Floral. Arrangements made in April.

Sometimes, I like to work on my arrangements just with elements I can find in the surroundings of my home. It is like playing a game to find treasures. It's quiet convenient for me because I have to spend no money. I live in the middle of a big city, and despite my neighborhood is quiet green, the plants you can find here are a mix between rests of a forgotten garden design and wild strong plants that invade the soil. At first, I always think there won't be many interesting elements. There are no planted Tulips, Narcissus or Chrysanthemums. This isn't Paris or... Heidelberg. But it's always surprising how much variety I manage to get. A day before I go to harvest I look carefully every bush and select exactly what I want. I mean, I must be careful to not be greedy. After all, I am kind of stealing from the public space. During the last weeks almost every bush and tree were in full blooming process so I couldn't let go the chance. Soon the strong winds would blow away every petal from every flower.

In fact, it wasn't easy to work with them because they are so fragile that every time I touched the stems, petals fell down like a rain. The white flowers with five petals, from the family of the Rosaceae, like the ones in almond and cherry trees are just ephemeral. The Lilacs and the Dandelions are stronger but whiter quiet fast, even if you run to put them in vases with water. I experienced then that the wild roses, which are also from the family of the Rosaceae, were fragile but also durable inside the arrangement. So, while the bloomed flowers in the stem would fall apart rapidly, the next ones would open on the next day. Fresh and new. 

I had to work fast and maybe the final appearance is not so impressive because I didn't have "protagonist" flowers. But I enjoy that. I like tiny and subtle flowers. I like the bush kind of appearance. Like the third arrangement: is seems to be just a mass of green but when you are next to it and look at it closer you see all the details. But I may confess that my favorite result is the second one. It has a balance between subtle and ornamented.

I show you the arrangements in the order I realized them.

  N°1

  N°2

  N°3

Floral. Arrangements made in October.

During the month of October I felt really inspired to make floral arrangements but I couldn't afford expensive material. I took the challenge to find vegetation spending no money. Since October is the most colorful month of the season it wasn't difficult to get interesting stuff. I went to harvest around my neighborhood, shears in hand, taking samples of the bushes and wild vegetation that grows in the surroundings. I did it with care, of course. Trying to cut off just the necessary amount.

I also had the luck of getting a big bouquet from my lovely neighbor who lives below my apartment. She is an actress, so I guess that she receives lots of bouquets when she is invited to events and parties. We found each other by coincidence in the staircase when she gave the flowers to me. She said she will leave for a trip so she wouldn't be able to enjoy the bouquet. I found myself with lots of material to work with.

We had two serious sessions of floral work. Both times my friend Fabia was with me and, during the first time, we also had the company of a friend from Halle called Ravn. He surprised me with his creation. It was the first time he ever did something like that and the result was stunning. It looked like an alien landscape. I loved it.

In the second session, it was Fabia who went to gather the forage. When she arrived home, she placed the branches in water so beautifully that I decided to show them too. The rest is made with floral foam. I hope you like them.

By Ravn

By Fabia

First session

Second session

By me

    First session   

 

  Second session

Worn 79. October vibes forever

Inspiration. Bring the Autumn in.

 The Autumn has started already and came with all its power. The other day I suddenly felt in the need to posses a little bit of it. I took my pruning shears and went on a walk around my neighborhood. As I live inside of a big city I was surprised of the variety of plants I could access in public spaces. I ended up being greedy. 

My initial plan was to create different individual arrangements. But that day I didn't have time anymore. So I simply put all the foliage in water to work on them on the next day. But in the morning I saw this abundance, this forest over the commode, and I liked it just like it was. 

It looked like a painting. A still life. But three-dimensional.

Worn 76. Silky waves with Fabia

Childhood. Fauna, your first trip to Madrid.

Dear Fauna, two weeks ago we flew to Madrid for the first time in your life. Madrid is the place where I was born and I grew up. It is the place where your grandmother and great-grandmothers live. You were then close to become 11 months old. I wanted to bring you there before you become 1 year old. 
We spent one week in the house of your grandmother Matilde. You connected very well. She gave you the breakfast almost every morning and you played a lot together. She also bathed you and gave you the dinner every night. One day she even made you sleep at night time. You liked her house a lot and the playground that is close by. One day we went to Toledo to visit your grandfather Tolo and he also made you sleep carrying you in your Mei Tai. This fact is important to remember since sleeping is the most difficult activity for you to do without me or your father. 
The first days were hard for you because I concentrated all the big meetings then. The day we arrived you met your great-grandmother Matilde who is 92 years old. She is mother of 11, grand mother of 35, and great-grandmother of 16. She is endlessly peaceful and always in a good mood. The second day we spend it in "El Guijo", where your grandmother lives, hanging around with some old friends of mine. The third day we went to your grandfather's and my lovely friend Maria came with us. The forth day was quite intense because we went to meet your great-grandmother Maribel and many other family members came too. It was too loud, too crowded... too much. But it was very special for Maribel because you are her first great-grand child. That day you received many presents as well and I got to see cousins I didn't see for very long time. 
After this stressful time I kept it quiet and relaxed for you. On Sunday we went to "La Pedriza", a natural park I have always loved very much. We were many people too, but nature keeps you in a good mood. We hanged around next to crystalline river and made picnic. You slept a very long nap there. It was a wonderful day with live music, courtesy of my friend Jaime which is a musician I like to sing and improvise with when ever we have a chance. 
On Monday it took place a reencounter with my friends Lorena, Sara and Paula. It was cool for you because we were in the playground and it was all about you. The last two days left we were just enjoying the house of grandma and the beautiful surroundings. Your uncle Fernando was with us.
Oh! I almost forgot to say that you learned at least three things that week. You started to stand up and now you do it constantly. You opened a closed every door you found on your way. Also, you swing a lot those days at the playground and you loved it! You even put your self into movement playing with the balance of your body. 

For me was a needed trip because I missed the place and my people very much. Everything went smoothly and perfectly. Me and my mother were in harmony, and this is exactly what I needed. I cooked for her and I felt very cozy in what was my home as a child. I didn't want to leave but I collected energy until the next visit. Hopefully we will be back this summer and you will learn to swim at the pool with your amazing grandmother and, at the ocean, with your brave grandfather.