We opened this book with deep curiosity as to what MVB might bring us we didn’t know already about her work after four books from Flowers in love, one two and three, her sensitive Sympathy flowers, Flowers in Tears and numerous magazine articles about her and her ongoing Fleur Creatif Magazine exposure. We were seriously intrigued, the end cover images grabbed our attention in a nano second . The double page image of a lush hoard of textiles, textures, seed pods, red roses, beads, threads and ribbons are exactly how those who know her closely would describe her as , a collector. She has the inclination of a magpie, seeking and storing treasures of this and that on one hand from Nature ,the other flibberty jibbets ,scraps and pieces from anywhere and everywhere, cleverly massing boxes piles and cupboards of gorgoeus objects to be used today, tomorrow or in her future . As we turned the pages front to back the back to front ,we got some lovely surprises and have to say the book works wonderfully. This monograph or lone song is an invitation to meet another side of MVB,the one who lives a full and happy life besides meeting brides making wedding bouquets, designing table decorations and farewell tributes, doing still life photo shoots fro magazines ,beyond her work as a stylist or teacher and demonstrator. at home and across the globe. We find here a plant hunter, a weed finder, a home gardener and plantswoman, and a flower lover , a florist with special penchant for Vandas, a forager, a twig collector , vine and trailing plant adorer, a nostalgic and romantic, a handmade paper gatherer, a drawer a writer and a collector of wonderful and quirky things that look good and feel even better. All of which she uses for a myriad of design ideas a variety of reasons with new concepts new forms and structures not normally thought of, or known as has her signature work. The book comes over as if as if she has done things for herself in it to challenge and please herself and allow herself to be free. The world as we all know is bountiful with never ending possibilities yet very often it restrains a creative spirit for simple commercial reasons. Our biggest delight with this book was to see some new work and to revisit some old. Here are bigger scale pieces in huge contrast to her famous bouquets , her redefinition of waste materials,think cardboard packing, odd smidgens of influence can be seen here and there from her friends and assistants, but then again maybe she influenced them, we find her oplifting not so popular flowers and see her extraordinary us of dried foliage. MVB’s newest book is a tribute to her own ongoing creativity and for her readers, viewers and worldwide fans a discovery of the fuller talent of one of Belgium’s leading florists and floral designers. Get it so you will discover all sides of a renowned Floral Designer, be better informed and greatly inspired, perhaps flap your creative wings louder too. Highly Recommended . And a nice little postcript . The day she launched her new book in September she was honoured by a Dutch Rose Breeder who named a new rose after her. That is an an everlasting honour.

We love the books put out by Mami Flower Design school, not only because we have visited them all at the school in Tokyo and made great friends there with the talented people and teachers but also because in a harried world these books give us great rest. The work from this school and its publications is always clear, fresh,uncontaminated and natural, despite being clever as one could say... Even if you never copy any of her works. we are sure you will be motivated at the potential each piece suggests .If you are interested in the concept and practice of Natural Flower Supports you cannot go further than MFDS and Keiko Okaedo, one of its leading research designers...in her book she shows us a collection of ways to go about securing materials with natual materials..these secrets of nature she shares . She also makes a strong point that technique is not enough to succeed , what we must all cultivate is, an eye for discovery with the ultimate reality being that we can lead a vivid and charmed life through flowers. Sense and sensitivity, and to quote her..."the more we experience being moved the more beautiful things there are that we are able to be moved by."

This we found this book in Belgium and its excitingly from Hungary , once spied we grabbed it immediately -absolutley because of the hidden romance and mystery we just knew it would contain. and we were right. Its one of the most exciting books we have comer across this year just oozing with originality, high style ,fantasy, colour, radiance, .Is voluptuious ,sumputuious and glamourous and the photographs suggestive of a world that could be true, may not be but probably is...its cultural feast of flowers for occassions and festivities for a country not much known about except for cliches of exquisite violinists and heavily accented old world dowgers, spas, dark histories and hot goulash..but it in this book of course flowers reign supreme, grandly and with such aplomb. A cooperation between Belgian Florist Franky Bolingh and Hungarian ...its a marriage of like minds and souls and the work is as rich as you can imagine. A treat of the highest.

What can one say but hooray to another book from Moniek Vanden Berghe whom we consider to be the Contessa of Wedding flower Design in Europe..yes we do say that with assuredness ...... this is her third and latest book and it is overflowing with new ideas and the most delectable colour harmonies to ever be found in a floral design book Besides her prestige and profession as a florist we have often said she works like a Jeweler so detailed and intricate are her designs, well now add to that Painter or indeed Musician.Her selection of flowers, leaves, sprigs and berries become perfectly balanced bouquets, treasures of melodious colour and texture. Her designs and forms which we think are her signature of originality are surprising and fresh as ever.One day we mean to count how many different ideas she has and continues generously to give to the world in her way and just like her first two books . Flowers 1 and flowers 11 this ,is swarming with images cover to cover . A must- have ediiton to keep up a collection of Vanden Berghes ouvre ,the most interesting and personalized, recognizable yet intimate approach to Floristry yet.

