Where Creativity and Spring Began to Bloom
March came in full and didn’t let up—and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We made the rounds to visit three different sets of grandbabies this month, and there is nothing sweeter than seeing how much they’ve grown and changed in such a short time. Every visit feels like opening a new chapter—new words, new personalities, new little glimpses of who they’re becoming. It fills my heart every single time.
While we were away, my sewing machine went in for its regular spa treatment… and then stayed there an extra week. If you sew, you know—that’s a long week. I always find it a bit of a challenge to shift gears when I can’t sit down and stitch, but there’s always work to be done behind the scenes. I managed to sandwich two quilts, prep pieces for a new project, and give my sewing space a much-needed refresh. Not glamorous work, but the kind that makes everything else run smoother.
Early spring also called me outside. The rose bushes needed trimming, the herb garden needed tending, and the mint… well, the mint had gotten entirely out of hand. If you grow mint, you understand—it doesn’t politely stay where you plant it. I pulled a good bit of it out to bring things back into balance. There’s something grounding about getting your hands in the dirt again after winter.
In the studio, I finished a very special piece—a Rainbow Baby Quilt of my own design. A bright, joyful rainbow stretches from corner to corner, surrounded by embroidered lambs frolicking about, appliqué lambs driving little trucks up the rainbow, and others resting on soft clouds. It’s playful, a little whimsical, and full of heart—exactly the kind of storytelling I love to stitch into my work.
One of the design challenges for this month was the Golden Coil 2026 Planner Design Challenge – to which I submitted a trellis pattern with climbing florals.
I also stepped into a different kind of creative challenge this month and submitted six designs for a Loomwell wallpaper design brief. The collection is called When I Grow Up… A Boyhood Adventure.
Childhood is such a fleeting, magical season—full of imagination and quiet dreams about who we might become. This collection was designed to capture that spirit through six patterns that tell their own stories: sailing the open seas, building alongside Dad in the workshop, traveling by plane and train, gathering around campfires under starlit skies, stepping up to the plate on a warm summer afternoon, and wandering through the quiet wonder of the woods.
Each design is hand-drawn, many elements traced from personal photographs, giving the collection a deeply personal, heirloom feel. The palette leans into rich reds, deep blues, warm golds, forest greens, and soft, comforting neutrals—colors chosen to grow with a child from nursery days through years of adventure and dreaming.
These are designs meant to live in spaces where little boys grow up—where imaginations run wild, stories are born, and dreams begin with those simple, powerful words: “When I grow up…”
Looking ahead, I’m especially excited about a new offering I’ve been dreaming up—Art For Your Devices. These will be curated collections of digital wallpapers for phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. And because I love a good little surprise, I’ll be offering one free download from each collection as they’re released. It’s a small way to share beauty in the everyday spaces we look at most.
And somewhere in between all of that, I baked a batch of raisin-filled cookies. The kind that instantly takes me back to the little bakery in my hometown—still my favorite. After a bit of trial and error, I think I’ve finally landed on a recipe that captures that same flavor and memory. Some things are just worth getting right.
As March winds down, I find myself ready for all that spring promises—fresh starts, new growth, and a little more color in every corner of life.
I hope you’re looking forward to the season ahead just as much as I am. 🌿