Category: Spring

Thinking Spring

Spring 2015

photo credit :: Lilacs :: Robin :: Baker Creek :: Planting :: Eggs :: Kite flying :: Sugaring :: Starting Seeds

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Hello March . . .

MarchMarch is has got to be my least favorite month of the year.  It is a time of restless cabin fever, with temperatures changing from bitter cold to warm, to cold again.  This is the time of year when I feel the most restless.  I become discontent.  I dream of traveling.  I start to set lofty goals and then rearranging the furniture, as my frustration builds.  My skin starts to crawl and I want to climb the walls.   I am so ready to feel warmth as the  sun touches my skin.  Thankfully there are a few things to look forward to as March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb.

Some things I’m looking forward to . . .

March 1: my 34th birthday

March 11: the 10th birthday for my favorite girl

March 20: the first day of SPRING!

photo credits: sprinkle bakes, le luxe detre soi, jay harrison, bird chick, jon fowler, live lighter, & make peace arts

Color Scouting: Late Spring

flower field color scheme

Yesterday, the lighting outside was fantastic. The weather couldn’t quite make up it’s mind as to if it wanted to rain or not.  This indecision created a crisp bright sky with ominous shadows.

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What is color scouting?

Wisteria & Lilacs

wisteria-lilac ouside collage

Dream catchers are something new for me that I am really enjoying making. What I love most about them, is the combination of textures, fibers, and nature.  I love the process of gathering together all the bits and pieces of what I find inspiring at the moment, and using them to create a piece of art.  I made this 6″ dream catcher over the weekend.  It is inspired by the month of May, the scent of lilacs in the air, and blooming wisteria.

Wisteria-lilac

If you are interested, it is available in my shop!

Beach Stones, Driftwood, Blue Skies

weaving color wayIn my studio recently, I have found myself being drawn to raw, natural fibers that are sturdy, strong, and coarse.  My hands have been reaching for hemp, silk, and fibrous handmade papers.  Inspiration has been drawing from my beach stones, drift wood, and bright blue skies.

It’s April, my children are on Spring Break, and the weather has been warming.

In response to these early stirrings of spring, we packed up for the day and drove to my most favorite place on this Earth – the Lake!

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dunesI love coming to this place anytime of year. The summer, of coarse, is fantastic with the soft, sandy beaches, and cool water.  The cooler weather of fall makes hiking the sand dunes MUCH more enjoyable, and in the winter, there are amazing ice flows. Springtime, however, has come to surprise me.  In recent years, I have found myself spending more and more time here in the spring.  The beaches are,for the most part, empty of human beings. There is sand EVERYWHERE.  Every year, I am amazed at the amount of sand that the winter winds bring.  If you come early enough in the year, the park is almost unrecognizable and half buried in sand. It is this phenomenon that I can’t get enough of, because along with the sand comes all sorts of treasures. I could spend days combing the beach for colorful stones, driftwood, beach glass, and bones.

beach rocksAs I walk the shores, my mind just swims with ideas of things to make. “This could be an awesome necklace”, “These should be tied into a dream catcher”, “This is so straight, it could be added to a weaving”.  I collected quite a pile of colorful goodies before my kids were done.

day camp

Their hungry bellies were grumbling, and  they informed me, the beach just isn’t fun if you can not go swimming. So after 4 hrs of beach combing, we went to go hike the dunes.  I guess 4 hrs is long enough.  Although, I am secretly plotting another trip someday soon while these guys are in school. shhh!   4 hrs is not really enough for this momma.