Help me plan a hands on program

[shannonlovesflowers]

So today I was one of 5 featured designers at a design show in New Mexico for the NMSFA. Totally fun...I love to do presentations.

Anyhoo-
I was asked to teach a hands-on workshop at the NMSFA convention this year.
Told them I'd think about it...

Anyhoo-
So my question is this--
If you were to take a hands on workshop what would you want to take?

and corsages and bouts done with wire is already spoken for.

Any suggestions are welcome. Please any are helpful! Even if you think it sounds silly or amateur-y I would love to hear what you would like to see at a design show.
PLEASE SPEAK UP!

Thanks

 

[Carrieann]

Shannon, is there a theme to the design class?? wedding, everyday, holiday, sympathy??? Or can it be anything??

I am always looking for new and better ways to do mechanics on any design. Especially wedding/event. Sympathy would catch my eye also, not many (up here in the boonies at least) classes on sympathy.

I'll keep thinking.

 

[sandytf]

I personally would like to learn something along the lines of "challenging" wedding bouquets. I'm thinking of requests for bouquets where you go "hmmm...how am I going to pull that off?" If you could think back on a few that you have done in that past where you needed to get creative with techniques or mechanics-I would find that helpful. (e.g. when someone wants a handtied look and you know the flowers need a water source)

Also, I have always found it intriquing to see the different treatments with foliage such as the braiding. It always looks cool and would be nice to actually be able to do it 'hands on' alongside the designer.

 

[lisa greene]

The key to a good hands-on class is the right balance of lecture and hands-on. Keep your key points sharp and really get into them. Do not try to cover too much and do not give out a handout until the class is over. I think designers are in need of color training so "color combinations that sell" might be good. "Creating a menu of best sellers for your brick and mortar" might be fun. You could talk about recipe designs to control cost that customers will actually want to buy. The hands-on class customer is looking for ways to: design better, faster and more uniquely when they get back to the shop.

 

[RWK]

I'll give you an idea for one.......one that I myself could use. Surely I'm not the only designer that has trouble MAKING an armature for designing.

Designing with an armature is no problem, as long as the armature as pre-made, but for me to stop and actually make an armature....take it from nothing to a completed armature.......stumps me every time.

 

[sandytf]

The key to a good hands-on class is the right balance of lecture and hands-on. Keep your key points sharp and really get into them. Do not try to cover too much and do not give out a handout until the class is over. I think designers are in need of color training so "color combinations that sell" might be good. "Creating a menu of best sellers for your brick and mortar" might be fun. You could talk about recipe designs to control cost that customers will actually want to buy. The hands-on class customer is looking for ways to: design better, faster and more uniquely when they get back to the shop.

You know, sometimes you think the basic stuff is TOO basic, but I think Lisa is correct about the color thing. A lot of designers without formal training have a good eye, but don't necessarily know the "why" behind what looks good.

YOu could bring in a big color wheel and then have some handouts with colorwheels on them and talk about all different color combos like split complementary, triadic, analagous etc. You could talk about tints, tones, and shades. I see tons of polychromatic designs out there that mix pastel tints with deep shades and it just doesn't look good! The hands on part would be all the different "mixing" and help them see the "why" behind what looks good and what doesn't. I did a very short version of this at my demo last weekend and the ladies really loved the information.

Also, as far as the "creating a menu for your brick and mortar" goes-make sure you know who is in your audience. It always burns me when we go to design shows and the presenter/commentator assumes everyone is from a traditional shop and goes on and on about how to "compete" with the grocery stores-when half of the audience is from a grocery store!!!

 

[jamese]

I reallly feel that Lisa has a good idea on the color development in everyday designs. We need to offer updated basic instruction for designers these days, better use of basics, creative touchs to make design stand out from others.
Be sure to know your audience, do not talk down to them, and I agree to hand outs...they are helpful to many.
Many times a hand on can run to long, and get stagnate, know your stuff when you go in, keep points clear and easy defined.
Always ask for feed back from your students, this helps you understand what you did right, and how you can improve in the future, EDUCATE them, if they signed up they are wanting to learn...Good Luck!

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

I ALWAYS have a hard time not sounding like a b**ch...aka "talking down to" I try really hard, but sometimes I forget how I come across. I will forsure need to work on that.

Please everyone keep the suggestions coming. Sorry if I don't respond right away. I am crazy nuts busy at work this week, 4 weddings and one of them is my big dog daddy!

 

[Carol Bice]

A class that I have taught several times is "Magical ways to use greenery". It is an easy class because they can do all the tricks with not a lot of room to work.

There are so many tricks with greens like the simple way to create a flower from Galax leaves to some of the really intricate designs like Phil does. I'm sure you can think of thousands of different thing to present in this lesson. And, you will be surprised at how few tricks the people in the class will already know.


Carol Bice

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Shannon, is there a theme to the design class?? wedding, everyday, holiday, sympathy??? Or can it be anything??

I am always looking for new and better ways to do mechanics on any design. Especially wedding/event. Sympathy would catch my eye also, not many (up here in the boonies at least) classes on sympathy.

I'll keep thinking.

It can be anything, I think...


I'm bumping this thread to hopefully get more responses.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Bumping again, hoping to get more ideas..
come on guys! help a sister out!

 

[wildflowerschicago]

Shannon,

I love Lisa's color idea...although most shops might not be aware that they need a refresher when it comes to color theroy...isn't pink & purple jewel tones still all the rage!?!?!

I also like the idea of a wedding workshop where you take pretty to the next level. Show them how to capture the add-on sales by kicking up their wedding work. Like you trick out your handles...bling up your corsage work...tablescape the placecard table (rather than a single arrangement). Especially since brides seem to be really shopping their florist right now, we all need that little edge to put us over the top. All the brides lately seem to have an ironclad budget...and then they add on and on and on. Just a thought.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Thanks everyone for thier responses...

But I just found out I won't be doing it after all.
darn.
I was looking forward to it.