Spring is different here.
Over the weekend, we went to the Washington Park Arboretum. (It’s hard to believe we have only been here for 7 weeks, and we’ve already been to two zoos and two gardens. Can you tell we’re looking for something that reminds us of home?)
We saw some familiar faces — camellias, cherry blossoms, and daffodils, but they looked different against their backdrop of moss and damp earth. The forests here have a monotonous sort of beauty. Everything is carpeted in green and guarded by seemingly endless trees.
I was telling a woman I met how pretty I thought Seattle was. ”Your trees have moss on them!” I exclaimed. The lady looked at me like I was insane. I think this is akin to saying, “Your dirt has grass on it” in most places. However, I have never seen so much moss. Not like this.
I am realizing that living in Southern California for so many years, I never really understood the concept of Spring. Spring, to me, was just the weather “trying to be Summer and failing at it.” I never thought of it as a destination all its own. Outside, it looked nice, the weather was warm, but still not quite warm enough. I wore the same combination of t-shirts and hoodies year round. There was no dramatic shift — only the same sun, the same ocean breeze. The temperatures rose slowly, so gradually you could miss them if you weren’t looking. And usually, I wasn’t.
Now, I see why people like Spring, look forward to it, wish for it, need it. These new blossoms stand out here — bright spots in those stretches of green. The fact that it is still so cold and sometimes raining outside only makes them feel more miraculous. How did these flowers get here?
I feel hopeful that I will be able to find lots of inspiration in this new place.
P.S. – THANK YOU to everyone who has left me such sweet notes about Storybook Lane. Don’t forget the free fabric give away ends on Sunday, April 1st at midnight!
I have been missing my blog lately. Between my fabric flower class and a trip to Quilt Market last week, things have been really hectic.
Behind the scenes, I have been working on some new content and fresh ideas for this space — and it was good to give things a little extra time to gel. I’ll be rolling out some new columns and branching out a bit more. The weather is summery here today, and it feels good to get moving again!
{Introducing a new weekly column, Medicine for Mondays: If only we could bottle beauty into an elixir and drink our fill each week. This is my weekly reminder to try to see the world with fresh eyes. A photograph I’ve taken of a beautiful spot. Five things I’m thankful for right this very minute. And 1 question to help jump start my Monday.}
1) Pockets of sunshine this weekend
2) Being home and waking up in my own bed after a trip to Portland
3) My husband hearing the scratching noises in the office and agreeing that a squirrel is living in the wall*
4) Naps
5) Really good, chunky erasers
*Some days I am just really thankful to learn that I am not crazy.
I’ve had several reminders lately that there is more to me than just work. And yet, too often, I measure my week only by my list of accomplished tasks.
I am really trying to focus on being more well-rounded (thinking about my physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being). Self-care is a choice that I have to make about how I spend my time. (Anyone else struggle with that?)
This week, I’m making an effort to try a new form of exercise — yoga. And yes, it made me smile.
What about you?
Filed under Inspiration, Photography.
Tagged with flowers, gratitude, journal prompts, Medicine for Mondays.
On Saturday, we had a beautiful, clear night and an hour of free time before dinner. We bundled up and headed out to see the Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.
I am totally in love with the way this area pulls out all the stops for the holidays. There are gingerbread displays and holiday light shows everywhere you turn. And, while I have never met a Christmas light I did not like, this was really something special.
Decorated entirely by volunteers, the gardens were decked out with all sorts of flowers, plants, and butterflies. There was an underwater area with fish, coral, and jellyfish — and a few mushrooms and dragons for good measure.
Of course, I had to study how they were doing all this so I could point it out to my husband and make sure he understood what was expected of him next year. (Everyone should have a one-year grace period between moving in and putting up their Christmas lights, right?)
I leaned in as close to the displays as I could and took a few notes. (Not literally. It was too dark. But you better believe that next time I’m bringing a miner’s helmet and clipboard!)
The displays were made using a really clever method of zip-tying the lights together to form the shapes. Then, they swapped out individual bulbs to create multicolored effects all on the same strand — like the petals on a flower were pink while the stamen was yellow. There were red bulbs for the cherry tomatoes right next to the green bulbs for the leaves of the tomato plant.
Genius! I’m so used to seeing lights wrapped around large wooden forms that this way of creating designs was really inspiring to me. We’ll see what I can accomplish on a much smaller scale.
What about you? Have you been able to take in any holiday sights? Is there something you look forward to seeing every year (a department store window, a street full of lights, a church lit with candles) that takes your breath away?
Filed under Gardens & Special Places, Holidays, Photography.
Tagged with Bellevue Botanical Gardens, Christmas lights, Holidays, Seattle area.
