meet the artist
Joanna, the Flower Presser
Crafting timeless memories through the ethereal beauty of flower pressed wedding bouquets.
Hello I’m Joanna, a Mauritian-Australian artist capturing memories petal by petal.
My passion for crafts tends to take over the whole house and it’s not unlikely that you’ll find bits and bobs of crafts everywhere. In addition to crafting, I am a gardening enthusiast. I inherited the love of flowers from my mum. She taught me how to choose the right cuttings, water the plants properly and most importantly how to keep them alive. Passerby would always peek into our garden to admire mum’s geraniums adorning the balcony all year round. Gardening became my way to slow down and get my best brainstorming done. I love growing flowers and some particular plants evoke memories of family.
I remember the yellow daisies and pink begonias that bloomed every summer. I remember my dad gathering my sisters and cousins to take pictures in the blooming garden. He would whip out his camera and take pictures of us for any occasion. I always thought of it as his way of capturing the essence of our childhood and documenting our lives through photographs.
What started as making gifts for family members and friends has turned into a part-time job and full-time passion. I started from hand-making beaded jewellery in 2012 and my curiosity for making things has not stopped since! If I had to describe myself in a few words I would say I am multi-passionate. It is both fulfilling and challenging all at the same time as I want to try everything. My home is full of unfinished projects or the ‘maybe’ I will get back to it when some time opens up. In 2016, I came across a book called Oshibana- the art of pressing flowers in a way to create a whole picture. I started documenting every flower and plant I foraged and it has been a constant learning curve.
Fast forward to 2020, here I am making botanical earrings and floral frames, an ongoing passion. Before the flowers are permanently set into resin, each design is hand drawn. I love the slow process and all the hard work that goes into choosing the shape; the flowers, the memory behind it. I like documenting each piece as a way to remind myself of all the little failures, the tiny victories and most of all, the progress.
The process
There’s something special about using pressed flowers. It connects you to the process of designing sentimental pieces that last. I use everything for inspiration and each collection captures the essence of my own memories and experiences.
Oxalis pes-caprae also known as sour sob originated from Southern Africa. They can be identified by their trumpet shaped appearance with bright yellow flowers. Sour sops are classified as environmental weed to Western Australia however they are the prettiest when pressed.
Geraniums finally ready after 3 weeks in the press
The last process before framing is gluing the flowers. It is a delicate process where every leaf and petals are glued using a fine paintbrush and tweezers. Sometimes, it can take up to four weeks before a composition is set and ready to be framed.
My all time favourite 🌼 The first flowers I framed which would evolve in exploring floriography and the different techniques of pressing flowers.
Markets and Events
Mark your calendars and come and say hi
Space for Us - Speaker
Are you a creative or maker based in Perth? Do you do art and craft as a hobby? Are you looking to transition your hobby into a business? If you said yes to any of this, you may want to join us!
At Connect Victoria Park,
on Saturday 8 June
5 Mackie Street Victoria Park from 2 m - 4pm
Section Styles noborder
