In 2017, shortly after actor, writer Carrie Fisher's death her friend, Meryl Streep, quoted her during her Cecil B. DeMille Award acceptance speech at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards saying, "As my friend, the dear, departed Princess Leia, said to me, 'Take your broken heart, make it into art.'" It's a sentiment close to our own hearts here at Maison Mariann. So, when we see someone in our orbit doing it, we tend to want to share it with y'all. One of those people is our friend, New Orleans artist Caroline Mendez.
Last spring, Caroline endured the worst pain imaginable for any parent when her daughter Bri passed away at age 26. Bri, whose full name was Brianna Soleil Tonkin, was born with a rare, non-hereditary genetic disorder called Rett Syndrome. The International Rett Syndrome Foundation, describes the condition as:
A rare and devastating neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects girls, causing severe impairments in communication, cognitive abilities, and motor skills (including walking and hand use) following 6–18 months of normal development.
Despite Bri's physical and verbal challenges, her joyful, sweet (and often sassy) personality shined out and anyone lucky enough to know her was drawn to her warm and gentle spirit.
A Labor of Love
Pictured: Flowers Caroline made for Bri's hospital room
Through Caroline's grief and pain over the past year, she has continued to create. The works that have resonated most with the artist and her friends, family and clients are her handcrafted house flowers and flower pins.
"They were first inspired by my time in hospital with Bri 2 years ago when I needed to keep myself busy," says Caroline. "They then became a symbol of her for me."
Caroline named the line of flowers big and small, Soleil Blooms by CM Design Studio. The moniker is taken both from Bri's middle name and her sunny disposition. Which was so bright, Caroline long ago gave Bri the nickname Sunshine Girl. The sentiment is honored daily by a sunflower pendant Caroline wears, which opens to read the lyrics to the song, "You Are My Sunshine."
"The goal is to eventually start the Soleil Bloom Project where 10 percent of all pin sales will go towards supporting crafting and volunteer events to make paper flowers garlands that will be donated to children’s hospitals to bring joy to children in long term care," says Caroline.
The sustainably-crafted blooms are made from recycled materials, including tissue boxes and cloth buttons. Caroline then paints each one and adds embellishments, such as glitter and beads.
The flowers have lately been joined by a luna moth and a palm tree, with plans to grow the garden to include other beautiful crawly creatures, pollinators and plants.
Grow Your Garden
Caroline has been selling the flowers online and popping up at markets throughout the Crescent City. Today (Tuesday, April 28), she is having an open studio (by appointment). Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 28), visit Caroline's table at 717 St. Charles Ave., from 5 to 8 p.m. during the Wednesdays at the Square concert series event. She also takes commissions, and is a joy to work with — which is true, even though we are biased.
Personally, we love Caroline's Soleil Bloom pins paired with our Not Your Mama's Birthstone Necklace, as shown in this journal's opening photo. But they really do go with everything, so you'll want them in ever color and pattern, as well as for your lapels and hats, walls and doors.
One of the many reasons Soleil Blooms has resonated with us is that, like our Celebracelet and the entire concept of Maison Mariann, these pieces were born from grief. In our case, it was a daughter's grief and a desire to honor her mother. For Caroline, it's a mother's grief and a desire to create something everlasting, and with purpose, to honor her Sunshine Girl.
...
✨ Become An Insider ✨
Are you a Maison Mariann Insider? Get our fun and fabulous weekly (non-spammy) newsletter, discounts, tips, first looks and more! Sign up now!