FLONZI - Florists New Zealand Incorporated

For more information about Worldskills NZ, pictures and results of the 2011 competition visit their website.

Academy NZ school of floristry held a two day workshop on 8th and 9th October 2012. The use of the Academy NZ’s excellent facilities in their well equipped floristry classroom proved a winner

DAY ONE

The attendance of apprentices was a total of 13 on the two day workshop. FLONZI was thrilled to have Master Florist ALLAN JARDEN, from his CENTRAL CITY FLORIST SHOP in the South City Center, 555 Colombo Street, as their first demonstrator on day one.

Allen demonstrated funeral tributes in the morning, enthralling the apprentices with his wreath and casket making skills, explaining the elements and principals of design as he went.

In the afternoon each apprentice made their casket spray and placed the the floral tribute onto a casket that Allen had supplied, for appraisal, giving each apprentice skilled valuable aadvice, which I have no doubt they will appreciate as they continue their floristry careers.

Thank you Allen for your expertise in the floral tribute workshop – the success of which the participating apprentices will benefit from as they continue their training.

DAY TWO

Flonzi was delighted to welcome European Master Florist and designer GISLINDE FOLKETS, from Geraldine..

Gislinde enthralled the 13 apprentices with her inspiring wedding work Gislinde demonstrated the intricacies of a wristlet, which all the apprentice made in the morning and some students wore to their lunch break

Gislinde also demonstrated a wedding bouquet frame which certainly gave apprentices food for thought as they broke for lunch.

In the afternoon Gislinde wired and taped for her wedding flowers on the the wedding frame introducing exquisite accessories with outstanding creativity. Each apprentice began their interpretation of the making of the frame and the  choice of placement of the flowers and accessories.

The afternoon concluded with individual appraisal to each apprentice from this master of florist design.Thank you Gislinde for your expertise in this successful wedding workshop. You gave all apprentices a taste to inspire them as they continue their training.

Thank you to Ray (secretary FLONZI), and Culhan(FLONZI chair), which included home made scones, shortbread, filled rolls, asparagus rolls, fruit, chocolate slice, tea and coffee for morning and afternoon teas and lunches on both days, on behalf of FLONZI.

Thank you, thank you both for giving us all perfect sustenance for this creative two day weekend workshop.

Joy Knight

FEEDBACK:

Lois is raving about the training weekend and all the girls want to go next time!

Bloomers, 4 Bayview Place, Timaru

Q: What are the dimensions of the Ellerslie Torso?

Material plastic colour flesh,  Height  715mm,  shoulder width 415mm,  waistline 235mm,  buttocks 340mm,  It is hollow at the back.

Q: Can our design be from the torso down or is it just the torso?

A: The torso is a hanging torso, you will have a stand to display it on or it may hang in your shop once it is completed. You may decorate it down or all over, for instance a necklace of flowers and a material skirt, or a long flowing skirt with a floral design on top, or you can stick newspaper all over it, it is up to you what you do.

Q: For the Ellerslie torso, can we do any pre-made work for our design?

A: Yes you can pre-make any accessories; the fresh material must be completed on the day. You can bring fresh flowers of your choice for this task only; we will provide foliage and some fresh flowers, mostly fresh long lasting material to enhance your overall display. All competitors will get the same quantity of flowers and foliage. Please note, this is the only task where you can bring your own materials.

Q: Can you give me examples of the following?

1. Mixed media arrangement, is this using different flowers?

A: This is using different flowers plus produce such as lemons or onions.

2. Themed arrangement?

A: You will be able to choose your own theme for this task.

3. Mystery box?

A: Last year the mystery box contained a lampshade frame, oasis, a bowl, flowers, sticks and feathers. You use your imagination to create something imaginative.

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Phormium Tenax;

Known as Harakeke, swamp flax or common flax the most common species

leaves are stiff, often broad and can grow up to three metres

flowers are usually red

seed pods grow upright.

