10 August 2009 - From 21 August until the end of the year you can spend your Fridays at Auckland Museum discovering new skills and igniting the imagination. Called Fabulous Fridays, the programme offers the opportunity to spend an enjoyable morning or afternoon unearthing and developing craft talents.

Using the museum's two-part exhibition Wonderland: The Mystery of the Orchid and The Magic of the Rose as a platform, experts and artisans will give a series presentations on craft skills, including flower arranging, personalising paper, cake decorating, gift wrapping, creating fragrances and more.

The Fabulous Fridays programme has been developed by the museum in partnership with Michal McKay, former editor of NZ House & Garden. "I'm delighted to be working with the museum on this programme, especially in these troubling times when escapism is an elusive ambition for most of us. Our goal is to give people the chance to discover hidden talents, and hopefully add some enchantment to their world," says McKay.

She explains Fabulous Fridays uses orchids and roses as a creative influence. "Flamboyant, heavenly scented, and hauntingly beautiful, these flowers may look like delicate supermodels, but can be as tough as old boots."

The programme is launched on Friday 21 August with a special panel discussion moderated by local gardening queen Maggie Barry. The discussion will explore the wonder of New Zealand gardens. On the panel are some of the country's best known gardening experts, including, Jack Hobbs, Xanthe White and renowned orchid expert Alf Days.

Tickets to each session covers entry to the Wonderland exhibition. On now in the Special Exhibitions Hall, Wonderland: The Mystery of the Orchid embraces cutting-edge technology to bring stories of the orchid to life in vivid detail. Innovations include the latest in multi-touch panels, as well as scent stations and soundscape posts. These innovations are fused with the artistic vision of leading exhibition designer Marion Lyonnais, who created the popular Secrets Revealed.

Before and after each Friday demonstration, a special area in Auckland Museum's Atrium will be set aside to enjoy specially brewed deluxe Devonshire Tea.

So get your friends together and spend your Fabulous Fridays at Auckland Museum.

Bookings for each session are essential. For more information and to book visit www.aucklandmuseum or phone 09 306 7048. 21 August. 11am: The New Zealand Garden A panel discussion moderated by Maggie Barry, featuring some of the country's best known gardening experts, including Jack Hobbs, Xanthe White and renowned orchid expert Alf Days

28 August & 4, 11, 18 September. 11am & 2pm: Flower Arranging Discover flower arranging with well known Auckland floral decorator Fionna Hill.

25 September. 11am & 2pm: Personalising Paper Learn tips for personalising paper with Georgia Williams, graphic artist and designer.

2 October. 11am & 2pm: Stitching Louise Hatchard, author of the popular craft blog Prairie Mouse, demonstrates the art of stitching.

9 October. 11am & 2pm: Decoupage Lorraine Meisner, who owns the company Creative Stuff, illustrates how to perfect the art of decoupage, utilising coloured paper cutouts to create new designs.

16 October. 11am & 2pm: Cake Decorating Jenny Nicholls' fascination with cake decorating led her to embrace it full time through her company For Heaven's Cake. Jenny will demonstrate how simple, innovative ideas for cake decorating.

23, 30 October. 11am & 2pm: Creating your own Fragrance A Jo Malone stylist will demonstrate how to create your own signature scent.

6 November. 11am & 2pm: Gift Wrapping As Christmas approached discover creative ideas for gift wrapping with stylist Claudia Kozub.

13 November. 11am & 2pm: Gift Wrapping Fionna Hill returns, this time bringing her unique flair to a session on gift wrapping.

4 December. 11am & 2pm: Table Setting Explore imaginative approaches to setting the scene this Christmas with Claudia Kozub.

11, 18 December. 11am & 2pm: Room Scenting A Jo Malone stylist will reveal how to spice up your Christmas gathering by using a menu of scents to bring the setting to life.