On my online workbook this week: ... and just like that we spiral back to... Spring!

Dear

This week's inspiration is a whole new twist to our design pantry... we are growing it!

If you have been following along for a while you probably remember me mentioning that I am still struggling to find flowers to design with. And I have been hearing that some of you have been struggling too. We just can't find flowers... and those that we find are so ordinary.

It's really frustrating.

It is now at the point that I have decided to see it as an adventure... and do something about it.

I am launching something new this month. I am teaming up with Plant Something BC , our local government and the landscape and nursery societies here in British Columbia, Canada and will be writing articles for them to explore creative ways we can grow our own little "floral craft pantry" to design with.

Now most of us will not be able to grow everything we need to design with. But the aim is to explore where there are gaps... and grow that, regardless of how much space we have. For me this will mean growing in pots on our balcony so it is really going to be quite an adventure.

Let's go beyond what we normally would think of as a "cut flower garden" to see growing plant material as a natural part of exploring and developing our own effortless design style- see what I did there?

Yes, this is a natural extension of what I explore in my book... but this time from the roots up.

I hope this will inspire you to grow along. Please let me know what you think. And huge please let me know if you have growing tips and thoughts about growing your own "floral craft pantry".

My tip for you this week is an easy "level up". We are all familiar with a spiral design, and an easy twist to that is to design an off-center spiral.

The best way to get the spiral going is to place your finger on the rim of the container so that it barely touches the grass or foliage or flowers that you want to spiral. Turn the container with the other hand to spin it slowly. Swipe the leaves to one side as you go along. They will start to fall towards that side and neatly start to spiral. Then tap and tickle it to control the spiral to create the look you want. To create an off-center spiral simply lift out one half of the design again to make them slightly more upright.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine