This humble yet exquisite group of flowers have long been my favourites, They’re enduring design muses, the unsung stars of the British hedgerow and have made their way into my collections several times. Lucienne Day and Angie Lewin used them as the starting point for iconic surface pattern and print motifs.That delicate parasol-like shape stays stubbornly in my mind – I see it in the scallops of treble stitches in my current south bay shawl and it inspired my crochet umbel garland design.
I’ve written about this exquisite groups of flower species over on Emma Harris’s blog aquietstyle today. My piece is here.
Postscript: my studio and I were featured in the Guardian this week – part of a piece on female entrepreneurs and their sheds. Pop over here for a read if you fancy finding out about the story of my small making space.
Beautiful images – I love the greys in the crochet scallops too, very delicate and textural. You have a lovely blog 🙂
Kate
http://www.loopandbar.co.uk
Emma, you've given us yet another beautiful post, infused with natural inspiration.
That crocheting really does gently link to botanical loveliness.
How grand to have been included in the Guardian article. Each of the featured sheds looks like a marvelous location for the owner's creativity…but of course, I do like yours the best! It was also interesting to learn just a bit more about your entry into your beautiful silversmithery.
Best wishes! xo
A wonderful article Emma, cow parsley is one of my favourites too, it makes the countryside look so, so pretty. I've got some lovely fabric with that design on that I've used in a couple of quilts. I really like the shed article. Just the other day I was looking at some lovely sheds at the garden centre and thinking how nice one of them would be in my garden. A pipe dream, but you know, one day… CJ xx
I saw the article when you put the link on Twitter. It almost made me wish for a shed myself!
gorgeous Emma, just gorgeous…..
How lovely to see inside your workspace, it might be small but I am very envious, it looks like such a lovely place to work, so inspirational x
A lovely article, Emma. I too love umbellifers, though I have to admit I only learned the term a few years ago from reading andamento's blog.
Every summer our roadsides are aflutter with Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrot to you), Wild Parsnip, Cow Parsnip, and Hedge-Parsley. Lately I've been noticing Angelica too (I think it's Angelica – the flower heads are more domed than many of the other umbellifers).
I love the way QAL looks when the blossoms dry up – like a hundred little hands all hugging themselves. 🙂
A beautiful post Emma! Such an honour to be featured in the Guardian! Congratulations. I am off to find you on 'a quiet style'.
Have a good week!
Madelief x
I love the post and the article. We have a shed/summerhouse that's been in the garden since my daughter was small. It has no electricity to it but we were talking just the other day about getting it lit up and lining the walls to make it a bit warmer. Yet another job for the never ending list. I'd never heard the word umbellifers before, so I have been educated as well as inspired. Thank you x
I love these sculptural wildflowers too. How lovely to be published in the Guardian 🙂
Umbellifers! I love you more with every word you write.
I'm off to read your flower piece on A Quiet Style, having already seen you in the Guardian. You're practically at Kardashian exposure level these days! x