[insert 10-year-old boy for reference]

What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thinking of Maya Angelou...

I spent an hour harvesting strawberries this morning, and thought all about Maya Angelou. It is fascinating to me (have I told you how I love sociology?) how much the world has changed and stayed the same in her lifetime - what a gift she is.

I have pounds of art paper - I don't know how else to quantify it. I have endless amounts of art paper. I'm thinking about putting together paper packs to sell - would you be interested?

 I'm working on some Velociraptor Journals - finally! So fun...

And my newest creation is bookmarks, made from the bindings of the books I upcycle. I back them with art- and vintage- paper and viola! They are so fun - I've sold them at one show so far, and they have flown from my table.

Happy Wednesday! xo

Small Shop Update

New journals will be in my shop today! My favorite by far is the "Let's Cook It Right" book with the burn mark in the corner. These make lovely graduation gifts! xo

Strawberries!

Just a little photo from my garden this morning. Happy Wednesday!

Ok then....May

I began this little journal page when I realized a dear member of our extended family would be starting hospice. I finished it today and as I was painting, I realized that we have an abundance of people in our life who will have their first Mother's Day without their moms. A crazy abundance. Perhaps this is our new normal as we approach our 50s? I don't know.

We also have had lots of babies born. The circle of life - it really is a beautiful, sacred truth.

My siblings and I will have our 24th Mother's Day this Sunday without our mom. Of course everyone's grief experience is different, but mine has been that this sadness of yearning for my mom has never really gone away...it has just moved over to make room for joy. Lots and lots of joy.

So if this is your first year without your mom, I would like to assure you that you will survive, to encourage you to be gentle with yourself, and to challenge you to say just a simple word of thanks this weekend, and daily actually. I promise you, it may take a while, but life will continue to be very very sweet.

Sending out lots of love, Corinne