The Flower Seekers - Summer 17

01

BEST OF SUMMER 17’ #Forflowerlovers

Contents

Hattie molloy filler photo

@hattiemolloy_ Page /2 /2

WELCOME WELCOME

Welcome to the first issue of The Flowerseekers a magazine produced for the flower lovers because we believe flowers are like chocolate – addictive and like the many people that love food, fashion, travel + interiors there are many, many flower lovers - so this magazine is for you. A seasonal flower feast of Australia’s best florists, stylists and artists because flowers appear and are a part of every aspect of our lives, m a dprotea e b y /mwelcome o t h e r n/ aletter t u r efrom i n athe b u editor ndance and injected into our lives adding colour, joy and beauty. This issue celebrates the best of summer. A massive thank you to our generous collaborating contributors sharing insights into their lives with flowers, their passion, art, talent and design.

Enjoy,

Sonya

Gardiner

CONTRIBUTORS

cover Florals @hamblinsflowers Photo @luisabrimble

6 AT HOME

Model @djtigerlily Mua @Jfranks_mua

10 FLORALS +ART

14 FLOWER SHOP

16

20

ROAM

FLOWER FOCUS

22

28

MY LIFE IN FLORALS

SUMMER VIBES

Please note all content has been approved and edited by Flower seekers HQ. This magazine is subject

/4 to copyright laws Tm. All participants in magazine agree to Terms and conditions upon providing The flowerseekers content. If you have any queries please contact theflowerseekers@gmail.com

30

32

DESIGN

WORKSHOPS + COURSES

33

34

READ

FASHION

36

38

HANDMADE

GROW

42 INSPIRING FLORAL FEEDS

Please note all content has been approved and edited by Flower seekers HQ. This magazine is subject to copyright laws Tm. All participants in magazine agree to Terms and conditions upon providing The flowerseekers content. If you have any queries please contact theflowerseekers@gmail.com

AT HOME

Foraged flora + foliages

words @annabellehickson | Image @luisabrimble

/6

AT HOME

Free flowers are the best flowers. Grow

A word of caution though – I do find that

them if you can, but also keep your

I am overly precious with flowers I have

eyes peeled for them on the roadside.

bought. I am worried about cutting them

Don’t discount weeds, foliage, grasses,

in case I go too short, I am worried about

gumnuts, branches, vines, …

damaging them if I decide to start the

so much

is out there for the picking. Keep some

arrangement again, basically I am overly

secateurs in your glove box and an old

anxious about them and I feel that

blanket in the boot. And stop when you

can get in the way of creativity and

see something that catches your eye.

spontaneity.

Screech to a halt if you have to, ignore

The stench of my concern can leech its

the complaints of your husband and

way onto the arrangements and they can

friends. Knock on doors and ask if you

feel a bit, I don’t know, stressed instead

can cut a stem or a branch. Most people

of whimsical. So, if you are like me, sit

with gorgeous gardens are gagging for

yourself down and say for goodness sake

an opportunity to talk about their roses’

we are not curing world poverty here.

first flush, or their mulching techniques.

The stakes aren’t that high. It might just mean a lot of mince-based meals and

And of course buy them too. I very

other cost saving menu choices for the

much like the idea of supporting flower-

rest of the week, but you’ve already

farmers, and in particular local ones. And

blown your dough so just have fun.

they are very good at growing flowers

Find Annabelle on instagram

that I

@annabellehickson

struggle to grow (peonies, ranunculus, poppies ok this list could get very long so I will stop here). So yes, please buy flowers too.

AT HOME

/8 image @annabellehickson

AT HOME

“So much is out there for the picking.

Keep some secateurs in your glove box and an old blanket in the boot. And stop when you see something that catches your eye.

