Revisiting The Lonely Bouquet

With Christmas fast approaching I thought it would be nice to reflect upon the year as it draws to a close, and revisit this summers international first for the floral industry - the arrival of  'The Lonely Bouquet' event.

Wannabe Florist took part in July and supplied three lucky Cambridge residents & visitors with a lonely bouquet.  I have caught up with one of the recipients to get a greater insight to how the event has reached out to the general public.


 

 

Name, Age & Occupation

 

Elizabeth Stella Maria (Mellen) age 54, occupation Primary School Teacher

 Are you a Cambridge resident or visiting? If visiting what was your purpose of your visit?
 

I am a resident of Hackney and was visiting Cambridge for a weekend reunion at my old college, Trinity Hall, of my matriculation year, 1977.

Where did you find the Lonely Bouquet? What/who drew your attention to it?
 

I found the lonely bouquet in the alcove of the Caius College clock, in Senate House Passage. It was drenched in sunlight and immediately caught my attention.  

What were your immediate reaction/ initial thoughts?
 

My first thought was that it was placed there as a shrine or memorial to someone possibly recently dead, and so the immediate delight was tempered with apprehension as I peered at the label.

I was with a friend and she said, 'It's for you!' and then pointed out that we were being watched.
(Elizabeth was being watched by myself and my camera crew from a secluded spot, so that we could watch and capture the publics' genuine initial reaction first hand for the video documentary. )

 

Had you heard about the Lonely Bouquet project before you found the bouquet?

 

I had never heard of the lonely bouquet project, but was delighted to receive an unexpected bouquet as I have so rarely been given or sent flowers.  

 

Do you frequently buy flowers for yourself? If so why? 

I adore nature and its flora and fauna, so I buy flowers for the house every week; usually whatever is in season and cheap.  This week there is a large blue earthenware jug of sunflowers, and just fading, the first bouquet my son has bought me, double red roses and gypsophila, which I left in their pretty pink cellophane.   

Where did your Lonely Bouquet end up? At your home? at work?
 

The lonely bouquet went home to London with me and lasted well over a week.  The boys were all very curious about it, and maybe it prompted Alex's gesture.  It was sad when the bouquet started to droop, but I took it into the garden and photographed it for posterity before it passed its best.  Its ruby coloured vase is a now a lovely sundae glass.

 

Wannabe Florist 3rd Anniversary & Lonely Bouquet Documentary

Dear all,

Here is the full length documentary of how Wannabe Florist took the streets of Cambridge (UK), to partake in spreading a few smiles, by leaving 3 lonely bouquets in the 3 very special places! #thelonelybouquet

The video is also in celebration of Wannabe Florist storming into its 3rd Anniversary (August 10th). A massive thank you for all those who have followed and supported Wannabe Florist. A special thanks to mum, who always makes me strive to be the best I can be and for supporting Wannabe Florist wholeheartedly  Xx

Ill leave this blog post short - The documentary says it all. I would love to hear from you and what you thought of the video and how fellow florists celebrated this wonderful new event in our floral calendar! Photographs from the documentary can be found in the Photo Gallery.

 

Lonely Bouquet #1 - The Mill Pond, Cambridge

 

Below is the link to the video. ( in purple text).

 Wannabe Florist - The Lonely Bouquet - Documentary

 

If you saw us ( myself and crew) about town then please do drop us a line and say where you saw us or if you found one of the lonely bouquets and took it home to enjoy then please do get in touch and  share the journey the bouquet had and why not attach a photo too!!

A huge amount of thanks to Lizzy Marriot for her wonderful photography and Michael Boardman of HardKore Blellow Productions for his camera wizardry.  

 

You can find Wannabe Florist on Twitter and Facebook too. Or email wannabeflorist@gmail.com

 

Keep your eyes peeled you never know when you might see a lonely bouquet just waiting to be adopted

The Lonely Bouquet - Wannabe Florist

Dear all,

Here is a little taster of the full length film to be released shortly, of how Wannabe Florist took the streets of Cambridge (UK), to partake in spreading a few smiles, by leaving 3 lonely bouquets in the 3 very special places! #thelonelybouquet

The videos are also in celebration of Wannabe Florist storming into its 3rd Anniversary in August. A massive thank you for all those who have followed and supported Wannabe Florist. x

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0l-rE6G2sw&feature=youtu.be

 

 

 

 

If you saw us ( myself and crew) about town then please do drop us a line and say where you saw us or if you found one of the lonely bouquets and took it home to enjoy then please do get in touch and  share the journey the bouquet had and why not attach a photo too!!

