Let the training begin .........

Aroha to London – question 1
New York Fashion Week - Michael Kors - Clutch

2011 is going to be an exciting year for us!
As mentioned in previous blogs Aroha has won the title of New Zealands top apprentice florist and now has the opportunity to represent NZ in London at the Worldskills competition in October.
I have been selected as the New Zealand Floristry skill expert and will be going too!!! SO EXCITING!!!
But before we can plan our shopping in between competitions we have some MAJOR work to do! Just as an Olympic athlete prepairs and trains so must we, it is such an honour to represent our Country and wear the silver fern.
For every month between now and October I am setting Aroha a Task / Question!

This is her first ......... I promise to post a picture of her design, feel free to add your ideas!


ITEM: Design a clutch for one of Michael Kors Models who will be modelling a gown at New York fashion week. The gown is mid thigh in length and mostly silver sequins.
You need to construct the frame for the clutch, show & perfect the technique you used to make the frame, sketch the clutch as a finished result. Diary date shown when and for how long you’ve worked on the project, all notes, all sketch’s leading up to the design, description and list of flowers & foliage's you intend to use on the completed design.

FINISH DATE: 8th January 2011

THE THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR: – attention to detail, construction method/ good technique, how well the design works with the theme, out of the box – WOW factor (not just pretty but imaginative)
I am here to help!! If you need to check anything along the way!

ADVICE TO YOU: – Research: clutches history of clutch’s, modern clutches / handbags, & Michael Kors, New York Fashion week, jewellery design etc

HAVE FUN!!

Christmas @pink poppie 2010

Christmas is just around the corner - 9 weeks!!!! Time to start thinking about your decorations for this year ..... pop in and check our gorgeous range! Have a chat to us about your christmas table, how you would like it to look and the centre piece for this year! we have some awesome idea's.
Christmas is such a special time to spend with family and friends why not make it extra special.
P.S We can take your order for Christmas lilies anytime you like to save you missing out!

Best Apprentice Florist in NEW ZEALAND!!!

Aroha started here as my good friends little sister needing an after school job, she was great at processing the flowers and changing the water etc (she had the work ethic lacking in most her age) so when a position of a full time apprentice came up I offered Aroha the position, Her reaction "Nooooo I couldn't do that" mine "are you sure, go on I think you could" Her's "Noooo" so I went ahead and employed another girl and within a few days Aroha popped into the shop to say that she wished she had taken up the job offer!!!!! I nearly donked her on the head!!! well as it happened the new apprentice decided floristry was not her thing and Aroha began as my apprentice soon after.
From not knowing the difference between a Gerbera and a Lily - Aroha has come such a long way and three years later an a few competitions has been awarded NZ's best apprentice florist at the World skills Competition.
Next step the World Competition in London next year..... we'll keep you posted

Hi.... ooops haven't blogged in a while! here's whats happening at pink poppie!!

Even though we are currently in the middle of a storm the size of Australia! the flowering plants are blooming as if we were basking in beautiful sunshine!
Hydrangeas, Bromilides, Gardenias & Phalenopsis Orchids and all stunning at the moment and are a nice reminder that we are supposed to be experiencing Spring! shhhh ..... the cut flowers don't seem to have noticed either and are stunning, all the beauty's of Spring and early summer are just gorgeous and are just getting on with flowering even though we have had more rain than anyone can believe for this time of year!
Kimberley and I have been so inspired by all the gorgeous flowers arriving daily, the colours just seem so vivid and we have just had a new shipment of glass wear and fabrics, ribbons and beautiful papers to enhance our designs, such fun! oh and we have just had in a fresh range of Rima Herber cards that are proving so popular, this lot is even more gorgeous than the last!
Whats been happening at pink poppie??? well Aroha is due back from a two week Holiday on the Gold Coast ( she will freeze when she gets off that plane ) We hope shes had a lovely relaxing time because she is straight back into the big National World Skills final Competition to determine who will represent NZ in London 2011 ... we are so excited and will keep you posted!
Rosie and I are off to do a gorgeous wedding down the sounds next weekend, I will be sure to get some pictures but I will give you a little hint - think, whimsical/elegant fresh, spring butter / lemon yellows and crisp white at a beautiful resort and very intimate! eeek can't wait!!!!
So many stunning weddings coming up ......watch out for pictures.

Daffodil Day ....... we need to fight back against cancer!

At the end of this week - on Saturday the 28th August is Daffodil day!!
We are ALL effected by Cancer and this is the day that we ALL need to dig deep to donate what we can!
pink poppie will be donating 10% of every sale this week!!!

For flowers - This is MY FAVORITE time of year! We have got through those horrible winter months where the flowers are in short supply, they are over the top expensive and variety is non existent! Winter is when our years of experience and creative skills are needed most to make every special bloom shine! Now that the days are are warming up,the spring flowers are becoming more available and the prices are coming back down to planet earth it's time for the blooms to do some work themselves...... simplistic little posies of Early Cheer, Bouquets of the brightest yellow Daffodils, Bowls brimming with perfumed Daphne, Tall glass vases of Iris's .... it all screams SPRING !!!!
It's time to treat yourself!!!
For all of you that would like a chance to win yourself or a friend or family member that lives in Marlborough a beautiful spring handtied - share this blog post on your facebook page. Leave us a little message on our facebook page so we know you have entered. Winner drawn 18th August - we will post the winners name on our facebook page. Good Luck

Mother Nature & I

It can have you on the edge of you seat sometimes ........ organizing flowers for big corporate events! In the past month we have been contracted to do some amazing projects!
Coming up with a concept - selling it to event coordinator's, ordering the flowers, vases etc, and then creating the picture that you have in your head! if everything you have organised goes to plan it's great but when dealing with flowers - you basically have to rely one one lady whom from time to time can have little mood swings..... Mother Nature!!!! most the time she's really good to me and we are the best of friends.... that is until last Wednesday.......
There was a little glitch a spider had decided to hitch a ride with these stunners and fancied a trip to NZ (who knows why in this cold weather) -and this resulted in the imported Purple Orchids held up at MAF for a few day's I am sure is just another little way way that Mother Nature was letting me know who's boss! They arrived - They were Gorgeous! and well M.N and I we're OK - still friends ....till next time she has a little tantrum!