So, I’ve been told this wood goes by the name of Burl.

Hello, Burl you are so cool. I think I love you!

I took this picture in Central Park’s Ravine. It’s from a fallen log. I love the texture and will be doing some pieces with a similar pattern.

These are beautiful examples of textures I’ve collected to inspire me in the studio. Of course, in metal it won’t have the milky pale porcelain look of these lovelies, but decaying textures- absolutely!

Dotted Swiss

Aging Nautilus

Abalone’s Weathered Skin

Prickly Corals

Shelled Glacier

Sea Sponge Bouquet

Porous Rock

I’m in the middle of packing and organizing for my move to NYC. Several months ago on a walk with my dog, I gathered some old magnolia husks in a field.  I put them on a shelf in my studio for inspiration. This is the dust from the husks.

I had to take a few pictures- it was such a lovely surprise to find this when I picked up the husks to pack among my other natural vignettes in the studio. For now I sealed the dust with clear packing tape which I have very handy right now. I’m thinking an art project could come out of this accidental in the future.

A grouping of natural elements found out walking my dog, Ramona. I have these organic vignettes around my studio for inspiration.

A mushroom I found that looks so much like a flower. I thought it would eventually dry into something not so pretty, but it is still just as lovely as the day I picked it out walking Ramona.

I love this coral sponge. It would be amazing as a piece of jewelry, but I think wouldn’t translate well into a mold because of all the tiny fissures.

Acorns that I collected on a seasonal walk with Ramona.

I had watched the decay of this animal for quite a while on my many walks with Ramona. I waited until the day it had been cleaned pretty well by the turkey vultures in my neighborhood. I had thought it to be a snake with all the tiny vertebrae, but then I found a row of teeth and have decided it’s probably a possum. My Dad told me that possums don’t carry diseases like other animals- I guess they get a bad rap because of their appearance.

I also picked up a turtle shell the other day and cleaned it with bleach. I put it on my coffee table among other nature vignettes I’ve arranged. I was looking for it the other day and couldn’t find it. I guess Ramona just couldn’t resist and ate it. Yummy!

Ramona, my walking companion and turtle shell eater.