La Boutique de Fleurs by Ana Mallah

For something a little different this week, we want you to imagine what it would be like to join us on a trip to Paris with Ana Mallah to celebrate her project La Boutique de Fleurs from the book In Bloom.

Perhaps it would go something like this…

It’s a crisp, sunny morning in the City of Light. After sharing a coffee with Ana at a quiet corner café, we set off together through narrow cobblestoned lanes, the hum of scooters and the scent of fresh baguettes all around us, until we arrive at Le Marché aux Fleurs, the famous flower market of Paris where stalls overflow with blooms.

Here, rows of wrought-iron pavilions shelter buckets of blossoms in every colour imaginable. Hydrangeas tumble beside roses, daisies nod in the morning air, and every turn reveals another burst of scent and shade.

Florists bustle about, wrapping posies in brown paper, while Parisians pause to choose the perfect bouquet to carry home.

As we linger among the stalls, Ana smiles and shares how, as a child, she was forever stopping mid-journey to marvel at a single flower.

That same impulse - to pause, admire, and translate beauty into something lasting - has found its way into her embroidery.That same impulse - to pause, admire, and translate beauty into something lasting - has found its way into her embroidery.

From the bustle of the market, Ana gathers a handful of blooms - a single hydrangea stem, soft pink and white daisies, and sprigs that sparkle with morning dew.

The palette is unmistakably romantic: apple blossom pinks, dusky rose, cranberry, and candyfloss tones, glowing against soft greenery. Each flower seems to carry its own character, delicate yet vibrant, waiting to be arranged into a charming posy.

In Ana’s project La Boutique de Fleurs she captures this sense of abundance and elegance with her needle. Detached petals shaped with wire, ribbons curling like soft stems, and beads glimmering at the heart of blossoms all combine to create a bouquet that feels freshly gathered from the market stalls.

What makes Ana’s bouquet so captivating is not just the flowers themselves, but the tiny, thoughtful touches she uses to bring them to life.What makes Ana’s bouquet so captivating is not just the flowers themselves, but the tiny, thoughtful touches she uses to bring them to life.

Look closely at the daisies and you’ll find golden yellow French knots nestled at their centres, catching the light like pollen dusted by the morning sun.

The beads, too, are chosen with exquisite care - their colours perfectly matched to the shaded threads so they glimmer softly, never overwhelming the petals but enhancing their delicate form.

These details are Ana’s signature: clever techniques that elevate her embroidery from beautiful to breathtaking. These details are Ana’s signature: clever techniques that elevate her embroidery from beautiful to breathtaking.

With each bloom, she balances dimension and restraint, ensuring the flowers feel as natural as those gathered from the market, yet carry a touch of artistry that can only be achieved with needle and thread.

As our visit draws to a close, Ana hands her bouquet of hydrangea and daisies to the florist, who wraps it in paper with a flourish and ties it neatly with a ribbon. She places the bundle in our hands, and we smile at the thought of carrying a little piece of Paris home.

But then Ana reveals her secret: these flowers will never wilt. She has stitched them for us, each petal and bead a careful act of preservation, so that we can hold on to this moment forever.

That is the magic of La Boutique de Fleurs. It captures the joy of a flower market morning in Paris and distils it into a bouquet that remains always in bloom.

Through needle and thread, Ana gives us more than flowers - she offers us a memory, one that will brighten our stitching and our hearts long after we’ve left the cobblestoned streets behind.

You too can create your own special posy to keep forever – Ready-to-Stitch kits for La Boutique de Fleurs (The Flower Shop) are now available using the link below.