Flowers | cheriecity.co.uk

London Flower School Opens at Kings Cross

June 1, 2017 by cheriecity

Last week, I had the chance to take a look around the newly-opened London Flower School at Kings Cross. Housed in a beautifully-renovated former factory, London Flower School is an inspiring place to learn all aspects of floristry, from artistic techniques to the business side.

Founded by Wagner Kreusch, former Head Tutor at McQueens Flower School, and Helen Dyson, an experienced teacher and florist, the school brings something different to the industry with a unique approach.

Helen told me that the school’s signature style is ‘modern and fresh with arrangements that are quite open and free, rather than a typically rounded shape”. Not only are their floral designs wild and vibrant, but the flowers are simply exquisite.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced florist seeking inspiration, London Flower School offers a range of expert-led courses. Start with an intensive one-week foundation course, learn how to create eye-catching displays for weddings and events or take floristry to a professional level with a four-week career course.

London Flower School has only just opened, so keep an eye out for more courses and events. They’re also super-friendly and happy to chat all things flowers to see what takes your interest.

For more information and booking, visit: www.londonflowerschool.com

All photos by Chérie City

Christmas, Flowers

Aromatherapy Associates Flower Workshop

December 20, 2016 by cheriecity

At the beginning of the festive season, I was invited by Aromatherapy Associates and Only Roses for an afternoon of flower arranging at Carousel in Marylebone. It’s not often that you get the chance to zone out from daily demands and dedicate a few hours to a creative project, so this afternoon of mindfulness was a real treat.

I joined a small group of lifestyle bloggers in the upstairs events room for Prosecco, delicious canapés, warm madeleines and freshly-baked cookies, as well as a look at the Aromatherapy Associates Christmas collection before sitting down for the masterclass.

Our tutor showed us how to make a stylish Christmas centrepiece and we proceeded to snip away at asparagus ferns, eucalyptus and exquisite white roses, fixing them into an oasis inside a presentation box and finishing with festive baubles.

The last time I tried my hand at flower arranging was with McQueens six years ago and this masterclass was a reminder of how fun it can be. It’s super easy to have a go, although I must admit that my arrangement had a few final tweaks from the tutor to make it look less chaotic. I also liked how everyone’s arrangements looked so different and unique, as we were given free reign with the design.

Saying that, it takes real skill and experience to get that perfect look, so it’s worth investing some time and practicing regularly. Maybe it could be a New Year’s resolution?

To continue the relaxation at home, we were treated to an adorable Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil and Revive Mini Candle from the Christmas collection. I’ve always been a fan of the brand and I just love the Revive range’s uplifting and zesty citrus aromas. Essential oils of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper invigorate the skin and really help wake you up, reading for the day.

If you’re looking for last-minute Christmas presents, give the gift of mindfulness with Aromatherapy Associates and Only Roses.

All photos by Chérie City

Flowers

Bloomon – The Hip Flower Delivery Service

August 15, 2016 by cheriecity

One of my favourite weekend rituals is to pick up some fresh flowers to brighten up our home. I tend to go for simple bunches of peonies, roses, hydrangeas or carnations (I’m so with Carrie Bradshaw on the charm of the humble carnation), but my routine was in need of a shake up. So, it was a real treat to receive an original and truly creative flower bouquet from Bloomon.

Bloomon is the innovative flower delivery service that’s got people talking and enjoying gorgeous flowers on a regular basis in London. Originating in Amsterdam, Bloomon cuts out the middlemen, offering the freshest possible flowers from growers in the Netherlands to your door.

More impressive, however, is the exquisite design and curation of each bespoke bouquet. Every flower tells a story and is a thing of beauty – in fact, some were so unusual, I don’t think I’d ever seen them before. You can really tell that the bouquets are made with love.

My New Bohemian bouquet was simply breathtaking and I was so excited to unwrap such an amazing gift. It arrived in a big brown paper gift bag, to accommodate the large modern glass vase, and a colourful paper sleeve with some handy tips written inside to help prolong the life of your flowers.

I have to admit, I struggle with keeping blooms happy – assuming they can fend for themselves and ending in emergency flower CPR and lots of guilt. So, Bloomon’s advice was really helpful, I just had to put it into practice.

The New Bohemian bouquet was romantic and free-spirited, filled with flowers such as a coral-pink peony, dusky pink rose, bluebell, red carnation and the more exotic curcuma, clematis, astrantia, brodiaea and scabiosa. The attractive colour palette was a mix of blues, pinks and purples with flashes of vibrant green and yellow.

So, how does Bloomon work exactly? You can order online and receive a bouquet weekly, fortnightly or monthly and change the pace whenever you wish. There are three sizes of bouquet to choose from, with the option of adding a modern glass vase, and your flowers will then be delivered conveniently within an allocated one-hour time slot.

Bloomon’s wild and soulful flowers are the perfect way to treat yourself, learn about different types of flowers and find inspiration. I’m already craving another bouquet to fill that big glass vase.

For more information and to order your own Bloomon bouquet, visit: www.bloomon.co.uk

All photos by Chérie City