The Week in Flowers: First Week in August

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It was earlier this year when I started watching videos on cut flower gardening. I admit to dreams of fantasy where I was selling my cut flowers at a road side stand. Beautiful arrangements wrapped in brown paper for customers to bring home and enjoy.

There is just something about cut flowers that make a space feel happier. I always smile when I walk by the vases in my home. Random repurposed glassware that holds wildflower type arrangements of cut pretties from the garden.

Recently the idea of sharing the weekly arrangements and afew snippets from around the garden came to me and I thought a post, consisting mainly of photos rather than words might just brighten up your day too. I do hope you enjoy.

 

Book Club for August 2022

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How has your summer been? For me, the garden is in bloom, the kids have found some wonderful activities that they are really enjoying and I have already passed my last year’s read list.

When I was young I read all summer long. It was just my mom and I and she worked so summers for me were trips to the library each Friday, coming home with a tower of books that I would read all week long and then returning next Friday to do the same. I would buy the books in my favorite series: The Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley Twins, then Sweet Valley High, anything by Christopher Pike (I still go back and re-read one of my favorite books by him-Sati) who was probably my all time favorite author.

Occasionally I would sell some of my books-the least favorite ones-to the used book store in town so I could buy another brand new book-or a bunch of used books depending on the selection. The books I sold back would almost never be from any of my series books as the natural born collector in me couldn’t bare it.

On average I read a book a day in the summer and still read a lot when the dreaded school year returned. Once the excitement of new school supplies wore off and the reminder that I was once again spending the bulk of my time focusing on things that had little to no interest in the school year would drag on. Reading, visiting worlds of imagination and creating ones for myself were always my favorite creations. I almost never read the books assigned in school-dark depressing books that I could not comprehend and always made me sad were ignored-usually with an eye roll or two.

Still I read voraciously until I found work, driving and college. I still read but not as much as when I could easily fill my days with books.

Having children I found myself reading hardly at all-unless you counted board books. It’s been the last few years where I have really made an effort to bring back reading on a daily basis.

Of course I read loads all day but for me, reading an actual book is an activity all to itself. I listen to audiobooks-usually spiritually based ones before bed. Books that have a meditative quality and align me with Source, with peace. I have listened to audio books when working on my art as well and while I am counting these on my book list they feel like something completely different than reading. Even reading on my kindle has a different feel to it and I tend to read different types of books that way. Usually my cozy mystery books-quick reads that are usually a long series of books with fun characters and unusual circumstances fill my digital library.

The books I hold in my hands though? Those are the magical books. Those are the ones that transport me to worlds, make me smile and leave me feeling inspired and uplifted. Those are still my favorite books. Some of my favorite things are when an audio book or a digital book gets added to my physical library because it made me that happy. That always feels like I’ve been given a special gift.

As I am growing as an artist and writer I thought it would be fun to make The Book Club Series here on the blog a weekly share. Some weeks I may not make much progress but at the very least I’m sure I would have one or two new book additions on my TBR list 🙂

The last post I shared dedicated to Book Club was in March. I had a large stack of books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read or finished. If I am honest, I secretly believed I would finish them all in a month making way for new ones.

I didn’t, but thankfully I still added new books anyway.

The following books are ones I purchased with my own money or borrowed from the library. The links provided are affiliate links for Bookshop.org a site that supports local bookstores. If you use the links provided it does not cost you any more money but I earn a small commission. If no link is provided it’s simply because it wasn’t availble.

As a quick update-here’s the list and where I am at with each book:

The Bhagavad Gita: I haven’t started this one yet. I feel I want to finish A Course in Miracles before delving into this work.

A Course in Miracles: I haven’t read much in the book but I was listening to it on audio for a while. I started it from the beginning on the audio and would listen a bit each night before going to sleep. I don’t feel this is a book you just read and are done. It feels like something that I will be forever reading and I am really alright with that.

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist: I finished this book and really enjoyed it.

Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali: Another book I am enjoying but haven’t made much progress with.

The Dance by Oriaha Mountain Dreamer: This was a good book as well but I just lost interest at some point. I am sure I will finish it but for now it’s on the sideline

Lessons in Truth by Emilie Cady: Another wonderful book-I even purchased a used copy of her complete works-but I haven’t made much more progress in this as well. I am thinking it might be nice to bring these books to the studio to read a bit before recording my daily energetic attunements or beginning my creative work.

Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter: Another book that I am enjoying but haven’t been reading. I am wondering if writing this post will bring me back to some of these books that I am so close to finishing.

