07
Aug
Aug
We have been blown away by these amazing miniature gardens Emma has created over the past few years in memory of her darling daughter Isabelle. Aren’t they beautiful? Emma, we can see how much care, love and attention to detail you put into each of your creations.
“When our daughter Isabelle unexpectedly passed away during labour, I, like so many other bereaved parents, was left with a whole lot of love I wasn’t sure what to do with. I needed a way to channel that love and still feel like I was caring for my baby in some way.
I’ve always enjoyed crafting, but I’d lost my motivation in amongst the grief. I had plans to make all these lovely things for and with Isabelle, but I was no longer able to do so; I think I just grew disheartened by that. Then I was speaking to my partner’s sister, who is also a bereaved parent, and she shared with me that she’s created a floral tribute each year, one of which was a figure of 8 made to look like a race car track. That’s part of my inspiration. For Isabelle’s first birthday, I made a beautiful butterfly floral display.
I’d also started creating a small fairy garden in a raised flower bed in the garden built by my partner – a special place for Isabelle. Then I thought, what if I combined the two to create mobile miniature gardens?
Over the last few years, creating these miniature gardens has given me something creative and physical to do with all that love. I have also made seasonal ones for Easter, Halloween and Christmas too. These go out to the cemetery, and they can last for months. In fact, I still have the one I did for her 2nd Birthday at home in the garden, along with Isabelle’s fairy garden that evolves each year and then a seasonal one at the bottom of the garden, my partner built as an extension.
Some might find it unusual, but for me, these miniature gardens are a deeply personal and practical way to keep Isabelle’s memory alive. They give me comfort, a place to put my love, and a way to continue being her mum.”
