Forget- me- not puddle plate

Forget-me-nots are one of my favourite flowers; delicate, elongated stems capped off with a bonny blue bloom. They're symbolic of elegance, true love, enduring friendship, and remembrance of those who have passed. 

During the summer months they grew in proliferation in the garden; a swaying blue breeze of happiness. I picked hundreds of them and pressed them in anticipation for upcoming resin projects. One such project was to create a bespoke Puddle Plate for a client of mine. She wanted a special gift for a dear friend who lost her grandmother. The forget-me-not blooms were the ideal flower for this request. 

I created a crystal clear puddle of resin, which had trapped layers of tiny Forget-me-not and 24k gold leaf. It was reminiscent of a little dish that had been left out in a rain shower, and had collected tiny botanical treasures. The overall effect was a unique and very personal memento for her friend, and a precious reminder of her grandma.

Flower foraging in the garden

The days are long and busy in the Lost Forest studio, so any opportunity to escape into the sunny garden for a breath of sweet summer air is essential to restore calm and ease the mind. Today, I gathered a pretty selection of blooms that were tumbling out of their pots and were prime for picking. 

I snipped tiny bouquets of Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis), its larger counterpart; Chinese Forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amiable), beautiful fluffy umbels of chocolate Queen Anne's Lace (Dara ammi) and purple corn cockles (Agrostemma githago).  I always find this stage of the process in my jewellery making to be the most relaxing and therapeutic. It certainly beats the sanding stage; the less said about that the better! I could happily pick and press flowers all day long.