Hello Everyone! We are having a very wet spring up here in Northern California. Perfect for hitting the trails amongst the redwood trees and visiting bookstores. I also have been renovating the house with my husband, sewing quilts, playing and making things in my atelier with paper and paint, not to mention spending a LOT of time with the kitties. Let me share some of these winter tales with you.
Painting The Walls
Current state of my atelier
All the walls of our lovely house are covered with panels and wallpaper. My husband and I have started removing all of those wall coverings. Then there’s repairing and patching the walls, and finally, priming and painting. We are currently working on my room. I have everything set up so I can continue to work without disruption. I can’t wait to show you around once it’s all done.
Sewing Garden Path Quilt-top
The Garden Path quilt-top is FINISHED!! I just need to add borders to it and then it will be ready for quilting. I designed and wrote the patterns for the flower blocks and created the layout. I am happy to say that it looks exactly as I had envisioned it.
Hitting The Redwood Trails
Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –
We were away a lot last year. My little kitties tend to miss us a lot when we are away. So this year, I skipped the trip to the redwood forests 300 miles north of us and stayed home. However, I am lucky to live only an hour away from Muir Woods, which is also a redwood forest. I had not been there during this time of year before.
We usually end up hiking anywhere between 5-7 miles. The trails are moderately challenging with uphill climbs. They are also full of roots which makes it hard to navigate. During the February hike, I twisted my left foot pretty badly. It is better now. At least, it’s well enough for me to be able to go on another trail hike last Sunday with adequate caution. With all the rain this year, the creeks are flowing beautifully. Milkmaids are usually the first wildflowers to bloom in the woods. Last Sunday I found Trilliums starting to bloom along the lower parts of the trail as well. It really is magical in the forest.
…and The Bookstore
I also went to the bookstore an inordinate number of times and added on to an already tottering pile of books in the home library. Barnes and Noble hosts a book drive during the holidays. We have been participating for over a decade. Every year, we browse through the children’s section and purchase a stack of new books, which then gets distributed to underprivileged children. It is a huge part of my winter break.
Playing Music
My husband always gives me a few art supplies for my birthdays. Along with a book on how to draw swords, I also got a Chinese flute called Dizi this year. The flute is made of bamboo, which resonates with a very beautiful sound.
Please click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –
I am very happy to welcome it to my music instrument family. In case you are wondering, I have never played a flute before. I mostly play the violin and the piano. I occasionally tinker with the guitar if a song calls for it. I am excited about learning how to play a wind instrument. First of all, I need to get used to making a consistent sound without feeling dizzy!
Bamboo is very prone to cracking, so the flute is bunking with my violin. The case has a hygrometer in it, so I can monitor the humidity. Tavish also loves to bunk in there. Here is a picture of him sleeping inside my violin case. He not only sleeps but also snores while I play the violin only a couple of feet away from him. No idea how he does it; the violin at close quarters is very LOUD.
Making Gifts
I drew this little scene from a very favorite road of ours up north at the Redwood NP. It is super twisty and narrow, and often a tight fit for cars through pairs of redwood trees on the road. I used this drawing as a cover for a book that I made for my husband as his birthday gift. I will save that story for another day.
Designing And Binding Books
I mix my own adhesive for the binding. I made so many books that I ran out of the adhesive that I had made. I experimented with and improved upon processes as I made these books. I also painted and block printed new book covers. I can’t wait to share them with you over the next few weeks. Some will be available in my shop with new cover art, as well as new binding styles and paper.
The Girl And Her Cat Books
Spending time together
I have been steadily working on the Girl and Her Cat stories. This girl, by the way, was very happy with her decision to stay home with her kitties.
As much as I love wildflowers, I, for one, is not looking forward to spring as it limits my time outside and fresh air completely due to severe allergies. So, needless to say winter is a happy time for me and it was a good break. Today’s post was more of a sampling platter. I hope to share details over the next few weeks. Thanks so much, everyone, for staying with me and a hearty welcome to my new visitors. I hope to continue to bring more inspiration and write posts that make you smile.
Until next time,
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.
35 thoughts on “Little Stories – Winter Tales”
Esme Slabbert April 11, 2025 at 16:28
Awesome and well done, as I am a nature lover, I especially enjoyed the trails.
