The theme for the 9th Live-In Floral Design Seminar at the Bell Tower Convention Centre in Ballarat was 'Spirit of Spring' - a stunning line-up of top designers, who delivered inspiring demonstrations, teaching new and exciting trends at the workshops. Mark Pampling (Qld)- a wonderful educator, has won many awards including 3rd, representing Australia in the 2004 Interflora World Cup and most recently, part of the Platinum Award winning Interflora exhibit (Best in Show) at the 2007 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Mark demonstrated several amazing structures and the technique which we emulated was using fibre forms (pictured)

Mark Pampling's Workshop Design was based around the technique of hand making organic forms from coconut fibre and bullion wire (or wool as was the case with my 'sausages') These forms are then fashioned into a structure and framework that will form the base of the finished design. The design is presented in a shallow tray and the floral foam is covered with chicken wire with coconut fibre underneath. Flowers used were roses, leucodendruns, carnations and pinned succulents. All of Mark's designs can be viewed at Design 3 was demonstrated by Anne Van beveran (Vic) - a contemporary design which featured a columnar structure made of black willow/cane, secured with pliable black tie wire. The structure was set in plaster in a black ceramic container. Floral material (Asiatic Liliums) were placed in glass test tubes throughout the structure and finished with trailing asparagus fern. I had to dismantle mine to bring it home so when it gets reassembled, it will be displayed!