NYTimes Hot, New Trend: Flower Design Workshops

Treat yourself to a flower design workshop! According to the New York Times, homemade flower designs are one of the hottest new trends around the country. Learn to create elegant, minimalist, contemporary flower designs for hostess, holiday, and special occasion gifts.

Participants will learn the selection and conditioning of flowers, design principles including flower and branch choices, color combinations and the choice of the correct vessel to complement the flowers. The instructor will demonstrate her signature techniques. The class will be limited to six students for hands-on instruction and practice. Leave the workshop with a creative arrangement. Feel free to bring a camera to record steps of your work and a notebook/sketchbook.

The workshops will be taught by Binaifer Davar.

Instructor bio:

A unique and creative flower designer, binaifer was recently honored to design THE centerpiece for a private reception in the Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, one of the top event venues in Washington, D.C. binaifer is known for incorporating her vases into her flower designs, resulting in precious masterpieces of flower sculptures. Her technique includes creating swirls and loops of curly willow, often on their side, to hold her flowers. Her use of fine-gauge jewelry wire adds finesse and intricate detail to her work. She has an eye for line, form and presentation resulting in exquisite flower designs. Her flower sculptures and designs are influenced by artists such as O’Keefe, Miro and Calder. Her designs can be viewed on the following sites:

www.flowersbybinaifer.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/flowersbybinaifer

www.greatfallsstudios.com

Contact the instructor at binaifer@aol.com or 703-568-0448.

To register: Contact Terri Parent at parent.terri@gmail.com or 703-433-5358. Workshops will be held at the Great Falls School of Art, 1144-D Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.

$75, plus a $20 supply fee paid directly to the instructor.

The Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center

Defying Gravity:
Flower Sculpture at the Reagan Building

On July 13, I was honored to design THE centerpiece in the Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. My centerpiece, incorporating English crystal vases and purple Vanda orchids, was the focal point of a private reception on the upper level of the Atrium.

Press Release

Flower Design by binaifer Announces her Flower Sculpture at The Reagan Building


July 15, 2010, Washington D.C. – On July 13, Flower Designer, binaifer, was honored to design THE centerpiece in the Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center. Her centerpiece, incorporating English crystal vases and purple Vanda orchids, was the focal point of a private reception on the upper level of the Atrium.

binaifer has an eye for line, form, and presentation resulting in exquisite flower designs. Her signature style, non-traditional, elegant, and contemporary has garnered rave reviews from some of Washington, D.C.'s most notable private clients and public event venues. She is known for incorporating her vases into her flower designs resulting in precious masterpieces of flowers and vases. Her technique includes creating swirls and loops of curly willow, often on their side, to hold her flowers. binaifer’s use of fine-gauge jewelry wire adds finesse and intricate detail to her work.

An eco-conscious artist, she uses native, indigenous, or local meadow-grown flowers: blue-cloud larkspur, which create the illusion of dancing butterflies. Or, branches of dogwood, forsythia, and pear from her own cutting garden. Incorporated into her work are: red gloriassa lilies, purple Vanda orchids, yellow oncidium orchids, and copper cymbidium orchids.

Recent notable events include designing the centerpiece for the 20th Anniversary celebration of Rabbi Amy Schwartzman of Temple Rodef Shalom. In addition, binaifer’s flower designs have been commissioned as anniversary, hostess, Thanksgiving, holiday, and birthday gifts. All of her designs, for private clients and public events, are custom-made. Her other work can be viewed at www.flowersbybinaifer.blogspot.com.

To schedule a design consultation or commission a flower design:
Flower Design by binaifer
Email: binaifer@aol.com
Phone: 703.568.0448

Temple Rodef Shalom: Flower Designer

Starting with the Shavout Confirmation Service on May 18, 2010, I have been designing the weekly flowers for the Sanctuary. An eco-conscious designer, I have used mostly local, meadow-grown flowers ~ freshly-cut each time.

Stay tuned for additional images!

Flowers in Motion

For my parent's 50th Anniversary, I created a flower mobile of purple Vanda orchids and red gloriosa lilies ~ a special gift from my Dad to my Mom.

New! Great Falls Studios Web Site

See the new Great Falls Studios' web site ~ www.greatfallsstudios.com ~ my blog is linked to it!

Flower Designs for Mother's Day

May I create a simple, but lovely, hand-tied bouquet, or an intruiging flower design for your Mom for Mother's Day?

My exclusive, limited-edition designs have generated tremendous excitement & "rave reviews." More importantly, the gift giver (that would be YOU) has been showered with thanks & love for the thoughtful, specially commissioned gift!

