In 2016, I embarked on a new path of designing. I was visiting Fortnum and Mason who had just sold out of the Elizabeth Crystal Collection I had custom-made for them and we were discussing what I would make next. I told them I was inspired to make a collection of clutches like the amazing wood carved doors in Bali. They loved it and placed an immediate order asking if I could make them in time for the holiday season. I said yes, but I would have to go to Bali ASAP and so I did. 

I was still in a daze living between this world and the higher realm. My mom had only left her earthly body five months prior and the adjustment left me rather stunned and not quite grounded in this world, as we know it. To be honest, I don’t think I have come back down to this realm fully and still live in the higher realm where I meet my mom.

It is here where I design. It is here where the effortless flow and love that goes into my work is channeled from. And it is this vibration I believe so many of you are describing when you say you feel me in your bags or that you feel such a high vibration of love in the bags.  And when I hear you all say this it makes my work that much more meaningful and gives me inspiration to continue to elevate my design in ways not previously imagined.

The process to make these bags is quite complex. The wood carved collection paves way for the brass collection. Many artisanal masters are involved. And many days, moving parts, and a dedicated team make these designs come into three dimensional form. 

It was in 2016 that I connected deeply with Pak Mangku, a Balinese Priest, who has incredible skill. But it goes beyond his skill as he and I channel the other realm together to bring my mom’s paintings to life in bag form. For countless hours we sat together carving each flower and leaf making sure that every peak and valley did justice to my late mother’s brushstrokes.

For those of you new to Blumera, and my story, and my mother: My mother was the Great Laurie Blum. She was incredible painter having had shows around the world at the United Nations, National Arts, Club, and beyond. Before she passed on, I was working on the Laurie in the Garden of Paradise Collection which used her paintings printed on canvas. The new creations I have made would have been beyond her wildest dreams and she would be (and I know IS) so happy. Beauty was one of the cornerstones of life for my mom and we celebrated it in our mutual love for surrounding ourselves in beauty and creating it.

After she passed, I made the wood carved clutches for Fortnum and Mason from the same painting that I had made Laurie in the Garden of Paradise from. The painting is Rose and the Nightingale. Fortnum and Mason immediately sold out of the collection and I began to reimagine new designs and new materials (and was nudged to do so by a wonderful buyer at Net-a-Porter). This was in 2018. And now in September 2020 I am finally finished and beyond ecstatic to present to you the two new collections from the painting Conference of the Birds.

The process is lengthy to make these collections and I will describe it in another blog.