Lies Mertens & Achtvazen, a floral collaboration

To accompany the launch of Sunflower, a warm yellow named after the emblem of Kom op tegen Kanker, we invited florist Werner Blijleven of Achtvazen to compose a still life in flowers.

Achtvazen began as an ever growing personal collection of vases, gathered by Werner at flea markets across the Netherlands and France. Over time, these objects became a framework for Werner’s floral practice. “I was drawn to the shapes, the history, the way a vase can define the tone of an arrangement,” he says. Sharing these discoveries online led to a growing audience and eventually, a career in floristry.

For this collaboration, he worked with sunflowers, as in the name of the collection. “Sunflowers always take me back to summers in Italy: fields of them, all turning towards the light. In this old cast-iron vase, I wanted to balance their warmth with other flowers: white dahlias for calm, daisies for their simple charm, aquilegia for a touch of spice.
I usually work with what’s in season, but also what I feel like using in the moment. Together, they feel like a summer conversation between flowers.”

The vase, vintage cast iron, was found in Middelburg, Zeeland, in a small antique shop. “It caught my eye immediately. Heavy, solid, a good contrast to the glass and ceramic pieces I also love to collect.”