Lovely Day . . .

Today is Easter Sunday ... a day that provides a 'sigh of relief' for me and signifies that Spring is on the way (among a few other things). 

I grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, just 2 miles from Washington, D.C.  Though this area is never quite thought of as The South, it certainly is compared to where I live now ... in New England. 

Growing up, Easter always meant the traditional Easter basket filled with goodies ... AND church.  Mixed in with all this were the pretty new dresses,

fancy new shoes, hats tied with ribbons, blossoming trees and tulips galore.  I can still picture Constitution Avenue in downtown Washington ablaze in the glorious colors provided by millions of tulips planted along the avenue.
Here in New England, not so much!
 

I have done my fair share of Easter orders this year, but it's not quite the same to mix a pretty new dress with snow boots, a fleece cap and a parka, or at the least, layers of sweaters. 

In addition, Easter is so early this year ... in March of all months!  Many areas, including my backyard, still have snow on the ground.  And where the white stuff has melted, the ground is soft, squishy and dark, fondly known around here as "mud season".  And that's no joke ... mud it is! 

Several years ago, my husband and I decided to "get outta Dodge" on Easter Sunday and head ... no, not for the hills but for the ocean.  The incredible ocean, a wonder of nature that heals all that is wrong with the world. 

  One of our favorite beaches is in Ogunquit, Maine ... a perfect place for a much needed day of rest and relaxation, even when it's too chilly to be on the beach.

This has become a tradition and today was that much needed day ... and a lovely day indeed!

The days are so busy.  And the days become the weeks that are so busy.  And that blends into months that are so busy.  Before I know it, an entire year has passed.  These opportunities to get in the car and just go are really priceless.  My husband and I have some of our best conversations in the car.  We discuss topics of importance and alot of what is not.  It really doesn't matter.  This time is to reconnect and enjoy each other's company; something often overlooked in the day-to-day. 

So as we meandered our way along the Maine coast, stopping here and there at various points of interest, it was a lovely day indeed!

Enjoy ...
M-A

Spring Fever . . .

Welcome to Spring ... my favorite day of the year!

Shimmer and Shine Ensemble with our Garden Party Hat

Enjoy this day ... I know I will

M-A

Photo Credit: The Fabulous Robert Diamante

To Whom It Should Concern . . .

Dear Mother Nature,
Are you aware that tomorrow is the first day of SPRING?
I think not!

Well, there may be a new blanket of white outside ... sigh ...

But inside the studio, it's warm and colorful as I work in the delightful shades of the new season to come ...

There is an advantage to working solo in a creative world ... if Spring won't arrive in a timely manner, I'll just "color my world" and pretend!
Enjoy ...
M-A

Walking on Sunshine . . .

The snow is melting ... puddles are everywhere.

The sky is blue ... that Maxfield Parrish shade of blue.

The sun is shining ... can you feel the warmth!

Could it be ...

               Let's Dance Sundress with our so very popular Garden Party Hat and Bistro Bag

Enjoy the day ... I know I will!

M-A

Stayin' Alive . . .

The title of this post is in reference to the Bee Gees era; I'm actually fine, thank you very much!
And I may have just given away my age here, not something I like to do ... but does it really matter anymore? 
So, to proceed ...

Today is Sunday, sometimes referred to as “catch-up” day around here. So there I was this afternoon, in the studio, working on the third of four pieces due Tuesday. In the background, Pandora Radio (Shuffle) was playing.

Normally, I don’t hear the same artist twice ... except for today. Carole King, Carly Simon and (the one and only) Joni Mitchell were plentiful, along with Marvin Gaye, the Bee Gees, Allman Brothers, George Harrison and Stevie Wonder, to name just a few.

This surround sound almost made me think I was back at the University of Connecticut, in the Batterson B dorm with my "old" friends, on a grey and cold Sunday afternoon.



Northwest Quadrant - how lovely!
University of Connecticut

Can you say "Time Warp" ...

My four years at the University of Connecticut were intense, to say the least.  Yes, I do have a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design, with a minor in Fine Arts/Illustration.  What's so hard about that, you ask?  Well, for one thing my class and lab time were twice as many hours per week as someone studying ... let's say ... business.  And as my "attention to detail" was as strong then as it is now (actually stronger), the homework time required more hours than one day will give.  But this is beside the point.

What may have been just as "intense", in a very positive way, were the friendships created among a large group of us "girls", all living in Batterson B ... some of us for two years, others for three.  We all had different majors; apparel design, art, childhood development, english, physical therapy, nursing, horticulture, large animal science, chemistry ... you name it, one of us was probably studying it.  We all came from different walks of life.  We all had different lifestyles.  But for some reason, we all seemed to get along and had a good time doing it.  It's really amazing when you think about it! 

Freshman Halloween
(sorry girls, it's the only picture I have)

As the music played this afternoon, I found myself engulfed with this feeling I cannot describe.  It wasn't a "memory lane" or emotional kind of thing.  Instead, this was a feeling of being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.  Yeah ... I do believe that's it!  I had been with the right people who provided support, laughter and a sense of belonging; critical when living in a "dumpy dorm", being an "out-of-stater" and overloaded with work.

So to the girls of Batterson B, I say THANK-YOU.  We don't actually see each other anymore, except through social media platforms, but even after all these years, you are still here ... and you helped turn a Sunday work-day into a very pleasant afternoon, indeed!  We did have a good time and I am confident, should/when we meet once again, the conversation and laughter will pick-up right where we left off!

The times may change but some things will always stay the same; friendships for one ... and again, I thank-you for that!

With love and admiration,

Mal

    
And this is how the class of 2015 spends their time in Batterson B ... I'm too short for this!