past collections
forest
Merriam-Webster defines " to strike gold" as finding, doing, or producing something that brings you a lot of money or success. However, to me, it means finding or doing something that brings true happiness, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. To build a life that you can be proud of.
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame.
Isn't it wonderful how the woods transform with a lovely pink haze in the spring?
Encaustic. 6x6 with solid wood floater frame.
We have a charming family of cardinals living in our backyard, and they're truly my role models! Just like us, cardinals are monogamous and usually mate for life. It's so sweet to see how both parents share the responsibilities of feeding and caring for their little ones. The female does most of the nest-building while the male gathers and delivers the materials. Once the chicks hatch, both parents stick together to help them learn to feed themselves.
Many people, including me, believe that spotting a cardinal is a special sign that our loved ones who have passed are with us in spirit. They see the bright red bird as a messenger from someone dear. It is a reassuring thought that the cardinal connects the great beyond with those of us still here on Earth!
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame.
Did you know that the color green, especially as seen in a lush forest, reflects a practical and down-to-earth personality? People with this kind of vibe are great at staying calm during tough times and are known for their loyalty and faithfulness in relationships. They really value meaningful connections and are always there for their loved ones. Those who resonate with Earth Green energy appreciate genuine interactions that celebrate individuality and create a warm, understanding environment. It’s all about building trust and deepening those bonds!
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame.
Just the word 'Spring' makes me feel jittery. The days start getting longer, the air starts getting softer. Springtime often tends to awaken new excitement and optimism about what the future holds. Warmer days, cookouts with friends, summer.......
Except when it doesn't. Sometimes, Spring causes anxiety. Maybe/Probably I haven't lived up to the the 'new year, new me' resolutions of January. Sometimes, the onset of longer days makes me just plain tired. Frequently, my seasonal allergies get the best of me and make me feel like the 'tissue girl'. Maybe the pressure of everyone being happy about springtime just gets on my nerves.
Whatever it is, spring is a time of transition for everyone and everything. Remember to be gentle with yourself.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
In 2008, I was fortunate enough to spend a few months living in Vermont. To immerse myself in the outdoorsy lifestyle, I spent much of my free time hiking local trails with my trusty sidekick, Hobie, a yellow lab-husky mix. I felt confident after reading the reviews for the hike up Mount Hunger, which described it as "semi-challenging" and featuring "easy, pleasurable rock scrambling." While those descriptions were somewhat understated, it was indeed a solid hike with stunning views of Mt. Mansfield, Camel's Hump, much of the Green Mountains, and, on clear days, even the Presidential Range. Given its height, there aren't many mountains as enjoyable to climb, with such excellent vistas as those from Mount Hunger. And, after a strenuous climb up, we ended up sliding down the mountain on our backsides pretty much the whole way!
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame.
According to tree spirit wisdom, the Beech tree encourages us to own our power as people of integrity, truth, and wisdom. Thomas Jefferson once wrote in 1817, “Knowledge is power, knowledge is safety, and knowledge is happiness.” Everything we’ve learned and experienced comes together and turns into wisdom. This wisdom feels like a deep truth in our hearts. Real power brings peace into our lives, homes, communities, and the world around us. Right now, it’s all about using our power wisely and spreading love.
For me, Beech Avenue is special. It's where I fell in love with my husband, started our life together, brought home our first child, and built friendships and family.
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame.
Did you know that white bark on trees is a biological adaptation that protects against sun damage? Darker trees will collect heat faster when illuminated by the sun, while lighter trees will reflect the sunlight with their white bark.
The white oak is one of those trees. It clearly doesn't get its name its from leaves, which range in color from orange to burgandy in the fall, but from its bark, which appears white between thick ridges. In 1941, my home state of Maryland designated the white oak as our state tree. I was lucky enough to visit one of our local tree celbrities when I was a child, the famous Wye Oak.
The majestic Wye Oak was long recognized as the nation's oldest oak tree, having begun its life around 1540. Over its lifetime, it witnessed dramatic changes. Native Americans lived and hunted in the area around the tree, and over time, nearby trails developed into roads that helped populate Maryland's Eastern Shore. However, it wasn't until the early 1900s that the tree became famous for its size and tourists (like my family) began to visit. In 1940, the Wye Oak was named the largest white oak in the country by the American Forests Association, a title which it held every year for its life.
Unfortunately, the Wye Oak was not meant to last forever, and a severe thunderstorm on June 6, 2002 caused the big tree to collapse. At that time, the tree measured 96 feet tall with an average crown spread of 119 feet. It was 31 feet and 8 inches in circumference, and its trunk (or bole) weighed over 61,000 pounds.
Now, one of its offspring grows in its place. Truly a story of the circle of life.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
Did you know that Vermont actually has six seasons? You've got the typical four; Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. But Vermont also has mud season and stick season.
Mud Season occurs between Winter and Spring, when the winter snow all melts and the unpaved roads, dirt paths, and hiking trails become a muddy mess from melting snow and spring rains.
Stick season is the period between fall & winter when the leaves have left the trees but the snow has yet to come. The sky and clouds take on a gray, foreboding color. The sun tries to shine through but only manages a weak, white light. It's a warning that snow is on the way. There is something magical about the land during this time of transition.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6
What is my favorite color? Which paint color do I need to replace most often? It’s indigo, a hue that symbolizes both mystery and spirituality. Indigo is the color of the sky just before it turns dark, the shade of denim, batik blue, and the unfathomable depths of the ocean. Indigo is truly the color of magic.
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame.
As a teenager, I remember feeling a bit lost. Growing up as a girl was/is a tough task. There were so many pressures on how to dress, how to act, what career paths to take, who to date and what activities to participate in. It was a lot, and I was petrified to make a wrong decision.
Now, in my 40s, I remember the Robert Frost poem 'The Road Not Taken.' My classmates and I had to memorize and recite this poem in the sixth grade (thank you, Mrs. Sutton). I have come to realize that each of the paths that I have taken (and there have been some bumpy ones) have helped me to figure out who I am, what I want and where I want to be. And that it is okay to enjoy the journey.
'I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.' -- Robert Frost
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6
your life is your life
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you.
~Charles Bukowski
Encaustic Wax on Birch Board, 6 x 6, with solid wood floater frame
Mud Season has a reputation in Vermont. Leaves begin to peek out of branches as snow starts melting. The green-up begins. Spring is on its way.
However mud season also means a mess. Frozen ground melts from the surface down. Ice in the soil turns to water, but it cannot move past the still-frozen ground below it. A thick layer of mud pools, and it lingers until the water can percolate down into the groundwater or flow into rivers.
Last spring, my friends in Vermont told me that that the mud was of "biblical proportions".
I'll pass.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.