For the love of peonies

My recent roll of film is heavy with peony shots. Seriously, this is only part of them.

Lately:
> We saw Jane Eyre and I loved it. I also like this Living In segment on Design Sponge.

> Foods and drinks we've been making : crepes with our garden strawberries, strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies (you get the idea); salads and more salads; black bean and millet burgers (an experiment that was yum!); kale chips; and inspired by Amy's post, I made infused water with chocolate mint and also with lemon balm. I much prefer the mint, next will try spearmint.

> Have you made sunprints? I did a couple sunprints using garden plants.

> I just listed a few wood block & letterpress notebooks in my shop!

haiku necklace

On a whim last night I began making a beaded necklace. I call it a haiku necklace, because I based the bead patterns on the numbers five and seven, and it has three strands. I rather like how it turned out. When my sister and I were growing up we used to bead like crazy, making bracelets, necklaces and rings from tiny seed beads and clay beads that Mom had. Somewhere I still have a box stashed of these creations but currently can't find it. Making this necklace brought it all back for me.
Technical details: The longest strand is about 21 inches, since I like to wear shorter length necklaces. I used silver plated nylon and size 11/0 glass beads, delica, and straight bugle beads, and closed the strands with crimp beads and a barrel clasp. I'm glad I had all these supplies on hand so I could follow my creative whim. The next thing I want to make requires purchasing some supplies, so I hope I don't let that deter me...

Thankful

In order to begin my summer of working in the studio in proper fashion, I'm doing a bi-annual studio cleanse. And I find myself thinking how thankful I am for my husband, in all the work he does around here, and for the maple counter top he just built for cabinets in my studio. Yay, another work surface! And I'm thankful for Susan Grace, (a client of my husband, he and his company are currently building her jaw-dropping studio) who gave me a box full of watercolor paint and supplies. She's an amazing artist, and a generous and kind person. I may never have to buy watercolor again. Thank you Susan!

> my tend garden post for the week

> I really like the pattern work in the wallpaper of Banquet Atelier & Workshop.


I hope you have a good long weekend!

Hi

Hi there. I took a little trip to visit with some pretty great ladies and now I'm back, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. While I was away my husband made the counter top for some cabinets in my studio and I'm so excited to rearrange things a bit in here to prepare for work this summer. Before I left I made some wood block printed notebooks and really like them. Hope to have some more ready soon.
Hooray for summer!