flannel wanders // wood workin'

The only antidote for the gear box dropping out of a van you've owned for four days is to be taken on an adventure where you see plenty of wild flannel flowers growing in the bush.

It's a peculiar and oddly comforting feeling to see them growing wild and honestly having no inclination to cut them.

Ahhh flannel flowers. I am utterly undone by you, everytime.

These {and many many more} are to be found at Manly Dam. You'll see lots of birds {rosellas, crows, black swan, herons, kookaburras, m a s s i v e geese, ducks} and lizards {water dragons and other ones that I can't yet identify but I plan on getting my hands on some sort of reptile/bird watching literature as we are moving to the mountains and I want to nonchalantly impress visitors with my knowledge of the land and its creatures}.

I found a whole heap of old fence pailings at a council pick up about a week ago. I made a low little bench/shoe rack to act as a pedestal for my boyfriend's not insignificant collection of running shoes and then I made a planter for our tomatoes/herbs/probably will just be lots of scented geranium because I adore them more than anything.

I love projects like this where you just bumble along and figure it out as you go. I really like using my dad's old power tools. He is one of those wonderful people who know how to make anything.
This planter took about an hour. I want to become a carpenter.

Why is it so satisfying to build things?

rainy days, the haunting beauty of flannel flowers

Wretched weather if you feel like doing anything other than playing with flowers inside today. Happily, that is exactly what I did all morning. I'm a little obsessed with taking photos of single flowers against some very deep aubergine coloured velvet. I don't know how but it is as if the velvet draws all light in the room to the flower and itself looks very very dark. All of my bedroom plants {almost all begonias} are outside today, having a drink. 

The last shot is my favourite. I adore flannel flowers {Actinotus helianthi} so much. They are so delicate. I used to think that they get their luminous quality because they grow solely in moonlight. Actually, I still think that. 

carnation, cumquat, tulip {amazing feathered variety}, hydrangea, amaranthus

carnation, cumquat

helleborus from my garden, picked by our cockatoo.

sweet pea.

delicacy

blushing bride. gorgeous native

flannel flower x

Eva and Louis Blythe

I was delighted to work on this wedding. Eva and Lou are such incredibly genuine people. I am still reeling from the fact that even though it was pouring with rain and all plans had to change due to the arrival of an unplanned lake {with ducks} forming where the aisle was to be, the day was glorious. So many smiling faces and beautiful touches, truly a joy to be a part of.

Pop up flowers for High Tea with Mrs Woo {72 Oxford St, Paddington}

Good morning!

I met the loveliest girl. Her name is Ashley. She has managed to convince those incredible sisters of High Tea with Mrs Woo to allow me to have a pop up flower shop inside their dreamy space on Oxford Street this weekend and next for Mother's Day and for general flowery joy. I have long admired their shop. It has that wonderful quiet quality. It's captivating and earthy and refined and unutterably lovely. They regularly invite pop up artists into their space. I set up the window on Friday, the very talented John Manglia {http://atbloominglovely.blogspot.com.au/} took some photos which I'll post soon. For now, here are mine. It was tricky to photograph as there wasn't enough room to step into the window if that makes sense. There are branches suspended from the ceiling and the rest is like Autumn wandered into the shop. It was delightful meeting people yesterday and talking flowers.if you have the chance, please come and have a look!

Lastly, I'm beginning to notice that I really don't like the word 'got'. Does anyone else have a problem with it? Every time I start to write it I find an alternative.

it looks much more interesting from the other side, alas there is glass and reflections to deal with

hips, lots and lots of rose hip foraging occurred

yay! she was lovely and she fancied my flowers