My hand-tied bouquets range from $25 to $75, and my flower designs range from $125 to $500. They are available for delivery in the Northern Virginia area, and elsewhere by special arrangement. My hand-tied bouquets and flower designs are non-traditional: elegant, contemporary, and minimalist. I incorporate the vase into the design, ending up with a flower sculpture.

Whenever possible, I use native, indigenous, or local meadow-grown flowers, such as blue-cloud larkspur, which looks like dancing purple butterflies. When not possible, I use unusual flowers, such as red gloriosa lilies, purple vanda orchids, yellow oncidium orchids, and copper cymbidium orchids. I use European-style armatures of curly willow to hold the flowers.

All of my designs include a hand-made notecard, and will be hand-delivered by the designer (that would be ME) to you or your Mom.

In recent months, my flower designs have been commissioned as Thanksgiving gifts, hostess gifts, holiday gifts, and birthday gifts.

NEW! Mother's Day Flower Design Workshop

Flower Design Workshop: The Great Falls School of Art

Treat your Mom to a unique Flower Design Workshop, or come yourself and learn how to create elegant, minimalist, contemporary flower designs that will surprise and delight your Mom! Leave the workshop with a creative arrangement for Mother's Day!

Participants will learn the selection and conditioning of flowers, design principles including flower and branch choices, color combinations and the choice of the correct vessel to complement the flowers. The instructor will demonstrate her signature techniques. The class will be limited to six students for hands-on instruction and practice. Feel free to bring a camera to record steps of your work and a notebook/sketchbook.

Saturday, May 8, 11:00 am -2:00 pm
$75, plus a $20 supply fee paid directly to the instructor

To register: Contact Terri Parent: terrikate@aol.com, 703-433-5358. View and print the registration form: http://www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org/GFFFTA_School_of_Art.html.

The workshop will be held at the Great Falls School of Art, 1144-D Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.


Instructor bio:

Binaifer Davar is a uniquely creative flower designer, recently trained by Judith Blacklock in London, England. Her designs are influenced by artists such as O'Keefe, Miro and Calder. Her arrangements are unique and minimalist. She rarely uses florist's foam and prefers unusual flowers. She has an eye for line, form and presentation resulting in exquisite flower designs.

Signature Style

My hand-tied bouquets range from $25 to $75, and my flower designs range from $125 to $500. They are available for delivery in the Northern Virginia area, and elsewhere by special arrangement.
My hand-tied bouquets and flower designs are non-traditional: elegant, contemporary, and minimalist. I incorporate the vase into the design, ending up with a flower sculpture.

I NEVER use green foam. So, you will never see a traditional florist's arrangement in green foam covered with flowers and leaves. I secure my arrangements with fine gauge jewelry wire; thin, clear cellophane tape, pebbles, and such. Whenever possible, I use native, indigenous, or local meadow-grown flowers, such as blue-cloud larkspur, which looks like dancing purple butterflies.

When not possible, I use unusual flowers, such as red gloriosa lilies, purple vanda orchids, yellow oncidium orchids, and copper cymbidium orchids. I use European-style armatures of curly willow to hold the flowers.

My exclusive, limited-edition, custom-made designs have generated tremendous excitement & "rave reviews." More importantly, the gift giver (that would be YOU) has been showered with thanks & love for the thoughtful, specially commissioned gift!

All of my designs include a hand-made notecard, and will be hand-delivered by the designer (that would be ME) to you or your special person.

In recent months, my flower designs have been commissioned as Thanksgiving gifts, hostess gifts, holiday gifts, and birthday gifts. All of my designs are custom-made!

My Flower Design Workshop

Flower Design Workshop: The Great Falls School of Art

Learn how to create elegant, minimalist, contemporary flower designs that will surprise and delight you!



Participants will learn the selection and conditioning of flowers, design principles including flower and branch choices, color combinations and the choice of the correct vessel to complement the flowers. The instructor will demonstrate her signature techniques. The class will be limited to six students for hands-on instruction and practice. Leave the workshop with a creative arrangement. Feel free to bring a camera to record steps of your work and a notebook/sketchbook.

Saturday, April 10 11:00 am -2:00 pm
$75, plus a $20 supply fee paid directly to the instructor

To register: Contact Terri Parent: terrikate@aol.com, 703-433-5358. View and print the registration form: http://www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org/GFFFTA_School_of_Art.html.

The workshop will be held at the Great Falls School of Art, 1144-D Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.


