L'inspiration du Jour: Une Belle Fleur

Flowers have been present in my life since I can remember.  Growing up in Ecuador it was hard not to be around nature.  Anyone who ever visited or lived in Guayaquil can attest to the incredible flora that surrounds you; it's everywhere you go.  And if this is not your experience, let me tell you, you need to get out more!

As a child, I distinctly remember sitting in the car on my way to a friends house and becoming entangled in a street scene near downtown, where the artisans are hard at work creating their colorful and intoxicating bouquets.

Flowers were indoors too.  My mother always had fresh cut arrangements at our home and her jewelry store.  I can still see myself running around, and stopping to catch that whiff of a gorgeous rose or lily on my way to French class.

Now, as an adult living in Miami, I get my flower fix by visiting flower shows, going to Vizcaya or the Morikami Gardens (Boca Raton), or just browsing in the flower section in the supermarket.  Inspiration is wherever you find it.

Morikami Museum and Gardens, Boca Raton

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami

Flowers are tough and delicate at the same time: two qualities that to me represent a modern woman.  When I look at elements in nature, I see the same iridescence and colors that I see in my gemstones.  Sometimes this correlation is very obvious in my work, like for example my very popular rings that are shaped like flowers, and sometimes it's more subtle, like when I use a color or a shape from nature.

Cheers!
Dani K