Siren’s Call – suekingarts.com

I have to admit that Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love the organic smell in the air, the return of birdsong and the lush abundance of nature’s color as she awakes from a long winter’s sleep. But… it sure does make it hard to stay in the studio to work.

Next to working with fabric, I love gardening and being out in nature best. As I gaze out of my studio window I am called to get outside and get my hands dirty. I started creating a Japanese – style garden outside my studio and I can’t wait to get out there and add to it. Last year it was a blank canvas and this year it is calling me to get outside and add the next layer of plants. My yard has several other garden rooms: a Tuscan arbor, an herb garden, a shade garden and an English perrenial garden. Let’s just say after a weekend of gardening, it’s hard to stand up straight and camoflage the dirt under my nails.

During the winter months I collect fabric for my stash, visiting every quilt shop I know and some I don’t, whenever the opportunity arises. In the spring and summer it’s the same with plants. Garden stores become my obsession, I swear I can’t drive past one without the steering wheel turning in of it’s own accord. I feel like Ulysses answering the Siren’s Call.

I also am also tempted to go outside and ride my bike or go for a walk. Last weekend our entire family went camping and canoeing, and we just had a blast enjoying nature and each other’s company. We made s’mores and popcorn on the fire and laughed until we cried. So what’s this got to do with quilts? I have found that to live a creative life and keep inspired I need the balance of outdoors, being with family and having fun. This balance allows me to embrace my studio life instead of resenting the time I need to spend indoors to finish a project. I also take a camera along on my outdoor adventures and often find fodder for a new art project along the way. It’s supposed to be cold this weekend, so perhaps I’ll finish up that commission I’m working on, unless of course the sun is out and the sirens call.