Results designer Mara Verbena day one from the Europa Cup 2016 in Genoa
It was an exciting first day of the 2016 European Florist Championship in Genoa, with plenty amazing floral designs being created!
All competitors had to perform three tasks. Starting off with a car decoration in the morning, in this case of a small, classic Fiat, for the task “PARATA FLOREALE DI SANREMO”.
Afterwards, it was time for a special picnic task “PASTA, PESTO, E FIORI” ; a floral arrangement for a picnic in the Genovese mountains in Spring. With special attention paid to Pesto, the trademark food product of the city of Genoa!
The last task on the first day was a wedding assignment. Entitled “MATRIMONIO IN VESPA”; the instruction for the 23 competitors was to design a floral decoration for a bride, who is sitting behind her groom while he is riding on a Vespa to their wedding reception.
Flowerweb and its team was right there to bring you the end results as well as the story behind the various creations and techniques used, as told by the competitors.
Below you can see the results from Mara Verbena from San Marino
On our Europacup 2016 event page you can also see the floral designs from the other competitors.

TASK NO. 1: “PARATA FLOREALE DI SANREMO”- Flower corso of Sanremo
Kind of work: Car decoration. Free floral arrangement in floral foam.
Description: This work piece should represent the beauty of the Italian flower assortment. The emphasis should be on the flowers, not the construction of the design
Shape/size: The shape is free. The arrangement must not exceed a ground space of 400cmx200cm and a height of 250cm.
Technique: All live materials must be placed in floral foam. The design and materials are expected to last 4 days

It 's always great to work with Italian spring flowers. They have an intensity of colors and a quality that allows me to create works of great durability and high impact.

I prepared a structure that represents a series of very colorful gift packages where the staple will be made with the flowers, the leaves and the green will be the filling in a large basket of cane that has been realized with the support of an old craftsman, on the model that was used in the Sanremo market up to 20/30 years ago to pack and ship the flowers.
The effect will be to a large amount of parcels that fly away because the belt which supports all it is unfastened.
The floral wagons of Sanremo to whom we must inspire, deliver wonder and amazement to their vision and amazement will have to create the vision of these colorful and flowered packs flying from the roof of the “Fiat 500”

This Fiat 500 represents the travels from south to north and vice versa with gift parcels that emigrants used to carry as a gift to their in the years 50/60.
Small cars with above disproportionate loads and piled usually bound with belts and ropes. I dedicate this work to my friend Ugo, experienced trucker from the 50 ', who used to wound up the world on its Fiat 500...

Step by Step first “PARATA FLOREALE DI SANREMO”


TASK 2: “PASTA, PESTO, E FIORI”-Pasta, Pesto, and Flowers
Kind of work: Picnic in the Genovese mountains in the spring.
Description: This work is a tribute to PESTO, the trademark food product of the city of Genoa! The design should also vividly reflect the spring season.
Requirements: The arrangement has to allow 2 people to enjoy the picnic comfortably.
Shape/size: The shape is free. The arrangement must not exceed a ground space of 200cmx200cm and a height of 200cm.
Technique: Free. The design is expected to last 4 days.
An iron rod and slate, known worldwide as the board has been used in the structure
that will support the 7 elements of pesto (garlic, basil, Sardinian cheese and parmesan cheese, salt and pine nuts and olive oil). The setting takes into account a didascalic way of the proposed themes but represented in dreamlike and bucolic way, distorting perspectives and proportions:
the column becomes the tree that gives shade to the banquet, the palms become the branches,
ingredients for pesto are the lifeblood, the slate scales are the mountains. All in a spring and strongly Ligurian landscape. The Mezzaro is the cloth used for picnics, typical of Liguria, has as its main drawing the tree of life, it comes to Genoa with the East India Company and is used in furnishing the great palaces. Today is used to cover sofas, beds and as tablecloths.

