Today, I’d like to tell you about a lady called Jill Fade who makes hand-crystallised edible flowers, including these beautiful cornflowers above.
Jill runs her company, Meadowsweet Flowers, from her farm, where all the flowers grow naturally without sprays or pesticides, and each one is selected and picked by hand.
The crystallised flowers can be used to decorate cakes or puddings. Alternatively, they would make a very unique wedding favour or dinner party gift.
She also makes gift boxes of chocolate discs decorated with crystalised flowers.
Jill very kindly answered a few questions for me:
When did you start your business and where are you based?
I started my business about 18 months ago after a year of research. I work totally from my farmhouse in the depths of rural North Devon. This is where I grow, select and crystallise all my flowers.
Where do you get your floral inspiration for your designs?
My inspiration is led by the flowers themselves as they all need to be edible! I use flowers that keep their shape and colour well and flowers that are quintessentially British. The most popular have been violas, cornflowers, lavender, primroses and geraniums.
What are your plans for the remainder of 2011?
The rest of 2011 I will be spending attending several Food Fairs where my flowers have proved to be very popular. And I will be extremely business with online orders leading up to Christmas.
As well as this, I am continuously crystallising to keep my stocks supplied.
I am always looking ahead and at the moment, I’m selecting plants that will flower over the winter and also plants for next year.
Do you have a favourite flower?
My favourite flower is the cornflower – seeing them growing in large swathes of mixed colours – they just look very beautiful.
Do look out for Jill if you’re visiting the Feast of Dorset Festival in Wimborne in Dorset on September 17th-18th or if you go to the Taste of the West Country Food Fair at RHS Garden Rosemoor on Sunday 25th September.
(Images : Meadowsweet Flowers)
These are incredible, Rona! What a unique and beautiful touch to any event. And what an idyllic lifestyle – creating these beauties in rural Devon. Sigh!
Hi Georgianna. Thank you for your lovely comment. I just had to include them in my blog, as they’re so lovely! 🙂