The flowers are to blame.

A collaborative lyrical piece.

This is numéro trois of a four piece series, an outworking of four visual poems, ones that must be seen, to be fully understood, where the verbal and visual draw strength from each other to produce greater meaning.

This was a beautiful coming together of minds, hands and ideas, where limits were not within the peripheral and play was the precursor. Lean into this joining of hands, where language is turned into art.

Importantly, lean into part one and two below before sinking into the delight of number three.

Creative direction + photography: Tara Samuelson / @understoryphoto

Creative direction and flower architecture: Donna Stain / @donnastain 

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The Flowers are to blame.

faire face aux fleurs / (face the flowers)

Starts with a bloom,

hearts dancing —

boom,

boom!

beating like a drum,

sipping rouge and rum.

Hearts on fire

petals like rain

you kiss me beneath the storm clouds

the flowers are to blame…

… and as the sun sets,

it tries to cool the heat we made,

the love we wilded,

the flowers you gave.

This fierce love

made of sandstorms and stone,

hot to the core,

sweet to the bone—

will always be you.

Our souls burning like embers—

and all the journeys around the sun

will never cool

this love-fire down—

Hearts on fire,

petals like rain,

you kiss me beneath the storm clouds…

… the flowers are to blame.

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This body of work was an exploration with fellow friends and artists; Photographer Tara Samuelson aka @understoryphoto  who’s work sings as an heirloom and forever keepsake, and @donnastain a renowned architect of flowers and all things botanical who is basically a dancing improvisation on legs.

A big thank you to Alemais, an Australian contemporary brand with an artisanal focus who generously and unhesitatingly joined hands with us in this co-creation, lending us an eclectic mix of unique natural textiles, hand crafted embroideries and exaggerated shapes that were inspired by historical references and redefined for a contemporary wardrobe that became a centre piece for this playful exploration…

‘The Flowers are to blame’ creative team:

Creative direction and photography on film by: @understoryphoto 

Creative direction and flower architecture: @donnastain 

Adjoining Poetry and movement: Tess Guinery

Fleurs: @_thelovegarden 

Wearable art: Alemais

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Thank you again for being here as a reader, it means the world to me.

As a reader and supporter of ‘Catching Shower Flowers’ I invite you to head to a desktop/ email version of this (Not in the app) to have the option to upgrade. Upgrading is an acknowledgment that you value what you read here, allowing this love-letter to grow and continue to exist. It works out to be $2.00 a week or $1.70 a week if you sign up for the annual subscription.

It’s been 6-7 months, here, in the land of ‘Catching Shower Flowers’...there has been something true growing here, something of longevity and artful integrity is unfolding, something that is kind to both my vision and my nervous system. In a world that often begs of us to ride the paces that are not always ours—the fact that something true to my creative pace is growing abundantly, is cause for reflection and personal celebration... And so I am currently shaping up a piece that honours this and honours you for sowing into this artful practice... and I cannot wait to share my honest 6 months in review piece that will arrive in the coming week or so... a piece that features the kind words you have left upon my love letters over the last 6 months and shares the unraveling of all that I see for this space in the year ahead. I believe all that is birthed from a place of rest and intention, lasts. I am so grateful to be in this artful process, with you, Thank you for continuing to trust my creative process and the work that flows out from it.

It is because of you and your support that I can dream a little wider here…

Love (and flowers)

xo

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Gift a friend something paper and true—

Fleurs de papier

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