Before this collaboration took shape in fabric, it began in clay. For Janae Paquin-Bowden, creativity flows seamlessly between her ceramics studio and her flower farm in Lyonville, where life with her husband, Chris, their children, and two terriers is intricately woven into her art. Her studio, La Cachette, is filled with treasures collected over the years, half-made vases and drying flowers hanging from the ceiling, a place she describes as her “creative sanctuary.”

It’s here that her artistry first caught our eye: hand-built vases, painted tiles, and floral motifs inspired by the blooms she grows.

Now, her work finds a new canvas in our Fleurville collection highlighted in summer dresses, shirts & pants in organic cotton dresses, breezy linens and artisan accessories that carry her hand-painted motifs into summer wardrobes.

A perfect day would be one where I get to do all the things I love, though that’s not always realistic! It would start with a coffee in the morning with my husband Chris, followed by a walk through the Wombat State Forest with our two terriers, Daphne and Bisous, and our kids, Gigi and Atticus. If it’s flower season, I’d then harvest blooms for upcoming orders, which Chris usually delivers. Around lunchtime, I’d head into the studio to work with clay whether that’s rolling out slabs for tiles, glazing vases, or firing the kiln.

There’s something really special about working with clay that’s never left me. I love being creative in many different ways, but making things from clay just feels right in my heart. There’s a never-ending flow of ideas and possibilities, which keeps it exciting and new.

My studio is incredibly special to me. It started out as a simple shed that Chris and I lived in while we built our home. Later, with help from my dad, we transformed it into my studio. We insulated it with cool room panels and installed four French doors sideways to create a wall of windows. I’ve filled the space with old treasures I’ve collected over the years, like a vintage concrete trough, an old shop counter, striped curtains, and green walls. Now it’s my creative sanctuary, always filled with half-made vases, drying flowers hanging from the ceiling, and so much inspiration.

My vases are always designed with flowers in mind. When I sketch designs, I imagine how they’ll look filled with blooms. I also often incorporate floral motifs into my pieces, so the flower farm is a constant source of inspiration.

The best part is, without a doubt, when the flowers are in full bloom. The planting, weeding, and cutting back can be exhausting at times, but once everything starts flowering, all the hard work feels worth it.

Chris and I would like to continue with tours, workshops, etc. We were teachers before this, so sharing what we’ve learned feels really natural to us. This season, we’re excited to introduce more sustainable floristry workshops using my vases.

We’ve also made some changes to how we work; I’ll now be dividing my time between pottery and flowers year-round, rather than focusing on ceramics in the colder months and flowers in the warmer ones. I’m also working on a few tablescaping ideas, but those are under wraps for now!

It’s such a special feeling! When I first saw the pieces, I was blown away. They looked even better than I imagined. The blue tones came through so beautifully, and I’m honestly just so impressed with how everything came together.

That’s a tough one, I have quite a few favourites! I love all the dresses, especially the “Vera” and the “Hana.” The “Aria” vest is absolutely adorable, and I also love the silk scarf. And I can’t choose between the bags, they’re all gorgeous!

Follow Janae Paquin-Bowden
instagram.com/janae_paquinbowden_pottery
instagram.com/fleurs_de_lyonville

Nancybird Photos by Stephanie Cammarano