Look!
Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say “look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads. ~ Mary Oliver
Me too, Mary Oliver, me too.
And while we’re at it, let me age with humility as I realize over time how little we really know about anything. To keep on learning. Please let me foster a healthy curiosity. To stop dead in my tracks when I see a cool rock or a pretty sunrise. Let me try to move through life as if joy were the whole point of it. To remember to jump in puddles even with a heavy sack of worries and responsibilities on my back. Let me remember that the little things in life are the most magical. My God, fireflies exist! Let me remember to show my grandkids how to make a loon call with their tiny cupped hands, and to nibble the tips of the columbine flowers to taste the nectar. Let me feel courageous when others think me foolish. To be more excited about possibility than frightened by uncertainty. To give myself grace when I falter, but not an exemption from trying. And above all, to be grateful for all of it.
In that spirit… look! The Pasque flowers are blooming! The first of the flowers in my pollinator garden to poke their fuzzy little heads out into the chill of early Spring. What a delight to find them, a dot of pale purple and yellow against last Fall’s brown leaves.
The ice is off the lakes and the Spring Peepers are out. So many so that the combined chorus of calls sound like a constant jingle of sleigh bells. My weekly task is to visit this lake and sit quietly in the dusk, listening. I’m eager to see if there are other species of frogs and toads here as the season goes on, and to report my findings to the DNR.
I was excited to find a patch of stinging nettles last week, and though I was leaving for a work trip and pressed for time, I decided it was important to make a batch of pesto from it before I left. My children have grown up with this Springtime ritual, and they enjoyed it along with me. If you are new to nettles, I recommend Hank Shaw’s recipeto get started (have a good long peruse, he’s an amazing resource). I substituted pistachios for pine nuts in mine, but there are lots of options.
My friend Candice from Treeline Acres has her season opening celebration coming up and I will be there on Saturday making cards with folks. I’ve been teaching myself to make linocuts and carved a canning jar design to print just for this event. People will be able to choose one of the complementary blocks to finish printing their cards - either a label, strawberries, a pickle, or a flower - a nod to the sunflowers for Sunny fundraiser happening that day which supports Habitat for Humanity. The full event is a few days long, and the entire lineup is on the facebook event. If you are looking for beautiful, well-tended plants, delectable baked goods, and adorable farm animals to pet, this is your place. I bet moms would enjoy this outing on this particular weekend…ahem.
I continue to be amazed at the good energy and connection being made in the studio. Last month our friends from The Sowing Room hosted Drag Makeup 101 and a whole group of beautiful young people tried out new makeup techniques with their Mary Kay swag bags.
Last Thursday a handful of people stopped in and it was heartwarming to hear a new young friend talk about their costume-making with the other visitors. They, proudly describing their process, the audience duly impressed.
This past Saturday, a group of wonderful women worked intuitively on Spirit Dolls, bonding over the shared experience of low-pressure art-making, and excited about the results. Later that day, a family came in to make felted images inspired by their own cows (Red Angus for the win!). The came in a little trepidatiously and left beaming over their creations and talking about future classes.
It makes my heart so happy.
This week the studio will offer creatives a chance to voice their priorities for our community. More than just a discussion, there will be some creative activities. And snacks. If you’d like to take part, please text the number on the flyer to RSVP.
Other happenings coming up -
The second Thursday of the month is always Open Studio night. May 14 - Bring a project you’re working on or explore the materials I have out. This month I will have fabric and thread on the table so we can try a little slow stitching together. No pressure, just fun and meditative.
The Third Thursday is Third Space Thursday with the Sowing Room. May 21 - It’s a skill share event. (I hear we’ll learn to fold a fitted sheet! It’s true! I thought we just rolled those up in a wad and hid them in the closet, but here we are!) I’ll be sharing how to make an origami box. What 5-minute skill will you bring to share? RSVP with the Sowing Room or just stop in from 6:30-8:00.
Thank you for reading and for your support. Your embrace of the studio and of my efforts is the hug my soul needs. I appreciate you.
If you think someone else may enjoy my work, I’d be grateful if you’d share this with them or encourage them to visit my website where they can sign up for my newsletter, consider workshops, and peruse past projects.
My space is open for private events. Have a class idea, birthday party, or gathering? Email me at lisa@lilfishstudios.com
Be well and curious and kind to yourselves.
Lisa
