PDX Profile: Sherry Kirkpatrick, of Dancing Circle

This time of year always makes me crave flowers, so I was tickled to find Dancing Circle Dried Flower Wreaths on Etsy. Sherry Kirkpatrick works with locally-grown blooms, and creates lovely combinations of color and texture. After you enjoy this interview, be sure to check out her shop for more images!

-------------------------------

How did you come to build a business around dried flower wreaths?
I've always loved dried flowers. For my wedding centerpieces I used sprays of grasses and dried florals I gathered from the Rocky Mountain foothills. About 5 years ago, I realized my four children were finally out of infancy and toddlerhood, and I had small bits of time for myself.

All the beautiful flowers in Oregon inspired me to try and make a dried flower wreath and capture their beauty. Oregon and Washington's plentiful gardens of hydrangea, roses and lavender are perfect ingredients for beautiful dried flower projects. My first attempts were pretty awful but in time I got better and found the process both relaxing and fulfilling.

I also noticed it was an excellent form of therapy to relax from my sometimes chaotic
household. I took the plunge and placed them for sale online and at a few local craft shows. A few successes were all it took to keep me going. I love the fact that I can work from home thereby continuing my first job of motherhood. I now sell at private shows, online and take custom orders from existing customers.

Where do your flowers come from?
The flowers and botanicals I use in my wreaths come mainly from local farms and gardens in the Portland metro area. North Plains and Canby are excellent sources for a variety of gorgeous local products, and their farms are beautiful. I've found some wonderful suppliers in Washington as well.

My neighbors are wonderful about letting me harvest flowers from their bushes and plants - sometimes their flowers are the prettiest I get. I also make a point to take plenty of gathering walks with my children; it's a fun outing to just pick up interesting moss, twigs, cones - you never know what you might find on a walk through the forest. I dry all the flowers I personally harvest; at certain times of year my house is overflowing with flowers!

What are your tips for caring for a dried flower wreath?
Dried flowers are suprisingly sturdy and will stay beautiful and colorful for years with proper care. The main points to keep in mind when purchasing or working with drieds is to keep them away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Prolonged exposure to sun will fade colors quickly and sort of burn the plant.

Dried flowers tend to wilt in bathrooms or areas where water and or steam collects regularly. Most dried or preserved arrangements are intended for indoor use only - unpredictable weather is too harsh for fragile blossoms. You should also clean your wreath or arrangement periodically. I suggest a blow dryer set on cool setting and/or a soft feather duster. Consider displaying a dried flower wreath away from high movement locations: a door that's constantly opened and closed might be a bit rough on them. I've been suprised just how long dried flowers will stay pretty - I've had a few pieces for over 5 years and they still look great!

What are some of your favorite flowers for dried arrangements?
My favorite flowers to use in wreaths are hydrangea, larkspur, lavender, roses, statice and though it's not a flower, moss is wonderful! I focus on plants grown in our beautiful Northwest. I must admit I'm partial to lavender because it smells so lovely and has a natural calming effect. Hydrangea is also a favorite, I am constantly amazed at its gorgeous
colors, shapes and textures. Roses are a classic favorite - after all I do live in the City of Roses.

How do you define the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
The difference between an art and a craft is many times left open to interpretation. The old adage "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is certainly true. But if I were pressed, I'd have to say I think craft is the learning part of an experience. For instance, anyone can learn the basic craft of playing a guitar, but only a special person can use that training and be inspired to create music that I'd consider art.

Art doesn't have to be defined in classical categories; music, painting, sculpture - it can be
found in the oddest places - I once saw a mural of graffitti in an alley that I was so impressed with I came back to photograph it. The crafting element of art is the fun aspect of actual learning. Art may or may not occur as a result of specific training. Excellent craftmanship can be an indication of art. Crafters and artists probably have more in common than
most people think.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
Some of my favorite creative spots in Portland would include the Japanese Garden, Sauvie Island, Swan Island, the Rose Test Garden and our many local farmers markets. I am inspired by being outdoors and observing nature. I love visiting our local gardens and farms. Berry-picking trips are a family favorite and even those can generate some fun ideas for projects.

Portland is paradise to flower-lovers, so I try to soak up as much of our local fare as possible. I also consider my own home an excellent space for creative inspiration. I tend to listen to books on tape while working and certain story lines or characters will make me feel like creating something attributed to them.