The best kind of DIY project is one that looks harder to pull off than it actually was. Holiday wreaths, garlands, and swags fall into that category. All it takes is some greenery, some wire—and a few secrets from florists who are willing to share, in the spirit of the holiday season. Here's a roundup of 11 of our favorite florists who are offering workshops this month, in cities from London to LA (and in between).
Above: Photograph via Lila B. Design.
San Francisco
Lila B. Design: Baylor Chapman’s Mission District studio is filled with succulents, foraged blooms, and botanicals; she specializes in creative container gardens.
What: Botanical Wreath Making
When: December 6
Where: San Francisco Botanical Garden
Price: $35 (members of the Botanical Garden); $45 (non-members).
Sign up: Go to Lila B. Design
Above: Photograph via FloraCultural Society.
Oakland
FloraCultural Society: Shop owner Anna Campbell, a 20-year veteran of flowers who favors heirloom and rare varieties, grows her own flowers from a 2,600 square-foot garden in an Oakland parking lot.
What: Garland and Centerpiece Making classes
When: December 12 and 18, respectively
Where: 6307 College Ave., Oakland
Sign up: Call (510) 428-4973
Above: Photograph via Botany Flowers.
Los Angeles
Botany Flowers: Stephanie Schur’s bold blooms at Brentwood Country Mart have Parisian flair.
What: Swag and Wreath Decor
When: December 11
Where: Brentwood Country Mart
Price: $150
Sign up: Call (310) 394-0358
Lily Lodge: Many of Ariana Lambert Smeraldo's clients are stars in design or Hollywood (among them Commune, Tom Ford, and Johnny Depp). Her pesticide-free blooms come from local farms, including Palm Valley Growers in Chino and Robert's Dahlias from Camarillo.
What: Wreath Party
When: December 8 (drop in any time from 4 to 9 pm and Ariana will help you customize a wreath)
Where: 644 N. Robertson Blvd., LA
Price: From $75 to $250
Chicago
Sprout Home: Owner Tara Heibel moves modern design into the garden, with faceted decahedron ceramic pots and bouquets with just the right amount of wild.
What: Winter Wreathmaking
When: December 3
Where: 745 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Price: $125, includes all materials
Sign up: Go to Sprout Home
Brooklyn
James’s Daughters Flowers: Former fashion writer Lisa Przystup took up floral design last year and hasn’t looked back. You can see her penchant for “wild over-growths” and “romantic lines of the baroque period” flowers at Claire Vivier in Soho and Steven Alan in Tribeca. She also makes a guest appearance in DIY: Reclaiming an Outmoded Cut Glass Vase.
What: Holiday Wreath Workshop, hosted by And North
When: December 7
Where: Isa restaurant, Brooklyn
Price: $150, which includes brunch at Isa
Sign up: And North.
Above: Photograph by Lila B. Design.
Dallas
Stems of Dallas: Their philosophy is “Forget the synthetic stuff,” and go for “live, loose, and organic,” applied equally to wedding flowers (the specialty of the five-woman design studio) and to garlands and swag.
What: Lush Live Garlands
When: December 14
Where: At Fullosophie Studio, Dallas
Price: $119 (attendees will leave with a 6-foot-long garland)
Sign up: See Fullosophie
Detroit
Pot & Box: Responsibly sourced, the strategy is "now and nearby." Flowers come from their own cutting garden and local Michigan farms.
What: Wreath Workshop, with co-host Parsonage Events
When: December 2
Where At Willy's Detroit
Sign up: See Pot & Box
Above: Photograph by Erin Boyle from DIY on a Budget: A Silvery Holiday Wreath for $20.
Edinburgh
Pyrus: Art-school duo Natalya Ayers and Fiona Inglis are devoted to sourcing only UK flowers. They’re on record comparing Dutch roses to Pamela Anderson, which is to say, fake. They’ve imparted their love of local flowers to students, taking them cutting, foraging, and identifying weeds for arrangements.
What: Christmas Wreath-Making
When: December 11
Where: Lovecrumbs, 155 W. Port, Edinburgh
Price: £35
Sign up: Email yoohoo@lovecrumbs.co.uk
London
That Flower Shop: Owner Hattie Fox's “feral signature style” of deconstructed, artfully unruly arrangements made with local flowers is a favorite of East London’s in crowd.
What: Wreath-Making ClassWhen: December 11
Where: Shoreditch Christmas Triangle
Sign up: Email info@thatflowershop.co.uk.
Photograph via Palais Flowers.
Palais Flowers: Emma Weaver discovered floristry after working as a set designer for pop star Kylie Minogue. A proponent of British flowers, she expands the definition of arrangements to leverage her set design experience. Miley Cyrus is a fan.
What: Bespoke Wreath Workshops
When: December 10 and December 17
Where: London
Price: £65 per session (which includes Lily Vanilli refreshments, and festive props galore: bells, fruits, and bows. "I love tassels," says Emma.)
Sign up: Email Palais Flowers
Don't see a class near you? Try one of our DIYs from Christmases past:
- A Very Chartreuse Christmas in a Tiny Apartment
- A Succulent Wreath to Display All Year
- Simple Advent Wreaths Made from Foraged Flora
And if you're in San Francisco on December 13, please join Michelle for a holiday ornament workshop, co-hosted by Terrain, at Remodelista Market. For more details or to RSVP, go here.
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