Dark Academia

This week's Spoonflower challenge is "Dark Academia".  What? I had no idea it was a thing. What first came to my mind was Harry Potter stuff. And I'm not too far off.  Here is the Wikipedia definition --

"Dark academia is a social media aesthetic and subculture concerned with higher education, writing/poetry, the arts, and classic Greek and Gothic architecture. The subculture is associated with ancient art and classic literature."

Looking for images I found the Italian version which I thought was interesting.

Backyard Adventures - Insect Safari

Inspired by a recent Spoonflower challenge, I created a repeat pattern based on Insect Safari - a chapter in my book Backyard Adventures. 

Even though I no longer have young children who need to be entertained during the summer months, I still think it is a fun adventure that needs to be shared.  Here's how to create your own backyard Insect Safari.

Happy Summer!

  

Books Adventure Travel Books

Home hobbies is this week's Spoonflower challenge. Arts, crafts, sewing -- these have been hobbies but also necessities. With three daughters to clothe I spent many years sewing and I loved it. But they moved on and so did I. At one point I worked in the DIY industry -- so lots of arts and crafts. Now, in retirement, I'm able to pursue surface design.  Arts, crafts, sewing -- they are what I work at. Hobbies are what I do in my leisure time and for me, it's books and travel. 

My "home hobby" Spoonflower challenge depicts books and travel. When I was still in my teens, I read