Here’s a special musical treat for your Saturday!! 
I’m so excited to share a wondrous song by the indescribably magical cellist Betsy Tinney, Musician…I had the luck of happening upon Betsy’s ethereal music at the farmer’s market one day, and then discovered that she plays at many of the same local fairy festivals that I vend at. Her music is a staple in our home, and I’m so honored to know that some of my favorite paintings reside with her.
“But why should we not have one genuine out-of-door day, a day when we shall see to it that every city child may romp and play in God’s green fields, and when we make it a joyous duty to thank the Giver of all, not only for the harvests & for the full granaries as on Thanksgiving Day, but for the sun and the green trees and the flowers and grass and everything that makes us glad to be alive? What day could be so good for such a celebration in America as well as in Sweden as Midsummer’s Day?”
FRANCIS EDWARD CLARK, THE CHARM OF SCANDINAVIA (1914)
The Midsummer¹ season of festivals and feasts – the Summer Solstice, St. John’s Eve, and St. John’s Day – have always resonated with me and filled my imagination. As the sun reaches its zenith on June 20/21, and then the feast & festival of St. John the Baptist follow a few days later on the 23rd & 24th, it’s a sun-drenched, liminal time of thresholds being crossed and whispers being heard.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Each season brings its unique charm and inspiration, of course, but my heart tends to leap at a chill in the air, warm scarves, crackling fires, warm apple cider, and all those other comforting autumnal delights.
“The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature.”
– ST. HILDEGARD VON BINGEN –
Visual arts tend to be solitary pursuits much of the time. While I crave that solitary and meditative quality of painting, I’ve also found myself being drawn to finding ways to balance it with more forays into art communities.
Last weekend, we headed to Tacoma for the Spring Fairy Festival – this was our third year vending at it, and our first time setting up shop outdoors. It was quite the adventure, since we arrived in a bit of a downpour of rain…the tent kept us dry, thankfully, but a persistent wind kept blowing through. That’s the glory of spring weather, I suppose – unpredictable, challenging, & nourishing, all at the same time.
