Here we are, it’s fall. And at the risk of sounding like every adult that ever lived, it really snuck up on me this year. I’ve spent a month and a half rambling around, working on kismet projects, traveling from coast to coast and back, freelancing, seeing sights and friends, reassessing, visioning and intention setting. One day it was hot-and-thick everything summer, then a whole lot of life at once, and suddenly the tree tops were every color of fire, the mornings crisp and dark. As a summer + sun girl, this time of year typically feels a smidge existential—like I didn’t appreciate the long days and warmth enough, and winter is about to punish me for it—but this year, it just kind of…happened. I was too busy living to notice, which is cool.
Here’s what I was up to (:
Moments:
Foto Flora: a flower crown workshop + empowering photo shoot
‘Foto Flora’ was a workshop I designed and taught at The Veterans Healing Farm. I instructed a group of female veterans (aka, certified badasses) on how to make a flower crown using blooms and foliage from the farm, encouraging color and texture choices that uniquely called or meant something to each individual. The ladies then got changed and donned their crowns for a photo shoot tailored to be empowering on every level.
It’s not my story to tell, but I will say that it was deeply moving to see the vulnerable, creative, and feminine sides of these infinitely strong and complex women. I soaked it all in as I watched them learn a new skill, get out of their comfort zones, explore a new side of themselves, and find confidence and beauty in who they are and what they’ve been through. As I took their photos, I learned about the battles they continue to fight each and every day, how these were the first photographs of their lifetime not for the military, but instead to encapsulate their individual, divine essence outside of that experience. To have mementos of beauty, peace, light, joy, and love to remember who they are, how life goes on after serving…and it is beautiful.
Thank and honor your veterans, today and every day, forever.
Art in Bloom: my first floral gallery experience
Art in Bloom is an annual, weekend-long art gallery and fundraising event for The St. Gerard House. Local artworks of various mediums are selected to be featured, and regional floral designers choose one to create an inspired piece upon, one that uniquely parallels their selection. I chose to interpret the sculpture “Make a Space for Me” by Mark Gardner based on an immediate vision/idea, but after digging into the piece’s details + learning it’s origin story, an entirely new one came to mind. Mark told me the cradle-esque sculpture was inspired by something his daughter often said when she was a toddler. Sleepy-eyed and fresh to the world, she’d stumble into their bedroom every morning, crawl up in between them, say, “c’mon, make a space for me! make me a nest!”, and get cozy for a bit before everyone had to get up and take on the day.
In lieu of that sweet story, I decided to make a massive wreath (4’ in diameter) called ‘Make Me a Nest’. Made entirely of native foraged and dried materials, the abstract and wild nature of the wreath portrayed an actual birds nest—its large, circular shape representing the vast and unending love of a family, and our home here on Earth. Within the wreath, I placed a smaller nest containing three straw flowers, symbolizing family and how we create precious tiny worlds of our own within this big beautiful one. This piece was fun to make, and it’s one I’m deeply proud of. My magnificent community, both near and far, stopped by the gallery and sent messages to show seemingly endless support, which I’ll forever be so. damn. grateful for. Displaying my art in a new way + having fresh eyes on it was overwhelmingly inspiring…and just the motivation I needed to keep on creating!
Autumnal Equinox: learning about + honoring it’s significanc
I know the seasons and orientation of the moon effect us all, but this was the first year I really dove into what ‘Fall Equinox’ really entails. Equinox is Latin for equal night. The 2023 Autumnal Equinox fell on the 23rd of September, marking day and night roughly equal in length for the Northern hemisphere—aka it’s ‘moon season’ from here on out. The nights become longer than days, so we naturally spend more time in darkness than light. Energetically and spiritually, the Autumnal Equinox reminds us to pause and find inner balance, especially during transitional moments such as this one.
Spring and Summer are all about action, play, pleasure, connection, extroversion, and growth. Fall and Winter are about reflection, rest, solitude, planning, intimate connection, and quiet introversion. The Autumnal Equinox marks the end of the literal and metaphorical harvest season, where we’re meant to take stock of what we’ve grown and gathered over the year, and give thanks for what we’ve received. We should naturally slow down a bit, get quiet, and rest as we allow space for a greater vision of ourselves and life to emerge.