Screech to a halt if you have to, Ignore the complaints of your husband and friends.�

- Annabelle Hickson

FLORALS + ART

JESSICA WATTS

We love the artwork of accomplished Sydney based mixed media collage artist Jessica Watts. Jessica “Jess” describes herself as nostalgic by nature, a collector who feels joy in reviving and repurposing elements of life that once belonged to others and incorporates these collected elements into her artwork layering with a mix of oil enamel, paper and acrylic paints. We are drawn to Jess’ work because it predominately features the core subjects “beauty + nature” and the layers collaged into her artwork reveal secrets and clues to ponder and wonder. Jess’ growing series of “wall flower” artworks feature a fusion of beautiful feminine body forms and elements of nature such as colourful birds and flowers. These paintings include vintage wallpapers collected when Jess was working in New York as an advertising art director.You can see more of Jess’s work, read up more about this talented artist, buy artwork and view Jess’ recent body of works from her recent solo Tokyo show “First Impressions “on her website at www.jessicawatts.com.au. Find Jess instagram @jessowatts and can be contacted via email: art@jessicawatts.com.au /10

FLORALS + ART

FLORALS + ART

/12

FLORALS + ART

FLOWER SHOP

“..the little haven of beauty and style that is Hamblins..”. /14

FLOWER SHOP

flowershop - hamblins

Hamblins is a beautiful florist and

wares and lifestyle products that have a

lifestyle destination store in Maroubra

distinct beach aesthetic. The two mums

Beach Sydney co- founded by Victoria

met as neighbours in Maroubra Beach

Hamblin and Alysia Samperi. Victoria has

but it wasn’t until their 6 children were

been a passionate florist, flower wrangler

all in school that the opportunity to

and flower lover for more than 25 years

bring Hamblins to life presented itself.

in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney with

Their first year has been a huge success

loyal customers who love her signature

providing a much needed community

blooms for their interesting and

service for locals who appreciate the

whimsical beauty. Alysia is a life stylist

friendly service and the little haven of

with a background in colour and design.

beauty and style that is Hamblins. 2/25-

Alysia designs and curates the store and

29 Mckeon St Maroubra NSW 2035 |

sources an eclectic range of botanical

02 9344 7004 www.hamblins.com.au | @hamblinsflowers

ROAM

ROAM WITH JARDINE HANSEN This is a tiny snippet of our May 2016 trip to

rose test garden there is worth the trip

Oregon which was part of a larger 3 month

alone. We spent a few days running amok on

swirl through the hot springs, gardens,

flower farms around Portland and Salem with

mountains, rivers, high deserts, red rock

Nicolette Camille and Sarah Ryhanen and a

deserts, rugged coastlines of the Pacific North

host of amazing floral babes like Taylor from

West of USA. A trip that left me even more

Fox Fodder Farm, Katie from Eothen, Jill from

in love with plants and landscapes in all their

Studio Choo and the amazing Helen Dealtry,

many forms.

a textile designer from Brooklyn. Sourcing

I managed to wrangle dear florist friends

stunning flowers from the area was a real

Sophia Kaplan (of Sophia Kaplan Plants and

treat and then onto the holy grail, Schreiners

Flowers) and Eliza Rogers (of Primula floral

Iris Garden. The family, fourth generation

styling) and my patient and increasingly

Iris growers(!!!) have been breeding fabulous

flower curious boyfriend Josh into starting

Bearded Iris since 1925 and their garden is

our journey in Portland Oregon, bona fide

astounding. The 10 acres of display gardens

City of Roses. The sprawling magnificent

are a riotous wave of

/16

ROAM

ROAM

every hue imaginable. Glorious clouds of

native environments. I cannot overstate how

Bearded Iris with columbines, lupines,

exciting it is to be out for a hike somewhere

delphinium, giant allium, dogwood,

and come across the native version of plants

rhododendron and eremurus. Imagine bed

I’m familiar with as a cut flower. Native

after bed of this, for 10 acres. The colour

dogwood forests! A real thing. Anyway,

combinations are superb, the garden is so

back to Schreiners, early May is the peak

alive

time to visit and Little Flower School run by Sarah and Nicolette held a sumptuous flower

They are always creating new crosses, trying

arranging class along with an Iris ink study

to breed certain colours, exquisite forms. They

with Helen Dealtry who showed us how to

choose a small number each year from the new

attempt to capture the beauty of the Bearded

hybrids that they then test, grow on and add

Iris with our paint brushes. If ever there was a

to their catalogue. It’s a long process and it’s

flower worthy of painting it’s the iris. So many

fascinating to witness the family’s dedication

gorgeous details from the velvety beard to the

to Bearded Iris. Another huge field opposite

upswept standards to the lush elegant fall of

the display gardens contains thousands of

the petals.

