Yesterday I shared a little reel of me painting Blue Belles with soft petals unfolding in shades of Windmill Sky and Bluebird Morning from the Prairie Paint collection.
There is something about blue flowers.
They don’t shout.
They don’t demand.
They simply bloom.
The Colors
Windmill Sky carries that soft, open-air feeling, like standing in a field where the horizon stretches wide and nothing feels confined.
Bluebird Morning is brighter. Hopeful. A color that feels like possibility perched on a fence post.
Together, they feel like spring trying to whisper its way in.
When I began brushing them onto the panel, I wasn’t thinking about perfection. I was thinking about rhythm. About allowing my hand to move the way it moves when I’m stitching or writing. Brushstrokes and stitches aren’t so different. Both are small acts repeated with care.
Why Blue?
Blue has always symbolized:
Peace
Clarity
Devotion
Trust
Open skies and deep water
In folk art traditions, blue often represents protection and spiritual depth. In nature, blue flowers are rare and because they’re rare, they feel sacred.
Blue Belle feels like that to me. A sacred little bloom.
From Barn Quilts to Florals
Many of you know me through barn quilts and stars, geometry, symmetry, story held in structure. But florals are where my breath softens.
Painting Blue Belle felt like stepping into the softer side of Prairie Paints. The colors are the same. The intention is the same. But the expression is freer.
And I think that’s something I’m leaning into this year ...
structure and softness,
roots and bloom,
brushstroke and stitch.
A Quiet Invitation
If you watched the reel on TikTok or Instagram, thank you for being there while she came to life.
If you haven’t yet, go take a peek - you’ll see the layers build and the petals open.
And maybe today, you’ll find your own version of Blue Belle:
a quiet hour at the table
a new color mixed on your palette
a stitch begun
a seed planted
Beauty doesn’t need to be loud.
It just needs to be tended.
And speaking of practice, the Creative Caravan is getting closer to the road. I’m planning a series of Open Paint Days very soon. No formal class. No pressure. Just tables, Prairie Paint, florals, stars, and time. A place to gather and create at your own pace. If Blue Belle stirred something in you, these open studio days might be your invitation.
More details coming soon.
With love from the studio,
