OK, so you want to be a florist? I hope you are ready to be overworked and under appreciated. It sounds mean but it is true. You work long hours on your feet. You work 'til your fingers bleed (literally). You work 'til the work is done, no excuses. You have a wedding to put out? The bride doesn't care if you have a 103 fever or you are running to the bathroom every 5 minutes. All she knows is her bouquet better be perfect. You know, the one she ordered filled with roses and diamond studded stephanodis. The one she cried about being $150.00. That probably cost me $149.00 to make. The one that would have cost her $300.00 in a big city. Yes that's the one. After she pays for her limos, photographer, ceremony, reception, and cake, she comes back to you and has the nerve to say we have to cut some of the flowers. There is no money left. Can you believe that?

I love it when they ask "What can I get for 20 bucks?" I would love to just be able to say NOTHING! Just once would be nice. Or say, "How about cutting out the 12 limos instead?" The brides always come in to make cuts on the flowers to save money. I guess they don't realize that the flowers will be in almost every picture.

Maybe I am being a little harsh (not really). Not all Brides are Bridezillas. On occasion, we do get lucky with a bride that loves everything you make and will pay anything for it. We love that kind of bride. You don't mind adding a few extras for the people that appreciate it.

No one really knows how much work goes into making a floral arrangement, of any kind. There is a lot of preparation involved. All the flowers we receive in the shop have to be cleaned. Daisies need all their little leaves removed from their long stems so they don't mold. Everything has to come out of its wrappers and placed in water so it can open up. Roses need to be stripped of their thorns without injuring their stems. This is where the "bleeding fingers" come in. All flowers need to be cleaned and preserved a different way just about. There are some flowers that can't even be stored together. This is do to ethylene being produced by the flower and ruining other flowers in the cooler. Click here for more information on this subject.

Just loving flowers isn't going to make you a great florist. You really need to LOVE the flowers even after the long hours and sore backs and bleeding fingers, and broken nails and blistering feet and whining brides. Should I go on? I think you get the picture. Before you jump in and say HEY! this looks like fun, remember that it just "looks" like fun for the most part. It really is a lot of hard work.

If you really want to open your own shop, I suggest that you go work in one for about three months. You will learn flower arranging techniques and tips. You will learn to work with fresh flowers, dried flowers and silks. You will either love it or hate it by then. That's what I did. I went to buy a woman's shop and ended up working there for five years. I really LOVE the floral business. I would still consider opening a shop of my own some day.

Buying out someone else's business isn't always the best route to go. Customers love their florist and when a new owner takes over they don't think you can keep up with their needs. When word got out that this woman was selling her shop and I was their learning the business, a funeral director called and complained about the casket spray. He said the new girl doesn't know what she is doing and everything was a mess. The best part about this is that I didn't make the casket spray; the owner did. So loyal customers assume you won't do well. I think I would be better starting from scratch without someone else's troubles and building my own clientele. That way I can't blame anyone but myself if I fail or succeed.

Lastly, don't be discouraged. If this is something you truly love and can be dedicated to, you will do well. You definitely need to be positive and believe you can offer services someone needs. Make sure you also have a sound business plan. You can get in over your head quickly with bills. Plan wisely.  Think about it for a while before you jump in.

I have a renewed love for the Crafts n Things magazine.  This used to be a favorite magazine of mine, but over the years I lost interest.  The magazine contained projects that were either repeats of old projects or projects my grandmothers wouldn't even be caught dead doing.  Every now and then there would be a good project stuffed in between all the less desirable projects and those good projects made me keep going back, but I finally gave up altogether.

Of course, that is until last month.  I picked up the December issue for ideas for holiday crafts and Christmas ornaments and am so glad I did.  It appears as though every issue contains knit or crochet patterns, jewelry making directions, flower arranging instructions, paper crafting ideas, card making directions, and even a Christmas ornament section (and much more).

I know there are other crafting magazines out there, but I love Crafts n Things so much because it covers all the crafts I love to do, and crafts I have never tried before.  I'm more likely to buy a magazine that covers a wide variety of crafts I do infrequently than one that is specific for a craft I rarely do. 

If you've never checked out Crafts n Things, or if you remember the old issues and fell out of love with them, I highly recommend taking another look.  You won't be sorry!  I'll be signing up for my subscription very soon!

I love flower arranging. I love to do up a vase or a bouquet just to see the joy it brings someone. Fresh flower arranging is my favorite. The colors and the scents are magnificent. You don't have to be overly creative to do this as long as you follow a few basic tips. You can go to your local grocery store and buy a mixed bouquet with all you need to make a beautiful arrangement.

One of the first tips I will share is, make sure you always snip the end of the stems, at an angle, before you place them in your arrangement. This fresh cut allows the flower to drink up the water. Also, use a preservative in your vase. This usually comes with the bouquet. It helps them last longer. A little known fact; when florists receive their flowers from a wholesaler, they are often dry packed in boxes, and could have been in cold storage with no water for over a month. So be sure to hydrate them. Do this even when you receive a new bouquet.

My basic flower arranging instructions:

• Fill vase with plain water and any greens that may have come with the bouquet or that you may have purchased. This can include baker or tree fern, or other greens used as fillers. Tree fern is fluffy and looks nice to finish off the edge of a vase. Place them in one at a time at an angle, so they crisscross in the vase. This will act as a grid and allow you to hold your primary flowers in place. I used some Seeded Eucalyptus in my vase. I love this stuff

• Place primary flowers in vase first. A primary flower is usually your focal point, or the prettiest and largest flower you are using. Cut stems as you place them. If they are big, put them a little lower so the arrangement doesn't look top heavy.