Thanks for participating and sharing your post at ES #WW #71, see you again Wednesday at #72
Debbie Harris April 10, 2025 at 02:13
Hi, this was a great full post and shows how clever and creative you are. I loved reading about all your happenings for #WWWhimsy
Debra She Who Seeks April 9, 2025 at 19:19
Love your girl and cat art! Good luck and have fun learning to play your new bamboo flute!
Pat April 9, 2025 at 12:05
What wonderful woods to explore! I love your pen-and-ink drawing of them. Kudos for buying children’s books to donate—I will look into that wonderful program.
Comedy Plus April 9, 2025 at 06:29
Your walls are going to be so fabulous and you’ll love all the light they brings. Awesome.
Everything is so green and beautiful. That’s what happens when you get the rain you need.
Love your kitties sleeping spot.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Scritches to Tavish. ♥
Min @ Write of the Middle April 8, 2025 at 17:19
Hi Soma, my goodness you are so creative! Your post was so lovely to read! You have very similar interests to me. I love to draw and paint too (along with a lot of other arts & crafts). Your quilt looks absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of my mother. She was a quilter and made so many beautiful quilts. I love that you’re learning the flute. I haven’t played a flute but I do have a piano and can play it (mostly be ear but did have lessons as a child) and I’m self taught on a guitar too. I used to play the recorder when at school! lol I love the hiking photos and I too love hiking in nature. You’d have to watch your step with all those roots! Sorry to hear you hurt your ankle but glad you’re all healed up now! Good luck with the renovations. You have a lot going on! Thanks so much for linking up with #WWWhimsy – hope to see you here again as I love reading your posts and seeing your creativity. xo
Yvonne J Means April 8, 2025 at 07:44
Your post has been a joy to read, as I sit here in quiet with a lovely cup of Irish breafast tea. The quilt is amazing, as are your photos of muir woods. I was to visit there on my next trip to see my brother, but then life became complicated, he got old and it never happened. Looks very beautiful, as does your kitty Tavish, fitting nicely into your violin case. Have a happy spring, with love, Yvonne.
Catherine Sokolowski April 8, 2025 at 05:58
Great pictures! I love the one of your kitty in your violin case!
Veronica Lee April 7, 2025 at 18:29
Loved reading this! Your winter sounds so cozy and creative—between fixing up your atelier, walks in the redwoods, and time with your cats, it’s such a lovely balance of art and life. Thanks for sharing these little moments!
Your photos and art are beautiful as always, Soma.
Lydia C. Lee April 7, 2025 at 14:05
Your art is beautiful. the pics from the red woods are beautiful and the books in the book shop are beautiful – what a visually pleasing post! #SeniorSalonPitstop
CraftAtticResources April 7, 2025 at 09:16
The hiking trails are beautiful.
Angela Webster April 7, 2025 at 07:26
Thanks for sharing photo’s of the redwood trails, I would love to see a Redwood in real life. I live in the UK and I think there are a couple of forests here that have them but they are far away from where I live.
Good luck with the flute playing. #MMBC
Carol April 7, 2025 at 06:58
Your time is so productive with all your creative pursuits and time in nature. Your art always moves me. #MMBC
Kim Carberry April 7, 2025 at 06:23
It sounds like you have been having a busy time.
The garden path quilt is so pretty and the hikes sound great.
Catherine April 7, 2025 at 02:21
It sounds like a busy month! It’s so kind and generous of you to buy books for underprivileged children :)
#MMBC
Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie April 6, 2025 at 20:21
A wonderful post filled with so much amazing creativity! Love seeing all your beautiful works of art – you are talented in so many ways. The quilt, the artwork, the book-bindings – all so lovely. Not to mention you can play multiple instruments! So sweet that your kitty sleeps soundly while you play. The Muir woods look so peaceful and beautiful. Sorry to hear about your ankle and glad that you are on the mend. It will be nice to have your walls finished the way you like. Hard work, I know (we built our home), but worth all the effort. x K
Alycia Quilts April 6, 2025 at 13:19
You have been crazy busy!! Your quilt top is beautiful – those blocks are so delicate!
and the photos in the forest – amazing – the colors and the saturation are gorgeous!
