I flew into LAX for the sole purpose of renting a car and driving to Santa Barbara via the Coastal Highway. It was stunning! The weather was overcast but still warm enough for me to enjoy the views, take in the sea salt smell, and listen to the dreamy crashing of waves.
Pointe Dume State Beach, Malibu, CA
El Matador State Beach, Malibu, CA
After only a couple hours drive, I made it to The Fess Hilton Resort, Santa Barbara. Gorgeous! From my patio I saw the ocean to my right and the mountains to my left. Stunning.
Day 1 of Florabundance Design Days started with a breakfast at the Florabundance wholesale floral warehouse, followed by a presentation by BJ Dyer (Bouquets, Denver) about Design Master spray's. After BJ's presentation, we learned about David Austin Garden Roses...
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Next, it was into the Florabundance bus and off to Dos Pueblos Orchid Farm for lunch followed by floral designer, Holly Chappel, teaching "Sexy Centerpieces."
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Megan Sorel
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Awesome swag of floral tools!
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
Holly Chappel
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Prepping!
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
I got to chat it up with Holly a bit; she's very knowledgeable, talented, and motherly!
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Here is my finished "Sexy Centerpiece"
Photo by: Megan Sorel
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
Model: Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
As the sun was beginning to set and everyone was finishing up with their designs, we walked down to the bluffs for grilled pizza and wine during a breath taking sunset
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
Day 2 was back at Dos Pueblos Orchid Ranch for more design fun! Kim Curtis with Toast was our first presenter - "Bouquets & Bouts"
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Megan Sorel
Photo by: Megan Sorel
My bouquet held by the stunning model, Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Model: Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Photo by: Winter Creative Co.
After lunch, we watched Sue McLeary with Passion Flower and Francoise Weeks design Flower Jewelry and Purses.
It was such pleasure meeting Sue! She was really sweet and incredibly creative! While she was at Design Days, she created a shoulder piece, a flower boa, and flower "hat." Amazing talent!
My floral necklace
Model: Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Model: Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Floral Bracelet
Model: Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
Succulent Bracelet
Model: Cari Funkhauser
Photo by: Amanda Dumouchelle
After arriving back at the resort, a group of about 15, including Susan McLeary and Holly Chappel, of us sat together for dinner chit-chatting and talking flowers. So much fun!
Day 3, I decided to get a quick breakfast and head down to the Beach (across the street), to reflect and take in the ocean. (The ocean is my soul song - it helps to cleanse, refresh, and renew my mind. It calls to me every 6 months or so.... I always try to listen to it.)
This day, we head to the Rincon Beach House to hear Hitomi Gilliam speak about Arches, Chandeliers and Hangings. Her thought process includes: "Mind like water." Water can go anywhere no matter the obstacles. She believes in creating things as nature would... not doing anything that one wouldn't find in nature.
I was able to hear most of Hitomi's lesson and eat lunch; but then started feeling terribly under the weather. Right as we were beginning to get hands-on with designing these large scale pieces, I had to head back to the hotel. Later realizing that I had food poisoning. A few other attendee's also ended up with food poisoning also, which is a complete bummer. I ended up missing the farewell dinner as well that night. The flight home the next morning wasn't too pleasant, but alas I made it. Here are some photos of what I missed from the third day... All following photos by Amanda Dumouchelle
Hitomi Gilliam
Using a lamp from IKEA!
Terrace backdrop
Drift wood chandelier
Another drift wood chandelier
Hanging installation of similar garland and Gloriosa Lily's
Photo by: Megan Sorel
All in all, I had a blast. I had a great roommate, Alyse from Maryland; met lots of cool people, and played with some amazing floral product. I would recommend this workshop to any floral designer wanting to try something different and step out of their comfort zone.
