Reeds in the Back Bay Fens

The Back Bay Fens is a beautiful park, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead to be part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace park system. Olmstead turned saltwater marshes and swamp into a beautiful green park that surrounds meandering Muddy River.

In many areas of the park, the river banks are overgrown with reeds. While plans exist to remove these non-native, invasive phragmites next year, today they are still swinging high in the wind, providing refuge for a variety of birds, animals, and occasionally homeless people.

Green in spring and golden in the fall, they whisper gently in the wind and always shine brightly against the sky. I realize that they need to be removed, but still I find them majestic.

A few greeting cards with my attempts to capture the beauty of these tall grasses are now available in my Etsy store.

City Skyline

I went running along Charles River yesterday, and the view of Boston from the Cambridge side of the river inspired me to paint.

Everything Handmade News

I recently learned of Boston Handmade, a group of local artists, artisans and craftspeople. Boston has granted them a temporary storefront in Downtown Crossing (505 Washington Street). They are open November 28 through December 28, Thursdays through Sundays, 11am till 7pm. If you are in the Boston area, check them out. I stopped by the store today, and it was busy busy busy. It was nice to see Tactile Baby items at the store, since I met the artist at the MathWorks craft fair.

My Vasilek Peacock card received a positive and rather encouraging review in the Modern Sentiment blog. The blog is written by a fellow Etsy shop keeper, who makes a variety of items including cards, clothing accessories, and handbags, which you can find in her Modern Sentiment shop.

Last but not least, my friend just started a new Etsy shop, selling the cutest hand knit items.