Flower School

Packed with ideas, skills and techniques, 'Flower School' enables you to explore the latest trends in floral design, and learn colour-arranging skills by assimilating Paula's signature style of cutting-edge floristry. This is a practical and inspirational source book of floral designs and techniques for those who would like to recreate the essence of Paula Pryke Flowers at home or for a special event. Simple text and step-by-step instructions for every project make even the most ambitious floral design work achievable. Originally trained as a teacher, Paula is a natural instructor and has the ability to explain professional floral techniques and to inspire a bold approach to colour that is the hallmark of her success. Signature Style: To begin the course, we examine the defining characteristics of Paula's flower style by analysing a selection of 'signature displays'. This will include hand-tied bouquets, grouping flowers, the unusual use of accessories and using unusual containers. Design Rules: Here Paula explains the fundamental rules that underpin all her floral designs and formed the basis of her classic floristry training. These golden rules include clever visual tricks, like how to balance the proportions of the flowers with the container, using odd numbers of flower stems rather than even, and how to tailor the shape of the display to the site. Colour Concepts: This chapter explains how to use flower colour for maximum visual impact the 'Paula Pryke way'. A host of projects demonstrate different colour concepts. Paula also takes time to explain the effect green foliage has on petal colour and the overall display, and why massing flower-heads together to achieve pure colour intensity is such a successful device. Equipment and flower preparation: As well as floristry tools, equipment and advice on conditioning your flower stems before use, Paula takes time to explain why certain items such as florist's wires, tape and foam are of use when constructing floral di