My Inbox: Iris from Fumiko

A lovely spring etegami of an iris, by Fumiko in Japan. My rough translation of her words: “How many seeds of happiness can you sow today?” (今日は何粒幸せのたねと蒔けるかな）

it’s not the cherries everywhere in bloom

Spring in DC… yes, everyone gets excited about the cherry blossoms, and yes, they are lovely. So lovely that when we went out to the Mall this past Sunday, we found ourselves fighting… Continue reading →

crocus, with frail blue wings

A happy blue crocus, inspired by photos that Ruth P posted on Facebook I don’t know much about flowers. I see them and love them and take their photos with impunity. Only when… Continue reading →

Eggplant ecstasy

I painted a series of cards inspired by a post from the North East Ohio Garden blogger, of a day lily called talon + eggplant ecstasy (for the inspiration see here Seasonal Contradiction).… Continue reading →

Not seeing is a flower

In January, my 8-year old cousin came to visit for the Presidential Inauguation. We went to dinner at Beau Thai (yum! love the Beau Thai Chicken and the Ginger Beer Cocktail!), where the… Continue reading →

My inbox: friendship blossoms

Fresh, cheerful sakura blossoms, painted by Carol B from California. She says she’s just been experimenting with gansai paints and washi paper… I think she’s doing a great job. Lovely! I also like… Continue reading →

A fool at forty

Happy birthday… to me! Culturally this is supposed to be a rather significant birthday, but the only reason I can think of is the sentiment expressed in this etegami, an idiom that goes:… Continue reading →

“Spring in the air”

Hopefully my Facebook friends won’t mind… I often find inspiration in the things they post. Last week Pam H posted a quote from the Marvelettes’ song “When you’re young and in love” (click… Continue reading →

Always the Same Age

A hibiscus I painted to wish happy birthday to a colleague… she is sunny and bright, and she sometimes wears Hawaiian patterns. Quotation is one I like from Gertrude Stein: “We are always… Continue reading →

Daffy-down-dilly

This past weekend I took the first long walk of the spring and loved all the daffodils holding their own in the March wind. Having fought off the “snow-quester” here in DC earlier… Continue reading →