I Created Worlds Inside

In an increasingly digital world, I often find myself craving a touch of the tangible. To craft and build; to plant and nourish growth. Physical sensation is, in its simplest form, connection. The ability to see something with my eyes, but also feel the weight, the warmth, of it in my palm. To feel its presence in the world and simultaneously be grounded in my own.

Maybe that's the key word: grounded.

This past year has been jarring in its listlessness - at times, smothering in the feeling of suspense. The whole world pressed pause and, without the constant noise and distraction, I found myself unsure. Stuck in a semi-permanent state of deflation. Trapped in that solitary moment after a party when the music has stopped and the elation gives way to silence.

The tiny day-to-day changes of a garden in bloom have often helped me stay tethered. Time, in fact, is still passing. The world is still turning. And - more excitingly - my roses have bloomed! Our lives may not have much normalcy, but the earth is business as usual.

Amongst the dirt has grown a new hobby: preserving flowers. As the seasons changed and my garden retreated, I got out my scissors, snipped my blooms and made gardens of a different kind . . . inside my home.

My 3 Favourite Methods Of Preserving Flowers

1. Using pressed flowers in handmade paper

Once cut, I pressed my flowers and wove them into the fabric of handmade paper. Perfect for sketching practice, love letters to friends in faraway places and (if you're up to the task of decorating!) even handmade mindful colouring books.

The finished product is beautifully textured and rustic. An added touch could be to gently sprinkle some seeds into the paper mix. That way, once you've finished enjoying your paper, you can simply place it on soil, water it and watch your seedlings sprout!

The tutorial I created for making handmade paper is below.

2. Preserve flowers in resin

I encapsulated rose heads in resin and placed them on my desk; stared at them during the hum-drum of the workday. Created motivational boards with my brightest blooms and the happiest of words.

A pop of colour - of life! - can revitalise a space. Even one you've been trapped in for six months.

Resin is pure magic when it comes to preserving beautiful things! It can be shaped to fit any mould, so the creative possibilities are truly endless. A personal favourite of mine is creating altar worthy faux crystals.

3. Creating floating gardens using oil and dried flowers

Preserving flowers is to make the most out of their life cycle; why not look for other items you can do the same for? Anything from the bottle of champagne you bought for your anniversary to an old jar of pasta sauce can be given new life!

With dried flowers and baby oil, I created herbariums out of old bottles and test tubes. The oil retains the petal's vibrancy and, if you're forgiving enough, you can imagine the slow movement of the flowers inside to be the wind.

My quick tutorial for making herbariums is below:

As we slowly trickle back to normalcy, I am grateful for these snapshots of life I was able to add to my home. Memories of the year we stood still. (And the beautiful garden I grew as a result!)

Now that the world has embraced us back into her arms, I think I will still steal pieces for myself. Make new memories, new gardens. This time of experiences and the beautiful places I will visit. I'm excited to see beauty what my collection holds this time next year.