Studio Visit With Gary Mahan!
This week, let’s take a studio visit! Artist’s studios are like peeks into their minds. You not only get to see art work in many stages, perhaps even more interesting you get to see all the fun little things that inspire their art and which tell the stories of their lives. The
Wonder Wednesday 97: Top 3 Outdoor Teaching Tips
The end of the 2019/20 and the beginning of the 2020/21 school years have been unique to say the least! As teachers, schools, students, and parents adapt to new ways of learning and educating to keep our communities safe and healthy, there’s one wheel we don’t have to reinvent – outdoor learning! And I
5 Steps to Creative Flow
I admit, ever since this virus struck getting into really focused creative flow- or anything requiring sustained focused for that matter – has been difficult. This is disturbing to me personally, because I am normally a very focused and productive person. My lapse in productivity and focus has also given me a chance
Wonder Wednesday 96: Plantain First Aid Salve
Happy Wonder Wednesday! Whether you’ve been out in the streets working for justice, up in the mountains attuning with nature, chopping fresh peaches from your local farmer, or staying home creating art and staying healthy – there’s a chance you’ve gotten a cut, scrape, rash, bug bite, burn, sting, or random skin irritation. Well, never fear, faithful plantain
World Watercolor Month
It’s July and that means it’s World Watercolor Month! We’ve made it through the first half of the most intense 6 months of my years alive so far – and that’s saying a lot because adolescence wasn’t anywhere close to a smooth ride for me. Most of us have learned a few things, are making
Wonder Wednesday 95: Solstice Flora Crowns
During these weeks of quarantine and social action, we are growing as individuals and communities. Growing is great, but can also be uncomfortable and stressful – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means that we need to stay balanced with moments of rest and care for ourselves and communities. “Take a break…you gotta take
Ally is a Verb: An offering
This week’s post is different. This spring and this past week have been different. The past week’s events have made us cry, fight, hug, break apart, and come together in ways unseen in my lifetime. For this I am on some accounts thankful, and on others a whole other range of emotions I know
Wonder Wednesday 95: Nature Journal Prompt Snapper
June 1-7 is International Nature Journaling Week. To be ready, this Wonder Wednesday 95 we’re making a super fun retro- inspired prompt snapper game project! But before we get to our project, what is International Nature Journaling Week and how can you get involved? Regardless of age or experience with art, nature, and
Wonder Wednesday 94: Violet Syrup
Wild violets abound in many places this time of year. Some see them as persistent weeds, while others see them as medicine, and still others simply enjoy their cheerful spring purples and greens after gray and brown winter. This is the “common violet,” Viola sororia. It is native to the mid and eastern
Wonder Wednesday 93: Dandelion Cake
Dandelions – people love them or hate them it seems. Personally, I love them in all ways, shapes, and forms. They’re cheerful, tough, fun, nutritious (for humans and animals), medicinal, and effortless to grow. A plant that’s pretty, tasty, low maintenance, and is a toy for making wishes? Sounds good to me!
Wonder Wednesday 92: 4 Step Flower Pot
It’s a double activity month! Since so many of us are staying home, I thought hey, I’ll share some of the things I’ve been doing to stay creatively engaged with nature with 2 activities this month- and flowers are a big part of that! Plus, it’s kids gardening month, so this activity fits great with that
Wonder Wednesday 91: Guided Deep Relaxation
Well, what a week. & That’s all I’ll say about that! So this month, for our Wonder Wednesday 91 activity, I figured people could use a bit of serious stress relief. So I’ve recorded a guided deep relaxation for y’all. Sure it’s something to do, among all the great zillions of things coming at
Wonder in the Weird: Nature Journaling Week, Free Online Classes & More!
To help spark our senses of wonder in all this weirdness, I’ve made more online classes free for the next month – on top of all the ones that are already free! I figured there’s no better way to relax than by creatively connecting with nature – for both big and little hands! So why not get creative
Citizen Art Initiatives
Art has a bad reputation for being exclusive. Ever been to a gallery and encountered a snooty gallery receptionist? Then you know first hand that the reputation is well deserved. But art is a fundamental part of being Homo sapien. So initiatives that keep art grounded are projects I really get behind. “Citizen Art”
Wonder Wednesday 90: Early Childhood Nature Journling
It’s Montessori Education Week! So to celebrate, this Wonder Wednesday activity is adapted from my book Wonder & Wander: An Early Childhood Nature Connection Guide. And of course what more favorite topic to focus on than nature journaling! I first began nature journaling with children in my own Montessori classroom, so I
Magic, Imagination, & Place: The Work of Erik Johansson
“For me, creating an image is like creating a place. A place that feels familiar, but with a twist that causes the viewer to stop short.” ~ Erik Johansson Place connection is something I feature fairly often as it applies to nature journaling and connection. It’s something we as humans long for, but can seem
Wonder Wednesday 89: Bird Counting for Climate
Depending on where you live, talking about the climate crisis can encompass a spectrum of emotions from confidence to hesitance to trepidation. But in my experience, people generally like animals. I say, let’s encourage people to get involved with environmental science through the lens of animals, birds to be exact. Birds are great. They fly, they have
With the Grace of Greta
Grace. That’s a word and state of being not often come across outside of ballet or religious context in the states (unfortunately). Yet, this chosen state of being keeps presenting itself to me here in secular Sweden. If you subscribe to my email or follow me on Instagram, you know I’m in Sweden for a month. Many people (here
Wonder Wednesday 88: Take a Winter Solstice Walk
Happy Winter Solstice! This year it is December 21, 2019. On this longest night of the year – rich with history, culture, and story – join me on a Solstice Walk! As the “holiday season” ramps up, taking (or perhaps making) a time out can be so beneficial. Remember fun times can be stress
Wonder Wednesday 87: Candied Citrus Peel
This month we’re celebrating all things citrus! A glorious fruit worthy of celebration for sure. Our human bodies don’t naturally produce vitamin C, so from keeping our immune system boosted, to preventing scurvy, to downright just smelling and tasting delicious, the sensorially bright citrus fruit fills these voids in our healthy lifestyles. Fresh