Find your place at Spring Bird
A new upcycled Jean Jacket for Fall! This one features some of my favorite animals, who have been calling to me. Swan is powerful disguised as elegant. Snake is soft and regenerative. The flower opens up to possibility. If you are interested in making this …
Alice Neel is my favorite portrait artist. I think about her work each time I paint a face – mine or someone else’s. This self portrait is . . . finished . . . I think. It’s certainly no Alice Neel. I guess it’s an …
During these last weeks, life has manifested many, many bowls of cherries! Most days, you can find Pat and I harvesting from three cornelian cherry trees that seem to have exploded this year with their sweet-sour fruit. Cornelian cherries are popular in Turkey, Iran, Eastern …
The Land Conservancy’s “Women’s Learning Circle” gathered at Wanda Farm (Harvard, IL) this past Friday! Joe took us for a hayride to visit their pasture-raised pigs, cows, and chickens. Beyond learning about rotational grazing, Joe spoke passionately about caring for animals in ways that not …
Okay, I REALLY can’t stop painting walls and furniture. The other day, I made over this unique stepping stool that currently functions as a bedroom plant stand. It used to be white, but when I swapped my bedroom rugs, I realized that it needed to …
I had to post this picture of Marbles, because it embodies the essence of Summer. For me, the internal productivity pusher struggles to embrace the lethargic, sun worshiper of my truer spirit. Our cats, Marbles and Ninja are such good reminders to just soak up …
I love Denim – shirts and jackets in particular. They are almost a uniform for me. This shirt was my Mom’s, and I had been using it as a shirt-smock to do my dyeing in. After wearing it recently, it began to call to me …
This weekend I made some pamphlet books to be used as sketchbooks, journals, or secret code books. Who knows? It’s up to the user to fill the pages with whatever secrets they choose to commit to the blank page. I’m a huge fan of blank …
This has been a year of nourishment for me — in particular bodily nourishment. Today’s oracle card from Alana Fairchild’s “Earth Warriors” read: “Give yourself permission to be nourished. This includes your body and also providing your heart, your mind, your soul with what they …
This morning, I saw my breathfor the first time — I want to be altar I want to be altered — Will this exhale be the exchange of breath for air that invitesthe change I breathe
When propagating oak trees, the very best is to plant an acorn in the fall – directly in the ground and allow it to grow. Unfortunately, over winter, your planted acorn may be feasted on by rodents, and the acorns planted by birds and squirrels …
Listen to the Latest Episode of Woolgathering Podcast: Beatriz Chapters 22 and 23 In this episode, Merula and Beatriz find where the witches have been hiding! At last! Can you believe it?
Propagating Succulents! Another trial run in plant propagation. This time I wanted to attempt propagating this particular succulent. (I don’t know its name.) In the past I have propagated jade plants and aloes, but I had yet to try snipping a leaf from a succulent. …
Walnut Dyeing! It’s been a couple years since I boiled walnuts for fun, but the green orbs were calling to me this year. About three weeks ago, I collected 15 lbs of fallen walnuts. This was easy to do because we have plenty of black …
Happy Labor Day! Today, I am grateful to all of the people who grow our food. Farming is intense and laborious work – especially if you are practicing regenerative farming techniques. Farmers farm because of their deep connections to soil, environment, plants, and animals. I’m …