FRAME-WORTHY CARDS FOR SPRING

I stumbled upon these delightful block-printed cards yesterday and I'm so excited to share them.  Designs are carved and printed by Vermont-based artist Katharine Watson.  I've been working with a lot of florals lately in the studio (plus I love cards + stationary) so perhaps that explains my strong attraction toward them.  Not to mention, I cannot wait for spring!  There's nothing like getting a card in the mail, especially one that's frameable art.  Grab them from Katherine's etsy shop, either individually or in sets of 6.

Images via Katherine Watson's Etsy Shop

summer is the best

I'm still trying to get over the fact that September has arrived & warm weather is beginning to make its exit.  I've had a fantastic summer - clearly, since I've checked out from blogging for the past month.  My days have been spent with friends and family, my dog and my plants, full of dining al fresco, exploring new cities, and experimenting in the studio.  I can't wait to share the highlights of my summer months . . .

Image taken by myself while enjoying an adult beverage or two at Silk City's outdoor patio. 

~ Bonnie

garden veggie pattern goodness

I have gardening on the brain bigtime, as I'm spending most of my summer mornings outside in our community garden plot.  Sweating, harvesting, slapping at mosquitoes, weeding, and laboring in my outdoor grocery store of fresh produce.  I love my garden.

And I love these garden-inspired patterns. 

1/ Teagan White 2/ Elizabeth Olwen 3/ Caroline Bourles 4/ Julie Lee

~ Bonnie

friday = craspedia + caitlin keegan

Recently, I've fallen in love with Craspedia, you know, the yellow drumstick flowers that are finding their way into gorgeous bouquets these days (also known as Drumstick or Billy Button).  This Friday, I combine them with a pattern, entitled Apple Pomegranate Fig, by Brooklyn designer Caitlin Keegan.  I love the repetiton of circular shapes, both in the print & of the flowers.  I'm reminded mostly of lollipops now, which I could certainly use at the moment.

Happy Weekending,

~ Bonnie

friday = tulips + labores modernas

It's been a long springtime here in Philadelphia this year, and we awoke this morning to another bout of rain.
All I can think right now is, grow Garden, grow.

This week, I'm combining springtime tulips with this geometric yet dreamy pattern by Labores Modernas.
Based out of Madrid, Spain this pattern & design maker creates gorgeous abstract prints, which you can also
find on their Pinterest page.

Happy Weekending,
Bonnie

Pattern via Labores Modernas

friday = poppies + eloise renouf

I love Fridays.  So when thinking about a Friday post series, I couldn't help but want to combine two of my other loves . . . flowers + patterns.

Today, I combine poppies with this playful, geometric pattern by artist Eloise Renouf from Nottingham, England.  I selected poppies, because I saw some this week that were so beautiful, I was convinced that they couldn't possibly be real.  I love the color combo of pink and tan in this edgy pattern, and somehow it fits my mood today perfectly. 

Happy Weekending,

Bonnie

gardening season: trip to Greensgrow Farms

On Friday, my husband and I took the afternoon off to take a trip to our local plant nursery, Greensgrow Farms.  Located in Fishtown, this place is truly a gardener's paradise.  We had heard that they were newly stocked with heirloom tomato plant starters, so we went to pick up some of our favorite varieties (Green Zebra, Better Boy, Mortage Lifters) before they were all gone.  Of course, our eyes couldn't help but to wonder past the tomatoes, and we picked up more goodies for our back deck.  And one of these days, I'm going to check out one of Greensgrow's workshops, like Unusual Container Gardening or Fermentation Basics. 

Oh Spring, how I love thee.

     

earth day reflections

With Earth Day right around the corner (it's this Monday, the 22nd!), I can't help but think about my connection to the earth.  It's funny how after 9 years now of living in large cities - first New York City, now Philadelphia - I think about my consumption, my carbon footprint, my use of resources so much more now than I ever did growing up in rural Georgia.  Perhaps I'm just older & wiser, or perhaps I see the effect of the human footprint in a concentrated, in-your-face way.

Even though I try to bike as much as I can or grow my own veggies in the summertime, I know I can do more.  I know that the less I consume & the less I own, the simpler and happier my life is.  And I know the earth is happier, too.

So here's to another season of enjoying the riches of our environment with family and friends, with picnics, planting, consuming less, and spending more days outside.  (Like last weekend, along Kelly Drive in Philadelphia, where the above pictures where taken.)

gardening season: hudson valley seed library

The ground is beginning to warm and us gardeners are preparing for another fruitful season.  Whether you plant from seed or not, it's impossible to not be drawn to the Art Pack seeds packets by the Hudson Valley Seed Library.  Each year they partner with artists to design their heirloom seed packs (like the good old days before photography!).  I just love them.

  

They are available for purchase online, or can be found at Open House on 13th St. in Philly.  

 

a spring of new beginnings

The first post of a new blog is quite intimidating.  But I need a house for my inspiration, a document for my artistic process, and a forum for my daydreaming, so here we go.

1.  I am thirty years old.  A Virgo.  Born in Scotland, raised in Georgia, came to life in Brooklyn, and currently residing in Philadelphia.

2.  Speaking of Philly, I have been living here for almost 3 years.  The first year was spent pining over New York City, our home of 6 years.  The second year was spent discovering the benefits of not living in a city with 8.5 million other people (such as not having to share a closet with my husband, biking all over the city with ease, cheaper beer).  This past year, I have developed a full-blown crush on Philadelphia.  It's getting rather serious.

3.  I share my life with my husband of (gasp!) 8 years.  He is in his first year of med school.  And we live in with our pitbull, Wythe - our best Brooklyn souvenir - along the Northern Liberties / S. Kensington border.  

4.  I work as a teaching artist for The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and I learn so much from my students about the creative process.

5.  I make things.  I like to use my hands to print things, sew things, bind things, draw things, and cook things.  You can see some of those things here.

6.  And in order to cook things, I must first grow things.  I spend many hours from early spring to late fall working in our community garden.  It makes me feel close to the earth, and most of all, close to my grandfather.

In a nutshell, that's it.  Perfunctory intro blog post . . . check.

        
~ Bonnie