It is a cold, snowy, blustery day here today. The birds are huddling around the feeders and I see snowmobilers scooting across the trail down in back.

Before I know it the family and I will be packing up the trailer and heading to Philadelphia for the Flower Show. Can’t wait. The colors, the creativity, the happy thoughts of spring and the smell of fresh dirt and mulch. From the PHS website “Holland: Flowering the World will showcase the extraordinary plants, creativity and talent of this region’s top horticulturists and designers along with award winning landscape and floral designers from the Netherlands.

The Flower Show is a top destination and “must experience” horticultural event, attracting 250,000 visitors annually to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, a showcase of excellence that dates back to 1829.

From towering windmills, wooden shoes and delectable cheeses, to the whimsical bicycles, canals and vibrant tulip fields of the iconic Dutch landscape, the 2017 Flower Show will share the diverse stories of horticulture, innovative eco-design, and modern urban greening and sustainability efforts of the Netherlands.”

Count me in. My design for this year’s theme features the Hedges & Hares team happily pedaling alongside a canal with an Amsterdam-ish hedge of row houses in the background. A sweet narrative available on a variety of items to take along as souvenirs/gifts from the show. The new design will be available online as well. For more information on attending the show click here. I’ll be set up in the Marketplace- Booth Z-1002.  Hope to see you there!

Sometimes it takes me a while to fineness a design. I will come across the sketch from time to time and ponder it while moving on to something else. Then suddenly it MUST take shape, come to life or find its voice. I love it when that happens. This bunny holding the 19th Hole topiary flag has been peeking out at me for years. So glad that he’s here now.

I personally am not a golfer unless you consider my Goofy Golf credentials (otherwise known as Putt-Putt golf).  I am killer at putting through the moving windmill… just saying.

Back to the design… originally he was a intended for a birthday greeting card (which is still in the works) but since then I have decided to offer him on other products. Wouldn’t a nice set of marble coasters or notecards with The 19th Hole design make a sweet gift for your favorite golfing friend? I thought so too.

For ordering information click HERE.

These little guys are so cute… this design was inspired by a friend over on Instagram…. @FiveFabulousFrenchies! Aren’t they precious!? Their mom gave me permission to use them as my models for the new design. Wasn’t that generous?! I was having trouble picking what color to show this sweet, clownish little breed.  After seeing these charming dogs and their fabulous poses it became clear! What is better than a plethora of pretty, posing Frenchies??  Not a thing.

This design is available on notecards, linens, prints, marble coasters and pillows. For ordering information click here.

Oil Landscape on canvas paper

I’m looking forward to exhibiting at the M&T Clothesline Festival in Rochester, New York again this year! It is one of my favorite shows!

I hope to bring some of the sketches and small oils shown here to the show. There will be framing in my future. : ) It’s so nice to be up in the studio… finally! Finishing up some custom work and going on to new things. Yay. Stay tuned and hope to see you at the festival Sept. 6th & 7th!

Graphite Drawings

Oil on Canvas Paper

Watercolor on Paper

Some of you may know that I really enjoy ceramics- making, touching, throwing. I think its an “earth/soil” kind of thing, you know… toiling, digging, planting, making mud-pies, composting. Seriously! There is something about that connection to the earth that is joyous, playful, fulfilling and meditative.

Where was I? Oh yes, during my play with clay these ceramic pendants have come to the surface. I experimented with making them last fall and loved giving them as Christmas presents!

I will have a limited number of these little darlings to sell at the Flower Show along with the neck cuffs. I’m thrilled with the way they came out! Some of the designs are flowers made from pressed almonds and pressed rosemary. Others are burlap textures with plants incorporated into the design. I even have a couple of little topiaries featured to tie it all together. Hope you likey. They make a beautiful, artful statement!

What a theme to work with! Where do you start… where does it end? ARTiculture. The fusion of ART and HORTICULTURE. A fun concept to work with- but rather challenging to encompass.

My design went through many revisions. I wanted it to be fun, colorful, current, yet historical and relevant to Philadelphia and the Flower Show. There are numerous Art and Garden references. Can you find them? I’ll post the nods at the bottom.

I love the little guy in the gallery of the garden who is viewing the flower series. A Surrealist exhibit is currently being featured at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and it seemed only fitting to add a melting clock to this fantasy garden full of sculpture, art and topiary. I had hoped to sneak a de Chirico train in the distance but there had to be some restraint… believe it or not!

Did you find the art references? Here is the list:

• Salvador Dali’s melting clock
• Alexander Calder’s kinetic mobile
• Andy Warhol’s famous flower prints
• The Venus De Milo
• A rabbit posing as the Rodin’s “The Thinker”
• another rabbit posing as Degas’ “Little Dancer”

There are also historical garden references…

• the stepped hedge from Great Dixter in Sussex, England
• the bird topiaries from Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA

Every year we stay with friends in Kennett Square during set-up for the show. They live a half of a mile down the street from Longwood Gardens. For years I have driven by the gate on my way to work in Philly. This summer I finally had the opportunity to go! It was amazing. The topiary garden was more than I could stand! The conservatory, views, orchids- were completely overwhelming. I really couldn’t take it all in. A second visit is in order. : )

Come to the Philadelphia Flower Show! It is a blast and a welcome relief to the winter. I’ll be there in booth Z-1002. Stop in and say hi! For more information click here.

There have been some fun pieces coming out of the kiln at Clayscapes for me! Exciting. This little darling makes my heart go all a flutter.

The new hand thrown pots for the Philadelphia Flower Show are coming out nicely. Each one will be planted with an Angel Vine or Rosemary Standard.

And… I’m excited to possibly be bringing some of my ceramic pendants with me to the show for purchase. (Fingers crossed that they come out of the kiln okay and in time!) There will be a limited number of them with various designs and colors available with the neck cuffs. Live rosemary and boxwood cuttings were used to create the designs as well as burlap textures. I wanted to incorporate the plants and textures used throughout my work to tie it all together. Not sure about pricing as of yet. Please contact me directly if you are interested… I don’t expect to have them for long. : )

A charming new design for this year, the Partridge in a Pear Tree Topiary is now available as a boxed set of 10 Holiday Cards with contrasting Poppy envelopes ($18). Printed in the US on acid-free, recycled cardstock, the cards are shown with envelopes inserted. Order now while in stock!

This little guy has been hanging around the studio for awhile. I’m so happy that he’s ready to start sending out those birthday greetings. The card reads: Happy Birthday   inside:  to a real work of art.   Hope your day is a masterpiece!

To order the “Work of Art” design or other charming topiary themed birthday cards click here.

Onward and upward. I came up with this little design while sketching a couple of months ago. I love the optimism, innocence and solitude that it expresses. I hope you like it too. It will soon be available in blank notecards, linen guest towels, lavender sachets and signed prints.