Instructor bio:

Binaifer Davar is a self-taught flower designer, recently trained by Judith Blacklock in London, England. Her designs are influenced by artists such as O'Keefe, Miro and Calder. Her arrangements are unique and minimalist. She rarely uses florist's foam and prefers unusual flowers. She has an eye for line, form and presentation resulting in exquisite flower designs.

Temple Rodef Shalom: Champagne/Dessert Reception

In March 2010, I designed THE centerpiece for a Champagne/Dessert Reception, catered by Windows, honoring the 20th Anniversary of Rabbi Amy Schwartzman of Temple Rodef Shalom.

A smashing success! A 10 foot tall centerpiece. A table of it's own in the center of the Social Hall, a room with 21 foot ceilings. And, on the buffet tables, two 5 foot tall centerpieces. Tall, round, cylindrical vases, curly willow, white dendrobium orchids, and a pop of color with purple iris.

The centerpiece was called "spectacular," "lovely," and "a masterpiece."

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Back-to-Back Blizzards

As you know, everything was closed by our 2 back-to-back blizzards. Our little cul-de-sac was hit by a "micro-burst" storm, and almost every tree on the north side of the street came down.

Trees were piled on top of trees. We could not even walk from our driveway to the street, and until Tuesday morning, we could not walk off our street! Just in time to prepare for the next blizzard.

A New Year

It seems to me the beginning of a New Year would be an appropriate time to highlight my accomplishments, and more importantly, to thank the people responsible for my success.

~ July 2009: I was thrilled to be selected as one of twelve "finalists/semi-finalists" for the position of Chief Flower Designer at the White House.

~ August 2009: I traveled to Europe for my friend's wedding, and to take a flower design course at the Judith Blacklock Flower School in Knightsbridge, London. It was absolutely charming!

Everywhere I went, I learned about European flower design. So...o different from the flower designs here. In Switzerland, my friend took the simplest, yet most beautiful, hand-tied bouquet as a hostess gift for a late-night dinner in Geneve. Unlike any hand-tied bouquet I have seen, it was encased in a metal holder. I went to 3 florists in Lausanne, and was unable to find one. Here, it's impossible. I haven't even seen anything close. The hotel was beautifully decorated with, believe it or not, sunflowers! I peeked to see how they were secured. In London, I had the pleasure of taking Judith's course, sampling delicious chocolates, and seeing Tower Bridge open late @ night!

~ October 2009:
I was the only flower designer to participate in Great Falls Studio "Studio Tour." Five of us were at the Great Falls library. It was a memorable experience for me, as the other four artists were wonderful to me! In addition, I had incredible support & help from my parents and my husband!

I created a pair of silk flower designs for Prima Hair & Day Spa in McLean, Virginia. The flower designs sit at the entrance of the salon!

~ November 2009:
One of the four Great Falls Studio artists commissioned 3 flower designs, as Thanksgiving gifts for 3 of her closest friends. Each was an exclusive, limited-edition, custom-made design, hand-delivered by the designer (Me!) with a hand-made card. It generated so...o much excitement from the recipients... A new concept was born!

~ December 2009:
The 1st snowfall of the year is always on my niece's birthday. This year was no exception. I delivered her birthday card & a hug, and as I was leaving, my sister asked whether I could create a hand-tied bouquet as a hostess gift the following Saturday. I was thrilled!!!! I gathered together vases, flowers, supplies, and books, but in the end, I think I knew what I wanted to do all along. As I took the curly willow & bent it into an armature, I knew I had the design I wanted.

While I spent several more hours refining the design, in the end, I knew what I wanted it to look like from the beginning. An armature of curly willow with red gloriosa lilies tumbling out, and a purple vanda orchid as a focal point. This is not to say I did not run into technical issues. How to give the gloriossa lilies a water source w/o using stem bottles. Impossible!

But, the design was a success, and my sister and brother-in-law commissioned 7 more, as holiday gifts. Apparently, they all got "rave reviews."















~ January 2010:

I finished the final 2 designs for my sister and brother-in-law, created this design for my mom's birthday (commissioned by my Dad), and another one (commissioned by my Mom) the next day, as a hostess gift for a close family friend.

4 designs in 1 week!







On Tuesday, January 12th, I gave a little demo for a Great Falls garden club on "forcing" branches that I cut from my garden. A little difficult to cut dogwood, forsythia, and pear amidst the bitter cold & the snow/ice, but I decorated the bare branches w/orchids (tumbling out of the branches like the gloriosa lilies), put on a slideshow of my flower designs... and, it was a success!

Thank you to everyone who has made all of this possible! Stay tuned for additional images.