We are really in unprecedented times that we have never experienced before. This evening we should all be meeting again, on a lovely Summer evening to watch a demonstration by Rekha Naidoo and to meet up with friends. I know we are all missing chatting to one another, sharing news, looking at the items on the charity and sales tables and hoping to win a prize in the raffle! Once again that is not possible and at the moment we don’t know when it will be. I like to keep in touch with all of you and pass on any news.

There has been great concern for the national organisation of NAFAS during these difficult times. The CEO Steven Lane says that ‘NAFAS is facing enormous challenges that are needed to transform NAFAS into a healthy, vibrant association that members will be proud of and that will attract a new younger generation of floral designers’. These challenges are of concern to all Areas of NAFAS and the Officers of Home Counties wish to support them but recognise that there will be changes at Area level. I am your Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Area. My priority is Our Club and will ensure that it stays in excellent shape and good hands with an experienced Committee.

The Home Counties Area of NAFAS was to celebrate its Diamond Anniversary this year. Unfortunately all events that had been planned, including a Special Afternoon Tea, a trip to Cumbria and a Flower Festival at Hatfield House have been cancelled. Hopefully they will be held in 2021. Clophill and District Flower Club will celebrate our Sapphire 45th Anniversary in 2021 so we can look forward to some special Club events, when we can all be together again. You will all need new blue outfit!

I have always enjoyed our Club trips that Celia and Gillian organise. This year they have had to cancel three trips. I am sure we have all missed them and hope that we can get back on a coach and have a good day out. One of the first trips they organised was to Coton Manor Gardens, which are inspirational. Last week John and I went to visit them again for a day out. They were open, not crowded, the café was serving take away food and drinks and the toilets were open! The gardens were looking beautiful with colour themed beds of perennial plants, lots of roses and clematis, streams and ponds and many interesting areas. I can recommend a visit as it was a bit of normality, relaxing and full of ideas and of course I bought some more plants! Check the website for details www.cotonmanor.co.uk
​
I hope you are keeping well. I am sure your garden looks great. Perhaps you have tried a new hobby or skill during the lockdown but don’t forget about flower arranging. Keep looking at the You Tube videos as they are full of ideas.

​With my very best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill and District Flower Club

To all my friends at Clophill and District Flower Club - June  Newsletter

The sun is still shining, the birds are singing and everything in my garden is growing well. This is due to lots of attention and regular watering. I find that it is very therapeutic to go around in the evening and water all my special plants but it also makes me see more jobs to do the next day. I am sure you are doing the same and hoping that soon there will be some rain as we desperately need it.

This week we should be meeting again for our June demonstration but unfortunately that did not happen.  All the NAFAS clubs are waiting to hear when we can hold large gatherings of members and that will depend on the Government, the Village Hall but mainly on the confidence of all our members.  It will be ‘sometime in the future’ and I am sure we will all look forward to that.

If you are missing watching a demonstrator I can recommend the short demonstrations from the Wessex and Jersey Area of NAFAS. Each Saturday there is a new 20 minute demonstration given by National demonstrators and they are free to watch on their website. The first one is by Angela Turner using lovely rustic and natural materials – the second one is by Michael Bowyer who does a Constance Spry design and a beautiful parallel design using garden plant material. I am looking forward to the next 9 weeks that they have planned. Go to www.nafaswessexandjersey.co.uk – click on Enter site – View videos.

Each week I have a lovely friend who gives me a flower arranging challenge. I get some supermarket flowers and some random accessories that I have to incorporate into my design and then photograph it. The items have included some flower pots and a length of copper tube, some Lego and little dolls, 5 pairs of spectacles and this week 2 rubber ducks and a ceramic swan with pink roses and spray carnations. It is not easy covering little yellow ducks in silver foil to compliment the pink flowers.  Oh well – it keeps my skills up!

I would just like to end with a thought which a flower arranging friend of mine once shared with me:

“There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.  Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness, when shared, is doubled.  If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.  Today is a gift, that’s why it is called the present.”

