Annie Rose and the Elephant
This week’s feature is about Katie, creator of Annie Rose and the Elephant and mum of two from Chester, England. As a nature loving artist, “All flowers that I use in my work are lovingly home grown, pressed and created into unique works of art in my home studio.”
Introduction to Pressed Flowers
“I have loved art ever since I was young & have always been keen to incorporate flowers into my work. My passion for homegrown flowers began during the first lockdown when I enjoyed daily walks to the local country park with my two girls, collecting the wildflowers & preserving them as lockdown memories. I had the time to learn more about gardening and growing my own flowers from seed, to then use in my work.”
Photo courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
Inspiration
“A lot of my inspiration comes from being outdoors. I love exploring the amazing colour palettes and shapes designed by nature! I also enjoy visiting public gardens to improve my knowledge & gain inspiration for both my garden and artwork.”
Photo courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
A Favorite Creation
“I absolutely love creating the floral letters! I really enjoy the challenge of selecting the right flower to create the shape of the letter, whilst ensuring the colour palette works; attention to detail is key.
A lot of these orders are customised gifts for new babies, so it’s always nice to hear about new arrivals & their gorgeous names!”
Photo courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
Learning From the Process
“The whole process has been a learning curve and I have learned a lot through trial and error! The biggest lesson I have learnt is that, unfortunately not every flower presses how you’d like it to, there are always going to be failures as well as successes, and it’s all about just learning as you go!”
Photo courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
Making Something Unforgettable
“I’m constantly growing and learning about new flowers every day, so my favourite flower to use changes all of the time! I do love forget me nots, as they have a special meaning to not only myself, but to lots of people - which I have found out recently from selling so many of the forget me not hearts.”
Photo courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
Final Remarks
“I would strongly encourage people to spend as much time in their garden/outdoors as they can! Not only is it beneficial for your mental health, it is enjoyable and incredibly rewarding when you see all of your hard work pay off.
I’d also like to add that if anyone is considering setting up their own business, and has a passion for something they think can turn into a career, go for it!”
Photo courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
View more of Katie’s work on her etsy shop or on Instagram at @annieroseandtheelephant
All photos courtesy of Annie Rose and the Elephant
