Do you remember when I introduced you to Tracey Deep, floral sculptor extraordinaire? Well just to give you more proof of how incredible her work is, take a look at this piece she created for me for my Mum’s birthday back on January 23rd…

modeled on ‘Maria’ who is very good at holding this piece of glass as a coffee table, isn’t she rather gorgeous too?

I gave Tracey a number of requests for what I wanted for my Mum (yes, stylist’s are picky picky creatures, I don’t like to admit it) but it wasn’t so much for the design because I had full confidence in Tracey’s abilities. My Mum has Rheumatoid Arthritis and has had since before I was born. She has one of the most severe cases, there is not one bone in her body that has not been affected by the disease and although she has spent her life managing it well as naturally as possible while it has slowly taken over her body, this past year has been one of her toughest. It has been tremendously difficult being away from her as I have been her support all my life. It’s a little hard to write this now without getting emotional so I will stop for the moment, but I tell you all this as my requirements for the floral arrangement were rather high demanding and have everything to do with my Mother’s physical abilities - I wanted an arrangement that Mum didn’t have to manage - no cutting of stems and no putting flowers in water, so I needed an arrangement that came with it’s own container. Then I needed something that would be long-lasting, something that would not have petals dropping all over the place and be messy to clean up. Then my last request was that it not be too girly but more creative, sculptural, stylish and artistic - something that Mum could see everyday and gain inspiration from it. And my God, did Tracey ever create something spectacular…

My Aunty Sue took these photos for me (she has replaced me as Mum’s support and i can’t thank her enough, won’t go further, tears welling!!) and although they are not the clearest I hope they give you an idea of what Tracey created. Mum described it to me on the phone as having a large pod base filled with banana leaves and exquisite succulents. What else can we see? I am not an expert on names of plants so I’d love to hear what else you can see in here. They are mostly Australian natives I am guessing.

Thanks Aunty Sue for taking the photos, and thank you Simone for taking a moment to email them to me. If you have only just begun reading my blog, click here to be taken to my first article about Tracey Deep.

Tracey also just informed me that her studio space (the one I described as a secret Narnia in the backstreets of Woollhara) has moved to Redfern, she describes the place as the “perfect space for my sculpture & installation art, as well as the “living sculptures”. It has a high ceiling, exposed old wooden beams & old stone floor with white walls. This is where I can have my future exhibitions.” Next time I am in Sydney I will shoot it for you all, it sounds absolutely divine, bursting with Tracey’s sculptures, I cannot wait to see it! The new address is: Studio GO1/59 Great Buckingham St, Redfern, 2016 NSW, Australia.