Clarke County is already a unique place to live. People gladly rally behind and support each other when help is needed. Everybody knows everybody, and most people love to be able to just get together and spend quality time together.
The florists in this unique little community are some of the best and understand how much the people in the county love to be able to just interact. With their understanding and talents, both Fantasy Cottage and M&M Florist have managed to do what no other florists have done: held unique classes that are open to the public.
Recently Fantasy Cottage hosted a class where a group was able to come, socialize, eat, and create their very own flower arrangements. The class was formed after requests were made, and April Hunter, the owner, decided to listen to what her customers wanted.
“Back in October, we started going live on Facebook every two weeks where we try to do three flower arrangements while our viewers can watch. Hunter keeps up with everybody watching or commenting, and then we draw names to pick a winner, and that person gets to get one of the arrangements we make. We started getting feedback on that where customers would say it would be so neat for us to do a flower class,” explained April. “Cody actually told me that people are really responding to the lives and that there is a strong interest in a class and that I should try to do it, so we got some ideas together and set up our class.”
She broadcast through the Fantasy Cottage Facebook page about the class, and it wasn’t long before the class was full.
“It really took off,” stated April. “At one point I was thinking about where I was going to put everybody. The first class was amazing. We had so much fun.”
Anyone who is interested in attending one of the classes simply signs up and pay $35, which covers the cost of all the materials. They try to keep the number of participants at each party between 12 and 15 so that everyone is able to get one-on-one assistance when needed. April and her crew have everything organized so that all the customer has to do after that is have fun.
“You can come to as many classes as you want. You don’t have to come every time, but there is a different arrangement in every class,” expressed April. “We feed you, and everyone just visits for a little while when we’re eating. Then, we give you everything you need: your container, your flowers, and anything else you will need to make a flower arrangement. Hunter assists with helping everybody. You just watch while I get you started. I tell you what flowers you have in your pack and then let you go at your own pace. At the end of the night, you leave with that arrangement, so we try to make sure that it’s in a keepsake container so that you will still have your base even after the flowers die.”
She has posted a schedule for parties in April on the Fantasy Cottage Facebook page, and anyone who is interested in taking one of the classes is able to either message her on the Facebook page or call Fantasy Cottage to ask about class openings and reserve a space. Although they primarily have the classes scheduled on Monday nights, they are open to requests for specific nights or times for private parties.
“We’ll work with birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, or anything like that,” said April. “We are willing to work with whatever people say they need.”
Each class lasts for about two hours, and April has a theme for whatever arrangement is being done.
“We try to keep what the arrangement is going to be a surprise, and the food and drink are all around the theme of the class,” stated April. “We try to incorporate a theme into each class. The first one we did as a Tea Party theme, so they designed flower arrangements in tea cups, and we had tea party style food.”
The flower arrangement class at Fantasy Cottage isn’t the only class that has been offered in Quitman by a Florist.
M&M Florist has also hosted a class recently. The class at M&M has been considered for a little over a year as the florist was thinking of ways to become more involved with the community. The answer they came up with was a painting class.
“We are always seeking out new ideas that will involve us with our community. Our community is the backbone of our support, and to involve them and get to know them more is what we love to do. I want to pour as much as I can into our community; that’s how we improve and become better and better serve our area!” exclaimed Hunter Bonner, owner of M&M Florist. “The previous owner, Georgia, and I had tossed the idea around about having classes of some sort at the florist before, and it was right around the time that Covid really hit our area. As soon as things got better, we knew we had to seek out the best option that our community would love! I contacted HAND+made out of Laurel to ask about hosting a class at M&M the same day that we had our Spring Open House, and they were so nice to us when we were setting up and willing to come to us to teach a painting class.”
HAND+made was highly recommended, and Hunter really felt like it would be the perfect community class for the Spring Open House event. The community loved the class as much as he did.
“Our painting party with HAND+made was on Saturday, March 27. We have to say we were blown away by all the support that was shown to us. It was the biggest Spring Open House we’ve ever had!” declared Hunter. “I know this is something I would like to attend with any family or friends and knew the community would too. It’s just something you can get out and do locally, and what better way to spend the day with your mama, daughter, sister, or friends? Our community and the surrounding areas truly showed up and showed out! It brought several new faces and many of our faithful customers to come see and shop with us. We always push that you need to shop local and support local, and we are so thankful that people did just that. We are extremely blessed to be part of such a wonderful and loving community!”
That definitely wasn’t the only class that M&M plans to host. They had so much fun with the painting party that they are looking forward to being able to host parties again at different points in the year. They will update any time a party will take place on their M&M Facebook page, and anyone interested would simply call or message them to reserve a place in the class. The cost of a class is $50, which pays for all the materials. Everything is done on keepsake containers. They provide food and drinks at each party as well.
“We are already planning on hosting some more painting classes again in the future!” expressed Hunter. “We are shooting for this summer and again in the fall and Christmas too! The paintings are on bread boards and dough bowls, and they are the perfect gift for anyone. Just think how cool it would be if you hand painted one for a Christmas gift.”
Both florists in Clarke County are amazing. Each one creates beautiful flower arrangements, and now they both offer classes for the public to take. They are about more than simply selling flowers. They are all about the community and being involved.
