photograph by rinne allen
Instant Inspiration
minute magic
it pays to always have your eyes open. some beauty is so fleeting it may never be seen by people. count yourself lucky if you're there to see it. i thought i had seen all the beauty there was to see this day at the bot garden, but as i turned off my camera and started to walk back across the muddy field, i turned around and saw this glory…but only for a magic minute.
photographs and words by rebecca wood
ideas everywhere
i'm always scrutinizing shapes and colors and patterns that i see on my walks. lately, i seem to be drawn to the abstract. i'm also thinking about how to paint abstractly. with each of these cement curb shots, i can see as a huge 8 x 12 foot painting. maybe i could paint like that...
photographs and words by rebecca wood
wild growth calendar
our friend megan of brown parcel press makes the loveliest calendars each year. this year’s calendar is no exception! titled ‘wild growth’, it is full of beautifully illustrated and beautifully printed pages, one for each month. this calendar would make a special gift for someone you love or who loves beautiful things.
photographs and words by rinne allen
yarn from sweet olive!
our dear friends at sweet olive farm just picked up their latest batch of 100% alpaca yarn, spun form the fleece of their herd of alpaca…it is beautiful!
the 200 yard skeins are available in four natural colors: off white, a cinnamon-brown, a dark brown-black blend, and a charcoal grey. the yarn is a worsted 3-ply yarn and is so soft and warm.
each purchase of yarn goes towards helping all of the animals on their rescue farm, so get yours while you can! send them a note here, to see where all it can be purchased…
photograph and words by rinne allen
paintings to make
the older i get, the more i want to make paintings that look like these photos. wouldn't they be amazing wall size, or 8 x 10 feet? i'm always pondering how i would attempt this. just love this end of season chaos of tangles and colors and pods and grasses! to me, it's the prettiest time of year.
photographs and words by rebecca wood
seasonal arrangement
it's the latest we've ever had leaves on the trees, and the colors are still so pretty! i decided to play around with some of my fave fall colors. . .
words and photographs by rebecca wood
carvings
there are a couple of beech trees i pass on my nature walk. they are covered in carvings marking loves and feelings. i hope it doesn't hurt the tree. i love to wonder at the markings. how many of those lovers are still in love?
photographs and words by rebecca wood
kilometer zero proust questionnaire
i was recently in paris and went to one of my favorite spots, shakespeare and co. bookstore...it is located in central paris, at kilometer zero. they now have a little cafe next door that serves yummy treats and this was their placemat...the proust questionnaire is an old party favorite, used for years to get folks talking...and thinking...
1. what is your present state of mind?
2. what is your favorite way to spend your time?
3. if you were an animal, which one would you be?
4. what book makes you want to live in a different era?
5. what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten?
6. what is your favorite journey?
7. who is your hero in real life? who is your hero in fiction?
8. which words or phrases do you most overuse?
9. what is your idea of perfect happiness?
10. if you could spend the rest of your life with a character from a book, who would it be?
11. what is your theme song?
12. who are you three favorite writers?
13. where in the world would you most like to live?
14. on what occasion do you lie?
15. if you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
16. which poem makes your spine tingle?
17. what is your favorite smell?
18. if you could ask the leader of your country to read one book, what would it be?
19. what’s your favorite hiding place?
20. what do you consider your greatest achievement?
21. which book do you have on your nightstand but know you’ll never read?
22. if you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
23. what was your favorite book as a child?
24. do you have a recurring dream? if so, what is it?
25. what to you is the most beautiful word or words?
26. what’s the worst book you’ve ever read?
27. who would play you in the movie of your life?
28. what’s your motto?
29. what’s the most romantic experience you’ve ever had?
30. how would you like to die and in what form would you chose to come back?
words by rinne allen
dyeing with flowers
photographs and words by kristen bach
by the river
if you're looking for the antidote to feeling hurried, stressed out, or anxious, the answer is nature. spend an hour or two at your nearest nature park, woods, or botanical garden. the japanese have a word that translates into 'forrest bathing', and studies have shown it reduces stress and calms your nerves and helps depression, too. pack a snack, your water, a sweater, and get lost in the woods! leave your phone in the car. unplug. breathe in, and walk. . . .
photographs and words by rebecca wood
sacred feminine flower portraits
for the flower social at 3 porch farm this week, rebecca made a big flower backdrop. she hammered nails through a large piece of plywood, then stabbed blocks of oasis on the front. next it got flower decorated and set up for photos. " i wanted to celebrate the sacred feminine. i was thinking of religious icons and frida kahlo. i shot each guest in front of it and the glowing portraits turned out amazing!
photographs and words by rebecca wood and rinne allen
rural studio’s sub rosa chapel
as we mentioned earlier this week, rural studio has been a place we have visited many times over the last 20 years, for inspiration and ideas.
one of our favorite, somewhat secret places they have designed and built is this subterranean chapel, Sub Rosa, built into the side of a small knoll, in honor of their late co-founder, samuel mockbee. finding it is like finding the pot of gold at the end of a treasure hunt, and walking into it, down the dark corridor, into the light of its oculus is a great reward and provides a quiet, calming feeling. it is a beautiful, beautiful place.
photographs and words by rinne allen
arrow apple festival
for the last six years, arrow has hosted an annual apple festival, celebrating apple harvest time, and the fall season, for our community...
this year's festival was this past saturday and we had a beautiful fall day and saw lots of friends!
each year, arrow sells mountain apples from ellijay, georgia as a fundraiser, as well as fresh cider. there is also an apple pie contest where many restaurants and friends bake pies...yum! this year ken manring from white tiger helped judge the apple pie contest, and friend bird smith (age 10) cuts an apple themed block for us to print from...!
it is such a fun day... !
photographs by kristin karch, words by rinne allen
truck love
i saw this truck for sale on my morning walk. always loved this model in this color. i don't need a truck now, but it might be worth it just to stare at the turquoise and rust color in the back!
photographs and words by rebecca wood
secret quarry
outside carlton, ga off of a dirt road, there is this abandoned rock quarry. i love the colors and shapes of the stone reflecting in the water..
photographs and words by kristin karch
goldenrod
there is a big patch of goldenrod at the botanical garden here. they let it grow wild by the river, and it is 6 - 10 feet tall! right now it is still mostly budded up and in chartreuse mode. i will go back in a week or so for a full on golden explosion!
photographs and words by rebecca wood
holding on to summer
we have spent the last few weekends in the woods, with friends and alone...hiking, exploring, and swimming. eventhough we officially have one more week of summer, this time in the woods has been the perfect way to transition into a new season. tiny signs of fall (red leaves and wildflowers) are juxtaposed with summer color (verdant ferns and fungi) and are endlessly inspiring.
words & photographs by rinne allen
saints of old florida
some friends of ours down in port st.joe, florida recently released a book called saints of old florida. the book captures the spirit of this charming part of florida near the panhandle...through beautiful photographs and recipes and stories. anyone who has spent time in this area or who just loves the southern coast will enjoy this book!
words by rinne allen
wildwood revival
this past weekend, our friend and helper, kristin karch, attended wildwood revival in arnoldsville, ga. the small music festival brings together people and artists from all over the country to celebrate country, folk, and rock n' roll all while having a sweaty good time on an 1850's farm. there was beer from terrapin, tintypes from nashville photographer giles clement, local artists booths, and incredible music by gillian welch, athens cowboy choir, susto, and more.
photographs by kristin karch