 Florists celebration of fresh ideas and chocolate dipped roses  |
Florists celebration of fresh ideas and chocolate dipped roses
CAFRE’s Celebrations event at Greenmount Campus certainly proved a night to remember for all those involved in the Northern Ireland floristry industry. Florists from across the country met to celebrate ten years of floristry training at Greenmount, catch up with friends and get inspiration for the future. Local flower wholesalers had the opportunity to meet their customers and display their latest seasonal supplies at the evening trade event in Greenmount’s Cyber Cafe. The highlight of the evening was the design show by leading Dutch designer, Miranda ter Voorde. Miranda, a Dutch Master Florist, captivated a packed audience with her stunning designs for bridal bouquets, floral jewellery, hat designs and an array of autumn and winter table arrangements suitable for a range of celebrations. Among her creations were a selection of floral cakes with chocolate dipped Avalanche roses, stands of hydrangea and pansy cup cakes, simple vase arrangements using cyclamen flowers, bouquets featuring freesia and callas, and an exquisite woollen bridal bag with trailing Vanda Black Magic. During the show Miranda demonstrated the use of bloom chrysanthemums, photina, rosehips and hydrangea, all grown at Greenmount as part of CAFRE’s cut flower and foliage technology projects, in her designs. She commented, “The quality and range of locally produced flowers and foliages available to Northern Ireland florists is superb. It is a pleasure to work with such materials, some of which are not available through the Dutch markets.” The Celebrations event also aimed to promote local talent through two design competitions. The In with the New Competition, sponsored by the Greenmount Association Floristry Club, was open to all current and graduate floristry students and was won by Nigel Close of Memento Flowers and Gifts, Carryduff. Miranda ter Voorde judged the competition for which students were asked to create a body adornment for a guest to wear to a New Year’s Eve party. The Celebrate your Skills Competition was open to all flower shop owners and their employees and was sponsored by the Northern Ireland Retail Florist Association. The winning designer was Wendy McKay of Sally’s Floral Studio, Ballymena, and the judge for this competition was leading local florist, Theresa Quinn NDSF AIFD, Designs by Theresa, Pomeroy. Ian Titterington, Deputy Director of CAFRE, said “I’m delighted to bring together so many florists and industry representatives to celebrate a very successful first ten years of floristry training at Greenmount. It is a pleasure to see you here and I know you will have been inspired by this event and Miranda’s outstanding designs.” View details of floristry courses at Greenmount Campus, or email enquiries to: enquiries@cafre.ac.uk or freephone: 0800 0284291.
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