Illustration Friday - Renewal

what better to start the year out with than a renewal of love!

I'm very lucky to be able to say I'm Matron of Honor for my sister's upcoming nuptials this summer! This excitement of sharing in my sister's wedding planning combined with a few bridal shower invites to do.... has me making bridal shower illustrations galore. i love sharing the love!

this piece is ink and marker- affectionately titled, "the love jungle"

Wishing you all good things this New Year!

Illustration Friday - Fast

I still can't believe how fast time flies that the holidays are nearly here!
this is one of my entries for the Community College of Vermont's holiday card-

Graphic Design 1 class this Fall!

I'm so very excited to be teaching this Fall semester at Community College of Vermont in Rutland - if you want to learn more, visit CCV's website - classes start September 8th!

shadowbox spring day

the work days always seem most fulfilling to me - waiting for the weather to warm sufficiently, patience i have not.

the manure is raked thoroughly through the garden, waiting for the veggies to be transplanted...the beds are watered...the lavender is coming back of its own accord. the native strawberries are flowering - so much life and growing going on everywhere.


you know it is spring in vermont when the violets and trilliums have popped.


i love making violet sugar and sugared violets this time of year. we have many violet species, purple, white, yellow, and combinations thereof. the baby violet leaves are great salad greens.



Trillium erectum are pictured here, a native VT purple varietal. sad to not see any of the white Trillium grandiflorum, or the painted trilliums on the land so far, but i'll be happy with what i have. it is so exciting to see everything coming to life once again.

i'll be taking a walk to a favorite hiding spot of native white bleeding hearts and jack in the pulpits today or tomorrow....pictures to come if they are around!

homemade sourdough rounds

hoping to make myself another batch tomorrow - so much fun to make. i really love to clip the tops to be able to yank off bits to dip into something delicious like artichoke dip.

sourdough french toast

i love french toast. anyone who knows me well, knows that i must try every french toast i come across. oh, and then re-try it. because i love it.

my favorite way of making french toast is very simple, and often you get to use up the last couple pieces of bread that otherwise might get thrown away...in my case, I used the sourdough bread I make several times a week.

eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg
all wisked up in a low bowl - dip or soak your bread in it.

the longer you soak, the tastier the french toast will be, but your bread may fall apart if it is too full of mixture, and might take a long time to fully cook through. try it out, you will find the right amount for you. i set them in for a few minutes on each side, then they hop in to a preheated pan or griddle for cooking. i like medium heat for french toast because i don't like burnt outsides.

i like cutting my french toast up into bite size pieces, toss in some powdered sugar and my bramble berry preserves that i made last fall from my berry bushes.

since it is sugaring season, its only fair to use boatloads of fresh maple syrup if you can get it!
i'm lucky to have some very sweet neighbors in the business for many generations - if you have not hit a sugaring house, you are missing out.

now again this french toast recipe could be changed to kahlua, or chocolate chip & coconut - or apples & cinnamon....you get the drift. mix it up, i do all the time, i love french toast. especially on sunday mornings.

puddle ducks for spring!

Mud, rain, ducks, sprouting plants all about. I'm in love with Spring. To commemorate my happiness during this most hopeful of seasons and in tribute to one of my favorite authors, Beatrix Potter, I've designed & created a very cute leetle French puddle duck hand knit toy.


This particular series of ducks are very special! This yarn is a pure 100% cotton bouclé yarn from France - in the softest sweetest spring colors. Each puddle duck averages 12" wingspan, and also 12" from head to webbed toe. I use multiple strands of yarn to knit each duck, then stuff them with more of the same matching yarn... 100% cotton toys make me happy! These techniques allow for each duck to feel like soft terrycloth.

Each duck is a very limited edition, one-of-a-kind hand knit toy with vintage yarns- once each yarn(color) is gone, it is gone. If I cannot meet your first color choice, I will be in touch for a second choice. Every single toy is handmade by me here in Vermont.

So far I've made one color puddle ducks and two-color puddle ducks.
The colors currently available are butter yellow & mint green, or all butter yellow, or all mint green. Contact me if you would like a custom color/size.


My leetle French Puddle Ducks can be bought for $50 each, with shipping included to anywhere in the US. Need yours in time for Easter Basket delivery? Please be sure to order by April 1st so I can whip it up for you in plenty of time.

Color options

Butter Yellow $50.00 Mint green $50.00 Butter yellow & Mint green $50.00