Things that break.

Mariell Amélie is a London-based photographer who grew up on a small Norwegian island above the arctic circle.

Her stunning, atmospheric, works explore portraiture, interiors, self portraiture, and documentary style photography. 

This quote reminds me of her work, and I find her images so transporting and wonderful...

Things that break:

flowers.
dawn.
the ocean.
our hearts.

This is how
gardens grow.
this is how
the sun blossoms.
this is how we
make it home.
this is how we
learn to love.

— Pavana पवन

Busy in the studio....

Hello again!  It's been such a hectic fall, but I wanted to share some of my progress with you for my upcoming exhibition, in Regina, titled, "The Big Gigantic".  

I've been busy working on three neckpieces in the studio, that celebrate the provincial floral symbols for: Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.  Things are developing well, I'm looking forward to doing a mock installation of them here, and seeing them all together as a group for the first time....(Newfoundland to B.C!).

I've also finished up a couple of big wholesale orders for Kennedy Park in Guelph:

http://shopkennedypark.com/, and for The Collective Good, in Whitehorse: 

http://thecollectivegood.tumblr.com/, both are great shops with really interesting collections, so I was happy to get off some new things to them.

I've been busy at the bench for the past few weeks, it's been a great period of focus and bench work makes me so happy when I am alone with my music and metal.  As well as my exhibition work, I've been developing some new earring stud designs for the winter...a couple of sweet floral studs, that I will be rolling out on my Etsy page this week. https://www.etsy.com/shop/touchthedutch

The Fall Focus....

It has been a pretty busy fall so far, with preparations for my upcoming exhibition in the winter, and wholesale orders that I've been filling in the studio.

I've been working on the continuation of a series that explores the floral symbols of each province, a sort of visual road trip across Canada.  This project involved a lot of sketching, and experimentation to find the right silhouettes to best express the floral form.  

I started on the east coast...Ahoy!...and have been working my way westward.  In the winter, I will be presenting the whole series, with the newest additions, Alberta (the wild rose), Saskatchewan (Western red Lily), and British Columbia (the Pacific dogwood).  When the time is right, I will creep North and finish the series.

I took some time yesterday to pick up a few supplies, including some really amazing Opalite cushion cut stones, some moonstones for bezel setting, and some teardrop shaped moonstones that I might turn into pendants.

Well for now, it's back to the studio...even though my hands are so sore, and most of my fingerprints have disappeared from all of the sanding.  Sigh.

Experimenting with layout.....

So sunny outside the studio!

Some supplies. Semi precious beads come like this from my supplier downtown.

The Gardens of Piet Oudolf

I'm looking forward to checking out the documentary of garden designer and artist, Piet Oudolf.  His stunning, internationally acclaimed designs have graced the High Line in Manhattan, the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, which was home to the 2012 Olympic Games.


Looking at his thoughtful works, I feel transported to a dreamy, breathy place where everyone speaks in hushed tones and floats from place to place, almost like waking up in the middle of a Monet painting.


The landscapes he creates are sensitively tuned to the seasonal changes and nothing feels forced, although everything is carefully planned and plotted, it appears very organic, wild and wonderful.


Take a look and float away with this inspiring glimpse into his world....

Piet Oudolf documentary teaser from Thomas Piper on Vimeo.

Overgrowth.

I'm loving this photography collaboration between photographer Parker Fitzgerald and floral designer Riley Messina. 


Their full collection can be viewed here: http://www.overgrowth.bigcartel.com/


I'm pretty sure I'm clinging to the hopes that summer won't disappear, I'm really not ready for it. 


There were cottage trips, holidays out east, late night dinners on the patio, the sun filtering through the giant tree beside my patio, lake swimming in the early mornings, after studio patio drinks with pals...but I'm feeling like it's not enough (is it ever enough?). 


I'm not ready for the obligations of the fall, the tighter schedules, the shoulders creeping back up to reside in my ears for months.


For now blissful escape. 

Cottage Floral Inspirations.

In quiet, peaceful moments on holidays, or short breaks, I enjoy slipping away to collect both cultivated and wild flowers that surround the property wherever I am staying. 

The photos are a great reminder and immediately transport me back to the moment, the way the sun cuts through the fluttering leaves, the water collected on the ferns after a sun shower....I'm getting excited to make some beach inspired arrangements soon.

Do you collect natural objects and flowers on your outdoor adventures?  

Recently Enjoyed.

It's been such a busy summer so far, with long patio nights under the stars, outdoor cooking, and more time with friends and family.  I've been taking time for escapes and things that matter. Here's some photos of things recently enjoyed....