Little Stories of Your Life by Laura Pashby:
I finished this book and it is really beautiful and inspirational and has made me really appreciate the art of blogging

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard:
I haven’t started this one and I think it’s because I thought I had finished it on audio! Does that ever happen to you? Turns out I finished another book on writing and haven’t started this one. Ah the problems of readers…

Cool Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler
I haven’t finished this one but imagine I will be picking it up towards the end of August or September to prepare my fall sowing of flowers. This year the garden has been so full of flowers that I have pretty much identified my have-to-grows for next year. And I’m sure I’ll find a few dozen more. Flowers are like books-you can never have too many around you.

The Darling Dahlias & The Silver Money Bush by Susan Wittig Albert
This book I finished and also read the next one in the series and have picked up 2 more from the library-I’ll share those below

Alright so that’s an update on all the books I had from last year. I think for this go around I’ll only share the books I am actively reading and the ones I have finished recently so here goes:

Finished:

Amethyst Witch by Barbra Annino: I am really enjoying this series about a family of witches. It’s fun, light and your cozy mystery small towns and quirky residents. This is one I have been reading on my Kindle Paperwhite and have been really enjoying.

Opal Fire by Barbra Annino: Another book in the series and again-an enjoyable cozy mystery read.

Bloodstone by Barbra Annino: Well, you get the idea-I like the series 🙂 I also love the Kindle for this since I can download the next book immediately if I want to keep reading.

The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover by Susan Wittig Albert: A historical fiction series taking place in the small town of Darling in the 1930’s. It’s about a local gardening club and all the mysteries that turn up in their quiet hometown. One of my favorites.

The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert: This is a Christmas book so if it bothers you reading about Christmas in summer you may want to add it to your winter TBR list. I enjoyed it very much, as I do all her stories. And this was one I purchased on Thrift Books. Sometimes if I can’t find her books at my local library I will buy them second hand.

The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East Volume 1:  This book was one I listened to each night before bed. It felt so peaceful and wonderful and I really enjoyed it. I was disappointed that I couldn’t find the other volumes to listen to as well but I am quite sure I will be purchasing physical copies anyway. For me, these feel like A Course in Miracles-I will be reading and re-reading these throughout my lifetime.

Currently on Loan from the Library:

The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily by Susan Wittig Albert: Next in the series and available at my local library I stopped in to pick it up with the kids-which led to lots more books-isn’t it wonderful? In fact my 2 oldest each picked out a chapter book and I offered them each a fish (which they have both been asking for) if they finished the books by the time they were due back. My oldest finished hers in 2 days and my son is working on reading the same book my oldest borrowed since he didn’t find his all that interesting. Looks like I will be getting fish this weekend 🙂 I am thinking of getting one for the studio-what do you think? My daughter advised me that I had to finish this book before I got a fish though.

The Darling Dahlias and the Red Hot Poker by Susan Wittig Albert: Since I was requesting books I had requested the next one in the series as well.

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer:  I saw this in the kids section and it really looked interesting. I’m not familiar with the book but anything that has magical lands and stories I adore. Plus it’s a series so that’s always a plus for me.

Stuart Little by E.B. White: I mean I saw it and how could I not? We may even have this book at home but when I saw it there on the shelf I just had to check it out and read it again.

TumTum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall by Emily Bearn: I may have been in the children’s section a bit too long. Another new to me book it just looked like a story I would enjoy-similar to The Heartwood Hotel series we used to read with my oldest (I highly recommend).

Well, that is a full Book Club for this week don’t you think? I won’t be writing as much going forward (I think) since I will be updating this weekly. Please do share what you are reading below or books you want to read or how you like to read. I love hearing.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Welcome to My New Studio!

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I am so excited to be saying that I have finally rented my own studio space! This has been a dream of mine for years and last Friday-it finally came true!

I am going to share a bit of the before and then the journey but if you are interested at the end of the post I also have a vlog where I chat and give you a tour of the space.

The past few years I have really struggled to find balance. Taking care of my family and taking care of myself wasn’t something I was doing very well. I think sometimes we can go through periods in life where it feels like all we are doing is hanging on and that’s where I was. This year however I have been finding my way back to myself. My spirituality, my creativity have both played parts and I am just now starting to feel like myself again.

Of course you don’t need studio space to be creative. You don’t need anything to be creative. For me however it was about claiming my creativity. It was finally taking all the dreams, goals, plans I had in my head and giving them form. I have literally made space for my art, my writing, my spiritual work and in doing so I have also made the commitment of time to these parts of myself.

Parts that, in all honesty, were really being neglected for a while.

