BFA Christmas Event @ New Covent Garden October 2009
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29 October 2009
At the crack of dawn yesterday Christmas officially started at the New Covent Garden Flower Market, the traders had their Christmas previews on new products for the festive season, the BFA held their RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year Competition for the Over 25’s and Under 25’s and had demonstrations from various floral designers for inspirations for Christmas Designs.Mary-Jane and I like real troopers set off to attend the event at 5.30am yesterday morning, to enter some pieces for the competition, to mingle with some of the UK’s most famous Floral Designers including one of my flower school teachers Judith Blacklock (You may have seen her on Channel 4’s Kirsty’s Homemade Homes) and to see the demonstrations. Judith has asked me to come up with two designs for her Step by Step feature in her Flower Arranger Magazine so keep your eyes peeled.
The competition brief was to create a funeral piece for a keen gardener using mainly fresh flowers & foliage. Girl Flower Entered 5 pieces two in the Junior Section & Three in the Over 25’s. The competition was at a very high standard unfortunately we didn’t win but there's always next year! We achieved high scores in both categories. The designs we entered can be viewed below & in our gallery.
MJ's Entry 
Lorraine's Entry
Carly's Entry
Phoebe's Entry
Clare's Entry
It is a good idea to attend the market at least every few months; it gives us florists a way of seeing new flower & foliage varieties. Yesterday I found a new variety of Leucadendron, it is silver in colour and has a furry feel to the bracks, a little like lambs ear. I couldn’t resist the temptation of buying a few stems and bringing them back to the shop to share them with the team. They would be great to use in Christmas Designs either as they are or by manipulating them by removing the leaves and pinning them onto a design. They would add a new dimension to designs as well as a texture you would want to stroke.
The market was a real hive of activity yesterday morning, with the Christmas lights glowing and festive tunes playing it did create a fantastic atmosphere. There were many displays for table settings and shop window ideas, just as the Birmingham trip is truly inspired some great designs to hit the Girl Flower shop in the coming weeks.
