Welcome to Your Free Lesson
LOVED THIS LESSON? GET $228 OFF THE ENTIRE COURSE HEREWoodland Vase Centerpiece
Supplies: Power drill, vase, chicken wire, zip ties, OASIS cold glue, bind wire, end cutters, moss, wood
Materials: Passion vine, foliage of geranium, cosmos and late-season raspberries, buds of hibiscus, green cherry tomatoes, pieris, ferns, dehydrated mushrooms, acorns, bark, lichen, succulents, asclepia, crab apples, palm tree berries, seedpods of love-in-a-puff, hibiscus, kousa dogwood, queen anne's lace, belemcanda, ivy, pieris, peonies, sumac and cardiocrinum
Prepare the base of your design: Find a vase of your liking to use as your base and fill it with water. Note that the vase is an integral part of the design here, so choose something you'd love to show off! Take a small piece of chicken wire and connect the two ends together with some bind wire to create a tunnel. I used three pieces of bind wire here, but depending on the size of chicken wire needed for your design, you may need more or less. Cut the excess bind wire. Your chicken wire will need to fill up the inside of your vase, so adjust accordingly.
Secure the piece of wood atop your vase: Take your wood (preferably with an attractive shape) and thread your zip ties through the holes you drilled earlier. Connect your chicken wire to the underside of the wood using the zip ties and cut off the excess. Fit the wire snugly inside your vase with the wood resting atop the opening. The wood serves as your surface to attach your textures and botanicals to while the chicken wire gives your stems stability and shape inside the vase.
Decorate with textures and botanicals: I used passion vine for movement and whimsy, various foliage, and even some vegetation for color and textural variety.
“It's hard to put into words how fantastic Françoise is as a teacher and a designer. She's truly changed the way I look at floral design. There's no one that looks at botanical materials the way that Françoise does.”
Alison Ellis
So what's this course about?
These past few years, a growing number of florists in the industry have become increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of floral foam. Did you know that one block of floral foam is the equivalent of ten plastic shopping bags? That being said, its popularity is understandable. It's lightweight, easy to cut and mold, and can even be used as a water source. Knowing all of these things though, I got to thinking. I wanted to ditch the foam without losing any of the benefits, and what I've come up with are foam-free designs that have structure, shape, and above all, they support materials that require a water source.
I’ve translated these mechanics into four gorgeous woodland-inspired centerpieces. These lessons were designed to inspire, teach you new mechanics, and help you build your repertoire so you may offer more to your clients and grow your knowledge of, and confidence in, floristry.
Let's Start At the Beginning
What will this course teach you?
If you haven't taken any of my previous courses, don't worry! Sustainable Woodlands is totally accessible to all ranges of floral design experience and skill. In this course, you will learn how to create four unique foam-free centerpiece designs. These lessons were developed using my latest mechanics and techniques to create structure, shape, and above all, to support materials that require a water source...all without using floral foam.
I hope this new series will spark your curiosity and open your eyes to seeing the possibilities of environmentally conscious design.

Want to see what you'll master?

Vase
This piece turns the ordinary into something extraordinary by using one of my best kept secrets. Chicken wire.

Discs
This centerpiece involves wooden discs, joined to support a natural water source and a variety of botanical materials.

Bark
Bringing the natural world to your table, I've created a design with one of my favorite design materials: bark.

Reeds
Woven reeds provide drama, but there's a few materials that may surprise you: tomatoes and romanesco.
“Françoise has taught me to be curious, to cultivate my artistic voice and I've really learned to see the floral and plant world with new eyes. She will inspire you and continue to elevate the world of floral design ever more!”
Susan McLeary
I can't wait to see what you make!
This is a wonderful time of year to find and use woodland materials and to practice and share your creations with family, friends, and clients. Taking time for yourself to pursue what you love and learn new skills is a fantastic way to reinvigorate your passion and expand your floral offerings.
Post your design creations on social media, and use the hashtag #francoisewoodlands for a chance to be featured! Voilà!

Don't forget to check out my other courses!
From Woodland Design to Botanical Wearables, I have a wide selection of online tutorials to explore. All of my courses will help elevate your craft, with a continued focus on the underlying mechanics that make every design creation truly sing.
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