By Kelly
December 11, 2012
Yesterday, in between errands, I stopped by the Bellevue Botanical Gardens and snapped a few photos of the leaves. It was just before dusk, and there were only a few people left on the trails. Everything was so peaceful and calm with just a slight nip in the air. I made it home just in time to miss the rain.
This weekend, we are trying to find a way to squeeze in a little break for ourselves in between ripping off baseboards and re-papering cupboards. Next week, we’ll say good-bye to the old carpet, and we’ll be just about ready to move.
Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know about a fun contest that Andover Fabrics is hosting.
Entry details: All you have to do is sew up something using some Andover fabrics (maybe some Storybook Lane?) and e-mail it to yourandover@andoverfabrics.com. Each week, they will be judging entries based on their creativity, quality of craft, aesthetic strength, and use of Andover fabrics. If you use Storybook Lane in your projects, I’d love to see you add it to the Storybook Lane flickr pool, too. This village from Hidamma makes me smile!
The grand prize winner will win $500, but there are also weekly give-aways as well. Check out the Andover Fabrics’ Facebook page for details. Contest rules are here.
Wishing you a lovely weekend. See you here next week for a big announcement!
Filed under Fabric & Sewing, Photography.
Tagged with Andover contest, Fall leaves.
By Kelly
October 19, 2012
Earlier this year, we splurged on a second DSLR. Secretly, I think my husband went along with it just so I would not get make-up on his camera anymore. (For more on photography including what lenses we use, see here.)
We both really enjoy photography and for a long time have just done the camera shuffle — passing the camera back and forth and trying to piece together later who took what. Except that his photos are better than mine, and I found myself deferring more and more to him and not getting much time to practice. Anyway, I have no excuses now. Plus the new camera does video and I have big plans for that.
One of the first places we ventured to was the Museum of Glass. This is a great spot for a photo date. The building and outdoor installations are gorgeous, and you can take advantage of those overcast, gray skies which make everything else pop.
We weren’t the only ones who thought so. There was a wedding party taking photos the day we visited. (Note to brides: Giving all your groomsmen matching umbrellas is really cute. Just make sure you’re cool with the inevitable umbrella jousting matches!)
I was not really familiar with Dale Chihuly before we moved here even though I had seen his work and not realized it. (Perhaps you too have marveled at his glass flower sculptures in the Bellagio hotel in Vegas?) Here at the Museum, one of the highlights was the Bridge of Glass. (That photo up top is the view directly over your head as you walk underneath the installation.)
I also really enjoyed these still-life pieces (below) by Paul Stankard. Each orb featured tiny bees, roots, and even little people.
It’s hard to believe this is only one of a handful of spots to see glass art in this area. We still plan to make the trek here.
[Outside photos courtesy of my husband. We may have 2 cameras, but we still share lenses!]
Filed under Gardens & Special Places, Photography, Travels Near & Far.
Tagged with Chihuly, Museum of Glass, Photography, Tacoma.
Spring is different here.
Over the weekend, we went to the Washington Park Arboretum. (It’s hard to believe we have only been here for 7 weeks, and we’ve already been to two zoos and two gardens. Can you tell we’re looking for something that reminds us of home?)
We saw some familiar faces — camellias, cherry blossoms, and daffodils, but they looked different against their backdrop of moss and damp earth. The forests here have a monotonous sort of beauty. Everything is carpeted in green and guarded by seemingly endless trees.
I was telling a woman I met how pretty I thought Seattle was. ”Your trees have moss on them!” I exclaimed. The lady looked at me like I was insane. I think this is akin to saying, “Your dirt has grass on it” in most places. However, I have never seen so much moss. Not like this.
I am realizing that living in Southern California for so many years, I never really understood the concept of Spring. Spring, to me, was just the weather “trying to be Summer and failing at it.” I never thought of it as a destination all its own. Outside, it looked nice, the weather was warm, but still not quite warm enough. I wore the same combination of t-shirts and hoodies year round. There was no dramatic shift — only the same sun, the same ocean breeze. The temperatures rose slowly, so gradually you could miss them if you weren’t looking. And usually, I wasn’t.
Now, I see why people like Spring, look forward to it, wish for it, need it. These new blossoms stand out here — bright spots in those stretches of green. The fact that it is still so cold and sometimes raining outside only makes them feel more miraculous. How did these flowers get here?
I feel hopeful that I will be able to find lots of inspiration in this new place.
P.S. – THANK YOU to everyone who has left me such sweet notes about Storybook Lane. Don’t forget the free fabric give away ends on Sunday, April 1st at midnight!
Filed under Gardens & Special Places, Photography.
Tagged with seasons, spring, Washington Park Arboretum.
