Meet the students of Little Flower School featured in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living, available on newsstands January 16, 2012. We invited each of them, all talented artistic people in their own right (just check out their blogs), to answer a few questions about the art and craft of arranging flowers. Beforehand, most admitted their limited floral design experience. After their class, their arrangements look like the work of a chic flower shop.

The Little Flower School was founded in 2009 by New York City-based floral designers Nicolette Owen (below, left) and Sarah Ryhanen (below, right).

Fay Andrada
fayandrada.wordpress.com

Could you tell me the most important or surprising thing you learned about flower arranging from the class?
I was surprised by how technical flower arranging can be. I came from the graphic design world so I was looking for a grid. Nicolette and Sarah’s style is so wild yet composed—how it all came together was a mystery. I learned that they do use a type of grid to create the basic layout of the arrangement.

How would you describe yourself as a flower arranger before taking the class?
I was born with zero floral instincts. My style is pretty geometric and minimal, so I relied on those aesthetics with flowers—a couple of lone stems in a Finnish vase was my go-to strategy.

Can you briefly describe your blog for our readers?
My blog allows me to place my work inside a larger cultural context. At first glance my illustrations and jewelry appear to be sparse and simple. Looking closely you can see that each shape is a little different from the next, the lines that appear straight waiver. My blog provides evidence of a human hand behind simple, imperfect shapes.

Lena Corwin
blog.lenacorwin.com

Could you tell me the most important or surprising thing you learned about flower arranging from the class?
Flower arranging takes skill and practice; that wasn’t a surprise. It was surprising though how addictively fun the class is.

How would you describe yourself as a flower arranger before taking the class?
I love to collect flowers and foliage from my backyard and make small arrangements around my house. I’ve also always enjoyed buying flowers at a corner store and trying to make the most of them.

Can you briefly describe your blog for our readers?
I post about anything I find interesting and inspiring—but usually with a focus on textiles and the work of lesser-known designers.

Jennifer Gordy
blog.shopwiksten.com

Could you tell us the most important or surprising thing you learned about flower arranging from the class?
Learning how to use a frog at the bottom of the vase was a major revelation to me. My arrangements are usually floppy, but the frog holds it all together and makes perfect placement of the flowers easy.

How would you describe yourself as a flower arranger before taking the class?
I was a disaster at flower arranging, so much so that I would dread my husband bringing me flowers because I knew I would make them look terrible in a vase.

Can you briefly describe your blog for our readers?
The Wiksten blog documents the inspirations and processes behind the scenes of my clothing company as well as my love of making things just for fun.

Jennifer Sarkilahti
odetteny.blogspot.com

Could you tell me the most important or surprising thing you learned about flower arranging from the class?
I learned from the class was the importance of creating depth and balance by building the arrangement in layers. I also learned to keep turning the arrangement so you’re thinking about it in the round.

How would you describe yourself as a flower arranger before taking the class?
Before I took the class, I would say the extent of my flower arranging was attempting to put two flower bouquets from the corner store together.

Can you briefly describe your blog for our readers?
My blog is a combination of daily studio musings and handpicked visual inspiration related to fashion, travels, art, jewelry, and craft.

Liane Tyrrel
enhabiten.blogspot.com

Could you tell me the most important or surprising thing you learned about flower arranging from the class?
The Little Flower School taught me how to layer an arrangement to create depth and how to use color and shape. I also liked the approach of using unusual greens and materials in addition to blossoms.

How would you describe yourself as a flower arranger before taking the class?
I used to grab a bunch of stems from the garden and toss them in a container. I like this approach, but there’s such beauty and care in creating an arrangement with layers. I'm glad I can now do both.

Can you briefly describe your blog for our readers?
My blog is a casual affair. It’s closely linked with my shop and my process of making things. But it's also about my daily life—ramblings on art, relationships, philosophy, food, and what inspires me.

To learn more about flower arranging visit:

Martha’s Flower-Arranging Secrets
Flower Arrangement Ideas
Flower-Arranging Tips from Kevin Sharkey
Martha’s Seasonal Arrangements