Sara Breakfield
What I do:
Working with the spirit of each plant to bring its special medicine into the home is something that I think is important in our modern lives. Reengaging with the beauty of nature and a more ancient understanding of the other beings that surround us is my way of bringing healing into our lives and home. I tread lightly when I forage, often collecting from areas I know will be mown, and always relying on my training in Botanical Wildcrafting and my Shamanic studies to ethically gather from the wild communities.
I never spray or treat my plant material with any chemicals, dyes, or bleach, each plant is given its own space to dry and transform into something magical in my home based studio. With gentle care and protection from sun and moisture my creations can last for many years and when the time comes can be given back to the Earth as compost.
It’s a Way of Life:
Connecting to the seasons and cycles of the natural world around me, slowing down and being present with my husband, animals, friends, and community of plants and animals around me is something so important to me. I believe in the medicine of the spirit that a bundle of flowers can whisper to our home, it is a feeling of peace and a vision of loveliness that can help us reconnect to the rhythm and healing of the natural world.
Why Local Dried Flowers?
Local naturally dried flowers are a much more sustainable choice than chemically preserved flowers that are imported from overseas. Often these cheap flowers from overseas can be heavily bleached and dyed which can be hazardous for workers doing these jobs. Not to mention the questionable growing practices used on flowers in these areas, they are often covered in pesticides, and industrial fertilizers. Ethically grown and foraged local flowers take a great deal of time to care for, dry, and store properly and are therefore more expensive, but the sustainability and longevity of the flowers is well worth the cost.
Why me?
I have always been an artist and creating artwork in different mediums through the years has been a a lifelong journey that continues to unfold. I began studying Herbalism in Texas 15 years ago, specifically how to wildcraft botanical medicines and farm sustainably using permaculture practices. I continued my inquiry into herbal medicine and the natural cycles of life with my Wellness Counselors license in Ayurveda, which instilled in me a love of moving with the seasons and their varied beauty to this day. Moving to the Pacific Northwest I focused on art and gained my degree in fine art with an emphasis on natural fibers and plant dyes. While going through art school I also began studying shamanism and found a piece of connecting to the natural world that I had suppressed for many years.
2020 was the year that changed much in many people’s lives. I lost my job, my dearest friend and companion in the world, my dog Pinto, and went into lockdown in the span of a week. I had already been studying flower farming for a year and the sudden starkness of my situation pushed me deeper into what I truly wanted my life to be. It was flowers. So I found a job and learned floral design with fresh flowers and something finally clicked into place among all the grief. It seemed I had finally found my place among the flowers. Years later and I find myself falling more in love with the many facets of flower design and settling into this niche of dried flowers that feels just like home.
Find me around the innerwebs:
For all inquiries please email twigandsnip@gmail.com