It’s the time of year where we prep the soil to activate a new cycle of growth, an appropriate time to consider and invite balance into our lives. Balance is constantly shifting and may need to be redefined as we move from the brighter half of the year to a darker one; what kept our equilibrium in the long, hot days of summer may not work in the short, cold days of winter. In essence, it’s natural to feel our attention shifting from the outside world to our own mind, body, and spirit right now. Take the time to slow down and listen inwardly.
Places:
California
I traveled to Northern California to visit some of my best friends for a couple weeks, but also because it’s one of my favorite places on planet earth. The ‘gold rush’ piece of the state is rich and dense in colors, texture, and palpable history. It’s dry, extremely hot and extremely cold, dusty and dense, abundant in quiet pride and natural beauty, and threatening to burn or crumble at any moment. Being here is one ever present reminder to always appreciate the present moment I’m in—this life is perfect, but unpredictable. The natural course of things is divine, just not by our definition. Even if it all goes up in flames, the fire will end and we grow back more resilient than ever.
Lake Tahoe
My friends and I spent time outside in their garden, next to the Yuba River, cooking and eating meals outside, and driving through the Sierra Mountains. Between all the going-ons, we ventured to Lake Tahoe for an afternoon next to the second deepest lake in the United States. Most of the water is snow melt, appearing crystal clear up close and cerulean blue from a distance. I was enamored by the landscape all around, and learned so many fun facts about this natural wonder:
Lake Tahoe’s blue tint because isn’t caused by the water being so clear, but comes from the amount of algae in the water.
It’s clarity means objects can be seen in depths of over 70 feet. 40% percent of Lake Tahoe Basin’s precipitation falls directly into the lake, and remaining precipitation drains through a natural filtration system of marshes and meadows, lending to insanely clear waters.
It’s one of the most pure bodies of water in the world with 99.994% purity…commercially distilled water is 99.998% pure.
If you took all of the water out of Lake Tahoe (39 trillion gallons) and poured it onto the surface of California, the water would still be 14 inches deep.
Art:
Collage:
Using anything and everything; clippings, plants, tickets, receipts, paint, markers, etc. I love making them…or the little kid in me does, anyway!
Palettes:
COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!!! Along with texture, it’s something I’m always paying attention to. Maybe it has to do with my trip out west, but I’ve been thinking constantly about the colors of sunset in the American southwest. About how vibrant it is; mystical and ethereal on every level…red, orange, purple, pink, teal, green, white, and tan. Golden hour in the desert in anything but neutral, which I adore. So say hello to my new favorite palette, one I call neon desert.
Books:
Little Bee by Chris Cleave: 8/10
Normally I would pass on books written by a man in the voice of a woman (two women, in this novel), but the blurb enticed me, and I’m glad it did. This story gives nothing away up front, and played like a movie in my head, with chapters alternating between a Nigerian refugee and an English suburban mom. The book is essentially about how the West itself creates the migration of refugees from the developing world—about the commonalities of being human, regardless. Due to how the story unfolds, I was hooked from the get-go, and continually surprised by the turn of events. A quick read since I truly didn’t know how things were going to end until the last page!
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg:
If you’re stuck in a rut and wanting to implement changes in your life in the form of changing your habits, I’d 100% recommend reading Atomic Habits by James Clear, which is an incredible book I annually revisit. But The Power of Habit walks you through the pivotal scientific discoveries in regards to habits, distills vast amounts of information, presents a completely new understanding of human nature, and how to implement its findings to reach our highest potential, which is key. I’d personally recommend reading this book first and then Atomic Habits as a solid foundation for making changes in your life!
Music:
My friend Grayson is a KILLER musician and sound engineer, and since he hosted me in CA, we jammed and danced to a bunch of his new and old bops. Let it grace your ears and soundtrack your life, too!
Two personally curated playlists!
Enjoy!