I’m still amazed at what I have to offer today as a special giveaway! I’ve been so excited about sharing it with you and, finally, today’s the day I can reveal it to you. Some of you might remember a post I wrote about Françoise Weeks last month…if you missed it, you can read it here. Françoise is a master at creating unique woodland designs, whimsical bouquets and floral purses. In addition to her amazing talent, Françoise has a heart for sharing her knowledge with other designers and is one of the kindest, most approachable designers I’ve met. We’ve exchanged many emails about her passion for teaching others and, so, she has decided to offer a seat in her 3-day Wedding Workshop (August 15-17 from 9am – 4 pm) to one Botanical Brouhaha reader! Imagine…

Arriving at Françoise’s personal studio in Portland, Oregon…

…spending the first hour each morning talking with Françoise about business related issues…proposals,contracts, networking, etc.…

…spending the remainder of the morning and afternoon hearing Françoise’s design ideas, learning mechanics (all the stuff we never find info about in books) and then having plenty of hands-on time to make arrangements….

Doesn’t that sound awesome?! Some of the topics she will cover in the wedding workshop include:

Reception Flowers

Observe what’s involved in consultations, proposals and contracts. Design elements for the reception, including centerpieces, arrangements for buffets and mantles, cake decorations.

Ceremony Flowers

Here you’ll get a look at the intricacies of sourcing, ordering and pricing flowers. Find out why streamlining workload is essential. Design elements for the ceremony, including altar, candelabra and pew arrangements, and chuppah decorations.

Personal Flowers

How does Françoise come up with new ideas and how does she promote her passion? Design flowers for the wedding party, including the bridal and bridesmaid’s bouquets, head wreaths, pomanders, corsages and boutonnieres.

Each workshop is limited to 4 students to ensure you get plenty of individual attention and each class is slightly different because Françoise always asks what each student is specifically interested in learning and then she focuses on those topics.

The 3-day Wedding Workshop usually costs $900.00 and includes flowers, supplies, use of tools, lots of personalized instruction time with Françoise…and you get to take all your arrangements home with you after the workshop. For one lucky reader, Françoise’s workshop will be free of charge!

Here’s what one student had to say about her experience at Françoise’s Wedding Workshop:

“After spending three days in the flower heaven that is Françoise’s studio, it was so hard to leave! This class was exactly what I was looking for and Françoise is exactly the teacher that I’d hoped for. It was a perfect blend of useful conversation, hands-on playtime, and awe inspiring demos. Françoise is so open and willing to share her experiences out of a genuine desire to help aspiring designers like myself learn the realities of the floral business while also gaining the courage to follow their dreams. It was profound enough of an experience that I expect to look back 5 years from now and credit her class for changing my life forever. Thank you, Françoise!” Tonya Ray

I just love that letter and there are many more just as heartfelt on her website. I would encourage you to read them to get an idea of the experience that awaits you at one of Françoise’s workshops.

To enter, leave me a comment at the end of this post by Friday (July 1) at noon (CDT) telling me the topic you would be most interested in learning from Françoise if you win. I’ll announce the winner (chosen by random drawing) on Friday afternoon…July 1st that is…

The winner will be responsible for travel and lodging expenses to and from the workshop.

If you’ve missed previous posts including Françoise’s work, here’s a small sample…

photo by Deyla Huss

photo by David Barss

photo by Jessica Hill

I encourage you to read Françoise’s blog if you get a chance and check out her workshop schedule for future dates and topics. Don’t forget to leave a comment here by Friday at noon…Good Luck! And thank you, Françoise, for your generosity!