What do Strawberry Thief, Candlemas, John Constable, and a vessel all have in common?

Happy February, my friend!

And happy belated Groundhog Day, which also happens to be Hedgehog Day, AND which traditionally (since the Middle Ages) is a feast day called Candlemas.

We were reminded of that in a beautiful sermon at church this past Sunday, and of how, historically, candles were blessed and sent home with parishioners in the midst of winter.

This year, I am rereading a treasured tome called Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. If you are of a certain age (like me!), you may remember it from the late 90’s, when millions of copies sold.

It, along with Living a Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard, lived on my bedside table when I was a young wife, mother, and teacher. Both of those books were dog-eared, highlighted and underlined. They helped inspire how I ordered my days, my home, and my routines, as well as figuring out my preferences and style.

Decades later, those lessons for routines, puttering, gathering inspiration, authenticity, and being creative have stayed with me. And decades later, in 2025, I’m returning to those roots by reading the updated version of Simple Abundance.

So, imagine my delight when I turned the page to February 2nd the topic was Beginning to See the Light, and the daily reading began with Candlemas and its meaning!

This topic touched our dear friend, Suzanne Conner, as well. She and I had a good “catch-up” the other day when she visited me in the shop to drop off some new paintings. Suz shared that she, too, is rereading Simple Abundance this year!

Suzanne's newest painting collection is entitled "We are Vessels." She was very moved to paint these sweet, inspirational paintings and hopes they encourage people to be filled up (see her quote in the photo below).

I am so grateful that she has created these miniatures, and that we get to offer them! 

At her prompting, and after chatting about Candlemas and light, I shared with Suzanne a bit about our time in London, especially the art we saw, including John Constable’s iconic (and for its time, radical) painting, The Hay Wain, which is on exhibit in the National Gallery.

What captivated me is the use of light in his landscape painting, reinforced by his quote, painted on the gallery wall: “The sky is the source of light in nature – and governs everything.”

Another quote by Constable displayed on the wall is: “When I sit down to make a sketch from nature, the first thing I try to do is to forget that I have ever seen a picture.” (But this is a topic for another day!)

If you, like me, are feeling a creative urge, but are not sure where to start, an easy way is to simply get a brush in your hand and some paint onto a canvas. We have some wonderful kits in the shop that have everything you need to get painting immediately!

I love these kits and have snagged one of the William Morris' Strawberry Thief ones for myself ~ but don't worry, there's still one or two of that design left!

xo,