The Flower Workshop

December 21, 2015
To teach the basics of flower-arranging, Cezar (Flowers for the Table) developed a fine workshop, which she duly brings to print with help from former Boston Globe editor Michaels. This handbook offers practical guidelines alongside eye-pleasing color photographs. The lessons, beginning with color, promote Cezar’s “lush, painterly style”; she uses “unusual” flowers, in season, with the goal of intensifying nature. For 45 arrangements, she outlines an appropriate season, tools such as anchors and rubber bands, ingredient flowers (along with alternatives), and clear directions. In great detail, she instructs the reader on how to arrange bouquet sizes fit for banquet and altar tables, teensy tussie-mussies of lilies of the valley, nosegays, garlands, and one square wreath with fruit. She alludes to painters such as Sargent, quotes poets such as Frost, adds fun facts (carnations come in 200 shades), and prettifies the text with metaphors (petals like “petticoats aflutter”). This essential flower-arranging guide has everything but thumb indexes. Color photos.

Starred review from February 15, 2016

Bring a bit of beauty into your home with stunning floral arrangements. Designer Chezar (Flowers for the Table), and writer and editor Michaels introduce Chezar's "painterly" style. Included is advice on how to shop for flowers or forage from nature, choice of containers, lists of tools, and additional materials needed. Stylistic elements are illustrated, such as applying color themes, creative use of materials, or highlighting a particular focal point. Instruction continues via arrangement projects, which showcase color designs, featured flowers, branch and nonfloral, bouquets, compotes, and flowers for specific celebrations. Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo's The Flower Recipe Book has more illustrated step-by-step directions for the beginner. VERDICT These desirable yet both simple and complex projects are paired with stunning photography. Chezar's loose, natural arrangements are fabulous and sure to be popular. A must for flower lovers.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
Chezar follows Flowers for the Table (2002) with another lovely guide. In this volume, she and coauthor Michaels feature more than 45 arrangements, classified by season, type, function (e.g., handheld bouquets), or celebration. They are breathtaking and even more spectacular when readers realize they can duplicate them, thanks to recipe-like directions (e.g., how to make a tulip float, how to make a cascading bridal bouquet) and excellent color photographs. What cinches the accolades for the book are the upfront narratives and many sidebars. The former discuss the art of styling and necessary tools, beginning with a focus on color and leading to practical tips (e.g., detailed specifications for pruning shears and scissors). The sidebars do much of the heavy lifting, explaining how to make a mood board or edit a branch arrangement. Infused with overwhelming appreciation for nature and including quotes from others and Chezar's own poetic phrases, the book offers beauty and inspiration to flower arrangers at most levels of skill.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)