形に残す思い出

Preserving Memories

私は小さい頃からどんぐりを見つけたり、草花を摘んだり、小石を拾ったりするのが好きでした。大人になってもイギリスに来てからもそれは変わりません。

旅先でも咲いている花が気になったり、きれいな落ち葉を見つけては拾ってみたりします。それをガイドブックに挟んで家に持ち帰ります。

家には旅先や散歩中に摘んできた草花の押し花や木の実が思い出の形として飾られています。

なぜか写真を見るよりもこっちの方がその時のシーンを鮮明に思い出します。その時の気温や風の様子、誰とどんな話しをしていたか、どんな気持ちだったか。

エディンバラに引っ越して友人に初めて連れて行ってもらったノースベリックという海辺の町では小さな貝殻を拾いました。静かな冬の寒空の下で拾った貝殻。その集めた貝殻で形に残るフレームを作ってみました。あの時浜辺で食べたミンスパイが蘇ります。小ぶりなのにどっしりと中身に入ったフルーツが美味しかったなぁ。

Preserving Memories

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved collecting acorns, flowers and leaves and finding unique pebbles. That hasn't changed as an adult or since I came to the UK.

Even when I am travelling, I am curious about the flowers that are blooming on the street, or beautiful fallen leaves and keep them as a memory of the place and time.
I put them in my travel guidebook and take them home with me.

I have a selection of pressed flowers and leaves that I have collected on my travels and walks which are displayed as a form of memory.

For some reason, these remind me of the scene more vividly than photographs. From the weather, how was the wind at the time, who I was talking to and even how I was feeling.

Our friends took us to a seaside town called North Berwick shortly after we moved to Edinburgh. I collected some small shells from there. It was a quiet, grey and cold winter beach. I decided to make a frame from those collected shells.
It reminds me of the most delicious mince pie we ate on the beach that day.

Mmm yum!