Spring is on the way!

Don't lose heart; spring is on the way! Wouldn't you just love to take a nap on these pink flower petals? I can almost smell the sweet fragrance and hear the songbirds.

Ironically, this peaceful scene is a stone's throw from Manhattan. I took this photo at the New York Botanical Garden last April.

As the Twig is Bent, So Grows the Tree

It looks like this tree is doing his happy dance amid his more serious companions. I like how the dusting of snow highlights the shape of this tree. This photo was taken in Connecticut. I see so much more when I look with my camera.

Playing in Winter

Do you see how the above photo was taken? I was in the passenger seat of my car and noticed that the horizon and the snowy ground in front of me matched up with the view in my rear-view mirror. The interrupted tree trunks are a clue that something is amiss!

Please don't skate on this pond. It looks inviting, but it would scratch the sunroof of my car. I never get tired of looking at tree branches.

Design Lesson from Nature

Look at this amazing tree in the Botanical Garden in Bermuda. Notice how the branches grow. They are neither identical nor symmetrical. I think quilts that are arranged "by eye" can have more charm and be more interesting than precise quilts. Precision is admirable, but not always preferable. So the next time you are struggling for precision, ask yourself if that might be the time to take a cue from nature and do a little improvisation.

Take a look at the recent post showing the tote bag with the slanted selvages at the top. That is a nice effect, I think.

Seeing ALL the Leaves on a Tree

Sometimes I like to look at the world through the lens of my camera. Then I see things I would otherwise miss. Like the shadows of these maple leaves on a tree trunk. This photo appeals to me. This practice of "really looking" feeds the creative process for me!