If you’re like me, you’re accustomed to always having a “thing” in progress – a thing on the make at home, in addition to other quick things you can grab on the go (idle bus rides and waiting rooms, no more!). As we know, hands love occupation. When I sprained my neck last month, however, my long hours at the work table and monitor had to give way to rest and recovery. Even “easy” knitting and crochet were out of the question for a while.
I learned 2 things: I’m a terrible rest-er. Or, I need and thrive on the colours and textures of my beloved media. I think with my hands, and they need to intermingle hues and textures on needles and hooks. Preferably, on a daily basis. It was tricky, that no-knitting thing.
Second, though, I learned that we can adapt, and that new loves are always just around the corner. In need of some creative time, I picked my brain for a gentler, less tensing activity than fiber art – one that would allow me to enjoy colour and texture and form, but without too much muscle-work. And I found it: florals!
I went to Trader Joe’s and picked out a few things that caught my eye: a bit of white freesia, a smattering of baby’s breath, some Sweet William (for that wonderfully kinetic purple), sea lavender, and some sunflowers. Saddled with my bouquets, I took the train home during rush hour; navigating the packed-like-sardines train ride was a bit tricky. I crinkled and smushed a few buds, but everything arrived intact overall!
I laid all the stems out and started to think. Assembling a bouquet is a wonderful and gentle process – one assembles with one hand, and holds the stems in the other (gingerly at first to keep things loose and adjustable). My goal wasn’t perfect symmetry (flowers teach that nature is rarely perfectly symmetrical) but the vaguer criterion of ‘balance.’ For me, balance manifests as a wide open feeling of “ahhhhhh”: a sigh, in part, in relief and, in part, in the marvel of a new revelation.
I started building my bouquet from the middle outwards, beginning with a central cluster of sunflowers and freesia. I discovered, in the process, that the smell of freesia instantly opens the spirit right up (it does just as its name suggests!).
I thought it would work well to add a generous bit of Sweet William to the cluster. The colours seemed to delight in each other’s presences – a sign to keep going!
The sea lavender and baby’s breath followed. I wanted to emphasize the natural twinkle of the baby’s breath, so I kept it around the edges of the bouquet:
Before long, my hand was full – my cue to wrap it up. I took an end of ribbon from my container o’ scraps, and a bit of twine, and tied the bunch in place. I also trimmed down the stems. Voilà, a handheld bouquet!
I love florals! Working with them is relaxing and peaceful and healing. It’s energizing to create something with living things – each stem brings its own particular colour and structure and feeling to the whole. Each has its own little but beautiful way of being with the others, and the process of putting it all together makes the heart sing.
Happy Thursday to you. 🎵
