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We went to Badlands National Park on our roadtrip home from our time in the Midwest and I have to say, it was really cool. It reminds me of giant sand castles with grasses and wildflowers around as you hike.
The visitor center is AWESOME as they have a great video about the natural history there and, even better, working paleontologists you can observe and talk to!!
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Effigy Mounds is a site of earthen mounds in animal forms (mostly in the shapes of bears and birds) made by Native Americans that lived around the Mississippi River in what is now northern Iowa.
Read moreSt Louis Zoo is incredible- and (though you pay to park) free to enter. We had to go when we were all in town for mom’s 70th birthday as not only is it a great zoo, but they had the traveling exhibit Dinoraurous going on. My niece Jo (4) wants to be a paleontologist when she grows up, so this trip was a must.
Read moreWe went to lunch with my aunt Pam in Louisiana, MO and went on a hike with her at one of her go-to spots. The Lay Center is a sculpture park with hiking trails where the sculptures are made by the students of St. Louis University. We pretty much had it to ourselves and the art was all so fantastic.
Read moreWhile I know being born around the corner from here some could call me biased- I do believe Main Street St Charles, MO to be objectively the cutest place around. I love Old Town, especially Main Street, for the brick streets, historic buildings, flower arrangements, small restaurants, river views and all the shops.
Read moreI might be a quilter in denial. My sister says that though I am a painter and my quilts are only a sometimes craft, and that I never make them from a pattern- that improv quilting is a thing and that it’s just a hobby of mine.. I guess I won’t argue. I made my 4th quilt as I bought material for a table runner, then accidentally found material I liked with it and it was way too much for a runner after that point.. So I have a painting themed throw quilt/blanket I made.. Or Painting in the Garden as I think that might be the title.. Do quilts need titles? So much I don’t know about this topic!
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My sister has made me some really neat things since she has gotten into sewing, so I thought it was my turn. I made us a pair of quilted tote bags out of some Tula Pink Moon Garden fabric that I pieced together. The quilting is machined for strength then hand quilted for character.
Mine:
Both have the same material inside and some holographic thread for fun.
Emily’s:
My sister follows Sara SJ Kim on Instagram and has made some of her patterns. She made a hanbok styled vest of hers that turned out so cute I wanted one! So when Emily and I were together for our mom’s 70th birthday we had some time to sew and she walked me through making my own. I love it! It’s reversible and was pretty quick to assemble.
You can find Sara and her designs here: http://www.instagram.com/yoursara_k
Em gave me a couple of cute labels I had to add.
One of our favorite trails has been closed while undergoing repairs, causing us to go the longest amount of time not hiking there since we first found it. It is still half closed as they replace bridges, making it an out and back for now. It was so good to be back! We saw so many spring wildflowers.
What we saw:
Larkspur
Hooker’s fairy bells
Wood-sorrel
Western trillium
Fringe cups
Pacific bleeding heart
Garlic mustard
Vine maple
Salmonberry
Red elderberry
Lunaria, also called honesty or money plant
We’ve a lot going on at the McDermott house! Spring has sprung, our flowers are starting to bloom, we’ve got the house looking like spring inside and out! I’ve been trying to wrap up projects for the even busier months ahead. We’ve got a planned trip to see my parents for my mom’s (my sister and niece will be there!) 70th birthday, a slew of dr appointments as they sort out what they need to schedule a surgery for me in the next maybe 2 months - which I am told I’ll be recovered enough to hike after a few days/week, but I won’t be able to lift anything much for a bit. On that note- I am trying to get some big stuff done before then like swapping out the rug at my desk, which I just did and so feel like I have a whole new art space! So, on to the good stuff!
I love the refresh of my art space.
This small (5”) painting was a 2nd commission from a couple who are hanging it in their travel van that they are currently living in as they travel the country! I’ve become friends with Jess on Instagram and love seeing the hikes she takes. You can find her there @jess.off.trail
I’ve had the materials for this picture board for a while with the intent of making it for Cory’s office and we just did it the other day. I usually see them with the ribbons crossed and tacked down, but Cory preferred it this way and really I do too. The fabric is by Tula Pink and I picked it out because growing up Cory always had fish tanks. I wanted to bring that idea back into his office. Green is also his favorite color.
I’ve got all the sides quilted for matching tote bags for Emily and I as I’ve been trying to wrap up things I want to have ready by our visit.
This blanket is another gift made to be ready for the trip for our niece Elaina. Top and bottom pics are front and back.
We recently renewed our Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens membership and have been taking advantage this spring. The nutria have been sunbathing, and we even saw a green backed heron!
This I am sharing just because it is a happy thing and feel like it :)
My mom’s uncle, Uncle Mike, sent me an etching that belonged to my great grandma and hung in her house in St Louis. I had it rematted and a custom frame made for it and let him know, and asked about her. I never got to meet my great grandma Margaret, and I wondered what stories he could tell me. Mike turned this into a project and wrote down tons of anecdotes, facts about her, stories about her with other family, copied pictures of her and other relatives and shared it with not only me but the family! It’s a wonderful gift and going through the pages feels like I know her some. She was the mom of my grandma who I called Mawmaw, and she was my favorite. Is my favorite.
The art from uncle Mike in its new custom frame.
This was Margaret with her nurse training uniform.
Lastly, some of our blooming tulips. I love the abundance of spring!