Hello readers

I hope you have found your way here even though I’ve stepped away from Instagram. Summer feels like it is coming in short breezes from my window. I recently bought a kindle and got a library card at our new place. I feel gitty to dive in, as summertime is my favorite time to read.

Over the weekend, I visited a fantastic store, 2 Dandelions Bookshop in Brighton to celebrate Deb Pilutti’s new book, A Dinosaur In the Garden. I picked up some signed copies and signed a few copies of A Horse Named Sky. I was also on the hunt for new reads by other Michigan creators that recently came out.

Deb Pilutti comes from Ann Arbor. The Dinosaur in the Garden is poetic story, while still chockfull of the humor Deb is known for. The story will have your curious Dino lover wondering about becoming a paleontologist.

I believe 2 Dandelion book shop may still have some stickers… (Though I may have took a few to share with some little Dino lovers…)

Another Michigan author-illustrator is Tim Kleyn from West Michigan. I was on the hunt to find Tim’s follow-up to Set Sail For Pancakes! I think this would perfectly pair with a day in the kitchen, cooking with your little…

I was lucky to be in the same studio classes as Tim in art school. While his work has grown since our school days, the humor and sweetness of Tim’s artworks are still so recognizable to me. Maybe a book to keep with the cookbooks?

The last one here I wanted to share, is Squirrel Needs a Break. Kristen and Matt, also from Michigan, coming together yet again for a new book, Squirrel Needs a Break! I also was able to find this one at 2 Dandelion. …Squirrel is at his wits’ end! I hope you will consider requesting these books at the library this summer or purchasing for your next kiddos birthday party or book shelf!

I’m looking forward to lots of reading this summer. What’s on your list?

Evan and I watched the film, “Back to Eden” last year and we were immediately struck by the difference we could make to our environment in our own backyard.

Back to Eden gardening mimics the natural way the forest grows. We hope that by using this method we can support insects, sequester tons of carbon (and I mean, tons), and of course, grow healthy things to eat.

Before we can get to gardening we have a lot of work to do with the soil. Like, we gotta get some. While we could ship in 10 yards of dirt tomorrow… what’s the rush? While it will take time, our compost will have an unmatched quality to anything we could buy and also: free.

I chose hogwire (you know I love my hogwire) for the compost rings. This is a common composting practice but new to me …. with a whole lotta YouTube and reading it wasn’t too hard to get started.

There were plenty of leaves to work with in the fall but those quickly ran out. We formed a relationship with our neighbor to take manure and some hardwood chip horsing bedding.

She was glad to get it off her hands. Our Bichon Maisey is not sure about her tractor though. Reaching out for something like this is on the edge of our comfort zone, but naturally, the back-to-Eden process calls us to come together and it has been fun to connect. So glad we did.

It took us about three tries with the rings to get the formula of carbon and nitrogen just right. Adding our neighbor’s animal product was the secret sauce. It’s incredible how quickly the composting is heating up. If you want to know more about how to do this I’m happy to share my resources with you.

Keeping up with turning compost piles is a highly laborious job. We were going to need some backup. I mentioned we weren’t ready for last year’s snows (dug out by another gracious neighbor.) Anyways, we are going to be prepared now!

It’s a good thing because there are other big problems looming. While I don’t think the photo does it justice this tree has been threatening the life of everyone around it and our home so it was time to get going on that.

I cannot count the number of issues this tree has caused. We hoped we could inoculate a few branches for mushrooms but the tree was already covered in another fungus. Adding other spores would compete and likely lose.

Pretty though. Back to the earth, it goes. It will make a great chip for the garden.

I think I’ll sleep quite a bit better too. If this looks like a ton of work. It is.

We aren’t the kind of people to back away from a challenge.

Save the earth or die trying.

Kirbi

P.S. Did you see my article on Muddy Colors about The Art of Green? It’s about how I approach using nature's most dominant colors.

When you have a long-time friend, each milestone is I think, all the sweeter. My Auntie heart is full these days, my sweet friend from kindergarten is having a boy! Here is, yes, another one of my quilts, and yes - Pooh themed again! Pooh was one of our favorites growing up and I was perfectly inspired to give a Winnie the Pooh theme quilt another go.

(If you missed my other Winnie the Pooh Quilt check it out here)

My friend, a dedicated athlete was known for wearing mismatched socks. Didn’t matter if it was work or a race. This quilt I wanted to have a charming, cozy, mismatched quality. Whatever yellow outfits pair with this quilt are going to match and be versatile for the nursery. A great backdrop for the gazillion pictures for the pictures they can send to Aunt K.

I peppered some nudes/neutrals into the yellow. I think this will help it feel less “Maize Yellow” …though, this U of M fan Mom-to-be probably wouldn’t have minded. We I both like gingham, so I didn’t shy away from the print in different various.

When I do a “random” pattern, it’s never really random. It feels similar to painting a star-filled sky, it can be tricky to look natural. I spend however long it takes to arrange the colors. I’m easing going about it. Maisey regularly runs through my layout so I’m open to having the pattern evolve in the process.

I find it’s a little easier to manage things in large chunks. By creating the four block squares, I can continue to switch around blocks. The bigger the blocks become the less flexibility in the pattern I have. To me, this feels natural and more playful than taking it row by row. I think my corners turn out better too.

Squares make a simple quilt, not the most technically difficult but the small size squares, the hand stitching and color scheme, result in what I thinks is a sweet and old-fashioned look. Two needle at a time? Why not. I load up 4 needles and go through those twice in an evening sitting.

Here is how it looks after the wash perfectly wrinkly-soft.

I went with more gingham for the back. Baby blue back for a baby boy…. I bought this particular gingham in a large quainty because it works so well for baby boy projects.

Hope your day is as carefree as a walk in the hundred-acre woods.

Keep heart,

Kirbi

Sharing the fantastic news:

Enthusiastic staff from Scripps Middle school are pictured below. The teacher center was so enthused during my presentation she ran out to print posters of a quote for me to sign! I thought it was fun idea. When I got home I was thinking a lot about the young people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting lately and I wrapped up some of my thoughts in the video - cliff notes, parents (and teachers!) I think you are doing a great job.