EVOLVE / The Ecology Center

I couldn't be more honored to be featured on the cover of Issue 10/Fall 2014 of The Ecology Center's beautifully curated eco-journal, Evolve. Seriously, thank you! Have a peek through the issue - it will tell you about the upcoming Maker's Market (that is happening this Sat) and give you a nice overview of what The Ecology Center is about. Coincidentally very  much what the spirit of TIGERS to LILIES philosophy for keeping things wild and natural is all about too.

Thank you Evan, Kristin, Ann + David

HANDMADE, A MAKER'S MARKET

Friends! So exciting!!

what: The Ecology Center is hosting a Maker's Market

when: this Saturday November 8th  /  11am - 5pm

where: THE ECOLOGY CENTER  

32701 Alipaz St. San Juan Capistrano,  CA

I really, really hope to see you there! TIGERS to LILIES will have handcrafted floral garlands for the holidays, wildflower bouquets galore, and postcard booklets of my last workshop held at The Ecology Center. So many wonderful artisans and goods will be available and you will be supporting makers who are trying their best to create sustainable, well-crafted goods.

More info HERE

Story-telling Through Flower Arranging / A TTL Workshop

A Story Told Through Wildflowers

My flower workshop at The Ecology Center exactly one week ago was incredibly fun and lifting! I am always so blown away by how well students can put flowers together, in their own voice, when given the chance! If you were there, thank you so kindly for being a part of this wonderful group of élèves! If you couldn't attend, then perhaps the next one. 

I always like to bake a little cake the night before class because I feel it's such a nice way to greet my students and start on a full belly. The class was based on a simple idea: telling a story/poem/haiku/thought through the manner which you arranged your flowers. Meaning, letting your arrangements speak for themselves! Seeing that our materials (lucky us - wildflowers picked from TEC's native gardens) had an expiration date, much like all of our lives, the stories didn't have to be perfect or linear or even needed to be understood by everyone. They were going to be present for a week at the most. They just needed to stem from an inner 'story' as opposed to a formulaic rule of how-to's, so that the student could connect with his/her floral creation. Hopefully this was freeing, leaving the student to channel some inner creative guidance.

I have to admit to you, I got goose bumps and my heart swelled when I heard everyone share what their arrangements meant. We set all the finished pieces along the breezy porch and one by one everyone spoke. Some were funny, some were bold while others told of heartache and  remembrance. A few represented food and a few others had bigger philosophies. All were incredibly heartfelt. So much so that I photographed all of them individually and will be releasing a little impromptu book of postcards with my student's floral creations + stories! A collection of stories as told through flowers, to send to someone you're thinking of through the mail! Much more on that - I am shooting to release this around the holidays and will have it on my website/shop too. 

Thank you again to everyone! I so thoroughly enjoyed everyone's story as told through their handpicked wildflowers. Bravo xx

 See more of the workshop H E R E.

 

. . . just a few more shots! Seriously though, The Ecology Center is such a magical place!

Kristen + Evan

Wildflower bouquet inspired by the Moon

bride + grooms' chairs

natural dyed fabric + flower garlands 

natural dyed runners + foraged flowers and branches

wildflower + herb bouquets and naturally dyed fabric garlands

wedding guest (I love the light in this pic)

gold-leafed jars + candle holders

keepin it wild!

V.v. was there to be our cheerleader ;)

Hi friends! I always feel a bit reluctant to jump right back into the swing the things when I get back from a trip, especially a really special one. I wasn't sure where to start when I received a wonderful email by my dear friend Kristin Morrison of Colour Plantae.

Kristin is an artist who works with botanical dyes (all natural and usually foraged from proximity to wherever she is) and textile arts. In other words, she is sensational! Her work and her spirit are incredibly inspiring. Is it any wonder that she is married to Evan Marks of The Ecology Center?! Evan, also a dear friend and force of beaming nature to reckon with, has deeply inspired and encouraged not only my work but my life philosophy. And if you have been along for the TIGERS to LILIES ride for some time you know how much I covet the The Ecology Center. All this to say, when Kristin and Evan asked me to do their wedding flowers, I enthusiastically said YES !

We planted a wedding garden in the Ecology Center's already lush native gardens and promptly got to work. Kristin created dyes from pomegranates, elderberries, nuts and yarrow and started dyeing fabric. The above photos are a tiny peek into the world that we created for their sincerely heartfelt wedding day. I was able to forage flowers and herbs from our wedding garden and with the help of the Ecology Center's really stellar staff we pulled off one heck of a beautiful wedding.

Kristin's wedding bouquet was inspired by the moon. Elijah's poetic idea, actually. I turned strips of unused dyed fabric into streamers to add a touch of elegance. I gold + copper leafed jars to give a warm candle glow at dusk and the California sun gave us extraordinary light and the rest is history! I am so grateful for this entire experience. 

Thank you so much Kristin and Evan and so much love to you both.

the wedding garden

inside their geodesic dome, where the magic begins

the ecology center!

flower seedling starters

creating lil planting nests for them in between straw

seedling starters happy beginnings

taking a break inside for tea with evan

I've written about The Ecology Center  before. I helped on the flower front with Green Feast here and here. Now my friends Evan Marks (founder, brilliant mind behind The Ecology Center) and Krissy Morrison (remember our natural dye workshop with her?) of Colour Plantae are getting married and having their party at The Ecology Center this October!

The three of us have started a wedding garden to have fresh flowers and herbs to cut and use! How beautiful is that? And fun! Evan got the seedlings started and I commenced planting them in their gardens this week. This is the beginning of a really special gesture, I can feel it. All the while just being there is such a moment of peace, of positivity and of sunshine. If you should want to pay them a visit and volunteer I can guarantee you that you will leave the grounds so lifted and full of life. It's abundant everywhere there. This is such a dream project. I'm all about this kind of awareness and respect, not just for Evan and Krissy but for what they represent, what The Ecology Center represents, and all the people there who put in so much time and heart to educate, to grow, to share, and to make the world a better place. Did I mention they just got their beehive all set up...now go and get some honey and make your life a little sweeter!