Today I taught my first class in a foreign country. Today I taught floral design in Moscow. Yuriy and Olga of the Flower Bazar gave me my first opportunity to teach internationally. This picture is of me and Evan with the designers of Flower Bazar.  I became an international teacher today.

I actually can see my future through these doors. This day was beyond anything I could have imagined. Everything was perfect. There are no words to describe the beauty of this entire experience. I love my new friends, I truly love them!!! The building they provided for our class was honestly the most beautiful space I have ever seen. It was also the coolest place I have ever seen. The building was some type of warehouse. 8 months ago this huge warehouse was gutted and restored and turned into the biggest art studio/photography center I have ever seen. It was better than DC, better than NYC. Every room had a bright colored door, and beyond each door was the most amazing space. Seriously I think there were at least 15 different huge and brightly painted doors. I have never seen anything like this. Behind each door different things were happening, magazine shoots, pregnancy shoots, fashion shoots. This blue door is my door. This is the beautiful room I taught in. I cried a lot when I walked through these doors. In fact I cried all day. I cried because I was overcome with joy and because I feel so passionately about what I do, and because I so truly love the people I am meeting. Today was good, oh so very good!!!

Our beautiful studio space had an amazing deck that looked out over other factories. Restoration and a rebirth has begun in those factories as well. Notice we have no coats on, everyone in Moscow is shocked about the weather. It’s warm and sunny here. We keep joking that I brought them the sun!!!

The ingredients for a “hollyish” bouquet already sorted and ready for our sold out class. I taught over 25 people today.

These are 3 of the rooms in the building besides the room we taught in.

With kate getting ready for my first attempt at doing Madonna. Wearing a mike and teaching was super cool. As you can see Yuriy and Olga thought of everything!!!

After two hours of lecturing and sharing, and translating, we started bouquets.

Once I completed my design each of the students created their masterpiece.

There are awesome pictures of the whole class on Instagram, under HollyChapple or under #hollychapple_workshop. I can’t get those images off of my iphone tonight or I would share them with you. By the way it’s 2:19 a.m. right now.

Evan kept himself entertained by doing selfies. You will notice he has gotten really good at this, in fact I think he is slightly addicted to this activity.

After class we went on a walk at a scenic overlook. Here you could see the 1980 Olympic stadium, and an enormous skiing ramp.

We also went to see the University of Moscow. This building was stunning, I could have gazed at it’s architecture for hours. Seriously amazing!!!

At dinner I shared even more of my secrets with my new friends. Thankfully the only secrets I know are raising children and floral design.

I am really, really, really, happy!!! I miss my kids, but I do feel like I am with family here in Moscow. This day was wonderful and I am so thankful. Somehow this universe keeps giving me the most amazing gifts. The relationships I am developing all over this world are truly priceless.  Stay tuned tomorrow, we have a very fabulous secret to share. There I go again with those secrets!!!!