So the journey has been going on for years with me looking a bit here and a bit there. Thinking about building a small studio on our property or maybe converting an old barn into some creative space. I looked for places to rent that were really out of my price range and I also told myself that I had space in the house to use so I didn’t need anything else.

It would go round and round that way until I changed. (You can read more about that on my other blog if you are interested in things metaphysical and spiritual 🙂

Two weeks ago I called a place not far from me to inquire on available spaces. Turned out they had one small space that was within my price range. They weren’t able to show it that day but I was told to give a call back Monday to set things up-which I did. Tuesday had me strolling around a new space-in my dream building and knowing instantly that all the planning, dreaming and wishing had fallen into place.

Thursday I had a lease, Friday I had keys and Saturday I had paint splattered clothes and a heart full of gratitude and excitement.

The space is small-just 8’x16’ or somewhere around there but it’s exactly what I need. It’s clean, quiet and I’m able to make my heart, write my stories and blog posts, create my videos-and with any luck-start sharing more of work (and my dreams) with you. I could not be happier!

I have lots of plans for someone who doesn’t plan so perhaps I should call them ideas. I have given them a home to live in (a bullet-kinda-journal-thing) and I plan on tending them regularly.

So that is what I have been up to. I hope you like the photos and the video and I do plan on sharing a lot more videos and chatting with you here so if there is anything you would like to see or questions you have please let me know!

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Summer Solitude, Art & Flowers

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I am sitting with freshly painting nails writing to you. It’s late evening-a moment shy of 11pm-and the house is silent.

My family has gone on a little adventure with extended family and I am left home with the furry kids and a silent house.
This is my second time at home alone for several days in just 2 months. Before May I think it was a good 6 or 7 years since I had the house to myself and then it had only been for the day.

I have lots to share of my current creative projects along with some book club updates but I will save that for another day.

Over the 4th of July long weekend I picked some rhubarb from the garden and along with some purchased strawberries made my husband’s favorite rhubarb and strawberry crumble. I halved the sugar recommended and I believe even the butter and it was still absolutely delicious. My oldest was expressing an interest in photography so I asked her to snap a photo for the blog. She agreed as long as I gave her credit 🙂 I am also sharing a few of my favorite photos she took around the garden.

Photo Credit Abbie

I have a fun story about these Day Lillies. When I was young there was a spot in down we used to drive by and these flowers grew in a large number there and I just loved them. I didn’t know their name but anytime I saw them I just knew I wanted to have them someday.

They appeared in my yard-and I don’t remember how-and now they grow everywhere! I have since learned they are known as “Ditch Lillies” and it would seem that I have attracted them in an abundance! Still they are beautiful.

Photo Credit Abbie

And another favorite are the Elderberries. Last year was my first year growing them and they did so well. I made Elderberry syrup from them and am looking forward to doing the same this year. They have taken over their little corner of the garden so they will be pruned back in the fall otherwise I fear they may take over 🙂 They are so pretty (and useful!)

Photo Credit Abbie

I also cut some flowers to bring indoors. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the summer-to cut flowers and place them in repurposed glass jars all over the house. The snapdragons were purchased (although I did start some from seed) and while their flowers are beautiful the purchased ones are short and stocky and didn’t last in the vases at all.

The rest of the garden is starting to come into flower though and I was able to cut my first sunflower of the year today (you can see it in the photo below). This particular sunflower is one of 2 volunteers that somehow grew in the pathway of my flower garden. If I am honest they are in less than an idea spot but I just couldn’t bring myself to uproot them so they will enjoy the summer just where they are.

I also decided to really embrace decorating my home. I have been letting that go a bit and it’s something I love. I decided to start with seasonal decor for my mantel and have 2 more items I am waiting on but they all looked so pretty with the sunflower, bachelor buttons, zinnia and celosia.

And then of course there is art making. It began with a nice clean out of my creative corner. DH moved his desk out and we moved our rabbit Frank in. The best part is Frank’s cage sits under a large desk and with the purchase of shelving I now have a lot more storage for my supplies along with a drying area which was something I really needed.

I cleaned out my rolling carts too. I didn’t have them set up very practically and so I made sure I moved out anything I wasn’t using and put my most used (and loved) items on the top shelves and they are so much more functional-not to mention they look so much better.

I have started sewing a t-shirt but am procrastinating on attempting the v-neck so it’s been sitting aside for me to be in the right frame of mind to learn this new technique. I have been taking part in Carla Sonheim’s collage class and really enjoying it. You can still sign up for the course for lifetime access I believe.

