Flowers for Mother's Day {illustration}

So, this illustration wasn't actually done for Mother's Day - it ran last month on April 2nd. But I thought it was perfectly pretty to put up here in honor of Mother's Day. The featured plant is a Phlomis or Jerusalem Sage. I've never seen one in person, but the pictures I worked from were just beautiful. Nan Sterman writes the Water Wise features for the Home and Garden section of the Union-Tribune. She often supplies me with her own stunning photos to use as reference - thanks, Nan! See her blog Plant Soup for some great info on changing your gardens to be more "water-wise."

My husband and I have been doing just that. It's been a slow process, but we have added a dessert garden to our front yard and are adding a huge bed of succulents to the back yard as well. Ninety-five percent of our potted plants are succulents now too. I love how easy they are to keep alive and propagate into new plants as well.

And that brings me back around to Mother's Day. Children aren't as easy to raise as succulents, but the joy they bring is something I never could quite imagine until I experienced it myself. If I brought my own mother half of what I feel for my own son, I know she was the happiest mother on earth. I certainly know I was the happiest daughter while I had her around. Happy Mother's Day.

Only one month until Mother's Day!

We printed a new Mother's Day card a few weeks ago. I was working on a wedding invitation with this daisy and got inspired. I really love how the green and yellow turned out. The little accent on the back is actually an extension of the daisy on the front. This design lets us print two cards per full sheet of paper and not waste any paper when we cut them in half. I love being able to get a bleed without waste! (A bleed is when a design runs off the page.) Don't forget your mom this year! Or in my case, I shouldn't forget my "mom-friends" and sisters. Thirty days and counting!

Happy Mother's Day

I can't believe this Sunday is my first mother's day. My mother died when I was 17 and I stopped paying much attention to Mother's Day after that. Now, wow, it's a big deal to me. I really love this card by Dutch Door Press with the guitar. I would love to receive it. More than that, I would love to give it to all three of my older sisters for standing in for my mother all these years. I would also save one for my younger sister who will be a mom herself before the year is up. Sisters, you totally rock! Happy Mother's Day to you all.