ANNE OF GREEN GABLES AND SUSANNAH HUNTER'S HANDBAGS IN BLOOM

Whenever I teach L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, I am reminded of how wonderful it was to grow up on Prince Edward Island, surrounded by natural beauty. Anne notices it immediately; she tells Matthew that if he didn’t come to the train station, she would…

"go down the track to that big wild cherry-tree at the bend, and climb up into it to stay all night. I wouldn’t be a bit afraid, and it would be lovely to sleep in a wild cherry-tree all white with bloom in the moonshine, don’t you think? . . . This Island is the bloomiest place.."

I feel as enchanted as Anne when I gaze upon some other blooms: Susannah Hunter's beautifully crafted leather flowers, which she appliqués on handbags and cushions, wristlets and poufs.


Image: bags by Susannah Hunter

Hunter opened her studio in the aptly named Bloomsbury in 2000. She visits the Columbia Road Flower Market weekly, where she might encounter a new colour or see a familiar flower differently. Or she might discover 'the right leather' to inspire her to create something new. 'I love the colour and textures which leather lend to the 3D element of the appliqué technique which I am still developing after more than 20 years', she said in an email.

Image: 2022 collection by Susannah Hunter

For summer 2022 Hunter is offering bouquets. 'After I go to the flower market I take great pleasure in arranging the flowers that I choose and this season I took the same approach to designs', she said. 'Limelight hydrangeas, ranunculus, lisianthus, roses, and eucalyptus all feature in the collection, on base colours of eau de nil, chartreuse, toffee and milk'. I have one of Hunter's strawberry and blossom bags from 2019. Every time I carry it, I remember picking strawberries on PEI's Tea Hill, with a view of the ocean, and think of another line from Anne: 'I’ve always heard that Prince Edward Island was the prettiest place in the world'.

Visit our blog again tomorrow for more text and textiles by Kate Cavendish.