We were over the Moon to receive this from our friend Sakul Intakul mostly because it shows another design side of him ... his former books , Tropical Colours especially , Modern Thai Living and Colour Your Moods sent a refreshing shot of life in Thailand with flowers,through us and the Floral World...With his innate ability to make more with less he made a masses of friends.. here now in this new book he shares his passion for the traditional forms ,techniques and patterns of Thai Floral art he learned from the Florists of the Inner Royal Thai Court. What we get is a heady mix of Thai Flower Culture at its purest side by side withhis new interpretations, turning pedestrals , garlands, small floral offerings and accessories into marvellous inspirational works and offering at a glimpse possibilities that can motivate the inner cretive in us all. We dream of being near the wafting perfume of one of his gardenia window pendants and watch his floral floats lazily drift by. Starry and divine Jasmine , fragrant gardenias ,exquisite handsewn orchid petals.lotus flowers are everywhere ..The book isnt only a wonderful cultural tribute but a sensual treat..we're sure you will catch a puff of perfume like we do each time we turn each page, the work is so evocative.

We opened this book with deep curiosity as to what MVB might bring us we didn’t know already about her work after four books from Flowers in love, one two and three, her sensitive Sympathy flowers, Flowers in Tears and numerous magazine articles about her and her ongoing Fleur Creatif Magazine exposure. We were seriously intrigued, the end cover images grabbed our attention in a nano second . The double page image of a lush hoard of textiles, textures, seed pods, red roses, beads, threads and ribbons are exactly how those who know her closely would describe her as , a collector. She has the inclination of a magpie, seeking and storing treasures of this and that on one hand from Nature ,the other flibberty jibbets ,scraps and pieces from anywhere and everywhere, cleverly massing boxes piles and cupboards of gorgoeus objects to be used today, tomorrow or in her future . As we turned the pages front to back the back to front ,we got some lovely surprises and have to say the book works wonderfully. This monograph or lone song is an invitation to meet another side of MVB,the one who lives a full and happy life besides meeting brides making wedding bouquets, designing table decorations and farewell tributes, doing still life photo shoots fro magazines ,beyond her work as a stylist or teacher and demonstrator. at home and across the globe. We find here a plant hunter, a weed finder, a home gardener and plantswoman, and a flower lover , a florist with special penchant for Vandas, a forager, a twig collector , vine and trailing plant adorer, a nostalgic and romantic, a handmade paper gatherer, a drawer a writer and a collector of wonderful and quirky things that look good and feel even better. All of which she uses for a myriad of design ideas a variety of reasons with new concepts new forms and structures not normally thought of, or known as has her signature work. The book comes over as if as if she has done things for herself in it to challenge and please herself and allow herself to be free. The world as we all know is bountiful with never ending possibilities yet very often it restrains a creative spirit for simple commercial reasons. Our biggest delight with this book was to see some new work and to revisit some old. Here are bigger scale pieces in huge contrast to her famous bouquets , her redefinition of waste materials,think cardboard packing, odd smidgens of influence can be seen here and there from her friends and assistants, but then again maybe she influenced them, we find her oplifting not so popular flowers and see her extraordinary us of dried foliage. MVB’s newest book is a tribute to her own ongoing creativity and for her readers, viewers and worldwide fans a discovery of the fuller talent of one of Belgium’s leading florists and floral designers. Get it so you will discover all sides of a renowned Floral Designer, be better informed and greatly inspired, perhaps flap your creative wings louder too. Highly Recommended . And a nice little postcript . The day she launched her new book in September she was honoured by a Dutch Rose Breeder who named a new rose after her. That is an an everlasting honour.

Katrien Vandierendonck is a designer less known, less seen out of Belgium which has nothing to do with talents hidden..she is busy in Belgium with 101 floral occupations with programme in Belgium, odd workshops , Expo events and her delicious garden. That she has collected together a book full of ideas for out door design is to be expected from someone whose heart is in her garden. In Belgium the concept and decoration of an Outdoor room is as important as any indoor one and the view from the windows,taking in the outdoor furniture ,tables , topiary , art pieces, ponds are places to set dress. Accordingly in this country , a new design occupation is developing that of the Outdoor designer ..but back to the book.. Mis en scenes created by Katrien include picnics,,things for halloween even ,garden rooms (orangeries in Europe)in luscious french style, ideas for winter tables(with birds in mind) party tables and feasts and more. ....Her romantic approach will catch you somewhere even if you area vowed minimalist( she has some ideas for you too). Katrien says to us "we do not only want to being natures beauty inside our homes , our nests but also give the newly invented beauty(our work ) back to her . A lovely approach.