I am often asked what my favourite flower is. It’s a question I am always reluctant to answer as it’s like picking a favourite child! But if you ask me in Autumn, I would probably have to say dahlias. I have spent the last few months studying them in great detail and am pleased to announce a Dahlia sugar flower workshop for October.
Inspiration from the farm…
I grow a lot of dahlias in my garden. In fact, I love them so much that I have a whole border dedicated to them, which increases in size each year! This year however, they have really struggled and I haven’t managed to produce as many bountiful blooms as I would like. In order to discover some new varieties, shapes and colours, I looked up a local flower farm. Flowers from the Farm is an amazing online resource which can help you identify local growers. After a quick search, I found Ali @smallgardenlife, who very kindly said I could come along last Friday morning to peruse her borders and pick a few dahlias.
Working from real life
Once I took my bucket of dahlias home, I set about studying them in detail. You really can’t beat having fresh flowers to work from when creating your own sugar flowers. For the workshop I want to explore the dahlia in all its different forms. So I picked four different types with various characteristics: collarette, semi-double, fully double and pom-pom.
My teaching style
I don’t get hung up on “botanically correct” – but that doesn’t mean that your sugar flowers aren’t going to be incredibly lifelike. Sometimes there is a need to cut corners to create something that is affordable to make.
And whilst I’m on affordability, you don’t need every cutter and veiner under the sun! I always choose veiners that I know I can use for multiple flowers/uses and I like to make my own templates rather than buying endless cutters.
Strive for IMPERFECTION. My students are probably sick of me saying this, but I don’t want your sugar flowers to look “perfect”. Perfect is not natural. Embrace nature’s imperfections in your sugar flowers and then you will achieve realism.
Ultimately, I like to blur the boundaries between what’s real and what’s sugar which is why I like to photograph my sugar flowers amongst the real things. Make people do a double take. Can you spot them here?
This arrangement contains dahlias gifted and grown by Ali @smallgardenlife, along with some bits and pieces that I grew in my own garden + the sugar flowers that I will be teaching in the workshop.
What sugar flowers will you be teaching?
I will be teaching 4 different dahlias:
Collarette – inspired by “Rhubarb + Custard” – pale blush petals with dark pink brushstrokes in the centre and a yellow central disc.
Semi-double – inspired by “Senior’s Hope” – pink with a hint of yellow on the inside of the petal with a contrasting plum on the reverse + a visible central disc.
Fully double – inspired by a mystery tuber from Ali’s dahlia patch! This one has deep pinky purple petals.
Pom pom – inspired by “La Recoleta” – sumptuous deep burgundy with a pretty pom pom shape.
When is the workshop?
The Dahlia Sugar Flower Workshop will take place on Tuesday 21st – Wednesday 22nd October 2025 in my studio in South East London. It will be a 2 day workshop allowing us plenty of time to cover all of the flowers in depth. A 2 day class is also advantageous to allow drying time for the petals and plenty of time for dusting and assembly. Each day the class will start promptly at 9:45am and will finish between 4pm and 5pm.
What’s included in a Group Sugar Flower Workshop?
All tools and materials needed to make your flowers over the 2 days will be provided. You don’t need to bring anything with you and there is no need to take notes! After the workshop, you will receive access to an online class with step-by-step videos for each of the flowers to enable you to practice at home. Each class also has its own cheat sheets with links to the tools required and written instructions to serve as a memory prompt.
A light lunch and refreshments will also be provided. Please advise of any dietary requirements or allergies when booking your place.
How many places are available?
My group workshops are taught with a maximum group size of 4 students. This enables me to give each student plenty of 1-1 help, feedback and the opportunity to ask questions.
Who is this class suitable for?
The class is suitable for all levels, although a basic knowledge of sugar flowers is preferable.
How much is the class and how do I book?
The group sugar flower workshop is priced at £495 for the 2 days. Places are bookable by contacting The Botanical Cake Studio directly. Get in touch to book your place here!
You can view the class booking terms here.
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