The Monthly Bloom

July

"A garden is never so good as it will be next year." - Thomas Cooper

I like this approach to gardening as my mind is filled with ideas and to-do's for fall in our garden - transplant all the irises, again, transplant the hostas that are getting charred in the July sun, plant more perennials, plant some fruit trees, maybe another crepe myrtle and some dogwoods, redo my containers with cool season flowers, maybe even plant some cool season veggies... it's just too hot to get out and do much right now. 

It is something though to see all of our persistent flowers smiling in the sweltering heat and putting up quite a fight with the obstinate and very sturdy weeds growing next to them. I like their attitude in the midst of difficult circumstances. And you know what, they'll be back and even stronger and heartier next year. I will be too, when the next project comes along. Ah, the lessons learned observing in a garden, and taking on new projects. Hoping to finish one up this week. I know, I keep saying that don't I.

peppering up some chalkboards

My work this summer has given me a little hiatus from working with scissors and glue. I miss paper! But, I've enjoyed returning to one of the first mediums I used as an artist, chalk pastels. They're so beautiful. I love the bright colors, of course, and using my now very calloused fingers to blend and smooth. It's the first time I've used these pastels on a chalkboard as opposed to paper, so there's much less tooth and lots more black coming through some of the more translucent colors. I'm learning to embrace the black and let it work as part of the designs, and learning to let go of some of my perfectionist tendencies- I think chalk is maybe the most impermanent medium out there. My deadline is to wrap these up before my belly starts smudging the chalkboard in front of me:)

I'll try to find some of the work I did in high school with chalk pastels to post for you soon. For now, here's some shots from my summer work thus far:

on my third set of pastels now:

wish I could collect the confetti chalk dust like I can my paper scraps:

this one is called "Ode to Dad":

getting ready to experiment with a fixative:

me at work- taken by an admirer I didn't know was there. I've had to get used to people watching me work as well this summer:

I'll post the next four soon! All of these chalkboards will be hanging in the dinning room at Aubrey's Restaurant in Cleveland, TN. Stop by if you happen to be driving through sometime. It's pretty much half way between Knoxville and Chattanooga. 

girls and boys; and a goat

Every summer my best friends and I from high school make a point to get together for a girls weekend. This year our backdrop was Brooklyn, with the gracious long time city dweller, Amanda. Here are some highlights from the weekend:

we laughed 

(and cried a little too) :

we ate 

(ice cream, Caribbean take out, brunch in Brooklyn, mimosas, for some) :

we walked

(and sat, and talked, around Central Park, Chelsea, the Met, the High Line) :

we talked about having babies, and boys

(too much) :

Oh, how about my mom's amazing vintage maternity top!! She saved a few other items that are now hanging in my closet. I love the funky bright colors of this one. By the way, did you know I'm pregnant?!!!

we just hung out

(really, I love being with these girls, whatever the background!) :

Not to be left out, Laurence has started his own man weekend of sorts whilst I'm away for some much needed girl time. Usually this involves camping and fishing, eating canned meat, not showering and the like. This year, someone decided a goat roast should be added to the manly endeavors of the weekend. I wonder how much sitting and talking the boys did? Do you think they talked about babies? They seemed to stay pretty busy by the looks of these photos:

scheming for the 4th of July goat roasting festivities:

a little garlic, herbs, and lemon for the rub for the goat:

the goat:

 I got back in time for the celebration, but didn't mind at all that I missed all the prep of the whole raw animal. I love the expressions and body language off all the girls in this photo. Meanwhile, the boys are surrounding the goat with cameras and intrigue while the carving commences:

Hope you all are enjoying some cookouts and travel this summer too!

Thanks to Kathryn and Brian for the great photos!

Wildflower Fever

                                 

I pass this patch of wildflowers on my way to the studio several times a week. It's right by one of the nicest intersections in Knoxville, in my opinion. Last summer all the beautiful queen anne's lace was bulldozed before I got out there with my camera. Here's some of what I found this summer- a bold thistle, with fuchsia and hot pink highlights. It's edgy and delicate all at once. It seems to be a mix between my painted paper bull and musk thistles. I love when people ask me if I make these flowers up... I'm not that good ;) Hope to get back to the paint and scissors soon! I have lots of wildflower ideas eager to bloom.