The Taper Garden
FEBRUARY 2022
Even though the early Minnesota months of the year are what I like to call “frigid with a side of dirty snow”, I can’t help but get dreamy about the days when green comes back to say come out and play. Having a studio full of dried and live botanicals, though, sure helps a lot. I get to create with the beauty of nature and await the great thaw.
For an early spring creation, I let my mind go and let some gorgeous green taper candles inspire me to not only create a garden in bloom, but aflame with warm, soft elegance. I wanted to capture the still present darkness of winter mixed together with the light of spring.
Reimagining taper candles as flowers was only the start. I have quite a few topiaries that live on our balcony at home that have moved into the studio for the winter. They have gathered around the taper garden to gawk at the sultry sweets in the form of bubbly, berries, cookies and cake.
I have been working on some taper and pillar holders with the ceramicists at Kolectiv DVA for a while. They are in Slovenia and make the most buttery soft pieces. What a wonderful excuse this was to play with height using the modular tealight and taper holders. There are so many ways to use these holders for dramatic effect and I loved nesting them in flowers tucked in vintage glass bud vases.
Another object in pride of place is a new but old favorite in the form of a crystal champagne bucket which is now a family heirloom. It holds my favorite bubbly, Piazza Grande, and I love what the strawberry garnished fizz glasses do to emphasize the color.
This is also the time of year that I sort and organize all of my dried blooms after the holiday rush. It feels good to bring them together so simply in their buckets to create the feeling of a flower market in my studio. It is a celebration of each flower type and a feast for the eyes.
When it all came together, I had some time to reflect on the start of a new year full of possibilities in bloom. My Warmhouse Story journey has been fun and fulfilling and I consider myself to be so lucky to have time to create with nature in a way that feed my soul in the chill of winter.
These days, with all of the disruptions to our lives and hard moments out in the world, it is so beneficial to give yourself some time to daydream. Whether you do it my making, meditating, reading, or even napping (I’m a pro), remember that it is ok to take a little time to unplug and get grounded. Personally, it makes me feel ready to take on whatever is coming next with an open mind and a lifted spirit. I wish you a good thaw if you live where it is chilly and happy blooming if you are already living among the growing grass. Cheers!