With my very best wishes
Carolyn
Chairman of Clophill and District Flower Club

Dear Members,  
We have received this information from our Area Chairman, Audrey Balderstone, to share with clubs in the Home Counties area.    I am sure many of you know Gill McGregor and she has certainly demonstrated at Clophill & District Flower Club on many occasions.  However, Gill is also on the NAFAS National Education Committee and has devised this information to help with school work.  We thought it would be good to share this with you all, please see what Gill has created:
 
Help with school work; let’s Explore and make Craft projects at home
To help entertain young children whilst schools are closed, I have devised a range of free “How to” Educational, Craft worksheets focusing on different subjects.  I originally made these for our niece’s 3 children, but as more friends asked for these worksheets; we thought they should be offered to all who are looking after young children at this time. I am developing more but currently the topics are:
 
Let’s look at . . . . .
Parrots
Frogs
Lizards
Ancient Egyptians Key Stage 2
Seahorses
The Nile Crocodile
The Farm
 
Each worksheet has facts, templates, “How to” make instructions and examples and even some written tasks and research ideas which all or some of the worksheet can be completed by young children with adult supervision.  
​Please pass this information on to anyone you think may find these work sheets useful.

​Go to my website to download the worksheets:  www.gillmcgregor.com
To share go to my Gill McGregor or Gill McGregor College Facebook pages.
To visit my website for Free flower Arranging Videos www.gillmcgregor.com
​
I hope you are all finding enjoyable the emerging colours in the garden, as well as the warm weather. To all, please keep safe and well.
Gill

Hello to all my friends at Clophill and District Flower Club - May Newsletter
​Another month has passed and we are still in Lockdown, not able to meet and share our love and interest in flowers and flower arranging. In some ways I think we are all adjusting to this new way of life with time to do all those jobs in the house and garden, knowing that if they don’t get done today there is always tomorrow.  Every day is much like the next!

I thought I would give you an update as we should be meeting on Thursday for our Open Meeting with Tony Brown. It is a great shame this has been cancelled but Joan, our Programme Secretary, has booked him to come next year. If you bought a ticket for the meeting you will get a refund when we meet again.

We have cancelled the demonstrations in June and July and, again, Joan has been able to rebook Arnaud Metairie and Rekha Naidoo for next year. I really miss our monthly meetings and had looked forward to seeing Arnaud as I had heard great reviews of him. Oh well – something to look forward to!
​
There is so much uncertainty for the future at our Club and we can only be guided by the Government and NAFAS.  Large gatherings will be very difficult and I am aware that you will only come back when you feel comfortable and confident. There will always be a warm welcome whenever that is. The Committee will be discussing concessions for Members who have paid their subscriptions for 2020 but until we know what will happen we haven’t held a Committee Meeting – not even via Zoom!!

I would like to thank Kate, our Flower Arranger magazine Officer, who very kindly sent out all the copies of the new Summer Flower Arranger. I know people enjoyed having something lovely, interesting and hopefully inspiring to read.

I was so pleased that many of you accepted the challenge to make a green ring for hope and the NHS and there are some pictures on our website and Facebook page.  Here is another challenge that has been suggested – to make a ring or arrangement for VE Day. It would brighten things up for you and your neighbours. You can incorporate anything but why not make it a bit flowery and stick to red, white and blue?  We still have lots to celebrate and hopefully the weather will also lift our spirits.

I hope you are keeping well and safe. I try to phone friends and members each day and keep in touch. I think networking is important, so please think of other members of the Club and give them a ring for a chat. I will keep in touch and update you on any news or developments.
​
Missing our meeting and the fun, friendship and flowers that we share at the Club,
With my very best wishes
Carolyn

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​This one shows how lovely a ring can be by using only foliage

 






.  .  .  .  . and then adding some accessories too

Do watch for our posts of updates and information until we are able to meet again at our Club meetings.

Keep safe everyone and enjoy the signs of Spring all around us. ​

I do hope that you are keeping safe and making the most of being at home and in your garden. Last Thursday I felt very sad that the Club was not meeting as I always look forward to meeting everyone, catching up on news and sharing the evening with friends, watching a demonstration. 

