Happy Spring to you!

(shot at the Silver Lake Farms growing grounds)!

Estelle Hanania : Glacial Jubilé

One of the wonderful things about returning to France is getting invited to dinners with friends where I meet new people!  Such was the case with photographer Estelle Hanania. I had admired a photography book on my friend's bookshelf where I was staying when my friends announced We're having dinner with the photographer of that book. Come! You can imagine my delight! Estelle and her husband François very generously opened up their home and cooked us a wonderful vegetarian meal, served with lovely table wine, amazing cheeses, a cake for dessert and more importantly winsome conversation! A genuine shared moment between old friends and newer strangers-to-become-friends. I immediately liked Estelle. She was so casual and cool and very warm. 

I was very excited to get to look through her book with her. I insisted on purchasing a copy right then and there and she signed it :

For Lili, 

Some winter wild beasts to keep you 

company with the flowers! xx Estelle

I'm sure that you are wanting me to get to the point already (why must I be so incredibly verbose?)! My point is this: Glacial Jubilé is a fantastic book. A work of art. Estelle's images are both haunting and beautiful, whimsical and frightening. Every year throughout Europe during the winter solstice these  monster creatures come out of hiding to scare people away from village to village. The men create animal/nature hybrid (heavy) costumes that can be quite formidable and ugly or handsome and sophisticated. Partly to scare away evil spirits, partly to communicate with these spirits to make assure that Spring will be abundant. Very deep rooted traditions that are connected to nature. Spectacular to say the least, esoteric and enticing on the other side of that spectrum. I highly recommend it. I felt a strong connection to her images and to these people, and, a bit of fear too. I would love to attend one of these festivals. Who's coming with me?!

Merci encore Estelle + François x

photo by Cleobelle Berkofsky

Flowers for Cleo

 

. . . 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.