“Annual event embraces all-things floral in design workshops and seminars.”
For the third year, Holly Heider Chapple’s Flower-stock event attracted flower lovers to her Hope Flower Farm in Waterford, Va., for two days of education and inspiration. Flowerstock 2018 was held Oct. 15-16, and brought 105 attendees and an impressive list of sponsors and vendors that served to enhance educational seminars and hands-on workshop. Along with their farm-based floral education, attendees to the event were treated to campfires, glamping, shopping with on-site vendors, live music, food and a barn dance.
During her floral design sessions, Chapple taught her bridal bouquet style on the first day and a large-scale arrangement on the second day. As one of the guest speakers at Flowerstock 2018, Slow Flowers’ Founder Debra Prinzing taught attendees about creative writing and using the most descriptive floral language.
“It was an honor to join Holly at Flowerstock for the second year in a row to teach creative writing and floral language. I led a number of creative writing exercises for attendees, guiding floral creatives through various modules of describing flowers, color and garden memories in a new way,” Prinzing explained.She added, “The personal floral narrative is powerful. We heard this idea many times from my She added, “The personal floral narrative is powerful. We heard this idea many times from my fellow presenters, and the timing was perfect for those who brought pens, paper, open minds and a littlevulnerability to the process. We gathered upstairs in one of the barns at Hope Flower Farm, where there was a creative space for writing, photography and floral design.”
Additional guest teachers included Steve and Jamie Moore of Sinclair & Moore in Seattle, Wash.; Alicia Rico of Bows and Arrows Flowers in Dallas, Texas; and Nancy Teasley of Oak & the Owl in Los Angeles, Calif.
Flowerstock 2018 sponsors included Design Master Color Tool (paints and products), Alexandra Farms and David Austin Roses (garden roses), DVFlora (flowers), Syndicate Sales (hard goods, “pillows” and “eggs”), Harmony Harvest Farm (locally grown flowers) and Alpha Fern Company (wreaths and garlands).
Noted vendors included Tuscarora Mill Restaurant and Cowbell Kitchen for food; Solid Ground Shelters for tents, music by Nathan & Eva, as well as Elan Artists’ band “Nation”; HoneySilks & Co. for hand-dyed ribbon, Vintage by the Park for antiques, Ozzie Gromada Meza for balloon installations, and photographer Sarah Collier of Taken by Sarah Photography.