Phormium cookianum

known as Wharariki or mountain flax

grows along exposed coastlines and on mountain slopes

leaves are narrower and shorter, usu­ally grow up then arch downward

flowers are usually yellow or a lighter green

seed pods are droopy, twisted and hang down and become thin and papery with age.

A fan is the unit of the Harakeke plant. The way it grows led to conventions about how it could be harvested for sustainability.

The plant was seen as a family. The central shoot or rito was the baby and the leaves on either side of it the awhi rito or mātua (its parents). Only the leaves on the outside – the tūpuna, or grandparents – were cut, to avoid weakening the plant.

Only the leaves outside of these were harvested by Maori, as cut­ting the inner leaves weakens the plant and the younger leaves are not as effective for fibre or green-leaf weaving work.

Some experts believe that Harakeke grew tough to avoid being eaten up by moa or trampled by their feet. Others think it evolved to handle the harsh conditions it lives in, in swamps, on high slopes and rough coasts.

For Maori, the art of weaving is a specialised art and a way to pass on cultural values, based on respect for the mauri or life force of the natural world. Harakeke and its uses were so important to all aspects of Maori lifestyle that traditions and rituals of care and protection grew up in each hapu or iwi around the plants, the process, the weaver and the finished work.

They followed certain steps, such as not cutting Harakeke at night or in the rain when the leaves would be harder and more difficult to work with. There were customs around which leaves to harvest, to support the strength and sustainability of the plant.

One ritual that has changed in some places over time, is returning all unused cut harakeke to the base of the plant it came from to provide mulch and return nutrients to the earth as it breaks down. However, dead leaf material provides a great shelter for pests that attack the plants and it is considered better by some if the trimmings are composted or buried well away from the bushes.

There were traditions to learn around how the work was to be done which also passed along important customs and ideas. These were rules like not eating while weaving, and the importance of sticking with a particular piece of work until it was finished, so the learner could properly master the skills involved. Special flax plants were tended in a plantation (pā harakeke) and there were traditions about when and how they could be harvested.

Food and medicine

After Māori arrived in New Zealand, from around 1250, they discovered the useful properties of flax. The nectar from its flowers made a sweet drink. The roots could be crushed to make poultices for skin infections, and to produce a juice with disinfectant and laxative properties. The gum from the base of the leaves eased pain and healed wounds, especially burns. The leaves themselves could be used as bandages and to secure broken bones.

More information on flax in New Zealand http://www.alibrown.co.nz/

Here is a link to a wonderful source of information on festivals & celbrations. It has been presented by Woodlands Junior School…….

The Worldskill National  Final floristry competition was was held at the CPIT in Christchurch during the weekend. The theme was wedding work and the five competitors  were given a five tasks.

The winner was Aroha Hebbard, followed in second place by Amalia Wilson and Kirsty Autridge finished third. Congratulations to all the competitors who worked so hard and produced such excellent designs.

Images from the competition from Graham Barr photographer

Aroha receiving the gold medal

Winners leaving the podium

Kirsty (third) Aroha (first), Amalia (second)

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Here is a link to a wonderful source of information on festivals & celbrations. It has been presented by Woodlands Junior School.

Customs and Traditions in the UK

Woodlands Junior School is in the south-east corner of England

Britain is full of culture and traditions which have been around for hundreds of years. British customs and traditions are famous all over the world. When people think of Britain they often think of people drinking tea, eating fish and chips and wearing bowler hats, but there is more to Britain than just those things. We have English and British traditions of sport, music, food and many royal occasions. There are also songs, sayings and superstitions. Who was Guy Fawkes? Why does the Queen have two birthdays? You can find the answers here in our pages on life in Britain.

The best page to check out first, is a page full of questions sent in by people from around the world. Enjoy!

The American poet, Clement Mark wrote “A visit from St. Nicholas” for his children in 1882 -

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot

And he looked loke a peddler just opening his sack

His eyes – how they twinkled, his dimples so merry

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bowl

And the beard on his chin was as as white as the snow

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath

He had a broad face, and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf

And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.