First Monthly Print
November’s Chrysanthemum
It’s hard to describe how many emotions one small project can hold. This monthly print series has been with me for a long time—a dream I carried around… for years. I’ve often felt too scared to begin, caught up in wondering if I was really ready for such a commitment, or ready to be seen. It’s a familiar story - the idea of putting myself out there, raw and real, was terrifying. I didn’t want to be judged, or maybe worse, overlooked completely.
But something about this chrysanthemum print feels like things are finally falling into place. Chrysanthemums are a flower with rich cultural meanings—symbols of strength and longevity, especially cherished in Chinese and Japanese traditions. They bloom late, long after other flowers have faded, and that resilience spoke to me. I think of it as a message to grow at my own pace, even if it’s slower than others. This project, for me, is both a confession and a rebellion. It’s a way of claiming my pace in a world that demands us to be faster, more efficient, always moving.
Creating this print was a hands-on process, I started by sketching the design digitally, breaking it into four layers for carving: a simple rectangle background, a block for the leaves and stem, a third one for the petals, and the most intricate for outlines and shadows. Each layer took a day or two to carve and test print, and aligning everything took a few more days of trial and error. I even worried at one point that I’d have to start over completely. But just before falling asleep one night, I had an idea how I can fix the alignment and it worked!
When it came to writing about this piece, I didn’t want it to be another thing copied from the internet. I wanted my own take on the chrysanthemum’s meaning. So I turned everything off, sat down with just pen and paper, and let myself write. I always thought of myself that I am a terrible writer, but this time words came to me easily:
“Chrysanthemums have held deep meaning across cultures for centuries, celebrated as symbols of longevity, loyalty, and devotion. As the flower of November, they bloom when others have faded, carrying messages of resilience and inner strength. Here, I offer my own take on the chrysanthemum: a reminder to honour your own pace, to embrace self-care, and to bloom in your own time. May this print serve as a gentle encouragement to nurture yourself with patience and trust that, like this beautiful flower, you too will blossom fully in your own season.”
Each piece of this print is part of that journey, each one hand-signed, numbered, never to be repeated—just 32 in total. If you’d like to bring one home, you can contact me directly about price and other details or buy them in Enschede at Het Gouden Randje. I plan to make a proper launch for next prints but with this one, you can just write me for the details and I can send the print to you via post.
P.S. If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, keep an eye out for a digital scan of this print and updates on future releases. I’ll only send one email a month, so no spam, just the good stuff.
Thank you for being here as I take this leap. This project has my heart, and I’m so happy to be sharing it with you.