I represented the spring using the heart of the palm, an important element of the Passover with which, by ancient tradition, you create "Parmè" on Palm Sunday, another typical Ligurian flora flower is the hellebore "Francis" dedicated to Pope Francis, than buttercups and daisies will be the colorful flowers, crocus and heather plants make more rustic effect. Criptomeria, Santorina and Timo as typical fronds.

On my Picnic I imagine to be with my father Renato who did the woodcutter / charcoal burner in those hills ... where watching the port, he tells me about Bruno and Venerina, my in-laws who, like many other citizens of San Marino from Genoa in those years embarked for America. I dedicate this work to my father Renato, who did a wonderful pesto ...

Step By Step of “PASTA, PESTO, E FIORI”


TASK 3: “MATRIMONIO IN VESPA” - Wedding on a Vespa
Kind of work: Floral decoration for a bride who is sitting behind her groom while he is riding a Vespa to their wedding reception.
Description: The bridal decoration has to reflect the free Italian spirit and lifestyle of the 1950’s and 60’s.
Requirements: This piece is an item designed for a bride. Make sure the item allows the couple to ride safely on the Vespa.
Technique: Shape is free. The design is expected to last 24 hours.
First, the technique of construction of the bouquet itself, where only the wire. It is to support the ability of the florist with some concession to the use of chromaticism and glue. Combined with two big flowers pins to fix the hairstyle of hair whipped by the wind.

The cattleya as the main flower, much in use at that time white, to signify elegance and wealth, lilac today in homage to the colors that makes the work romantic and contemporary.

No structure, simply an underwired Bouquet and the selection of items that can withstand being transported on a Vespa. The cattleya are small and less delicate petal of the ancient ones.
Together with the sinuous and flowing shape that surrounds the hand and partially arm and that creates a sinuous line and sagging on the hand of the bride and the user can easily move with elegance. I dedicate this work to my Mom Jole which is always recommended to be sober and elegant ....

Step by Step from “MATRIMONIO IN VESPA”


Europa Cup web App

Not everybody will be able to travel to Genoa for the Europa Cup 2016.
Therefore Florint & Flowerweb have created a special "EUROPACUP VOTE & SUPPORT APP" that allows everyone to Vote and Support their favourite competitors in Genoa as well as participate in a Europa Cup Quiz & Survey.
Whether you are in Genoa or at home you will be able to follow the action and participate.
SUPPORT Your Favourite Competitor

Visit the EUROPA CUP WEB APP to upload your support Picture!
You can support your favourite competitor by taking a picture and uploading it in the app.
Your picture and personal message will be displayed in a slideshow on 4 large screens during the Europa Cup.
The picture can be a selfie, a group photo or something funny... You are welcome to wear something flowery and colourful or in the colours of the competitor's country.
Whether at home or present at the event, the selfie app works quite easily: you can use your computer, iPad or smartphone to upload a picture plus a little text. This will then be uploaded automatically on a big screen at the event, so all competitors can see their friends, family and fans supporting them.
You can see an online overview of all uploaded pictures by clicking here
For an extensive step by step explanation of the App, please check this article.
"People’s Choice Award" by Smithers-Oasis: VOTE For each assignment

From the moment the first task has been completed, people both outside and present at the event will be able to vote for their favourite arrangements. Although you are not allowed to vote for the competitor from your own country, you can let us know whose work you liked most for each task.
You will be able to check out all the step by step articles on Flowerweb to compare the competitors and hear the stories behind their creations.
Voting will be open until Sunday (10 April) 12:00. The competitor with the most Votes in the end, will win the "Smithers-Oasis People’s Choice Award"
For an extensive step by step explanation of how to vote, visit this article.

Florint has partnered with Flowerweb to conduct live reporting from the event, enabling you to follow all the news and happenings at the Europa Cup 2016 in Genoa.
Everyday we will send you a step-by-step of the various creations from the previous day accompanied by one-on-one interviews with the competitors as they speak about their work.
So the last thing to do is to click the "Facebook Connect" button on the top right to create your free login to Flowerweb and we will keep you up to date!
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