Workshop Overview

Wearing fresh flowers and greens for celebrations is a tradition shared by many cultures and stretches back to ancient times.  In New England, the custom of making garlands to celebrate May Day is based upon traditions brought long ago from England. 

The wearing of flower garlands for celebrations and weddings is also a custom in many parts of Europe, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Each culture has a unique approach to fashioning garlands, but all cultures value their beauty and make them with care and skill.

Come join fiber artist Lynn Martin Graton and learn two basic techniques to create fresh garlands for your seasonal celebrations, weddings, birthdays and more. The morning session will focus on using a braiding technique with freshly gathered ferns.  The afternoon session will focus on arranging flowers and greens on a core of raffia using a wrapping technique. 

A selection of ferns and flowers will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring more to add to the fun. 

The most appropriate flowers for this workshop are small with sturdy petals.They include: status, straw flowers, alstroemeria, small chrysanthemums, small rudbeckia, miniature roses, small marigolds, baby’s breath, leather leaf ferns, wildflowers such as Goldenrod and other sturdy greens that can be separated into smaller parts. 

Skills + Techniques

• Incorporating fresh materials into a stable, uniform braid
• Incorporating fresh materials into a stable, uniform core using a wrapping technique

  Discussions will focus on:

• The different ways that cultures value and utilize fresh garlands for celebrations
• Cultivating a garden for garlands
• Responsible harvesting of natural materials
• Sensitivity to varying color and texture using fresh materials
• Consideration of best use of materials for specific occasions

Instructor

Lynn Martin Graton

Tools + Materials

• Small clippers
• Small spray bottle for water
• A container or basket to take garlands home

• $15.00 – $25.00 payable at time of workshop 

COVID-19 

• Please read our COVID-19 Policy prior to registering
• We are honoring each instructor’s specific COVID-19 safety requests. For this workshop, your instructor reserves the right to require additional safety requirements depending on the state of the pandemic at the time of the workshop

Housing + Meals

Housing and meal options are available. Please see our housing page.

125.00 / per student