Christmas Flower Classes 2012

Susanna from Tiger Rose was here last week, running two very popular Christmas Wreath classes.

This is our 6th year, and its lovely to see both old and new faces, I know some of you come back year after year because it really signifies the start of your Christmas season, a bit of joy and relaxation before the hard work starts!

Susanna started the morning demonstrating a few different Christmas Wreaths, and in true Blue Peter style, she had the wreath done in the various stages, so we could see the entire process.

Over coffee everyone had the opportunity to look at flower books and press cuttings whilst Susanna and I rearranged the room.

There were piles of beautiful foliage, in shades of green and silvers, three different types of eucalyptus (my favourite), hibiscus and berries.  In baskets, we had piles of cones, fruits, moss and cinnamon to choose from.

Susanna showed everyone how to wire the fruit, and also how to use ribbons, by either shaping a lovely wired bow or threading it in and out of the foliage.

For the rest of the morning, everyone worked really hard creating their wreaths.

We had a break for lunch, for the wreath classes this week we had a lovely winter warmer soup; carrot, chestnut and sage with home made bread, followed by a gorgeous Mary Berry gingerbread pudding with toffee sauce. 

After lunch Susanna showed us some more Christmas decorating ideas, talked about dressing different areas of the home and showed us how to wire a garland for a mantlepiece or staircase.

We had a very successful two days, below are some more wreaths that will be adorning some beautiful doors, homes and special places this Christmas. 

If you made one of these wreaths, please could you send me a photo of it looking gorgeous and festive on your door.

Susanna will be back at Treetops next year.

Happy Christmas!

Christmas Cupcakes 2012

We had our Christmas Cupcake Classes on Saturday. beautiful smells of orange zest, mixed spice and rum filled the kitchen.

To see more photographs from the day, please visit the Colourful Cupcakes Blog

Tuesday's Winter Scene Watercolour

Again, a Winter Scene day, with some artists going off-piste and painting their own masterpieces.

Several of our artists are having their paintings made into Christmas Cards, they will look great.

This was our last Watercolour Class for the year.

Bookings are being taken for our Spring Classes.

Dates are HERE

We've got a great selection of subjects, and are also having an Introduction to Pastels on 14 February.

Monday's Winter Scene Watercolour

It's that time of year again for our popular Winter Scene Watercolour Class.

We've painted some very pretty snowy scenes over the years.

This week was a little welsh picture.

It was really enjoyable to paint, once we'd mastered vanishing points, perspective and the use of masking fluid.

Again, Claire manages to cover a variety of skills whilst teaching in a step by step style which makes it really enjoyable and (mostly!) stress free!