This wonderful gala for Hospice Simcoe raised over $75,000.00. With my good friend Mary Jane Adams as lead and Wendy DeGrevina and me as co-chairs this was a year long project with a great ending. Though we were snowed out on the original date of Friday, February 8 most of our guests came out to celebrate with us the next evening.

Had a wonderful evening in Midland with a great group of gardening enthusiasts. I presented this group with a demonstrations on 'Holiday Tablescaping - Elevating Entertaining'. Here are two versatile ways to tablescape a buffet for the Holidays. They assured me at the end of the presentation they would surprise their guests at Christmas with these ideas.

MacLaren Art Centre Legacy Dinner My good friend, Tom McBride was paid tribute at the 2012 MacLaren Legacy Dinner for his community leadership and impact on the MacLaren as well as Gilda's Club and, more recently, Georgian College.

Barrie Garden Club Demonstration Had the pleasure on Tuesday evening, November 6, to design some alternative ideas for outdoor planters. The first featured a wild grapevine nest and soft organic design. The second is a contemporary design with a flared circle of dogwood branches. The third design features a burlap wrapped frame anchored in a traditional design

Workshops Canadian Academy of Floral Arts Workshop with Frank Feysa.  Enjoyed a wonderful workshop day with Frank Feysa and Neville McKay in Toronto, October 20. Workshop included new techniques for wristlets and wedding bouquets. Made some great new friends and looking forward to collaborating with them on projects in 2013.  Just saw Neville McKay at Hofland's On August 14, 2012. Neville MacKay is a highly talented retailer and floral designer who is well known throughout the Canadian retail industry for his creative flare, quality workmanship and entertaining personality. He's affectionately referred to as "That Bloomin' Neville!" Neville's caught the attention of many media outlets as a rare find in the retail world! He has appeared as an expert and entertainer on many national TV and radio talk shows across the country including appearances on CTV, CBC, HGTV, WTN, and is a frequent guest on the Maritimes CTV network where he owns and operates a cutting-edge floral and retail gift shop in an upscale Halifax location. He once again entertained us with east coast wisdom and showed us new and innovative designs. On March 29, 2012 we had the great pleasure to attend Renowned Swedish floral Designer Per Benjamin hosting a wedding design show at Hofland's in Mississauga, Ontario. You can view him on YouTube click here

Chappell Farms for Thanksgiving Come out to Chappell Farms for Thanksgiving and make your own centerpiece in a fresh pumpkin.

Rogers Daytime TV My good friend Shawna McLaughlin from Opulence Event Décor and myself had great fun on Daytime Simcoe showing the audience innovative and fun ideas for wedding centerpieces.

Niagara International Association Conference We attended a senior design conference in Niagara Falls through the NIA to see and learn the newest trends in floral design with Rene VanRems in April 2012.

Niagara International Association Conference Marilyn and Marie went to the Niagara International Association Conference on March 14, 2010 and attended a seminar with renown florist Neville McKay for My Mother's Bloomers in Halifax. Neville has been a regular on CTV’s “Breakfast Television” for over ten years where he has a great time doing floral design with the hosts. Neville shared great tips for everyday arrangements...adding bling to wedding bouquets...and of course his unique insight into the world of flowers.