It may not be the latest book out there being published circa 2005 but its a good design style number. There is always a place for classical always a place for traditional and Bart works on the edge of both.... yet he sends out great contemporary pieces that will last long, design wise, shares his respect for colour from blanc through rouge to moody amber and brun. We like this book for its sustainabily,style as aforementioned ,and that Bart as one of Belgium's quiet Designers teaches,is published regularly in a Floral Design magazine and he's become of late a huge Design Master and teacher in Brazil now too.... what more is there to say ?

We love the books put out by Mami Flower Design school, not only because we have visited them all at the school in Tokyo and made great friends there with the talented people and teachers but also because in a harried world these books give us great rest. The work from this school and its publications is always clear, fresh,uncontaminated and natural, despite being as clever one could say... Even if you never copy closely we are sure you will be motivated at the potential each piece suggests .If you are interested in the concept and practice of Natural Flower Supports you cannot go further than MFDSl and Keiko Okaedo one of its leading research designers...in her book she shows us collection of ways to go about securing materials in ones designs with natual materials..these secrets of nature she shares . She also makes a strong point that technique is not enough to succeed , what we must all cultivate is, an eye for discovery with the ultimate reality being that we can lead a vivid and charmed life through flowers. Sense and sensitivity, and to quote her..."the more we experience being moved the more beautiful things there are that we are able to be moved by."

This we found this book in Belgium and its excitingly from Hungary , once spied we grabbed it immediately -absolutley because of the hidden romance and mystery we just knew it would contain. and we were right. Its one of the most exciting books we have comer across this year just oozing with originality, high style ,fantasy, colour, radiance, .Is voluptuious ,sumputuious and glamourous and the photographs suggestive of a world that could be true, may not be but probably is...its cultural feast of flowers for occassions and festivities for a country not much known about except for cliches of exquisite violinists and heavily accented old world dowgers, spas, dark histories and hot goulash..but it in this book of course flowers reign supreme, grandly and with such aplomb. A cooperation between Belgian Florist Franky Bolingh and Hungarian ...its a marriage of like minds and souls and the work is as rich as you can imagine. A treat of the highest.

This we found in France . its not a new book but its good book. If you are curious about French Floral design this is a great place to begin especially in terms of Flower for weddings(and cocktail and soirees, they tell us in the introduction! ).We love the bold elegant designs which even if you live in far way New Zealand or the tip of Tasmanian which is as far from France as one can get from a certain perspective the ideas are adaptable.Joie de vivre leaps at us from some pages and wildly full and abundant bouquets, pretty hairpieces ,tiaras and corsages and lots of things for men and boys.We have our favourites we would love to wear have and hold ourselves..we are sure you will have some you would like to make too.

What can one say but hooray to another book from Moniek Vanden Berghe whom we consider to be the Contessa of Wedding flower Design in Europe..yes we do say that with assuredness ...... this is her third and latest book and it is overflowing with new ideas and the most delectable colour harmonies to ever be found in a floral design book Besides her prestige and profession as a florist we have often said she works like a Jeweler so detailed and intricate are her designs, well now add to that Painter or indeed Musician.Her selection of flowers, leaves, sprigs and berries become perfectly balanced bouquets, treasures of melodious colour and texture. Her designs and forms which we think are her signature of originality are surprising and fresh as ever.One day we mean to count how many different ideas she has and continues generously to give to the world in her way and just like her first two books . Flowers 1 and flowers 11 this ,is swarming with images cover to cover . A must- have ediiton to keep up a collection of Vanden Berghes ouvre ,the most interesting and personalized, recognizable yet intimate approach to Floristry yet.

One of the staple earlier books for Mami Flower design Schools .A nifty little volume which introduces the special MFDS approach to working with all Plant material and how to anchori it in the least obtrusive way possible. Hanakaburi, natural flower supports are easy to recognise and restful to the eye to observe and especially respectful of the materials one works with . When ever we open a book from Mami we feel a sense of correctness and appropriateness in how work. A simple book but worth its weight in gold coins and a prayer in any florists library.

