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May 24, 2011  in flowers, interior styling

forget-me-not

The fabulous annual Chelsea Flower Show starts today, but what I wanted to show here is that you don’t always need to buy lots of fancy flowers and that you can make something little from your garden look really quite sweet.

I picked and photographed these Forget-me-nots over the Easter weekend when they had just bloomed. These came from my tiny London garden but my plants were originally a donation from my parents’ garden in the countryside, where so many were growing that I was able dig up and transfer a few. I love that they are so commonly found and that tiny arrangements like these can be made really easily to display in your home. I love the soft blues with the little pop of yellow at their centre.

forget-me-not

To me, the name Forget-me-not conjours up old fashioned love letters and romantic messages, so in this little shoot I wanted to reference this. I included some old typed envelopes, letters, a key and a note book that I bought at car boot sales. The little glass vase is a recent purchase from Designer’s Guild and is one from a set of six, the handmade saucer with blue flower print I bought a while back at The Hambledon shop in Winchester (I’ve been trying to remember who it is by, I should know but I just can’t think – does anyone know?) and the little bowl I bought at a Cockpit Arts open day one year.

forget-me-not

I love that they are just perfect miniature blooms that without something to gauge their scale, could be much bigger. I couldn’t help adding a little bit of wrongness to this shot with the addition of the cowboy gun charm.

forget-me-not

The Forget-me-not is a flower that grew in my parents’ garden prolifically. When I was little I would pick bunches of them and press them. It’s quite time consuming, placing each flower carefully on the card of the press, especially as they are so tiny, but worth it as they dry and keep really well. When they were ready a few weeks later, I would store them in an envelope to keep them flat. I would have a different envelope for each flower type and stick a flower to the outside for quick reference of what loveliness was inside.

The dried Forget-me-not flowers work beautifully stuck to swing tags for gifts or to cards and pictures.

forget-me-not

I still press flowers from the garden, now with my little daughter as a helper (she loves it too). In fact I still have the press I had when I was little! It’s a lovely way to never forget the Forget-me-not.

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10 Comments

  1. Rhiannon says:

    What a lovely post. The little forget -me -not can sometimes get overlooked but you’ve captured them, and their whole mood beautifully. ( Although I also like the addition of the cowboy gun – that picture feels like the cover of a book ! )

  2. MelanieO says:

    Lovely post, I like the idea of using them on gift tags. I just planted forget-me-nots in my garden yesterday, so such a timely post for me.

  3. Concha says:

    What a lovely post! I live in Staffordshire and in March and April my garden was just filled with forget-me-nots. They were a pretty picture amongst the yellow daffodils!

    I like pressing flowers too! It’s one of those childhood occupations that seems to be quite underrated nowadays but it’s so beautiful and pleasurable!

  4. elisa says:

    i would’ve loved doing that as a girl, my girls would adore it! i love your process x

  5. suzanne says:

    how darling…. i need to get one of my sons to make me a wee flower press…can’t be difficult, right?
    🙂

  6. Robyn says:

    Simply Beautiful! I have one of your books at home, which I love. Can I just ask, what do you use to stick the flowers with? Do you use a special delicate glue? Thanks!

  7. i love forget me knots too , they grow prolifically in my gloucestershire garden and i let them seed all over the place! (really annoys my dad as he thinks they are weeds!) and my little girl loves pressing them and little violets and papery poppies too.
    lovely blog x

  8. bonitarose says:

    these flowers are oh so beautiful.. and I found your book at our local library, so right now I am going thru the pages and loving it.. u are so so talented.. I love your spirit. .xo hugs bonitarose in fargo

  9. Ivy says:

    I love forget-me-nots.. so dainty and sweet.
    Nice photos!

    Cheers~Ivy

  10. This is one awesome blog post.Thanks Again. Want more.

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INTERIORS, FOOD & STILL LIFE STYLIST

ABOUT SANIA

Sania Pell freelance interior stylist London.

Sania Pell is a freelance interior stylist, art/creative director and consultant based in London. She is a Contributing Stylist at Elle Decoration magazine, with whom she has worked for over 20 years, and is well known for bringing a unique aspect to photographic shoots for national publications, leading international brands and retailers as well as style consultancy for architects and property developers. She is the author of best-selling book The Homemade Home and The Homemade Home for Children. A trained, former textile designer, Sania is also involved in many multi-disciplinary creative projects.

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