Midwest Graphic and Web Designer
I think spring always brings up the idea of growth and color, but really it takes awhile for nature to wake up from it’s slumber. I love crisp spring air, and when things to wake up all of the scents and colors are inspiring. My favorite is smell of lilacs.
Coming from the east, it was 17 miles on a long gravel hilly gravel road. Hard to admit, but we were the campers that reserved a spot, went back to change our spot, and then realized that the spot we reserved was the best. eek. The ranger was so nice and handled our craziness with a smile. Lovely wooded trail by the lake and a longer hike through the prairie. The RV campers were in a circle on an old race track. A couple of hours from where I live the idea of why I haven’t I explored more locally popped in my mind and the challenge began. Expansive, wide open setting in the middle of nowhere feel. I can say that as some would say I live in the middle of nowhere 🙂
It seemed like a challenge that was obtainable, especially during a pandemic as I love hiking and camping. North Dakota ranks #47 in terms of population (779,094) in the United States. That means no lines, open spaces and the only traffic issues are those created by passing large farming machinery on highways and road construction. Growing up I lived two miles from the North Dakota state line and had never really explored the state. A challenge I can easily accomplish, or so I thought! While I didn’t make it to all 13 parks in 2020 I am looking forward visiting the rest in 2021. It can be nice to stay, relax and enjoy the area instead of rushing to the next destination 🙂
I wander around everyday with my little pup. In the winter it includes a lot of time looking at the ground at is is VERY icy. One wrong step and you end up on your bottom. In several spots I thought the ground looked like little maps. Where the wind had blown the snow to reveal the icy layer and little lakes where cows had made imprints. The true journey is a mix of both worlds swinging from joy and wonder to uncertainty.
I am lucky to have handmade quilts from my mom to help keep warm from winter. With my mom’s help I just finished my first quilt. There is something really lovely about piecing everything together. Inspired by classic quilt pattern blocks I incorporated snapshots of ice, snow and textures I found on my walks with my dog. My goal is to update them seasonally to create a quilt for the year.
Everyday I take my dog Olive for a walk and recently started to take pictures of the clouds. A plus of living on the Plains are the wide open skies. When you take notice of the clouds, you realize how cool they are— wispy, fat and fluffy, gloomy. The colors are also amazing, bright oranges and purples at sunset, lush blue skies during the day. As a designer I love creating patterns and layering textures. I recently watched an episode of Bob Ross’s The Joy of Painting and have been picking out the happiest little cloud when I walk.
I grew up on a farm near a town with the population of 300 (limited cell phone service, pizza delivery not an option rural), left to go to college and then moved to a city of millions of people. I could always tell I was getting closer to where I grew up as you would meet fewer and fewer cars. The driver of the vehicles you would meet on the road wave to you. I always liked this. I classify as a “The Double Whammy” waver, I have no reason to vocally say hello, but I do. My mom does “The Nod”, I try to explain that when driving down a road no one can see your head nod 🙂
I planted a garden and decided fresh lettuce would be a wonderful addition! It ended up being a free bunny lettuce buffet. I thought it would be funny to brand my little lettuce patch. I tried a few natural deterrents to keep the local rabbits away, but a fence was needed so I decided to let them freely munch.
I created rubber stamps to incorporate into my design. There is an awesome hydroponic lettuce grower close by, so sorry rabbits, this was a one year only free buffet.
I started the spring by planting seeds that would grow into cut flowers. It has been a very long time since I planted something into the ground. Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos and a few perennials bloomed as food for the bees. As the growing season is ending and frost will be settling in, I made my last cut flower bouquet. Part of this project was to create and not overthink the process, easier said then done! I have never considered myself to be an illustrator so it was fun to play around and be inspired by nature.
These eyes rarely see a sunrise (I am not what one would call a morning person), but I bet they are just as lovely as the sunsetting. The skies right before dusk have been filled with orange, pink, blue and purple contrasted by lush green grass and trees. As it is flat on the plains with open views of the horizon, the sun and clouds like to show off what they can create. I have been playing around with flat colors and simple textures. In the country you can also hear the little crickets starting to chirp. I love it!