• Determine at what length you wish to cut your flowers. You can easily do this by moving the vase to the edge of the table or counter, where ever you are working. Hold the flower up to the greens, where you want it to sit in the vase. You will see the stem lower than the counter top. You then snip the bottom, right where it lines up with the counter top.

• Next, use the smaller flowers to place in between the larger ones to fill in the spaces. Cut them to the right length as above.

• If you have tall flowers like Liatris or Snapdragon, use them in the top to give your arrangement some height.

• When finished arranging flowers, grab the bouquet tightly and remove it from the vase. This will allow you to dump the water and put fresh preservative water in the vase. If you have two of the same vases, arrange in one and display in the other. You do this when arranging in a clear vase. Flowers are actually pretty filthy and the water turns brown and nasty when arranging. Plus, little leaves and pieces of stems will be floating about.

The following pictures show some steps. This will give you an idea of how easy this is. You will want to give flowers to someone special every day, and they will think it came from a florist.

AP Bulletin out for Casanova Frosty:

Be on the lookout for a plump, frosty male, with orange nose, dark eyes and manic smile; was last seen wearing mittens, scarf and top hat. This wanted individual has been known to frequent areas with less than hospitable weather conditions. He is considered armed and dangerous as he frequently carries on his personage two thin sticks. Should you see this person, do not approach without proper winter attire, and call your local authorities.

You will need the following from your local arts and crafts supply store for your own Casanova Frosty. The directions follow:

• Polymer clay
• Polymer liquid clay
• Paint brush
• 20 gauge wire
• Clothespin
• Exacto knife
• Scrap fabric
• Toothpick
• Elmer Super glue
• Aluminum foil
• Glaze
• Large knitting needle

The following is recommended but not necessary:

•  Miniature cookie cutters
• Clay oven
• Pasta machine
• Powdered chalk

Make three descending-in-size balls of white or pearl Premo polymer clay. Take a toothpick, cut off the pointed ends and insert each ball of clay making sure the toothpick does not poke out of either the bottom or top of Casanova Frosty.

Using rounded miniature cookie cutters make two circles, one slightly larger than the other. Flatten, on a 5 or 6 setting on a pasta machine, a rounded ball of clay and cut a long rectangular piece, roll and fit between the two circles to form Frosty’s hat. Use a large knitting needle to form a hole at the bottom of the hat so as to fit on the snowman’s head.

Make Frosty’s face with various size round balls of black clay with orange for a nose. A scarf can be made following the instructions from Santa’s in the House. 

For Frosty’s belly, use a miniature heart cookie cutter on flattened Sculpey II clay on a six or higher setting on a pasta machine. His gloves are slightly flattened circles with two tiny circles for thumbs. Twenty gauge wire is perfect for Frosty’s arms.

Once complete, take the 20 gauge wire and poke a hole in the bottom of Frosty going as far into the clay as possible, remove and set aside for later use.

Use Polymer liquid clay for adhesive, powdered chalk for antiquing if desired, bake according to instructions.*

As Frosty is baking take a clothes pin and wrap 20 gauge wire around one side leaving plenty of overhang to re-insert in the bottom of Frosty, securing with super glue. Allow time for glue to dry than glaze as desired. Scrap fabric wrapped below Frosty is a perfect way to hide the 20 gauge wire.

Clip Frosty to curtain rods, attach to gift bags, use in flower arrangements, to hang your child's artwork, the possibilities are endless!

*Once again, this can be a large piece to fit inside a clay oven. Use aluminum foil around Frosty to keep him stable. If necessary, remove his hat to bake separately and super glue together once cool. And remember, don't box yourself in, make various winter-themed characters or start now on the next big holiday by making Valentine or St. Patrick's theme creations. Spring will be here before we know it, make butterflies, flowers, etc.

I am currently unable to share images but will be posting pictures as soon as this is resolved. 

My holiday crafts are coming right along.  The Christmas ornaments for the girls are completed.  I have one blanket finished and two left to knot.  The paper mache  boxes were started last night and are looking good.  I have to work on the tops today.  Sophie and I picked up some supplies at our local craft store yesterday to add to the tops of the boxes and I can't wait to get them finished. 

In the rest of my Christmas world, the baking is well under way.  I haven't started the cards yet.  I am waiting on one package before sending off my box of gifts (as well as finishing up a blanket and two boxes).  Things are starting to come together but my house is starting to fall apart!  I am leaving B in charge of gifts for his father and brother, so I don't have to worry about that, at least.

Because I am not with my family this Christmas and everyone will be at my parents' house on Christmas Eve, I called the local florist to have a fresh flower arrangement sent to my mother.  I know Linda (she's been our florist for years - my mother used to babysit her daughter, and I tutored her daughter... all years and years ago) will do an excellent job with the arrangement.

Once Christmas is over, I'll be able to work on my knitting and hopefully finish up the baby blanket I started... in January of last year (yes, I feel shame).  It's probably about half done, but if I'm not careful, my niece will be graduated by the time she receives it!  I would like to knit Sophie another scarf since I wound up giving hers away by accident.  I don't remember the pattern I used (I made it up) but I still have the yarn I used (Misty Alpaca, if I recall correctly - very soft and cozy) so I should be able to come up with something.  I might make a hat to match.  I think I'm ready to knit another purse and felt it.  Perhaps I can make a bag big enough to be a diaper bag.  I might even take the time to try my hand at crochet again.  I really just need to master my tension.  However, the baby blanket must be finished first!!

Pictures will be forthcoming as soon as I am able to upload again.  I can't wait to show off the decoupaged paper mache boxes!  For now, back to baking and blanket knotting!!