Not just a gift but one to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival. In 2002 the Canadian Tulip Festival celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, an annual commemoration of the close links between Canada and the Netherlands. Every year the Dutch people present Canada with thousands of tulip bulbs which make a huge and vibrant display along the Rideau Canal in Canada's national capital, Otttawa. During World War Two the Royal family of the Netherlands was given refuge in Ottawa. A daughter, Princess Margriet, was born, the delivery room being made sovereign Dutch territory for the occasion. Therefore, because of the shelter given to the Royal family and the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian forces, Canada has been the recipient of this enduring gift.
To commemorate this very special anniversary of the Festival, a gold embroidered tulip sculpture was designed by Canadian embroiderer Merydie Fjarlie. The three dimensional sculpture was presented to Princess Margriet during the Festival as a tribute and thank you from the Canadian people for the thousands of tulip bulbs sent to Ottawa every year in recognition of the close ties between the two nations.
The fifty blooms encompassed designs associated with the enduring friendship, the joint efforts during the War, Canada's Armed Forces and features of Ottawa and the Tulip Festival. Historical and contemporary goldwork techniques were used in the sculpture. The base of the design represents the Second World War and the fallen of both Canada and the Netherlands. It features fallen tulip petals showing the floral emblems of Canada's provinces and territories with the beloved windmills of Holland. Also featured on the base are ruby crystals scattered on the ground, representing drops of blood of the fallen soldiers.
All fifty stems were wrapped and then stitched in silk. Some engineering skills were required as each metal stem had to be given a thread at either end to attach it to the base and the flower head. The actual petals, six for each flower, were constructed out of moulded leather and hand-dyed silk. Once each embroidered piece was completed it was attached to the moulded leather petal shape and construction of the flower head could then be completed. The stamens were made from beads to give the tulips authenticity. Leaves were made also from silk, using inserted wire to give them shape. The fallen petals were then scattered on maroon velvet with the ruby crystals. A very heavy hardwood base was made especially for the sculpture. The whole project took twelve thousand hours to create using all available talent, including the embroiderers' husbands.
The Bouquet, designed by Merydie an award winning embroiderer, was created by Studio Inspirations, the embroidery studio to which she belonged. Merydie now exhibits and teaches in Nova Scotia. Twelve Studio members worked on this sculpture including Cindy Jackson, a graduate of The Royal School of Needlework and The Embroidery Association of Canada accredited instructor, teaching in Canada and the USA.
The Studio focuses on original design, working on public and private commissions, designs for instruction and the personal projects of its members. Commissions have included the Creation Altar Frontal and accompanying pieces for the Cathedral in Ottawa, plus the Advent Altar Frontal designed for children in a parish church near the national capital.
Since completing the Bouquet, one member has been studying for BA with the Opus School of Textiles and five Studio members have gone on to study embroidery and design through the City & Guilds programme.
This sculpture is unique, the artists having never attempted goldwork on this scale before. It is larger than life, standing over thirty-six inches tall. Over three thousand four hundred individual pieces were incorporated into this work of art. The Bouquet was displayed in Ottawa during the Tulip Festival of May 2002 and was then installed in the Royal Palace and Museum, Het Loo, Apeldorn, Netherlands. It was an incredibly ambitious project, being completed in only ten months, but it proved thoroughly enjoyable.
There was a huge sense of relief when the Bouquet was completed and more than a few tears were shed when it was presented and left Canada for its new home. This Bouquet of Remembrance and Celebration will remain a lasting memorial of the close ties between the Netherlands and Canada.

Pictures:
1. The completed Bouquet. This mock sculpture gave an impression of the finished design and gave us the opportunity to make minor changes to the final Bouquet. NB. The photo was taken using real tulips as the background.
The completed Bouquet of 50 tulips, showing the base swathed in red velvet and covered with fallen petals featuring windmills of the Netherlands.

2. Detail showing wrapped stems and petal details including the stamens.

3. The goldwork embroidery of the Canadian Maple Leaf. The outline of the petal shape can be clearly seen while working on the maple leaf. Sometimes tweezers were carefully used for holding metal threads when being stitched in place.
Maple leaf finished : This well known symbol of Canada used check, rough and smooth purl, pearl purl and a spiral of gold plate for the stem.

WW2 Sign Contrasting textures of gold threads emphasise this motif of intertwined letters.

Merchant Navy : For this ships wheel design we used broad plate, passing thread, Grecian braid and kid leather in the centre.