Wow University is in session!

Wow University offers a variety of fun classes on DIY decorating, floral arranging and crafts. Come by yourself, or bring friends and make it a party. All workshop participants will receive a Wow University diploma, which in today’s economy is practically as valuable as degrees from top 4-year universities! Classes are taught at Jonathan’s design studio in Santa Monica.

These are just some of the classes offered at Wow University:

Make Your Own Floral Cake: 0% Calories, 100% Wow
The floral cake – a cake made entirely of flowers – is one of Jonathan Fong’s most popular floral designs, and in this fun workshop, you’ll learn how to create this unique arrangement. The floral cake is an impressive centerpiece, a great hostess gift, and the perfect birthday present for the person who has everything. Jonathan will show you how easy it is to make your own, with a “recipe” of simple step-by-step instructions, so you’ll go home with an arrangement that will amaze your friends and family. Included with the workshop are all the materials and flowers to make your own floral cake, plus a pastry box for you to take it home. (And if you’re really good, Jonathan will finish the day by making a floral cake while hula hoping.)

Personalized Gifts, featuring Personalized Soaps
Are you always at a loss about what to give as gifts? Do you wish you could spend less money, but still give something heartfelt – and at the same time put everyone else’s gifts to shame? You can, by making personalized gifts that will wow the recipient and make people hate you because you’re so creative. In this workshop, Jonathan Fong will show you an array of inexpensive, easy, and super-impressive gifts that you can make. As a bonus, you will learn how to decorate personalized soaps, with images of you, your friends, family, pets, whatever. Each student will make and take two personalized soaps home to give as gifts or keep to stare at and marvel.

Soy Container Candles: Save Money and Save the Planet
Soy candles are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional candles, which are made from petroleum. And they’re super-easy to make, as you’ll discover in this “illuminating” workshop. Jonathan Fong will give you unique, creative ideas for containers appropriate for candles, go over the short list of materials needed to create your own container candles at home, and take you through the simple process of melting and pouring. The fun part is that you will make your own soy candle in a beautiful teacup to take home, so the glow of the workshop will stay with you forever, or at least through the night.

Do It Yourself Wedding Flowers
We’re down on one knee proposing that if you’re getting married in the next year, you can save thousands of dollars by doing your own flowers. In this workshop, Jonathan Fong will take you through the basics of making professional-looking hand-tied bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres. He’ll also show you affordable but stunning centerpiece ideas for your reception. You’ll get inside tips on where to shop for flowers and supplies, what you definitely need to buy, and what you should absolutely avoid. We’ll provide all the flowers and supplies, and you can have fun experimenting to your heart’s content. At the end of the day, you’ll take home your own bouquet, along with the know-how and confidence to say “I Do” when it comes to creating your own wedding florals. Bring your friends, or give the workshop as a gift to someone getting married!

Make a Scarf from Recycled T-shirts
Green is the new black, and by green we mean eco-friendly. Here’s your chance to wear this season’s hottest fashion accessory – a scarf made from recycled T-shirts. Jonathan Fong will show you how to give new life to old t-shirts, turning them into a comfy, stylish, and one-of-kind scarves. You’ll learn which t-shirts work best, how to cut them up for maximum usage, how to mix colors and styles, and how to get it ready for sewing. An assortment of T-shirts will be provided, but feel free to bring any old ones you might have as well so the scarf will be more “you.” For example, bring some college or concert tees that are stretched out or faded, and give them a second life. There will be a sewing machine available to finish your scarf; you can also bring your own sewing machine, or leave your ready-to-sew scarf with us, and we’ll sew it for you for a small charge.

Decoupage a Chair to Make a Work of Art
Don’t sit around all weekend. Come decoupage a chair that you can sit in the following weekend. Jonathan Fong’s wildly creative decoupaged chairs have been featured in magazines, newspapers, and TV shows, and in this two-part workshop, Jonathan will show you how to decoupage your own chair with a fine art poster. Really, it’s a lot easier than you’d think. The cool thing is everyone will get their own chair to decoupage, and get to choose from a selection of posters. We’ll supply all the brushes, glue, and other supplies, so all you need to bring is a smile. On the first day, we’ll apply the poster to the chair. Then on the second day (after the chair has had a chance to dry), we’ll apply the polyurethane to protect it. But hurry, seats are going fast.