lately

this is what my days have been filled with lately, lots of walking, loving and watching the seasons change.

lately

walking/filling hinterland craft orders/Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts MFA acceptance letter/ intaglio wiping a woodblock/new card design with 18k gold detail for the Off-White Indie Wedding Show/new barn owl engraving/printing on the vandercook/fruit + ginger morning infusion/wonderful macaroons

this week

bedroom proof wall + new holga/new hanging vase design for Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis/pine photo love/chai tea/visiting old installations one year later/veneer + 18k gold assemblage/Judy Pfaff exhibition/woodblock printing/bike ride nest

lately

clouds/midwestern woodblock carving/walks/homemade herbal steam/new valentine in the shop/first snow of the season/strawberry weekend treat/breakfast/coffee prints on cherry sheet

film

bike rides + camping + monarch migrations + the golden midwest

Some days everything just looks so beautiful. I have a few more rolls of color film left then I'm going to dive back into my expired black and white stash.

harvesting herbs

Summer is coming to an end. Half of me is heartbroken and the other half can't wait for fall to be here with all of the wonderful things it brings (endless chai, falling leaves, brisk walks and snuggling in cardigans).

Things I loved about this summer: wildflowers, crazy bird sightings, walks in the woods, simple drawings, the farmer's market, acoustic guitar, and spending countless evenings on picnic blankets with someone really special.

This afternoon I harvested some of the herbs that my mom and I planted in our backyard - (clockwise from top) lemon balm, rosemary, mint, lavender and sage. I'm hoping to dry and enjoy them throughout the fall.

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.'' -The Great Gatsby

film

These are my favorite shots from the roll of film I got back today. Summer, I'm going to miss you.

camping

This afternoon I got back from a camping trip in Anderson, Indianapolis. It was a truly great weekend, exactly the kind of relaxed getaway I needed. I'm waiting on some film to be developed so I thought in the meantime I'd share some other moments I caught on my digital camera. Other favorites of the trip included peanut butter s'mores, black squirrels, and an amazing outdoor concert. More details to come!

a walk

I spent yesterday evening with the best company in one of my most favorite (and least visited) places. There was a break in the heat advisories so we thought we'd take advantage of the nice weather and spend some time out by the lake.

summer nights and drawing

I made this bouquet the other night for someone really special. I've been working on a little drawing inspired by vintage floral prints and the most perfect summer. I hope that there will be many more of these. 

lemon balm

Wednesday morning was one of the best mornings ever: pancakes plus a trip to the Farmer's Market all before 8am. We bought this lemon balm plant with the intention of making lemon balm mint tea! As I was transplanting it I spotted a tiny furry friend, can you find him?

Happy June

together

This weekend I had the privilege of watching two friends get married. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever shared with anyone. I thought that the entire day was distinctly them, heartfelt and down to earth. The ceremony was held at the Lincoln Memorial Garden & Nature Center in one of the stone circle gathering spaces that they have overlooking the lake.

Not only was this day a special marker in their lives, but I think that it served a reflective purpose for all who attended, reminding us of what's really important in life and to pause every once in a while to appreciate that beautiful things that surround us every day.

woods & fields

Summer is upon us and I am in love with it. So many people I've grown up with hate the midwest and can't wait to leave. I think that it is really beautiful; we're just immune to what makes it different. I love the heavy, still summers and watching things grow through the season. I love the space. I took these two shots on my Canon AE-1, which I just got back from the shop. I'm still getting used to using it again, but I think we'll be friends for a long time.

spring

Spring is finally here. We've had nothing but rain the past few weeks and I'm thankful for a break in the storms. Things are blooming all around and I'm trying to really take time and appreciate the season. All too often spring comes and goes in a week leaving us with a humid mess that is the midwestern summer.

Despite the enormous, flood-worthy amount of rain we've had, my chamomile lives! I was so excited to see sprouts. Even tornadoes couldn't stop my seedlings from peeping up. I'm so proud of it!

Also, there's a mommy robin sitting on some eggs in our front yard. Every time I walk past I get a glare to end all glares. But how good looking is that nest? What a pro robin. I hope I see some babies soon.

chamomile time

Yesterday afternoon I planted my chamomile! I was so proud of it last year I just had to give it another go. Hopefully I've planted it in time to harvest some blooms this year. I didn't get it planted until nearly the end of July last summer, so I'm hopeful.

Crochet Cactus

 

I recently stumbled across the most amazing scholarship ever! Along with a general application, you submit your latest knitted or crocheted project. I'm sure none of you are surprised at my project of choice. The plush prickly pear fits right in with all of my other little plants. Cross your fingers that the judges will love it as much as I do!

spring update

It's been pretty quiet in blogland as of lately. The past few weeks have been tumultuous, to say the least. Some new things in my life: I've decided to do art camp at the Springfield Art Association again this summer! I'm super pumped and already dreaming up new projects and creative ways to play tag, which seems all that kids are really interested in doing these days. The Southern Graphics Council International Conference is only two weeks away! I'm looking forward to major printmaking geekouts, some amazing exhibits, and seeing some friends I haven't seen in a while.

As you can see, I have a new obsession. Ever since I flipped through our pictures of San Diego and printed cactus cards, I've had these beauties on my mind! It's been pretty warm here lately, so I thought a trip to get some new spring friends, or 20, was in order. Deciding which to get was so hard! What can I say, I'm a lover, and all these little babies were crying out to me to be taken home. They now live in front of my bedroom window. We are happy together.

I also embroidered a new little travel pouch with the prickly pear cactus on the front. I'm starting to really like embroidery; it's soothing and a nice way to keep my hands busy and feel productive when I'm indulging in guilty television pleasures.

This weekend brings time at Paper Boat Studios, Indian food, a trip to Soulard Farmers Market and more plant/seed shopping.

Happy Weekend!

winter

morning - outside my house

still

This shot was left over from a few weeks ago when I was spending time in the woods sewing up the fallen tree. I really feel like it captures a feeling that the other shots and video somehow miss: the loneliness, the quiet, the still space. What a wonderful place to escape to.

It's Christmas Eve and it's snowing like crazy here! I'm tucked away back in Springfield, soaking up all of the holiday coziness and drinking absurd amounts of eggnog while I wait for a new chapter in my life to start. I don't really think that I've realized that I graduated yet...but I'm sure I'll start freaking out any day now.

help me to remember

I wrapped up the semester with a critique in Drawing for a site-specific project. I'm continuing to think about family history and this idea of passing a craft down from one generation to the next. The thread I used for this project is thread that my grandma gave me. She was the one who taught me how to sew by hand. While on a walk one warmer afternoon I stumbled upon this fallen tree and new that it would be the perfect vessel for these ideas. It seemed only natural to sew the tree up, mend it so it is preserved for just a little bit longer. I feel like this is kind of what I've been trying to do all semester by working with family history, memories and symbolism. If I can fully understand and explore them then they will be that much less forgotten.

Below is a video of the walk into the woods leading up to the tree. Since this project will be mostly experienced through photographs, I wanted to give people a better idea of the environment that it exists in. The video is just something I shot on my tiny digital camera and things get pretty shaky when you're tromping through the snow in boots, but it will give you a better idea of the context for the project.