Bill April 6, 2025 at 07:44
Looks like you are up to your neck in decorating like us only I ripped up a tiled floor so we could have a new floor laid and paint the walls. It quite a large job and I’m not getting any younger. Love the walk in the woods there, looks so refreshing
The Joyful Quilter April 5, 2025 at 18:58
Thanks for the overview of your winter break, Soma! Looking seeing how the office redo turns out. Happy painting!
Mary April 5, 2025 at 06:48
It’s so nice to catch up with what’s happening in your world. The home undertaking looks like quite the task, but I know it will be stunning and refreshing when done.
Those uneven trails can be treacherous, especially when there are such spectacular sights to see while also watching where you’re walking. Hope the foot continues to improve.
It’s so nice seeing your beautiful quilt coming together. It is going to be stunning.
I’ll bet the sound coming from the bamboo pipe is fabulous. It also looks like a very pretty instrument. Love the kitty curled up in the case. lol
Your redwood sketching for K is so pretty and beautifully detailed. Bet he loved it.
Eileen April 5, 2025 at 03:26
Hello,
I love the images of the Muir Woods, the trillium are lovely flowers.
I am sorry to hear you hurt your foot, I hope it is healing well.
The music instruments are wonderful, it is nice to learn how to play.
Tavis is a beautiful cat. I always enjoy your girl and her cat art.
Beautiful post and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.
Connie Griffin April 4, 2025 at 08:50
How wonderful to get an uplift to your room, I really need to do something with mine as well but probably won’t happen.
Your quilt is just gorgeous, I can’t imagine lining up all those sections together.
Gorgeous trails you have near your home, so fun to see the spring flowers popping out.
That is a neat drawing of your trip in the car.
I am trying to keep my cats calm right now we are having heavy thunderstorms, one doesn’t mind too much but the other is terrified of the thunder.
Lavender Dreams April 4, 2025 at 06:00
I love the photos of your hikes. We have some trails here with the exposed roots and you really have to be careful. I love your quilt…it’s gorgeous! You do so many interested things! Happy Spring!
Cat April 4, 2025 at 02:46
Such beautiful pictures!
This cat lady (who used to play the violin 1,000 years ago) likes the picture of Tavish in the violin case best :-D
Debbie April 3, 2025 at 19:55
really beautiful offerings…is there anything you can’t do?? i really enjoy making gifts, i am alreading knitting winter items for christmas!!
Gillena Cox. April 3, 2025 at 15:50
beautiful post
luv the wildflowers
much♡love
Dixie April 3, 2025 at 11:47
Beautiful trails in Muir woods. Lovely to see a trillium.
It will be great to have your atelier finished.
The girl and her cat are definitely explorers.
Tavish has such a beautiful coat.
Joanne April 3, 2025 at 11:35
We are having a very wet spring here too; in fact it’s raining again today! Your hiking photos are just lovely and I’m glad to hear your foot is feeling better.
A ShutterBug Explores April 3, 2025 at 10:58
Busy post filled with lovely and creative events ~ Love your new flute and your kitty asleep in your violin case photo is so precious ~ hugs.
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Christine April 3, 2025 at 10:16
Enjoyed your post
Karen April 3, 2025 at 09:22
its nice to see you again on my feedly reader – you dropped off the earth it seemed. Such pretty photos you have been up to a bit – I have never been musically inclined that is a pretty flute
jeanie April 3, 2025 at 08:18
It’s so good to see your post again! And oh, what fun you share (well, and a lot of hard work, too! Well done on that big job.) Beautiful trillium and what a remarkable and lovely instrument collection. My home bookstack grows with every visit — I really should keep out of places like that! And of course I am loving all the art. Every bit makes me smile.
Kathy April 3, 2025 at 07:42
Good morning, Beautiful post- I loved it all
Hugs Kathy
Linda at Texas Quilt Gal April 3, 2025 at 05:22
Removing wallpaper can be very gratifying! Looking forward to your house tour. Your flower garden quilt is quite lovely. Muir Woods looks beautiful and fun to hike! Your instruments collection is remarkable. I played the cornet in the high school band and couldn’t begin to pucker my lips for a note now. A couple years into playing the cornet, I wished I had gotten a flute instead! My husband and I both bought guitars over the winter, hoping to teach ourselves to play, but it hasn’t happened yet. ;) Tavish is beautiful!
tomthebackroadstraveller April 3, 2025 at 04:28
…trilium time is a terrific time of year!