Since beginning my floral business in 2018, Susan McLeary of Passion Flower Sue has been a consistent resource of knowledge for my journey. She is one of the most generous educators in the industry and freely offers design ideas that have helped florists and non-florists alike. When I received her newsletter announcing that her book would soon be available, I knew I had to pre-order it and make it one of the book clvb picks.
Flowers for All was written so that more people may experience the unique beauty of flowers and the ways they can be crafted to create intricate and unique designs. So much of the work I do as a florist and through my gatherings is to make flowers more accessible. Sue does exactly this through her book. You can go to your local farmers market or even Trader Joes and make anything from a simple bouquet to an incredibly artful piece with the knowledge obtained through her writing.
I appreciate how the focus of her book is not so much on the principles of design but rather on mechanics. While the principles of design are of high importance, many floral design books address these elements. Flowers for All is unlike other florist books in that it provides interesting ways to offer nature to oneself as well as others.
Throughout history flowers have held rich meaning among cultures and for celebratory and memorial ceremonies. However, as society moves away from valuing the natural world, often flowers are questioned for their value and purpose. Just as human beings should not be valued for what they are able to produce but rather simply because they are human, so we must value flowers simply because their beauty exists.
The presence of a single bloom can further inspire dignity to the people they encounter. Flowers may appear to be impractical but they offer encouragement, hope and peace in a world that desperately needs these things. Sue’s book gives ways of creating pieces that are unconventional yet honor the impact blooms have towards bringing life.
Having previously worked in the art world, I can attest that many artists are interested in exploring florals as a medium. Sue’s book is the perfect book for creatives and artists interested in delving deeper into the many ways florals can be arranged. Jewelry, floral meditation pieces and sculptural mechanics are just a few of the things you will learn to create through her book.
You can certainly order this book on Amazon but I recommend you order it from my favorite book store, Fabled, based in Waco, TX.