October 30, 2013

Today is the middle day of the Wedding Celebration Class. This is a three day class featuring designs for the celebration site. Traditionally that has been a church, which is not the case any more, a church is one of the places. There are many venue options available.
My Goddaughter and her darling husband were married last January in downtown Minneapolis. The ceremony was in the upper area with vintage brick walls, beautiful hardwood floors and lovely big bright windows. There was no alter, there was the Sacred Area in front of family and friends where her sister, a minister, married them. It was a family event with children playing, people laughing and sharing stories. Another of my favorite parts is the reception was in the restaurant on the first floor, we did not need to go outside. Family members brought favorite deserts, bought and homemade, the meal was buffet style and charming.thanks Meg and Pat for the best time.
Think beyond the " normal" what ever that is. Choose a place that represents you as the couple, a church, a park, venue site or your home farm, make it yours. Celebrate your marriage!
What are some "crazy" places to say marriage vows? Remember there must be flowers, lots and lots of beautiful flowers.

How many flowers does it take to make a sphere??

How many flowers does it take to make a sphere??? That question comes across many times, so here is the fail safe recipe.
What size sphere you have score it gently, don't cut, just make a mark around the sphere marking it in half, then mark the halves in half = quarters. This is usually plenty for the smaller spheres. Then take a flower, make a mark in the foam where each flower will be inserted,making room for it to open if that is the goal. Then multiply that number by 4 which will equal the total amount needed. If it is one of the larger spheres score into 1/8 or 1/16, then multiply that out.

Thank you all for the great questions, it stems simple ,but when we are in the middle of something it is harder to see the end. I don't even have half of the answers but I know people that I can ask. The best part is that we all keep learning, sharing and designing.

Bridal Bouquet Design Class

Thank you to all of you for the really creative Bridal Bouquet Design class this week. I am amazed with your creativity, you each take the products and truely create something custom and beautiful I have said it before and over and over how privileged I am being able to learn from and teach you.
We shared the days creating composite designs, Tussy Mussy, double cascade, grouping,crescents on the flat cane armature. There are times when you all look at me as I am asking you to do something strange " out of your box" and I am. That is why we call it a class. This is where you learn to trust yourself and your talent. This is where you can make a learning opportunity out of everything we do.

Check with Cheryl at 613-362-3133 or cstaniusdeiman@koehlerdramm.com about availability in the three day Ceremony class, decorating the church and reception designs for that wedding.

See you then.
AA

Bridal Bouquet Class

October 15,16,and 17 was the Bridal Bouquet class. Thank you to you bright and creative students that joined the class. Each student created lovely fresh designs,grouping in a bouquet,composite,crescent with flat cane armature, bouquets with foam holders of several styles and hand tie designs.We created with the Smithers Oasis Wire Collar which can be used in so many ways.You each have fantastic ideas, I learn from each of you.
Contact Cheryl at 612-362-3133, or cstanius-deiman@koehlerdramm.com to sign up for classes. Request a 2013 class schedule.

October 13 & 14 at South Dakota Free Fall Seminar

South Dakota State Florist Association hosts The Free Fall Seminar annually in Chamberlain South Dakota.
Most know that I was born down the road West of Chamberlain in Murdo. My mothers family is from White River, about 30 miles South of Murdo .So when anyone here at Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist says South Dakota, I am first with my hand up to go. I love it there, it is home in my heart.
On top of that geographically home, that is where floral design was introduced to me and taught to me by many many wonderful, talented ,generous kind people. When I can have the honor of giving back it is a privilege. The Florists in South Dakota are some of the best people in the world. Now that does include you James Lowe AIFD from Minot North Dakota and Damon (AIFD) and Sylvia Samuel from Omaha, Nebraska.
I knew for sure I was home when I took my daily walk on an old gravel country road, saw this lovely sunflower field, stopped,walked into the field to take these photos. After walking out I looked down and saw my pants,shoes and socks were full of sand burs!! Yes,they are alive and well. It took 15 minutes at least to pick them out. The whole time I was wondering if that is where the concept of Velcro started.
Donna and Sara Stenberg , Flandreau Flower Shop in Flandreau, South Dakota won the coveted Doug Hesnard Award of Design Excellence for the second year in a row. Go Girls, it was exquisite. All exhibits were beautiful, a hard one to judge.
Jenny Behlings,president of the association from Jenny's Floral in Custer, South Dakota won the highest level in the design competition The Pasque trophy and People Choice award. I was one of the judges for this competition, let me tell you the contestants scores were so close. You are all amazing from level one to level three. I commend all of you for stepping into the arena and doing your state association proud.

   Home again, with more great memories of my home state, the land and the people. I really love it here in Minnesota too.

October 4,1012

   We are buzzing around here at Koehler & Dramm preparing for our you, our guests this weekend at our annual Autumn/Christmas program. The showroom is almost finished. Anyone knowing Our Richard Milteer AIFD knows it will never be finished, he is always adding and improving. The fresh product is arriving for the Vendors new varieties and beautiful product. Well, it is almost " like Christmas" here in the building. Time to shop, save and prepare for your exciting time of the year.

Autumn/Winter Holidays Design Program

It is a very exciting place here ar K&D preparing for our visit from Hitomi for our annual program. The displays are fantastic, bring your camera, i pad, to take pictures of them and Hitomi's designs. There are a couple of places remaning for the class she is teaching on Monday afternoon. Call Jeanie at 612-362-3131 to reserve a place at the program and class.

Hitomi is Coming to Koehler & Dramm

If you have not heard, Hitomi is coming to Koehler & Dramm to star in our program Sunday October 1, 2012.
Hitomi is an international designer sponsored by Koehler & Dramm and Accent Decor. She is an amazing designer and even more amazing lady. Come see her, visit our exceptional Autumn/Winter showroom and supply sales area, our fresh cooler and plant and design departments, plus The Institute of Floristry. You will learn, share,laugh and be inspired .

October Hands On Wednesday

The design for the October Hands on Wednesday is an Autumn design with fresh, dried and permanent botanical. It is a centerpiece design style using the technique of stacking products. The Stacking technique uses materials to build the design from container height up to create depth, dimension and texture. The mechanics used are not specific to the style and technique ,add them to your tool box for use in your creativity.
Come join us Wednesday October 3, 2012 in the classroom at Koehler & Dramm.
Call Cheryl at 612-362-3133 to sign up and for the 2013 class schedule.