Joy Blooms Here

I’m excited to be taking part in my third Yarnstorming at Adkins Arboretum.

This year I tried a new style of installation on a new tree with the forest itself as the inspiration. While the arboretum grounds may be wrapped in winter, joy still blooms here. This installation makes visible sparks of joy in an otherwise muted landscape, with soft, colorful flower blossoms, leaves and stems wrapping around the tree.

With “Forest of Friends” and “Hope Grows Here,” I stitched crocheted letters and imagery to a full wrap of granny squares. For “Joy Blooms Here,” I used a thicker, softer yarn to crochet 87 flowers, 94 leaves and seven vines.

I stitched the flowers and leaves to vines and wound each around the contours of the tree

Mine is just one of at least a dozen trees on display at the Arboretum for this year’s Yarnstorming. The creativity of my fellow craftspeople could not be more inspiring. I encourage you to check them out for yourself and enjoy a peaceful walk along the trails while you’re there.

On display March 2-31, 2026.

A Forest of Friends

My tree wrap returned to Adkins Aboretum in 2025, this time as “A Forest of Friends.”

I wrapped this same tree on the arboretum grounds in 2023. This year, I took the same base of 44 granny squares and one double crochet block and stitched elements to represent the various things you might find along a forest path at Adkins. This included a rabbit, owl, caterpillar, flowers, butterflies and mushrooms.

I also included a goat, giving a nod to some of the former arboretum inhabitants.

“A Forest of Friends” is a celebration of the animals and plants you might find in the forest around us and encourages visitors to search out their woodland friends. On display March 2-April 6.

Welcome.

In a week where my city gave a voice to all members of our community then said, "oops, never mind," it felt good to finish my #welcomeblanket. Made with yarn purchased from three locally owned shops, using a stitch I first learned from my grandmother. This blanket is headed to Chicago to join 2,000 miles of warm welcome before finding a home with a new immigrant to the United States.

It's not too late to knit, crochet or sew a blanket for this project--deadline November 4. Details at www.welcomeblanket.org.

Crafting my message, stitch by stitch

It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted my sign to say. It was important to me that it represented what I was marching for--and honestly, that list feels like it grows every day.

Should I put every issue I care about on one sign? What if I leave something out? What order should they be in? Should I focus on just one?

So I took a step back because, at the core, there are some fundamental things about this country and what I thought it stood for that are under attack in ways I didn't even understand. There are things that I believe that I need to take fuller ownership of, and keep marching for.

I believe that our differences are what make us interesting. That our blending of cultures, heritages, languages and religions are what weave the beautiful tapestry that is America. That our connections across neighborhoods, states and countries make us stronger. That we, as a people, can only truly get ahead when we lift each other up. That none of us can truly be free until all have equal access to opportunity.

My forward-facing sign was a personal expression of my beliefs. The act of stitching it was an opportunity to reflect on what matters to me and a tangible reminder for the days ahead.

The reverse was a message to my fellow Marchers, with women especially in mind. Simple words that can never be heard enough.

I am thankful that so many messages were carried on the signs of millions of marchers around the world. Some provided levity, others were heartbreaking or hopeful. I am heartened that so many issues, causes and beliefs will march on with others as I focus on the issues for which I can do the most good. The awe-inspiring feeling of yesterday, of being part of the rivers of people that flooded so many streets, brought me hope and reaffirmed for me what I am marching for. None of us are alone; we are truly stronger together. Thanks to my fellow Marchers I am fired up and ready to go.