We are certainly experiencing unprecedented times with enforced isolation. I am fortunate that I have the company of my husband John and we are able to share things.  Each morning we discuss over a cup of tea our plans for the day. John is getting all the little DIY jobs done and I now have time to sort out my flower arranging store, enjoy my garden and of course clean and tidy the house.



​This week we have been informed of an idea from NAFAS sent by Katherine Kerr, who says:

….’ I am hoping as many people as possible make or find a ring and add a green ribbon to it and put it for the duration on front doors or prominent windows. The ring symbolises unending and everlasting love, the cycle of life and hope. Green is for renewal, balance and progress’....

This is Katherine's ring

These are my rings!


​You can make your own ring from twigs, willow or vines
or use an old Oasis ring and then decorate it with
anything you can find in your collections of things.




We will keep in touch with you and hope that we can ‘resume normal service’ before too long. Please keep safe and enjoy the lovely sunshine that has been forecasted.

​With my very best wishes
Carolyn

​

30th March 2020
 
Hello, my fellow flower friends,
 
Well, we have survived the first week of our enforced ‘holiday’ and I wonder how you have fared?
I have to admit that it has taken me a few days to adjust from my usual routine of  being extremely busy to time stretching out before me. I had a very long list of things to do, but little motivation to get them done.  The good weather and the garden were, of course, lifesavers, but towards the end of last week I felt rather ‘down’ which is most unlike me.
 
Part of the reason was that Thursday would have been my late husband’s birthday and on Friday my brother celebrated his 70th birthday. I was not able to be with either of them. Many of you will be facing similar days and anniversaries. Many of you, like me, will be ‘Home Alone’ and it looks as though we will be so for quite a long time.
 
Thankfully, I seem to have returned to my usual positive and energetic self, but I wanted to share with you that all of us may have days when it all seems too much. One way of helping ourselves is to help others. This is not physically possible for most of us at the moment, but we can phone, write or text friends, relatives and family.  Thankfully, our church services are being streamed, but if yours are not, there is a service every Sunday morning on BBC1.  There are also many exercise classes of course, and it is a good idea to do some gentle - or not so gentle - exercise every day.  Who knows, we might come out of this fitter than ever!
 
A local Indian Restaurant near our church in Watford is making food which is being distributed from the church and my friend and I are helping to coordinate the delivery. If you live near Stanborough and would like to receive some, please let me know.  (I realise this will not apply to the majority of you.)
 
Those who have access to the internet will know that there are many flower related YouTube videos available.  NAFAS has a number of videos on YouTube so perhaps this is your opportunity to view some which will teach you how to use a pin-holder for instance!
 
Now that spring is here we can look forward to watching blossom trees come into bloom, bulbs flower and shrubs begin to ‘green up’.  Nature has a great way of lifting the spirits and we have lots to look forward to in the garden.  At the moment The Gardening Club at Enfield is offering a delivery service for all its products. One has to be a member, but joining is easy and not expensive, so at the moment you will be able to order summer bedding for instance. (Again, I realise this will only apply to a small number of you, but there might be a similar outlet near to where you live. It might be worth exploring.)
 
I leave you now with words from one of my favourite Irish poets, knowing that ‘time will come good’. 
​With prayers that you and your families will stay safe and well.
​Audrey

This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes.

Try, as best you can, not to let
The wire brush of doubt
Scrape from your heart
All sense of yourself
And your hesitant light.

If you remain generous,
Time will come good;
And you will find your feet
Again on fresh pastures of promise,
Where the air will be kind
And blushed with beginning.

 by John O'Donohue

We had a packed house for our first demonstration in 2020 – most probably due to the demonstrator for the evening being Doug Howard – a great demonstrator and valued member of our club!
 


Before he began his demonstration entitled “Flowers My Way” our chairman, Carolyn Cranswick, had the pleasant task of presenting a cheque for £1,000 to Sarah Russell the CEO of Tibbs Dementia Foundation which was our chosen charity for 2019. 

