July Instagram Round-up

Since it's the end of the month (yikes!), I thought I'd post a few favorites from my Instagram feed...

 The one above was taken in a Chattanooga park while traveling with John on one of his Delta trips. As I stood here, I thought, "Ahhh..."  For as often as I doubt, fret, and worry about whatever, this sidewalk note felt so encouraging.  Yeah, I'm on the path.  It'll all work out.

Last week I visited my brother and his wife in Florida. Not only did I finally get to spend a day hanging out with the best sister-in-law ever, but John was able to join me for some time at the beach.

Finished my summer prairie-girl dress. It's the "Amelia" from Green Bee Patterns, with fabric by Frou-Frou.  I even lined it and made a keyhole button closure for the back. I love it.

First tomatoes! These are Red Robins (about an inch across) from my favorite gardening guru, Gayla Trail of You Grow Girl. Two plants have taken over the entire plot, omg. I will have extras... let me know if you need some!!

Ferns and my birdbath in the front courtyard...

The Hyatt Hotel lobby in downtown Indianapolis, on another Delta overnight with John...

My pajamas as seen through the bottom of a water glass...

Ooooo sampling snacks at Pistacia Vera in German Village!

An orchid in a hotel lobby (the light was so nice)...

Came across this in someone's studio. When you need a vase, make do with what's available in the recycling bin.

These chairs were sitting on the main green at Columbus College of Art and Design. I loved the crazy Christmas look when I walked by. And the patch of worn-out grass in the middle where all the feet go.

August, here we come!

March Instagram Roundup

Sometimes the random iPhone photos I post on Instagram don't make it into a proper blog post, so I thought I'd share a few in a roundup.  Here goes...

Sherman exploring the tub. (Don't you just wanna yank on that tail??)

Got a first taste of spring early in the month while tagging along with John on a trip to Newport News. I love it when the trees turn white and the air smells blossomy-sweet.

Got another little fix while pit-stopping at A Proper Garden in Powell on my way back from an appointment.

Last year I bought a bunch of this 60's print linen in the clearance section of JoAnne's (score!) and decided to use some of it to make some freelance-at-home loungewear.  I found this great crochet trim at Sew to Speak.  I think it really adds a nice finishing touch to my cropped pants! 

I signed up for a dress fitting class at Sew to Speak and I got lucky: I'm the only student!  I have instructor Gail Kelley all to myself!  Hopefully I'll be able to show you my finished dress next week. (thanks for the photo, Sew to Speak!)

It's the 20th anniversary of Phoenix Rising Printmaking Coop, and I attended their annual board meeting/party earlier this month.  The flowers in the windowsill caught my eye! Columbus is sooo lucky to have Phoenix, and I can't wait: I signed up for a class this summer that will teach me how to print my own books on the Vandercook letterpress (squeeeee!)

Another adventure with John, this time tagging along on his overnight in Syracuse NY. It was snowing like crazy, which I loved.  We spent most of the day holed up in this cafe that had great tea and AMAZINGly delicious sandwiches. Hopefully there is a next time, because we want to explore the Museum of Intrigue.

One of my 48 house projects (I am a third of the way through this 2018 goal!!) involved finding a spot for my old friends.  I didn't want them to spend the rest of their lives in boxes.  They now hang out on a shelf in my studio where we can say hello every day.

When I was in the hospital recovering from my appendectomy, I made many laps around the halls on my floor. This sign was tacked to a bulletin board and I thought it was the perfect way to illustrate the difference.  I'd never really thought about it before. I guess the trouble starts if the tall kid feels cheated for not getting any boxes.

Spring inside! The tomatoes are doing well.

My little old girl.  She'll be 18 this fall.

I cannot resist the pansies when they first show up at the garden centers! 

I realize there are a lot of plant photos in this post, but I think I'm finally ready for spring, and I'm so glad it's on its way. Even all the rain hasn't been bothering me... I know sunny days and short sleeves are around the corner. Happy Friday, everyone!

Instagram Round-up: Tucson

A few photo friends and I decided to meet in Tucson a couple weeks ago to talk shop, pick each other's brains, share new work, meet up with our photo mentor, and attend photographer Masao Yamamoto's lecture and exhibition opening at the Etherton Gallery. (And also do whatever else we felt like doing.) We created our own conference, and are already thinking about next year's plans to meet up again (all photo friends are invited!)  It was truly an inspiring week. Here is my short collection of Instagram images from the trip:

Our Lady of the Pinecones.  This little backyard shrine was tucked into an alcove at our Airbnb. She wound up meaning a lot to me, coming to represent the guardian of all the new ideas and plans for my art projects that surfaced during this trip. I don't have to worry about a thing, because Our Lady's got my back. 

This little guy was the first thing I noticed when I walked into the living room of our Airbnb.  He is the CUTEST.  

Backyard greenery.  I loved this.  It took us forever to figure out that the building behind this planter was a garage.  We thought it was the host's house because it looked too pretty to be a garage, so we were extra quiet and didn't walk around the yard.  The house manual kept mentioning a garage though, and finally we went looking for it, only to discover that it was staring right at us the entire time.  Lol!

Swan's house.  Four years ago I took a photograph of this tree.  I thought I should take one this time too.  I loved spending the morning on Swan's back porch, soaking up all I learned during my photo consult and waiting for Elizabeth to finish hers.  (While eating delicious, fresh-out-of-the-oven vanilla poppyseed pound cake.) (And helping Catherine un-stick a cholla from her finger.  Those things are crazy!)

Prickly Pear cactus, photographed on the drive up to Phoenix.  We chose to go the long way that wasn't a highway, so that we could stop if we saw something interesting.  There wasn't all that much time in between leaving Tucson sprawl and entering Phoenix sprawl.  But oh well.

We visited the Phoenix Art Museum, and got through it in a bit of a hurry as we were going to meet another friend of mine for lunch.  Even in a hurry, though, there is always something that makes you stop and really look.  I loved this sculpture by Tanoue Shinya. It reminds me of waves on a deserted island that's the texture of maple tree helicopter seeds.

I'm always drawn to big installation pieces, even if I don't understand what they're necessarily about. Things hanging from the ceiling, something that takes up an entire room, maybe video and sound and three-dimensional objects all combined into an experience.  This one was very straightforward and so beautiful: Mass (Colder Darker Matter) by Cornelia Parker. These were the charred remains of a church that was struck by lightning.  It even looks like it's in the middle of exploding. Mass. Science and religion in the same word.

The Lisa Sette Gallery.  After lunch in Phoenix, we popped in to see what exhibits were up and chat with Lisa a bit.  Of course, what do I photograph... ?  the doorway on the way out.

Patio chairs and table at the Airbnb. This was my favorite place to sit.  Sunshine-y but shady, and big enough for us all to share our projects, drink tea (or Woodford, depending on when you stop by), and cheer each other on to do all the good work we want to do this year.

Kitt Peak, looking out from my favorite cliff.  I hemmed and hawed about whether to drive all the way out there or not, but after taking Elizabeth to the airport I just couldn't NOT turn west instead of north.  I hope it's in the cards this year to go back and stay for more than a couple hours.

Thank you, Tucson.  You never fail to deliver just the right mix of art, outdoors, great company, and a kick in the pants to get my work done!