The Promise of Spring

For so many of us, Winter overstayed her welcome. I have friends in the northern parts of the US, and they're still living in a snow globe world. As I look outside and see the beginning signs of Spring, I can't help but wonder when the trees will be blooming. They seem so far from showing their pink and white blossoms as they stand at the ready with their tiny crimson buds.

I decided to look at last year's blossom photos to remind me exactly when I can expect to see the blooms again. The first photo below was taken April 28, 2013. I am giddy at the thought that in roughly 10 days from now, the trees will be full with green leaves and delicate white flowers! Ten. More. Days.  I can wait. I can believe in the promise of Spring. For many celebrating Passover or Easter, this is truly a season of promises... of hope... of faith... of renewal. If you're celebrating this season, I wish for you a meaningful holiday.

one of our bradford pear trees: April 28, 2013

our garden: May 2, 2013

Happy Spring, friends!
xo
-Patti

Thoughts of the Garden

I am nearly giddy with thoughts of my garden coming back to life! Within a few weeks there will be buds, blooms, birds and bugs: All the wonderful things that turn our back yard into one of my favorite places. Thoughts of my garden have inspired my latest treasury on Etsy. Please click here to visit this treasury and all the talented shop owners. While you're there, please stop by my Etsy shop as well!

Cheers to Spring!
-Patti

Wordless Wednesday September 5, 2012

nature's palette

A Walk in the Garden: A Father's Day Memory

My father died of cancer 16 years ago this July. The last gift I gave my father was a "Farmer Bear", made by The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, for Father's Day. A few short weeks later I got it back after my father's funeral. My father was a farmer and gardener. I wrote about him on my other blog, The Whimsical Fig.

Walks in my own garden bring sweet memories of my father. I think he would like my garden, though I know he'd certainly laugh at the fact that I have hired someone to plant and care for it. (Sorry, daddy... your little girl still has a black thumb.)

Walking through my garden is a way for me to feel connected to my father. The bumble bees, butterflies and grasshoppers remind me of the walks he and I use to take through his garden when I was a little girl. So I thought I'd share a few photos with you this Father's Day weekend... photos of my garden inspired by my father and his love of gardening.

Leave a comment below telling me some of your fond memories of your special moments with your daddy? I'd love to read them!

Sweet Gift Idea...

One of the many terrific things about my job is hearing from clients the fun events they'll be using my invitations, cards and stickers for. This past week I received a large request for personalized square stickers with 3 of my garden designs on them. They all were to say the same thing: For Lily, with love... So I double checked with the client to make sure they didn't mean to type: From Lily, with love...  since my stickers are often used as gift tags. Sure enough the first request was correct and the customer also offered an explanation. The stickers were going out with baby shower invitations. The party goers were asked to write their name on the sticker and attach it to the inside of a new child's book for the special arrival of Lily. This was to be the start of Lily's library! I just thought it was such a sweet idea for a baby shower. Certainly could be used for any age birthday party where the birthday person loves books! But it could also be for those who love music, wine, collectables of one kind or another. As a gift giver, I love knowing my gift is just what the receiver will like, don't you?

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite gifts to give!  

Inspiration - Seahorses at the Book Fair

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is "What inspires you?"  The truth is I get a lot of inspiration from my garden, and nature in general, because of the amazing color combinations, lines, angles and textures.  Nature isn't my only source of inspiration of course.  Life happens and brings with it experiences from travel or the simple day to day activities.  Recently a simple visit to a local library book fair provided me with my latest inspiration!  I took my twelve-year-old son to have a look (since he's our resident bookworm) and he discovered a lovely old book that is a collection of stories translated into Japanese.  He wanted the book not for the stories mind you, but because he was interested in the Japanese writing inside as well as the illustrated pictures.  When he showed me the book I was immediately inspired by the illustrations on the cover.

 

I love the whimsical grasses, shells and seahorses.  The drawings remind me of a recent trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston where I was able to get a few photos of their seahorses as they wrapped their "tails" around the wispy grasses.  It just so happens that seahorses are one of my favorite sea creatures and perhaps the reason I was so attracted to the cover of the old book.

As a result of the trip to the Aquarium and the discovery of the old book, I have created two new birth announcements featuring a seahorse among some sea grass.  They are printed on the most deliciously smooth, heavy weight vellum card stock and their envelopes feature a euro point flap.  Both will be available on my website at the end of August when I launch my new birth announcement line!