Hunter Moon Homestead Journal

Crescent moon

Waxing Crescent Moon in Sagittarius

At the dinner table last night, I shared that I feel a strong responsibility to gather up as much of the abundance that we have here, this time of year. So much labor over the past few months has gone into planting, weeding, fertilizing, watering, and tending to the garden and the green house and the orchard. So, I feel the need to honor the work, by working further, to harvest, and dry, and can, and pickle, and put in the freezer, until the frost takes all the life and puts it back into the soil.
Continue reading
A writer at her desk

Writing in the Wilde Expanse with Libby Wagner

We loved this conversation with poet, artist and educator, Libby Wagner. Libby graciously shared some poignant insights into her creative process. Join us at the Homestead for her writer's retreat this summer, Writing In The Wilde Expanse.  You first visited...
Continue reading
Exploring the Botanist's Garden with artist Kate Poole

Exploring the Botanist's Garden with artist Kate Poole

I'm just creating a space where people don't have to feel like they're an artist to create. It really bothers me when people say “I'm not creative, I'm not an artist.” You are! We’re all creating all the time, we just don't think about it in those ways. I hope to offer a focused place with just a little bit of instruction and encouragement to get out of your box a little bit. I really want people to take the techniques that I give them here and go home and play and practice when they get home. Mainly I want to create a safe environment for for people to explore creativity, especially those who have never really let themselves do it before. 
Continue reading
The art of book making with Altered States Studio

The art of book making with Altered States Studio

What do you think it is about your specific style and the way you approach your work that is so appealing to a larger audience? Sometimes I feel like it really is that I'm a Problem Solver. Sometimes I work myself into some kind of issue I'm like “oh that is not so good right there,” but I feel like anything can be fixed. We can just glue or tape or paint over it. We should not be afraid to embrace all of it. In paintings, they go through kind of an ugly phase. If just you embrace that and forge on, and know that in the end, the only person that really needs to care is you.

Continue reading
Watercolor Portrait by Deanna Strachan Wilson

A conversation with artist Deanna Strachan-Wilson

For those of you who missed our Instagram Live conversation with Deanna about how art helps her create balance and find rest and why beginners don't need to be intimidated by portraiture, here's a snapshot of our interview.

"For me, teaching is about seeing the student have the 'aha' moment, something clicks for them.  I’m very relaxed in my teaching.  I often tell myself 'it’s okay' when I’m not happy with something along the way.  I share that with my students.  It’s okay.  It’s about showing up and trying.  Getting out of our comfort zone, being vulnerable, and getting to a place where we say, 'hey, I made this, it felt great, I want to do it again!'."

Continue reading