"naturally beautiful" Archives

Clothes From the Garden

August 6, 2019

You grow the plants. Photograph them at high resolution with your Nikon of choice and design new creations in Photoshop. Apply those to a finish product and SELL said item. A tall order. Even though I’ve bought printing for marketing purposes, experimenting with printing to fabric was a whole other story. It would be exhausting to think about doing even part of the job, if I hadn’t fallen head over heels about the potential for creating beauty. The love of transferring nature to fabric has had its way with me relentlessly. Blogging about it is my confession. Pretty or handsome?
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Mothers and Spring

May 7, 2019

Spring flowers always offer something special. I never tire of looking for them, am thrilled to see them come up and yet, how quickly they pass! Raising children is much the same. You seize those special moments, even as they’re a prelude to another story you never fully expected. This has been my experience as a mother and it’s somewhat bittersweet. Here today, gone tomorrow. Mother’s Day can be an occasion for making time to be alone, holding out for quiet. For me, that’s often time spent in the garden. People who know me know I sometimes prefer plants to
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Obsession – The Inescapable Dimension of An Artist’s Life

March 12, 2019

Who isn’t obsessed with the promise of Spring/Summer right now? Can you just feel the sun and smell the garden in this scene from May 2018? I signed up for a show the end of April and spent lots of time this week readying art files for an order. Followed by updating the website to match. Too much time spent doing things not very fun. (And no, I haven’t started my taxes) The artist’s obsession drive for perfection overtook me as I finally made time to complete two designs, Caroline and I Feel Pretty. I’ve been selling both of them
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Life -A Catalyst for Creative Endeavors

February 5, 2019

For several weeks, family members have been watching over my older sister who’s been ill with Alzheimer’s for many years. She’s finally reaching her end of life. Hosting out of town family members has become a new reality for those of us nearby. And not entirely unpleasant. Whenever else would we make the time? I take solace in creative work. Quiet time engaged in physical activities like gardening, cooking or sewing can go a long way in achieving internal peace- rather then hitting hard issues head on. I chose the name “Caroline” In honor of Caroline Ferriday, the inspiring former
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Where Do Colors Come From?

January 12, 2019

Having worked in color all my life, I’ve never been intimidated by its use. Add to that an obsession with fairy tales and well, we’re off! I remember when a very successful decorator, on seeing my brightly colored pillows in NYC became vexed with me. “Too much color! Didn’t I know, color is intended for walls-as ART?” I admit it, I’m a little color crazed. But why does art have to be limited to walls? Overtime, I came to see a certain wisdom in her comments. Color, is challenging to integrate, and color carries with it, certain moods, which further
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And So We Go On

January 5, 2019

The Christmas tree is pretty dry but I refuse to take it down until after January 6- the Feast of the Epiphany. It’s celebrated by many as the day the three kings visited baby Jesus. Growing up in the Catholic tradition, and, thanks to my artist parents, we always kept the tree up at least till the 6th. Truthfully, if you can manage falling pine needles, the lights provide welcome respite from cold dark evenings. A pleasant ruse to keep the holiday magic going a little longer. I’ll take it. All good things continue on. Indoors and outdoors. What do
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Winter Blues

December 29, 2018

Everybody knows that winter is here and yet, in Connecticut, we’re not seeing too much snow on the ground. I’m not complaining- it’s just a reminder. Winter blues are on the runway, waiting until holiday excuses have melted away. Are you ready to face that time? I’m being proactive this year. Winter Blues, a new Paola scarf under construction, is my way of engaging intense color this time of year. It’s imbued with power to lift spirits as we head into the New Year. What are you doing? Color in Winter Many of us add red berries to evergreen for
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Lessons Learned in the Garden

July 21, 2018

There’s something new in every season. I discovered the yellow calla lily in a mix of mystery shoots that appeared after putting pots outside this Spring. It reminded me of the never ending mysteries that surface raising kids. Like Bridget. As hard as you try, you can’t know everything. Life is made of change. Related Images:
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The First Flower of Spring

April 11, 2015

Skunk cabbage, aka Symplocarpus foetidus, is sometimes called the first flower of Spring. It’s not surprising that its flowers never fully emerge from their protective hoods (spathes)- because we know how cold and damp it STILL is in New England. Skunk cabbage has always been something I’ve alternately ignored or feared- especially if it’s encroaching on my gardens. It smells awful (exactly like a skunk) and lives in muck. My friend and nutritionist Alison Birks describes its habitat well in her poem: Symplocarpus Flowers in Spring– “A fetid odor wafts over tangled root masses– over dead leafy thick mats– over
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Happy New Year

January 1, 2015

Hank Mobley, like many great musicians, had early childhood exposure to lots of music. His mother, grandmother and uncle played piano. His uncle played six other instruments and encouraged him to play sax. Related Images:
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