Tuesday 17th November 2026
The art of the beautiful hand-tied
Join Claire Cowling of Thrive Floristry for a full day exploring the art and technique of creating beautiful hand-tied bouquets, using seasonal flowers and foliage.
With more than 35 years’ experience in the floristry industry, multiple RHS Chelsea Gold Medals and thousands of bouquets created for weddings, events, everyday orders and special occasions, Claire has plenty of experience to share.
This is a hands-on workshop for florists who want to refine their technique, develop their design skills and look at hand-tied bouquets in a fresh way.
A hand-tied may be one of the most familiar designs in floristry, but creating one that is beautifully balanced, well constructed and full of movement takes practice and understanding.
We’ll look at the techniques behind an array of hand-tied bouquets - from luxurious all round design, to those with structures and frames
On the day we'll explore:
- The fundamentals of creating well-constructed hand-tied bouquets
- Spiral technique and stem placement
- Frames and structures
- Working with seasonal flowers and foliage
- Choosing flowers for their individual characteristics
- Combining different textures, forms and shapes
- Creating natural-looking bouquets with plenty of movement
- Finishing, wrapping and presenting your bouquet
- Adapting your designs for different occasions, customers and budgets
There will be demonstrations from Claire, followed by plenty of hands-on creating, with time to practise techniques, experiment with different combinations of flowers and receive individual guidance.
We'll explore how the flowers themselves can influence the shape and character of a bouquet, and how to work with them rather than forcing them into a particular formula.
At Thrive, we love seasonal flowers for their individuality, movement and natural beauty. This workshop will encourage you to look at your flowers differently and use their natural qualities to create bouquets that feel fresh, seasonal and considered.
A day to flower, learn and refine your skills
Take a day away from the everyday demands of running a floristry business and spend some time concentrating on one of the most important skills in floristry.
Come along, meet other florists, share ideas and immerse yourself in seasonal flowers while developing your hand-tied technique.
Suitable for professional florists and florists with a good level of experience.
Places are limited to ensure the workshop remains hands-on, with plenty of opportunity for individual guidance, questions and discussion.
Timings: 9.30am–4pm