Italian grandeur in floral art

From May 20 to 25, the beautiful Italian Amalfi Coast was the
setting for the prestigious workshop La Bella Vita. Here Per Benjamin, Max van de Sluis and Vincenzo Antonuccio presented an
international floral wedding and event experience in floral art.

'From the impermanence of flowers comes much beauty'

Floral artist Franca Logan-van den Berk is originally from the Netherlands from where, via Canada and England, she ended up in New Zealand where she has been living for the past eighteen years. She still speaks Dutch well but prefers the English language for answering the interview questions. Her passion for the trade is undeniable: "Flowers are my livelihood and also my hobby.

Wavy

Holes were drilled at random on two wooden boards into which copper welding wires of different lengths were inserted to create a wave. Small glass tubes are attached to the ends with tie-wraps. Stripped Asparagus branches form the airy base. Inserted into the tubes are Gloriosa 'Exotic Orange,' Asclepias 'Soulmate,' Anemone 'September Charm' and Briza media.

'Nature is packed with wonderful materials'

'An ode to nature! In all its design, color and growth.' Freelance floral stylist Thijs Harmens is distinctly enthusiastic about the Lush Natural Elegance theme. 'During our vacation to Bali, last June, I got enormous inspiration from the design of hotels but also the way of life and the unspoiled nature with all its beautiful plants, flowers and fruits.'

'As a freelancer I work with all kinds of materials. Fashion, nature, flowers but also the shape of a vase can be inspiring. I get motivation from my environment and how people are constantly innovating, developing and thinking about the future. That makes me think how to contribute in a positive way without compromising what I stand for. Previously I was very concerned with what others would think of it, now I increasingly follow my own feelings.'

'Besides ordering cultivated flowers, I also looked at what grows here in Zwolle. Nature is full of beautiful shapes and materials. I like to work with dahlias, roses and, if possible, fragile flowers with small details.'

'Plants play a big role'

'Deep reds and bordeaux may be seen,' says floral designer Hanneke Frankema, 'with accents in gold, cream or white tones and undergrounds with an oil lustre or mother of pearl you make it special. Pronounced color and powerful design: the Lush Natural Elegance theme doesn't need much.'

'Within this theme, plants and organic forms play a major role. These can be distinctive strong leaf shapes but also flowers with special special shapes that often match each other beautifully. Think of the Guzmania, Gloriosa, Phalaenopsis but also certainly Celosia, with which as a florist you can really make a statement.'

Everyone knows it: you have nice vases but they are missing a corner or the paint is peeling off. But you don't want to throw them away, so they often sit gathering dust in the cupboard. Yet they offer many possibilities if you think out of the box and give them new life by pimping them up. For example, I have applied dark red and gold accents to pots and vases with self-adhesive mourning ribbon made of woven fabric. A product for which I see many other uses.' 

On discovery

Oasis TerraBrick Floral Media was placed in a beautiful handmade bowl. All processed flowers were first carefully cleaned after which all flower heads were processed at one height and only by stitching technique. Many beautiful varieties in colors to match the theme have been incorporated into the spherical disk shape. Discover chrysanthemums, Zantedeschia, Sanguisorba, Guzmania, dill, Talinum, Dianthus, lisianthus, Rudbeckia, grasses and Clematis fluff.