​Funds are raised via our monthly charity table, our plant stall at Clophill Church Fete and from donations given by grateful recipients of arrangements we have done for their wedding or celebratory occasion.   The atmosphere was already set for a lovely evening and Doug’s demonstration certainly added to our happy mood.  
 

​




​Using a great variety of lovely foliage (mostly from his garden) and superb flowers, he produced six main arrangements, all centred around the coming of Spring.    





​

​Whilst he arranged, he told us about different stages of his long career, in particular his initial test to become a NAFAS demonstrator.

Using the same special vase with pin holder in the top, he managed this time to produce a delightful but simple design with daffodils and pretty foliage – not so on his test!   


​

​



Needless to say, Doug went on to pass and become an excellent demonstrator pleasing club members with his designs wherever he goes and also members of the public visiting grand venues such as Westminster Abbey!    ​​




​

 
Next month, 5th March, is a fun social evening where five different crafty ideas will be demonstrated for members to try their hand.  Just bring your scissors/secateurs and a clean soup tin or similar, devoid of label, as these are to be decorated and used as containers.  Flowers etc. will be provided.   Then on  2nd April Barbara Collins will be demonstrating “Brighter days are coming”.   Doors open as usual at 6.45 pm for a prompt start at 7.30pm.   Make a date in your diary for a great evening and visitors are welcome at any of our meetings - £5 including refreshments.


Doug Howard can be contacted by emailing to: jananddoug@btinternet.com

​On 5th December we really got into the Christmas spirit with a superb demonstration by Nigel Whyles, National Demonstrator from Telford.

​His designs were all excellent as each one was different with a large variety of flowers and seasonal foliage. 








​

2019 has been another successful year for the Club as our membership has increased to 82 so there is always a lively and friendly atmosphere at our meetings. We have an excellent Committee who organise activities and trips for the members as well as monthly flower demonstrations
          
The festive season began with a trip to Waddesdon Manor to see the house decorated for Christmas. Each room was on a different theme and the trees, lights and decorations were lovely. Outside there was a Christmas market in little wooden chalets and when it got dark the lights went on all around the house and garden with beautiful installations to walk around. Our trips are always popular and this was one of the best.

We have another programme of events and demonstrations planned for 2020. The AGM is on 9th January at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome to join us to start another year of Friendship , Fun and Flowers.

On 7th November, we welcomed back Theresa Rodrigues to our Club with her demonstration entitled ‘No Humbugs Allowed’.  Christmas is definitely on the horizon, no doubt about that.  We already see it in all the shops, and our floral demonstrator at the club’s November meeting gave more than a nod to the coming season with glitter and gold, and the wintery themes of her arrangements.

However,  before we settled down to enjoy the flowers, we welcomed two special ladies from the Bowel Cancer Support team at Bedford Hospital.  They brought along some of the “training dummies” purchased with our club’s charity donation of £800.  These dummies help them to show patients how to use the specialist equipment when recovering from cancer surgery.  These dummies are a helpful aid in demonstrating correct procedures.  We were all very interested to learn about this very worthwhile use of the money donated.

Theresa Rodriguez, our floral demonstrator for the evening has been to our club many times, and her varied shapes and styles, and choice of flowers and foliage in her designs are always a delight.  The peach roses (“Mayfair”) in her Jack & The Beanstalk arrangement were my particular favourite.

Theresa’s use of the new partially biodegradable dark brown floral foam was an interesting tip to encourage us to move away from the traditional green, non-biodegradable type of floral foam.



​
Her crown representing the Three Kings contained some stunning tropical flowers based on a circle of foliage which had been sprayed gold.

Our next demonstration evening will be our Christmas Special in Clophill Village Hall at 7.30 pm on 5th December with “Deck the Halls” by Nigel Whyles.  This event is sold out so it is for ticket holders only.

Please Note:   Our Annual General Meeting will be held on at 7.30 pm on 9th January 2020 (the second Thursday in the month, NOT the first one),  in Clophill Village Hall.  Everyone welcome.  Do join us to hear about our plans for 2020!