Iris grown in sweeping colour blocks as far as the eye can see. 200 plus acres, millions of

It feels really good to meet other people in

bulbs sent all over the world. In talking to the

the industry, to see the flower industry and

owners, the love and passion for horticulture

the flowers themselves through their eyes.

is palpable.

They’ve just announced classes there for this year. I’ve just moved down to Tassie, who

In September 2015 I was in France with

knows I might start my own Bearded Iris farm

Nicolette, she was showing me photos of her

down here but I dare say I’ll fly over again

trip and classes at Schreiners in that year

next year to dive into the Iris adoration once

and said she’d decided she needed to make

more.

a pilgrimage there once a year. I decided to

Love

Jardine

make my way there in 2016 with Sophia and Eliza. Whenever I travel I inevitably end up visiting gardens, nurseries and thoroughly enjoy seeking out different plants in their

To keep up to date with Jardines floral world follow @jardinebotanic

/18

ROAM

FLOWER FOCUS

FLOWER FOCUS - ANTHURIUM

Elegant and cool - adding line and interest

the Anthurium is the current stand

out statement flower shining in floral design concepts. ANTHURIUM - common names:

anthurium, flamingo flower, lace leaf. A member of the Arum family native

to the Americas with over 1000 species . View Rebecca Grace at @naturalartflowers Anthurim’s have graced many of

her outstanding designs the past two seasons.

See more @naturalartflowers www.naturalartflowers

/20

FLOWER FOCUS

image and florals @naturalartflowers

MY LIFE IN FLOWERS

“MY LIFE IN FLOWERS” - MELANIE STAPLETON OF @CECILIAFOX

image by @sarahwoodphotography

1993 – started my floral life as Junior

2004 – moved to Melbourne –

Florist at Coleen Murphy Florist in

working at Vasette, The Big Bunch,

suburban Auckland NZ

Art Stems.

1999 – a brief stint living in Sydney

2006 - studied textiles at RMIT

working at The Flower Man in Double

the beginnings of MELANIE CECILIA

Bay

FLOWERS

2001 – Traveling to the USA and

2008 – started CECILIA FOX for real

ending up in London working for

2012 – opened shop

some of Londons’ top event florists.

2012 – moved from our home garage

Including one of my greatest

to big warehouse!

inspirations Louise Woodhouse

2015 - closed shop

(now amazingly has set up shop in

2017 – kicking floral goals!

Adelaide)

/22

-

MY LIFE IN FLOWERS

kuwaii campaign image by Daniel Gurton

MY LIFE IN FLOWERS

/24

florals by @ceciliafox | image by @simonshiffphotographer

MY LIFE IN FLOWERS

florals by @ceciliafox | image by @lovekatieandsarah

MY LIFE IN FLOWERS

Cecilia fox

Wedding Anastasia + Josh l Florals @ceciliafox l Images @erinandtara

/26

MY LIFE IN FLOWERS

Cecilia fox

SUMMER

/28

florals by @botanicabird

SUMMER

TO THE SEA A collaboration between florist Rachael Cullen & designer Eloise Jenkins meant taking a left over bunch of blooms to the beach for a dip. Literally, The result beautiful with both collaborators soaked to the bone. Worth the risk for the high contrast blues and reds. True to a summers day. Leaving the blooms behind as a memento to the sea and whoever shall find them. May it bring them beauty like these photographs.

florals by @botanicabird

DESIGN

LONGINA PHILLIPS DESIGNS

/30

DESIGN

Longina Phillips Designs is Australia’s leading creative print design studio.

Grow, learn and develop illustration and watercolour skills at the Print School located in Surry Hills, Sydney NSW and very soon, ONLINE

as they will be

launching online video classes to enable participants Australia and world wide.

The next two in house classes at the Print School, Surry Hills Sydney will be: Saturday 29th April 2017 Watercolour Florals for Textile Design Saturday 17 June 2017 - Floral Illustration for Textile Design Bookings via:

www.

longinaphillipsdesigns.com Keep up to date with the latest print collections, designs and trend reports at @longinaphillipsdesigns

Page /11

WORKSHOPS + COURSES Looking to get hands on?! Here is just a few flower workshops + courses across Australia if you are keen to learn, explore + create or work with flowers

NSW Pearsons School of Floristry – short creative courses + commercial industry accredited courses : www.pearsonsschool.com.au @pearsonsschool Flowerlane and Co – various creative workshops vase arrangements, bouquets, wreaths – check their calendar for dates www.flowerlaneandco.coma.au