I’m working on embroidering a few pieces of clothing and cannot wait to share them with you. I really want to make more of my own clothes but as I am still working on the sewing skills I felt it would just as fun to make some of my clothing my own. I love embroidery and love that I can sit in the evening with it while we watch a little TV before bed.

I’ve started making some journals and some sticker sheets. I would love to open up a little shop but have been procrastinating there as well. I love making things and I especially love the idea of making stickers since I use them so much but I always seem to determine they aren’t good enough and that’s where it ends. Do you find it hard to make things for others? My eye is always so much more critical that way.

Lastly I have started a collage painting of our home. I am trying out a combination of a class I am taking on Skillshare (this is an affiliate link and you make a purchase using this link I earn a small commission) along with some of my own ideas and of course I will share with you when it’s done.

What have you been working on this summer? I would love to hear! You can always comment down below or message me directly.

Wishing you a lovely day.

Until next time…

-Michele aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Painting Faces

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How are you? I have been working through with the help of some art making. This weekend the weather was a little gray and between puttering in the garden (and bringing in some cut flowers to place in bud vases around the house) I made some art.

I have been working on a theme of small ladies that I would love to turn into stickers. I do love stickers and adding them to journal pages or in memory keeping. I am still fine tuning them. I love how they look as sketches but when I start painting them I feel like they are loosing a little something. Maybe I should try them all in colored pencils?

I am also working on a little paper clay decoration for Father’s Day. I am hoping I can get it done in time-I have been doing a bit here and there as I can. The inspiration came from Sarah Hand’s new book “A Happy Book of Little Gifts to Make” (that’s an affiliate link and if you make a purchase I receive a small commission but it doesn’t cost you any more).
With any luck I can finish it up in time and share some photos with you.

I was also flipping through one of my larger sketchbooks. I don’t know about you but there are certain sketchbooks or art journals I just connect with. It has very little to do with the book itself and I think more to do with how I have created in it so far. If I have been free and having fun just playing with materials I tend to really, really love the book. This is one of those journals. Usually, once I realize that I love the book I suddenly put all this pressure on myself to “keep it going.”
It feels a little like learning to ride a bike-once you realized you are doing it you fall over?

In flipping through this journal I came across I piece I had done a while back that I absolutely loved. I mean, really loved. I just connected with her so much and I am sure it had to do with how I felt creating her. I remember when she was done and I shared her with my family they just smiled and said it was nice. They didn’t quite share my enthusiasm. Art is like that though isn’t it? It can feel like the entire Universe aligned and offered you clarity and then another person can see it and just shrug. Art is so very personal.

I get it-it’s not as if she is a fabulous execution of a face. Still, she meant something to me and flipping back through the journal and seeing her I felt it all over again.

I also felt the call to make another one (and maybe more than one). This time however I felt a little nervous. Afraid I was putting pressure to create the same feeling I had when I made the one above. (I named her “Babette” by the way)
Instead, I picked a background page that had my favorite colors mixed in it and it and just started playing.

Can I say I love her even more?

 

I also love this photo with my messy desk. I took it just to make sure I captured her and instantly knew this would be a part of a post I wanted to share with you.

I am pretty sure this journal is going to be filled with similar girls. I love the two-page spread and there is just something about each of them that speaks something to me.

I hope you like this little peak into what I have been creating over the weekend. I would love to hear what you have been making or creating. Please share in the comments below.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

 

 

 

Taking Care and Flowers

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I am sharing a small little post with you today but what I really wanted to share were some photos I took in the garden. I have really been enjoying photographing my flowers and am using them for some sketches/paintings that I hope to share with you. In the meantime, I hope they bring a smile to your face.

I am slowly moving into my hibernation week taking a bit extra care of myself as-in my haste to clear out some weeds-ignored the poison ivy that was growing amidst the dead nettle at the base of the oak tree. As a very clear reminder of the virtue of moving slowly the left side of my face is now covered in poison ivy. It looks worse than it feels (thanks to calamine lotion) still I believe it’s taking it’s toll in other ways.

I am forever trying to find the meaning in my experiences, the lessons buried deep in the seemingly ordinary. I believe that I am being called more and more to focus on my own way of doing things. Of embracing those parts of myself that perhaps I came to believe were flaws.

Like my lack of “hustle” and the need to meander rather than drive.

I have finished a book and started another (not on the list I shared with you in my last book club update) so I hope to have a few more updates to share with you perhaps next week. In the meantime I will drink tea, make art, snuggle my kiddos and spend as much time in the garden as possible.

I hope this week is starting off well for you. That you are able to move at the pace that feels natural and in a way that feels your own. If, like me, you need to take care of yourself I hope you do.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante.