Upcoming classes at Institute of Floristry

Day Wedding Celebration---February 20-24
Day Wedding Ceremony---February 27-27
Day Basic Design---March 5-8
Day Today's Tribute--( Sympathy and larger designs) March 12-14
Evening Business Basics---( Required to graduate with the Diploma) March 5,6,8,13,14,15
Evening Bridal Bouquet---March 5,6,8,13,14,15

Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist Spring Wedding Show with Rane Van Rems, World class designer Sunday March 4, 2012

Professional Floral Designer of The Year phase II Design Competition will be at Minneapolis Home and Garden Show Saturday evening on the main stage. Come watch the creativity of the 6 talented finaists. Vote for your personal favorite finished design for Peoples Choice winne

Timi

I received a note from Timi, they were in Amsterdam, excited to be back to visit with her and Tamas's family. Each day we are closer to having them back.We will have updates from her .

Class at Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center

Class today was excellent at www.cafac.com with Heather the instructor. This was our fourth week. Week one and two was filled with safety and learning about respecting the products and tools, experimenting with the torches. The third week , more education and practice, and declaration of our projects. Last week we had a field trip to Ambles Machinery , 2109 South Cedar Ave. Minneapolis 55412, to find materials to create with. It is an amazing fun place to be , Jim the owner knows everything he has and where it is.
I choose some steel rods and a sheet of steel to make vessels to design in. I have always wanted to create something with steel and welding. I was going to make a headboard for my bed, the vessels are something I can finish in the 10 week class period.
Week four Heather introduced us to the grinder, drill press,cutters,blades,tools, I love tools. I measured and cut out my steel bases with the torch cutter. My cuts are very creative, not straight. I will practice on straight.Then she showed me how to run the drill press and put holes in each base. Next week I will secure the poles in the bases and begin to cut the steel for the vases. I will take pictures.
Stop by CAFAC in the old Nokomos theatre building at 3749 Chicago Ave. Minneapolis 55407. There is a gift and display area plus a darling Irish lass to guide you in your visit .I recommend highly looking into taking classes. The facility is a bit over a year old and still growing, adding new classes .
Love those sparks, they are many patterns and colors.

Ardith at Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center

Something that I have always wanted to do, thought of for so long is to take a class to learn how to weld, solder, braise to make my own vessels to design in. The Chicago Ave Fire Arts Center www.cafac.com is located on Chicago Avenue in the old Nokomos Theatre building. There are classes day, evening and weekends. Look at their website for more information. They have an area they show and sell all type of fire art projects from jewelry to stained glass to sculptures.

There are 8 students to a class, men and women of all ages and skill levels. This is another reason it is so fun. The main focus is safety, education and creating. Everything you will need is there. Each student chooses the project they want to complete within the 10 week class schedule. We went on a wonderful field trip to Ambles Machinery and Hardware to choose the materials for our individual projects. Heather, the instructor is with us each step for guidance and direction.This week , number 4 we begin our projects. Up to now we are learning about safety procedures and practicing with the tools and torches. My " butt weld" was the best one in class, by my own judgement. My torch cutting and soldering need some practice. Some I say--no a lot !!!

The outfits are interesting, nothing matches, and everything is for safety. In my imagination I see a line of welding clothes. There are burn holes in them, no open tears,just lots of little holes, boots, and gloves with gauntlets are the best. The safety glasses and # 5 shade glasses are not pretty, but are necessary. Cotton, not synthetic fibers for everything. Go to a second hand store, or your closet, find the painting ,gardening,cleaning the garage clothes,anything is good.

I will post the progress of the project.

Thank you to Duane Boom, one of my friends and students for sharing Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center information with me.

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