expertise he really did listen to our students answering all their questions, adapting his teaching to their requirements we highly recommend him...
www.notfrombolton.com  

Thanks to Society Cafe for hosting our afternoon.... and the amazing hot chocolate too!

                                                          We heart Society Cafe!

                            Peter hard at work convincing Lizz of the benefits of Social Media!
                       

September Career Course - Day 2

It certainly is the course of the 'L' we have a Lizz, Liz and Lydia!!

On todays agenda was flower conditioning and care including top tips on how to get the most from your flowers and hand-tied bouquets.

We conditioning the flowers, all bought from a Bristol wholesaler early this morning.
Using many different types of flowers gives the students exposure to different conditioning techniques and todays selection certainly gave them that... from stocks to thistles and roses to hydrangea we really threw them in at the deep end!

We looked at ways to display and keep flowers within retail environments, how to keep stock intake tight and various supplier / delivery options. Lizz is intending to open her own flower shop pre Christmas so found this especially useful.    

Not one of the students had put together a hand-tied before and Liz especially was really quite nervous.. she needn't have worried though because after demos and plenty of practice runs they all produced great bouquets.

The first hand-tied was a sectioned bouquet, technically quite difficult especially for their first attempt!
The second was a 'long and loose' natural hand-tied bouquet. The students grasped both technics well and finished off the day on a high if not a little tired!

                                               Our sectioned hand-tied bouquets ready to go!

                                                    Lydia piecing together her sections....

   
                                                Sections tied and ready to be put together....

                                                 Liz (one z!) loaded up and ready to go!                                                

                             Lydia proudly presents her second hand-tied of the day, truly stunning!
 

                                        Final and finishing touches removing the excess cellophane.

September Career Course - day 1

Tallulah Rose Flower School - September Career Course Day 1

The career course began with introductions and expectations...

We welcomed Lizz and Lydia and learnt that Lizz is intending to open her own flower shop in
Chepstow and Lydia has found a great studio space in her home town of Edinburgh...
Both ladies have had little experience with flowers and have therefore enrolled onto the four week course to learn the techniques of commercial floristry. Both Lizz and Lydia chose the Tallulah Rose Flower School because of the business week that's included in the four week career course, other similar courses don't include this element...

After a morning of getting to know one another the team from WalkTallMedia arrived to shoot a short video of the students capturing their first day thoughts and emotions. It was a nerve wracking experience for the students but they all did amazingly well!! The filming from today will be edited by WalkTallMedia, www.walktallmedia.co.uk and available for the students to load on to their websites once they're up and running.....  Having video footage on your website really helps you stand out from your online competition. Potential customers viewing your video feel like they have already met you and therefore more likely to choose you over your competition!      

After the students movie moments were over we got down to business and looked at how to transform orchids in plastic pots into something a little more desirable!!

 
The students finished the day tired but fizzing with achievement.... roll on day two and hand-tied bouquets!!    

The Pop Up School Pops!!

The Tallulah Rose 'Pop Up' School is ready for it's first day and although we will post later on today here is a glimpse of how it all happened!!

                                                    Outside looking in..... 'sneak a peak!'

                               Beautiful paper flowers made by the amazing Meticulous Ink of Bath
                                                             www.meticulousink.com

                     John and Tom from Studio Jubilee, London make a start on the window graphics.
                                                             www.studiojubilee.com

           The furniture is delivered thanks to Wells Reclamation helping us load up in the pouring rain!    
                                                         www.wellsreclamation.com

     Piles and piles of laser cut flowers waiting to be strung on invisible thread..... rather them than me!!

                                                           The threading begins.....

       The end result....... very striking!! This window advertises our open days and demonstrations throughout September..... 8/9th  15/16th  22/23rd at midday on each day. Tickets are £10 and available           from the Bath Box Office in Abby Green.

                                                             The full length version....

                                                              A great pop of color!!

 
                                                     Everything in place and ready to go!

                                                           
                     Raring to go we look forward to welcoming our September Career Course students...