Katrien Vandierendonck is a designer less known, less seen out of Belgium which has nothing to do with talents hidden..she is busy in Belgium with 101 floral occupations with a Television in programme in Belgium, odd workshops , Expo events and her delicious garden. That she has collected together a book full of ideas for out door design is to be expected fromh someones whose heart is in her garden.In Belgium the concept and decoration of an Outdoor room is as important as any indoor one and the view from the windows,taking in the outdoor furniture ,tables , topiary , art pieces, ponds are places to set dress. Accordingly in this country , a new design occupation is developing that of the Outdoor designer ..but back to the book.. Mis en scenes created by Katrien include picnics,,things for halloween even ,garden rooms (orangeries in Europe)in luscious french style, ideas for winter tables(with birds in mind) party tables and feasts and more ....Her romantic approach will catch you somewhere even if you area vowed minimalist( she has some ideas for you too). Katrien says to us "we do not only want to being natures beauty inside our homes , our nests but also give the newly invented beauty(our work ) back to her ."A lovely approach.

This is a special book not the least because its a French publication which seems to have been only found in France. Not now though we hunted it out and bring it to the fore. And Why? One its was the project of Emila Oliverio, one of the countries most interesting florists, where she has gathered a group of lesser known beyond Frances floristt colleagues , show their "art de vivre" thorough of their choice of seasonal materials. We get to see Spring, Summer ,Fall and Winter through each florist hear,s hands and eyes . Its an interesting abstract and an arresting collection of works which lift the spirt in their respect and sensitivity to nature in the simplest and charming way. No frills no trensetters extras just pure natural bouquets. This book is for florists of course but also Gardeners and flower lovers alike.

Its hard to find new words, phrases, or songs to sing in praise of the Miracle makers work....Isabel did a y good book review in the Spring issue of USA , Flower magazine 2010 you can find it on the net at www.flowermagazine.com but whatever we have to say here.... its all been said and done before by us and othere threefold.. We just add to this ..BUY y.... A Daniel Ost book is like a Chanel bag or a Gingko tree or a good Fountain pen..he too is about style quality and class in design..we cant say more and like with some of his work , using less is more...so say us.

Everyone who wants to explore the world of floristry can not do without the basics. They are even more essential for those who want to experiment! This handy book contains eleven basic techniques that every florist just has to master. All of these techniques are explained by master florist and experienced teacher Gudrun Cottenier (De Groene Verbeelding) in stepy-by-step instructions. Every technique comes with four to five compositions that show the possible variants on each theme. An indispensable manual for every florist beginner , junior, once in awhile home flower arranger or even a tired florist who needs a perk up..Gudruns design ideas are easily extendable to include you too!!

One of our most FAVOURITE finds of the year which has seen us scurry off and look for earlier titles of this stunning approach to working with cut flowers evolved through the philosophies of Keita Kawasaki.From his point of view most plants used in floral design stand naked as it were and vunnerable.(.our description!) once we have determinedly taken them from the the soil that nutures and supports them and then removed their roots so we can do what we wish with them ..in a sense give them an new enviroment and life!..

He sensitively readdresses this situation by exploring a variety of seemingly new flower rests as he calls then or flower supports, supports that one presumes have been the foundation of Japanese ikebana traditions for centuries to acheive this. To do so he shows us his arrangements with flowers and leaves, buds and blossoms leaning snugly against crossed twigs, standing strongly amogst a tracery of branches , in split bamboo places, surrounded by fine twigs, ringed in strong leaves, placed at certain angles and balanced in delicately balled root systems soft ,mosses, binding grasses..the examples go on to fufil his title , one hundred forms of Hanakaburi. His ideas and practices are refined and simple and pure in a way we wonder why we dont see more of them being used.

There is no claim by him either that that these methods are entirely original but we feel the the point is that he is directing our gaze to wards flower arranging in another way showing us, how old methods can be refreshing and worth reviving.

Perhaps by following his example we can maintain an extra sensitivity towards our materials which after our working with them allow them to shine in their own natural beauty.

$85.00

Structures (Floral Art Structures)

by Structures. A new consideres concept. French floral pair give examples of a work and then continue to show how you can redress them four different ways leaving room enought in your creativity to go further than what they present.

$45.00

BIRTHDAY calendar

$40.00

DOK MAI THAI

$70.00