I grew up between Florence’s rolling hills with the scent of iris and lavender, and Stockholm’s bright summers with the scent of cornflower and acacia. Flowers have always been a source of joy, well-being and harmony for me. I got the desire to use fabric flowers when I studied fashion and design at Polimoda in Florence. I had wanted to create a whole collection with them, but fabric flowers are expensive and as a poor student I had to put that idea on hold. Then I moved home to Sweden and that’s when the idea for the flower heads was born.

I buy the flowers I think are beautiful, in small shops, department stores and from wholesalers. Most of the time I have a clear picture of a color scale I want to work with, but sometimes the composition is like a “self-pick” from a market garden, a little wilder! I start by making a flat template of the lampshade which I lay out on the work table. There I place flowers and leaves until I am satisfied. It is like a puzzle where each flower contributes to the finished composition. After placing all the flowers, I attach them one by one to the screen. I choose the shades carefully according to size and how they distribute the light so that it sparkles beautifully between the flowers.

Each flower head is unique.

Svea Barone