Katrien Vandierendonck is a designer less known, less seen out of Belgium which has nothing to do with talents hidden..she is busy in Belgium with 101 floral occupations with programme in Belgium, odd workshops , Expo events and her delicious garden. That she has collected together a book full of ideas for out door design is to be expected from someone whose heart is in her garden. In Belgium the concept and decoration of an Outdoor room is as important as any indoor one and the view from the windows,taking in the outdoor furniture ,tables , topiary , art pieces, ponds are places to set dress. Accordingly in this country , a new design occupation is developing that of the Outdoor designer ..but back to the book.. Mis en scenes created by Katrien include picnics,,things for halloween even ,garden rooms (orangeries in Europe)in luscious french style, ideas for winter tables(with birds in mind) party tables and feasts and more. ....Her romantic approach will catch you somewhere even if you area vowed minimalist( she has some ideas for you too). Katrien says to us "we do not only want to being natures beauty inside our homes , our nests but also give the newly invented beauty(our work ) back to her . A lovely approach.

Everyone who wants to explore the world of floristry can not do without the basics. They are even more essential for those who want to experiment! This handy book contains eleven basic techniques that every florist just has to master . All of these techniques are explained by florist and experienced teacher Gudrun Cottenier (De Groene Verbeelding) in stepy-by-step instructions. Every technique comes with four to five compositions that show the possible variants on each theme. An indispensable manual for every florist beginner , junior, once in awhile home flower arranger or even a tired florist who needs a perk up. .Gudruns design ideas are easily extendable to include you too!!

One of our most FAVOURITE which has seen us scurry off and look for earlier titles of this stunning approach to working with cut flowers evolved through the philosophies of Keita Kawasaki .From his point of view most plants used in floral design stand naked as it were and vunnerable.(.our description!) once we have determinedly taken them from the the soil that nutures and supports them and then removed their roots so we can do what we wish with them ..in a sense give them an new enviroment and life!. He sensitively readdresses this situation by exploring a variety of seemingly new flower rests as he calls then or flower supports, supports that one presumes have been the foundation of Japanese ikebana traditions for centuries to acheive this. To do so he shows us his arrangements with flowers and leaves, buds and blossoms leaning snugly against crossed twigs, standing strongly amogst a tracery of branches , in split bamboo places, surrounded by fine twigs, ringed in strong leaves, placed at certain angles and balanced in delicately balled root systems soft ,mosses, binding grasses..the examples go on to fufil his title , one hundred forms of Hanakaburi. His ideas and practices are refined and simple and pure in a way we wonder why we dont see more of them being used. There is no claim by him either that that these methods are entirely original but we feel that the point is he is directing our gaze to wards flower arranging in another way showing us, how old methods can be refreshing and worth reviving. Perhaps by following his example we can maintain an extra sensitivity towards our materials which after our working with them allow them to shine in their own natural beauty. The directions are photographically and graphically easy to follow, one doesnt need to be able to read the Japanese text sprinkled here and there. English labelling and headlines are throughout so you wont get lost. Looking through this lovely book is an exercise in observation and will maybe inspire you to follow his examples.

Floral structures are the in-thing which is interesting in a world when anything seems to go any which way in Floristry these days in the name of creativity. Here two adventurous French florists set out on a path where they introdue you to a great idea using a structure at a time as a base They simply make at base then decorate it. and the point about these bases is of course you can use them over and over again . The idea of the books shows how one can dress the base several different ways and they show you some of their examples. Using this novel approach and by their inspiring choice of form and materials your own piece could be the fifth and sixth in a series of your own designs begining with the initial base as they do . Muriel Le Couls and Gil Boyard, both Meilleur Ouvrier de France acheivers designed these structures to use with tables, flat surfaces and buffets in mind but they could be used in exhibition work, competitions and for anywhere a certain emphasis on new design is appropriate. The joy in this book is that it leaves the florist space to go even further and create something even more personal . A book brimful of creative ideas and possibilities galore.Dare to try? This along with Hanakaburi 100 are the most popular books on site . And we hear their Book 11 is around the corner , cant wait.

GEERT PATTYN's BIRTHDAY CALENDAR created by Green Academy Belgium to celebrate ALL Birthdays . A timelees calendar... made to record birth days .. it works like this there is a small drop down flap with the first six months printed on one side and the second six months on the reverse for recording names and n dates .... this can then be left showing to remind one of birth dates or folded up and hidden amongst the images..... Delicious images s artfully put together... Pure contemporary.Flowers, leaves and botanicals on each page, 32 images in all . These can be flipped over one by one to follow the seasons through the year or as you wish by favourites, peonies, roses, green leaves? You choose . The format gives you a never ending source of delight. A perfect birth day gift or simply..... A unmistakeablely lovely unique gift anytime.

We were over the Moon to receive this from our friend Sakul Intakul mostly because it shows another design side of him ... his former books , Tropical Colours especially , Modern Thai Living and Colour Your Moods sent a refreshing shot of life in Thailand with flowers,through us and the Floral World...With his innate ability to make more with less he made a masses of friends.. here now in this new book he shares his passion for the traditional forms ,techniques and patterns of Thai Floral art he learned from the Florists of the Inner Royal Thai Court. What we get is a heady mix of Thai Flower Culture at its purest side by side withhis new interpretations, turning pedestrals , garlands, small floral offerings and accessories into marvellous inspirational works and offering at a glimpse possibilities that can motivate the inner cretive in us all. We dream of being near the wafting perfume of one of his gardenia window pendants and watch his floral floats lazily drift by. Starry and divine Jasmine , fragrant gardenias ,exquisite handsewn orchid petals.lotus flowers are everywhere ..The book isnt only a wonderful cultural tribute but a sensual treat..we're sure you will catch a puff of perfume like we do each time we turn each page, the work is so evocative.