The Flower Blog

🌻 Giving Thanks with Flowers: Thanksgiving DIY Floral Design Classes

Celebrate the warmth and beauty of the season with our Thanksgiving DIY Floral Design Classes at Gillespie Florists! Whether you love fresh flowers, seasonal decorating, or a fun night out with friends, these hands-on workshops are the perfect way to get creative and craft a stunning arrangement for your Thanksgiving table.

🍂 What You’ll Learn

Join our talented designers for a fun and inspiring 1–2 hour session where you’ll discover the art of floral design. With expert guidance and all materials provided, you’ll design your very own Thanksgiving centerpiece filled with vibrant fall blooms, seasonal foliage, and festive accents. You’ll head home with a beautiful arrangement ready to display or gift for the holiday!

🌾 Class Details

✨ Saturday, November 15th at 4:00 PM
Lead Designer: Kayleigh

✨ Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00 PM
Lead Designer: Sheila Wise

📍 Location: Gillespie Florists — 9255 W 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46234
💐 Cost: $50 per person
🔪 Ages: 18 and older (due to use of sharp instruments)
🌻 Includes: All materials — fresh flowers, seasonal foliage, decorative accents, and your choice of vase or container. Extra accessories will be available for purchase.

🌸 Luxury Upgrade

Looking to elevate your design? Choose a Single or Double Luxury Flower Upgrade to add premium blooms like lilies, roses, and other seasonal favorites. Our lead designer will hand-select the perfect flowers to make your arrangement even more stunning.

🦃 Why Join Us?

No experience? No problem! Our friendly designers will walk you through each step, offering hands-on guidance and expert tips to help you create a one-of-a-kind Thanksgiving arrangement.
Class sizes are limited to ensure personalized instruction — so bring a friend, sip something warm, and spend an evening (or afternoon!) designing, laughing, and celebrating the season with us.

Questions? Call 317-273-1100 — we can’t wait to see you there!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR SATURDAY 11/15 @ 4PM

🌸 The Faces of Gillespie Florists 🌸

Say hello to Sheila Wise, one of our incredible floral designers — or as she likes to call herself, “floral designer extraordinaire.”

Sheila has been part of the Gillespie Florists family for 16 years, and we truly can’t imagine the shop without her!

Her favorite blooms? White roses, white peonies, and mink protea — timeless, elegant, and full of personality, just like her designs.

When asked what she loves most about working at Gillespie, Sheila shared:

“The people — most of us are like family. We can get mad, poke fun at each other, and it’s all good the next minute. We hold each other up when needed.”

Sheila has a special place in her heart for funeral work, where her empathy and artistry shine as she helps bring comfort through flowers. Her floral journey began over 30 years ago, when she started helping friends and family with weddings and funerals — until one day, a shop owner recognized her natural talent and hired her on the spot!

As for her favorite Gillespie memory?

“During my interview, I was joking around and being super sarcastic with someone in the design room — not realizing he was the owner! I thought I’d blown it, but he insisted they hire me… and here I am, all these years later!”

When she’s not designing stunning arrangements like her favorite, ‘Warmest Remembrance,’ you’ll find Sheila remodeling her house, camping, or spending time with her beloved dogs. Around the shop, she’s affectionately known as our resident “vet/nurse,” always ready to lend a hand (or a bandage).

Sheila believes that “people are put in your life when needed — either for you or for them.” We couldn’t agree more.

💐 Join us in celebrating Sheila — 16 years of creativity, compassion, and humor at Gillespie Florists!

Want to learn more about the Faces of Gillespie Florists? Click the names below!

Sarah      Tyler

Duane    Kayleigh

Give Thanks with Flowers: A Thanksgiving DIY Floral Design Class

Celebrate the beauty of the season with a hands-on floral design experience at Gillespie Florists! Whether you’re a flower enthusiast, a DIY lover, or simply looking for a cozy way to welcome Thanksgiving, this class is the perfect way to create something truly special for your holiday table.

🌻 What You’ll Learn

Join our talented designer, Kayleigh, for a fun and inspiring 1–2 hour session where you’ll discover the art of floral design. With decades of experience, Kayleigh will guide you step-by-step as you create your own Thanksgiving centerpiece bursting with fall blooms, seasonal textures, and warm autumn colors. You’ll leave with a gorgeous arrangement ready to take center stage at your Thanksgiving celebration!

🍁 Class Details

When: Wednesday, November 15th at 4:00 PM
Where: Gillespie Florists — 9255 W 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46234
Cost: $50 per person
Ages: 18 and older (due to use of sharp instruments)
Includes: All materials — fresh flowers, seasonal foliage, decorative accents, and a vase or container. Extra accessories will be available for purchase.
Luxury Upgrade: Looking to elevate your design? Choose a Single or Double Luxury Flower Upgrade to add premium blooms like lilies, roses, and other seasonal favorites. Our lead designer will hand-select the perfect flowers to make your arrangement even more stunning.

🦃 Why Join Us?

No experience? No problem! Kayleigh provides hands-on guidance and expert tips to help you create an arrangement you’ll be proud to display or gift. Our class sizes are limited to ensure everyone receives personal attention, so grab a friend and make it a fun, creative night out before the holiday rush!

Questions? Give us a call at 317-273-1100 — we can’t wait to design, laugh, and give thanks with you!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!

🌸 The Faces of Gillespie Florists: Meet Duane Martin 🌸

If you’ve ever admired one of our show-stopping floral displays or designer’s choice arrangements, there’s a good chance Duane Martin had a hand in creating it. A member of the Gillespie Florists family since 2006, Duane brings both creativity and craftsmanship to everything he touches — and always with a dash of humor that keeps the shop smiling.

✨ Favorite flower: Snapdragon
💐 Favorite designs: Set designs and high-style, designer’s choice arrangements
🎄 Favorite holiday to design for: Christmas
🚤 Outside the shop: You’ll often find Duane out on his pontoon, enjoying the water, or adding to his ever-growing collection of Christmas treasures.

Duane’s love for floral design began long before joining Gillespie. His journey started through 4-H, where he discovered the joy of arranging blooms and expressing himself through color and texture. By just 15 years old, Duane was running his own floral business — proof that passion and talent have always been at the heart of his work.

One of Duane’s most cherished moments at Gillespie came when he was given the honor of designing the flowers for his son’s wedding. It was a deeply meaningful experience — blending his artistry with family, and creating something beautiful that would be remembered for a lifetime.

Over the years, Duane’s dedication, experience, and creative eye have made him an invaluable part of our team. His attention to detail, love for design, and easygoing nature shine through in every arrangement he creates.

We’re so grateful for everything Duane brings to the Gillespie Florists family — from his stunning floral artistry to the laughter and light he shares with everyone around him. 🌷

At Gillespie Florists, we’re proud to have such talented and passionate designers like Duane bringing your floral visions to life every day. Stay tuned for more stories and introductions in our Faces of Gillespie Florists series — where we shine a little light on the amazing people who make our family shop bloom! 🌼

Want to read more about our Team Members?

Click a name here:  SARAH  TYLER   KAYLEIGH