The name of 'Forget me not' could not be more apt for the flower of the Alzheimer's Society. Sufferers may forget, but we never forget them.
I am not only inspired by the garden I grew up in at a pretty mill house in Kent, UK, but also by the loss of it. When we went to live there the garden was unloved and overgrown, but thanks to my parents who were keen gardeners, by the time we left it had been dug, planted, nurtured and maintained until it was blooming and beautiful. Sadly, both my parents suffered from and eventually died from Alzheimer's, and we were forced to sell the house and garden we loved.
So when I came to start creating and selling some pretty fine bone china mugs featuring my floral art inspired by that place, I wanted to make some small difference by raising money for the Alzheimer's Society. My Forget me not mug was the perfect opportunity to do that. My Forget me not mugs each feature a pretty Forget me not flower, and I am donating 10% of the profits from each of these British fine bone china mugs to the charity.
I was so pleased in December to see that my local newspaper the Sevenoaks Chronicle wrote an article about the fact that I am raising money for the Alzheimer's Society through the sale of my Forget me not mugs. It's lovely to get the word out about this and have their support.
I'll be honest, the article is not the most cheerful of reads! It's a bit doom and gloom... but anyone who's lived through caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's will probably tell you it's not the most cheerful of times.
I would like to mention here a lot of positives which aren't in the article. My business grew out of the other side of that sad experience and is a happy legacy of a place I loved - the place where I grew and which inspired my love of gardens and flowers. It is also a legacy of my parents who instilled that love in me. My art is joyful, fresh and colourful which is the antidote to the sad time we went through. I had a wonderful connection with a garden I loved, and grew up with parents who really valued gardens and flowers. I have a lifelong belief in the healing power of gardens - whether that be actually gardening, or simply taking time out to drink a relaxing mug of tea in the garden. All these lovely things live on in me - in my own garden, in my art and in my children.
Huge thanks to the Alzheimer's Society too for supporting me in my venture.
If you would like to buy a Forget me not mug head over to the shop page now to have a browse.
If you would like to read the article here it is in full.
If you would like more information or support about Alzheimer's and Dementia you can go to: