Beginner FLoral Design

Thursday, September 3 - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Flowers are the ephemeral swan songs of plants going to seed, ready to send their spirits into the next season. With these fleeting ingredients, learn to craft an expressive, organic floral design that celebrates seasonality.

From farmer-florist Elle, learn color theory, how to see flowers’ structural and textural roles in design, and floristry tips and tricks to maximize vase life and health of your flowers.

No previous floral experience necessary — in fact, you may find a new interest sparked! Learn to transform your farmers market, backyard garden, and grocery store bouquets into unique, organic arrangements. Perfect for gardeners showcasing backyard blooms, creatives looking for new mediums of expression, or anyone craving more play and self-expression in their life.

  • Tuition: $70 per participant

  • Apply for a scholarship

  • Materials Fee: $45 (Paid to instructor)

  • Age / Ability Level: 14+, Beginner

  • Optional: A favorite vase from home

  • We’ll use only MN/WI-grown flowers, plus foraged goodies reflecting our prairie, river valley, and Northwoods ecosystems. Explore summer flower favorites like zinnias, sunflowers, and snapdragons, and meet new-to-you unique varieties! 

    You’ll finish class with a vase full of flowers, which should be brought inside to a climate-controlled space as soon as you’re able.

  • Using floral snips requires moderate hand strength and dexterity — if bringing a partner to collaborate on a design is supportive to anyone with limited grip strength/hand mobility, please just inform me and I’m happy to accommodate that! Workshops typically involve walking to and from the ingredients table throughout your design process, but I’m happy to set up seating such that folks with limited mobility can have a supply of stems at their workstation. Designing can be done standing or seated depending on preference. 

    I don’t bring any floral ingredients that commonly cause allergic reactions when handled, but if you know your skin is particularly sensitive to allergic flares, consider wearing nitrile or gardening gloves!

    CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is committed to building a diverse, inclusive learning community where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and able to participate. As we launch our first workshop series, we are dedicating space in each class for reduced-tuition scholarships to support anyone facing financial barriers. As we build a more robust scholarship program, we hope this initial launch will remove barriers and expand access to hands-on learning for all.

    Anyone with financial need is encouraged to apply for a half-tuition scholarship. To be considered, please submit a brief online application. Please note that CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is operating with limited financial resources and an entirely volunteer staff. Therefore, we cannot guarantee a spot for every applicant. Each class has one scholarship slot available. Applicants who are not selected in this current round are welcome to reapply.  Apply here

  • CPC is able to provide refunds up to two weeks before the start date of the class for which the registration was submitted, though we do retain a $20 fee for return payment processing. If you need to cancel your class within the two week window, a refund is not guaranteed, but will be considered based on several factors.

    If CPC needs to cancel a class due to low enrollment, teacher illness, or other factors, you will receive a full refund. Read our full set of policies.

meet your instructor

Elle Sullivan (she/they) is the farmer-florist of Mellifera Flowers, an ⅛ acre flower farm in Osceola, WI — with abundant help from friends, beloveds, and the creatures feeding soil and soul. Elle shares her flowers with the Twin Cities area and St. Croix River Valley through a summer CSA, year-round design workshops, dried floral wreaths, and wedding services. Their land ethic centers on reciprocity, community connection, and resilient systems. Musings on generative disturbance, cycles of rest, and the medicine of play find their way into all of Elle’s floral creations. Find more of her work at www.melliferaflowers.com and Instagram @mellifera_flowers