Decorate Like A Pro this Holiday Season: New Decor Classes Offered At Filoli

WOODSIDE, CA –Filoliis offering a new series for the home where students will learn how to create fabulous holiday décor that adorns their homes this season, using only the best materials and with imaginative demonstrations, well thought-out curriculum, and hands-on instruction.

These new programs are all electives to Filoli’s Home Floral Design Certificate Program. Fees include all materials and containers.

Gifts and Garland to Swathe

Wednesday, November 2
Contemporary Garlands and Other Swag
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Instructor: Baylor Chapman
Fall is an amazing time to gather from nature and bring it home. Whether decorating for a Thanksgiving feast, a holiday celebration, or a Happy New Year, garlands and swags are a fabulous way to adorn doors, fireplaces, and tabletops. Using a sumptuous fall color palette and nature’s beautiful fruits, berries, and bits, Baylor will provide inspiration and practical tips for how to create and care for lovely natural displays. This hands-on class offers a class demonstration and one-on-one instruction. Each participant makes their very own draping garland to enjoy for the season. Fee: $150 members; $180 non-members

Fanciful Ribbons and Bows
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Instructor: Pat Gibbons
Participants in this class will take their gifts, packages and holiday arrangements to new levels with exciting finishing touches. First, Pat will teach students how to make a basic florist's bow. Then, she will demonstrate how to embellish the simple bow using a variety of textures and materials. These can be natural materials such as birch, cones, and berries for a rustic effect; or a sparkly rhinestone band for a glitzy effect. Whether a person’s taste leans to modern, Asian-themed, stylized, or eclectic, participant’s imaginations will run wild with items from Pat's collection. Fee: $80 members; $95 non-members

Completing the Holiday Scene

Friday, November 4
Holiday Table Settings
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Instructor: Wendy Morck
Table settings set the mood for special meals from intimate and formal to festive and free-wheeling. Flower arrangements are the crucial element for pulling the table setting together. Wendy will demonstrate how she creates stunning arrangements then matches them with seasonal table settings. A display of beautiful table settings will also be part of the class to inspire students to make their next occasion a special one. Fee: $130 members; $155 non-members

Winter Flowers and Scents for the Holidays

Wednesday, November 9
Bouquets for a Winter Wonderland
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Instructor: Pat Gibbons
Using beautiful aromatics such as pine, citrus, and cinnamon, along with accenting berries and branches, participants will learn how to create several different holiday centerpieces. A variety of containers will be demonstrated to show their different effects and give students ideas on how to make their homes sparkling for the holidays. Then students will create one of their own centerpieces in a beautiful birch container. Fee: $130 members; $155 non-members

Scents for a Winter Wonderland
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Instructors: Laurie Stern
Students will go on a perfumery adventure and receive an introduction to botanical perfume essences of pleasant and healing scents. Participants will have the rare opportunity to smell aromatic treasures from around the globe including Bulgarian Rose Otto, 100-year old Indian Sandalwood, night blooming jasmine and more. Then the focus will be on respiratory oils and their anti-viral and aroma-therapeutic effects of the conifer oils such as silver fir and Templin pine. Everyone will leave the class with their own roll-on bottle of defense against winter colds, and an aromatic winter wonderland room or linen spray.
Fee: $130 members; $150 non-members

Traditional Holiday Décor
Friday, November 11
Traditional Garlands
9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Instructor: Katherine Glazier
Decorative garlands are a lovely way to adorn an entryway or table for the holidays. Participants will learn the mechanics of garland construction and how to transform a lush assortment of greenery and seasonal materials into a holiday masterpiece for their home. Students will create their own festive garland to enjoy further in their own home. Fee: $130 members; $155 non-members

Celebrated Holiday Wreaths
1:00 – 3:30 pm
Instructor: Katherine Glazier
Wreaths are a welcoming sight on front doors throughout our neighborhoods. Students will create a decorative holiday wreath for their home and will learn the mechanics of wreath construction with ample opportunity given in class to embellish their creation with seasonal ribbons, pods, cones, and more. This class is a fun, fragrant afternoon at Filoli that kicks-off the holiday season.
Fee: $130 members; $155 non-members

More class details here.

For more information regarding art exhibits, classes, events, talks, tours of the House and Garden, and about Holiday Traditions visit www.filoli.org or call Filoli weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at (650) 364-8300, ext. 508.

Also see:

• Make Your Plans: Holiday Trains Coming Soon To Beach Boardwalk
• Reservations Underway For Campbell's Ainsley House Holiday Festivities
• Tickets Go On Sale Soon For Filoli Estate's 'Holiday Traditions'

--Image and info courtesy of Filoli