Since I don’t dye fiber for shop updates anymore, I thought it would be nice to share what I painted for May’s Limited-Edition Fiber Club. Thank you again to everyone who grabbed a pre-order!

‘Nasturtiums’

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The tomatoes are looking extra-fancy these days. This first flush of fruit is always showy. I was a little nervous going into container gardening. Armed with some great books (I’ll link to all of them soon, I promise,) I felt like I could face the new adventure. So far, the plants are looking quite spectacular. I prune the indeterminate varieties, and admittedly, I also prune some of the non-flowering branches of the determinate varieties. (I do this only to assist in air-circulation, which improves plant health.) I also prune all branches below the first truss of fruit, and any branches that look old and unhealthy.

And it appears I’ve been watering well-enough. I was nervous about this. Too much water? Too little? I think I have it down for the time being. None of the fruits have cracked, and that’s a good sign.

It’s only May and many of the plants have grown over six feet tall. Our growing season lasts clear through the end of October. (The beginning of November is about the time the evenings start to cool off.) It’s exciting to think how long these vines may grow…

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Happy Mum’s Day!

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I have become a seed starter. We bought a handful of plants this year, but over 95% of our garden was started from seed. That makes me so proud. It’s satisfying in the same way that baking bread from scratch is satisfying. The alternative is buying a loaf from the market. Quite the difference. Of course, there will be plenty of moments (I hope) when I will come across some wonderful plant at the nursery, and bring it home. But I’ve vowed that the majority of what I plant I will start from seed. It’s a skill I intend to cultivate and improve during my lifetime. (I also intend to bake lots more bread…)

Some of the flower seeds I’ve started include morning glories and a wide variety of nasturtiums. These were my favorites this year. I’d also love to start some cosmos, and perhaps some poppies. Renee’s Garden has a fantastic selection of flower seeds. I could get lost in her online shop for days at a time. (And I have.) I also love that her seed packets have thorough planting instructions.

The morning glories are popping up beautifully. These will be transplanted into larger containers, and set at the base of one of our garden trellises. My goal is a big wall of leaves and flowers all summer long.

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I thought I’d share my progress with the ‘Chocolate Rainbow’ yarn project. Isn’t it dreamy? I love it so… Just a few more skeins to go!

There are 170 yards of candy-like swirls in this skein. It averages worsted weight.

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Today there was a bold and beautiful downpour. It lasted only a short while, but the cold lingered with the drifting clouds.

I spun a rainbow yarn. It was the perfect antidote to gray skies.

And the yarn reminded me of our garden. The red cups contain Morning Glory and nasturtium seeds; many of them have already sprouted. It seems I can’t get enough of flowers this year. I love a busy garden, don’t you?

The cucumbers are beginning to climb the trellis. It seems like only yesterday when we sowed the seeds…

So here we are at the beginning of May, balancing many different projects, keeping pace with life and her tendency to rush forward. I wish I could share more about our projects more quickly. But worthwhile things always take time. I can say that all these things make my heart sing. The fabric line itself fills me with joy enough to burst. And you know I will share all of it when the time is right. When our work is ready.

The other day I announced on Ravelry that I will no longer dye fiber for my shop. It was a tough decision, but one that had to be made. I’ve been hand-dyeing spinning fiber for years, and as much as I’ve loved it, my other work is taking most of my time. But thanks to a handful of lovely people, I decided it would suit my time and creativity to offer a limited monthly fiber club. This is for my best and dearest fans. I listed only ten pre-orders on May 1st, and they promptly sold out. Thank you. They are almost all dyed up and will ship by the end of the week. I hope you love them.

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There’s something about the early morning light…

The squash blossoms grow big and beautiful, like golden trumpets heralding the new day. I take my morning stroll through the garden, looking to find what’s new. And there is always something new. The garden grows in secret at night.

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Everything is growing so quickly.

I was sorting through photographs taken in late March. The garden was bare. Seedlings were just beginning to break through the surface of the soil. I am a Romantic. I treasure reveries and reminiscences. Part of the joy of living today is dreaming about tomorrow, and remembering yesterdays. So even a quaint kitchen garden gives me pause. (When your whole heart is in something, it aught to.)

I’ve changed a lot as a gardener since last summer. Last summer I worried over every little thing: chewed leaves, flea beetles, hornworms. I imagined all the outside threats to my precious plants, and worried. I don’t worry anymore. I think I learned, at no small cost, the value of pragmatism. Life taught me in the meantime, and I brought my new perspective to this year’s garden. I’m not insensitive – I believe in trying to help in any way I can. I believe in reading and studying and learning and improving the means. But I also know that there are bugs and worms and diseases and threats. And many of these will appear in spite of my best efforts. So why worry?

I’m just loving the process.

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Painting daisies on this blustery day.

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Here’s a glimpse of what I’ve been working on lately. I’m creating a series of illustrations for prints, cards, tags, etc. All of my favorite subjects – flowers, veggies, herbs… (And for the collector in you, original artwork will also be available.)

Since my background was in drawing and painting, illustration feels perfectly at home to me. My work in the garden has also inspired me with new subjects and themes. I hope you enjoy all the new things headed to the SC shop!

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