 

You can find Wannabe Florist on Twitter and Facebook too. Or email wannabeflorist@gmail.com

 

Keep your eyes peeled you never know when you might see a lonely bouquet just waiting to be adopted! x

Wannabe Florist Blog Store Open

Wannabe Florist now has a floristry store open! I have chosen products from Amazon that are related to every aspect of floristry both practical workshop items from scissors to oasis foam and recreational and resource materials such a floral design books. 

So whether your looking for a gift for a flower enthusiast or you have forgotten to buy that extra roll of cellophane, the Wannabe Florist store is a direct link to these products on Amazon, which  provides stress-free shopping even in the small hours of the night!


The Wannabe Florist Store can be found on the right hand tool bar, just below the Facebook Badge. 

Happy shopping! x

Floral Fantaisie Book Review

Although no design is truly unique, as concepts are inspired by something that already exists, what makes a design special is the designer’s interpretation and vision, and award winning French designer Marie – Francoise Deprez has a wonderfully refreshing approach to floral design.

Deprez’s style is distinctive; it is simplistic, contemporary and sophisticated, created by sweeping rhythmic lines and architectural shapes, blends of textures, themes and choice flowers, all equally balanced with a youthful playfulness.

In this latest addition to her book collection, Floral Fantaisie, arts and crafts feature in many designs, incorporating traditional floristry tool box items such as ribbons and feathers to the more unusual mediums of paper doylies, newspaper and other paper products to kitsch floral printed fabrics.

What is particularly compelling about Deprez’s work is that the container and vases used, form an integral part of the design, it is not simply a vessel to hold the materials but provides part of the overall shape and form, reflecting the nature of the design and the colour palette used, whilst some mirror the movement and rhythm created, others pose as a textural juxtaposition to the core materials used. 

Other themes explored in the book are the links between the floral world and fashion design, not just by incorporating fabric into designs but items such as buttons and zips in vivid hues, skilfully placed, creating a contrast between materials used, greatly representing the world today where nature and man – made products converge and become  one.

Space and form are used imaginatively in Deprez’s work, with negative space ( an absence of material within an area of a design) and positive space (an area of material that creates an outline) used together to great effect, which adds depth, perception of distance and density of material.

Floral Fantaisie  provides the reader with a journey of themes, colour and shape, awakening the visual senses with every page turn.

www.jeuxdefleurs.org

A Thief In The Night

"It is not what they take but what they leave behind"

This is the slogan from the TV advert for British security services company, ADT,  and it really is true.  Yes, you feel sick to the stomach that something you own and have worked hard to earn or purchase is vandalised or stolen by a mindless individual, but it isn't until all the pandemonium of the phone calls to insurance companies, the police inspections and repair men boarding up smashed windows and crow barred doors are finished and you finally sit down with a cuppa, that it hits you. . .  Someone  was cruelly selfish enough, or really that desperate that they felt the need to steal from others.

This will be the second break - in at my current workplace in as little as three months. Thankfully on both occasions we were fortunate enough to have 'considerate' burglars who simply took what they were looking for and left the shop relatively tidy except for several large muddy foot prints on the floor (more fool them for leaving such evidence behind - they also match the footprints found at the local primary school which was also targeted for petty cash). So in that respect we are at least grateful, as we have heard many dreadful stories of properties and businesses alike being treated like a pinata and left in tatters.

Although I am only an employee at the shop, and the items that were stolen where not mine . . . Ive certainly been left with a sour taste in my mouth and a sadness for my Boss and my colleagues who all work hard to make a safe and enjoyable workplace.  It certainly makes you question your faith in humankind but at the same time you almost have to pity people that would stoop so low.  


On a more practical level I urge florists worldwide to take their building security seriously especially as Valentines is fast approaching and you will likely to be carrying extra stock and possibly store highly quantities of cash on site.

Here are some ways to deter vandals and burglars

• Firstly remove all cash, bar your float, from the premises and hide the float money somewhere out of sight or better still in a safe that is either screwed into the wall or floor and locked - Hide the keys for this or remove from site upon leaving. 
• Put up flood lighting over entrances/exits, in the car park attached to the premises or in any other area around the shop which is dark and provides 'lurking/hiding places'.
• Have your computer equipment insured and attach security tags/ locking mechanisms around the wires etc.  
• With a mind to identity theft do no leave personal addresses or documents at the shop or lock them away in a filing cabinet. 
• Put up CCTV either internally or externally or both if you feel its necessary. You can purchase realistic fake ones at a cheaper price form the Internet. . . . these can act as much as a deterrent as real working ones. Display signs on the premise that state that CCTV is in operation. You can buy these from building and hardware suppliers, security companies and the Internet. 
• Install an alarm and make sure you set it when you leave the building.

If you have any stories or ways you have deterred burglars at your shop then please feel free to share below this post in the comments box!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR