Hello! I'm Alicia from Flourish Sussex Flower School. I founded the school in 2017 and have been lucky enough to welcome many students through our studio doors. We moved to our permanent studio here in Sussex last June and we have created a beautiful space for students to get creative in.
This blog is where I share floristry tricks, tips, inspiration and guidance. I want to share my passion of floristry and hopefully get you to get creative with flowers. I hope you enjoy!
Where do I begin?
This is such an important question. If you have always wondered about flowers, or keep day dreaming about blooms when you are sitting at your desk or at home, you might wonder where might be a good place to start. I am a big believer in reading and purchasing a book. A book can give you an insight into the type of floristry you are drawn too.
Are there different types of floristry?
YES! Floristry is evolving and I believe we are at such an exciting time in the industry. In the past we might of associated floristry with carnations, chrysanthemums, brash colours, odd numbers, cellophane, and although this does still exist in the industry, there is a whole other side to floristry that is a long way from this. At Flourish Sussex Flower School we leave traditional methods at the door and focus on individuals creating their own style of floristry. We want each student to embrace their own creativity and see what they are capable of.
So why a book?
Books give you a wonderful insight into the industry and can show you what the top growers and floral designers create on a daily bases. There are so many books to choose from but I have listed some of my favourites
Cut Flower Garden and A Year in Flowers are by Erin Benzakein Based in the state of Washington, Erin has the most beautiful flower farm. Her Instagram is incredibly inspiring and her books contain valuable information about growing, with some floristry tips too.
The Flower Hunter: by Lucy Hunter. Lucy is one of the top floral designers in the UK. Her work is an example of how as an artist we can bring paintings to life with flowers.
The Flower Fix by Anna Potter. Anna runs Swallows and Damsons, a small florist shop in Sheffiled. But don’t be deceived by the size of the shop, Anna is one of the most successful florists in the country. She is famous for her earthy tones and imaginative Instagram page and her book gives you an insight into her creative brain.
Flower Colour Guide. This is a glorious cut flower guide book that I give my students when they sign up to The Foundation Course. There are many cut flower guide books on the market, but this one has fantastic photography and shows the colour varieties that you can get with each flower.
Flower for Everyday by Florence Kennedy. Florence Kennedy along with her husband run Petalon Flowers. They moved to Cornwall to start a flower farm and this gorgeous book takes you through all the popular displays in floristry.
Open Mornings/Evenings
If you have a few books already and want to know more have a google and find out about some of the flower schools and colleges around you. Open mornings are a great way for you to visit the education setting and meet the teacher and see if it is the environment that is right for you.