TASMANIA Botanical Hobart offering flowerworkshops from April 2017 www.botanicalhobart.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Bella in Bloom hosts flowerworkshops for hens parties, mothers day and more by appointment www.bellainbloom.com.au @bellainbloom Fleur de Lys Flowers host floral master classes including a trip to the flower farm www.fleurdelysflowers.com @fleurdelysflowers

@flowerlaneandco PERTH ACT The Floral Society run regular 5 week workshop courses throughout the year or create your own posy at their flower bar see more information at www.thefloralsociety.com.au @thefloralsociety_canberra

Matthew Landers flower academy for commercial courses as well as a range of creative hobby classes www.matthewlanders.com @matthewlanders Beans and Bunches hosting by appointment private groups for fun flower workshops www.beansandbunches. com.au @beansbunches

VICTORIA Flower Temple Workshops offer a range of fun creative workshops www.flowertempleworkshops.com.au @flowertemplemelbourne Bloom College a range of workshops for beginners to professionals www.bloomcollege.com.au @bloomcollege

/32

DARWIN Darwin Flower Crowns – by appointment for groups of two or more fresh and or silk flower crown workshops www.darwinflowercrowns.com @darwinflowercrowns

READ

LOOSE LEAF By botanical designers Wona Bae and Charlie Lawler wincludes dedicated chapters on how to design with

FLOWER ADDICT

different natural materialssuch as cut

A must for any flower lover. Saskia Havekes

flowers, foliage and living plants along

Australia’s leading floral designer documents and

with images of the Loose Leaf Studio

details the design process and concepts for some

and their work. @looseleaf_

of her most enchanting floral installations to

www.looseleafstore.com.au

date. @grandiflora_sydney www.grandiflora.net

THE FLOWERS Dr Lisa Cooper a florist, artist, author and doctor of philosophy offers you an

GROWN AND GATHERED A beautiful book crammed full of useful permaculture tips for growing your own fruit, vegies and flowers along with

authentic and genuine insight into Lisa’s delicious recipies and philosophical creative floral life with a key focus on the unsung heros of the flower industry – the growers. @doctorcooper www.doctorcooper.com.au

musings of authors Matt and Lentil. @grownandgathered www.grownandgathered.com.au

FASHION

FLORALS IN FASHION

In the world of Gucci Garden Eloise Jenkins takes Runway imagery to create eclectic floral inspired fashion mementos. Celebrating the combination of florals and luxurious luxe fabric Eloises designs pull straight from the runway and into the floral world. The eclectic blooms become apparent placed as a whole. /34

FASHION

Floral meets fahsion (my page)

collage art by @eloisejenkinsx | images via pinterest

HANDMADE

/36

HANDMADE

CLAY CANOE Clay Canoes earthy approach to ceramics is steeped in simple primitive traditions, made from slabs of clay and their own handmade glazes, each piece unique in its imperfections.The forms aesthetic has a predominantly Japanese influence. This was unintentional but as they adore the quiet majesty of Japanese ceramics they are happily embracing their “ Wabi Sabi� approach.

vessel and words by @claycanoe

GROW

FIELD OF SUNSHINE Greg Hatton (furniture maker) and Katie Marx (florist) own Butterland (incredible venue and their home). We love that Greg decided to plant out a field of sunflowers at Butterland for Katie. See more from these creative wonders @greghatton @katiemarxflowers @butterland_

/38

GROW

image by @katiemarxflowers @butterland_

GROW

/40

GROW

image by @katiemarxflowers @butterland_

INSPIRED

INSPIRING FLORAL FEEDS

@naturalartflowers

@aleksandradiary

/42

@jardinebotanic

@hattiemolloy_

@ceciliafox

@mivioleta

INSPIRED

@thestudiobyfleur

@grandiflora_sydney

@seedflora

@mrcookflowers

@tenthmeadow

@triellefloral

AUTUMN 17’ COMING SOON CONNECT & CONTRIBUTE : EMAIL SUBMISSIONS & CONCEPTS TO THEFLOWERSEEKERS@GMAIL.COM

@HATTIEMOLLOY_

/44

back cover, courtney picture with protea with white backgrounf

Connect with like minded flower lovers @theflowerseekers