Five Thoughts for April

Happy April Everyone!

Here are some of the things I'm looking forward to:

1. The Cherry Blossom Trees 

Pink trees are a sight to behold! These trees flower before growing their leaves. In Japan, the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival is called "Sakura" and people travel from near and far to appreciate this brief season by viewing them ("Hanami").

I have yet to visit Japan for this reason, but closer to where I live in the U.S. East Coast, we can visit Branch Brook Park (New Jersey), The New York Botanical Garden (Bronx), The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.  

It's a good excuse to slow down and be one with nature, take pictures, and even create some art...TADA!

2. Art Inspired by Spring Blossoms

I've been seeing a lot of spring blossoms in the neighborhood and they inspired me to make these postcards...TADA! They started as watercolor paintings, then I cut them out and glued them to printed card stock. I'll be sending these to my penpals very soon. 

3. Joann Fabric and Craft Store is Closing 😞

The retail chain Joann has filed for bankruptcy and I think it's blah. It wasn't too long ago that A.C. Moore also shuttered its doors. These craft stores are such happy places for me, it makes me sad that they really struggled in the current economic environment. I stopped by two weekends ago to say goodbye.

While most of the merchandise has been wiped out, I was able to find a few items I really needed. Joann was my go-to spot for fabric and sewing supplies. It was bittersweet to step out of the store for the very last time. Thank you for the craft materials and all the memories, Joann! 

4. A Simple Joy

I'm all about finding joy in the everyday and I really try to pay attention: feeling the sunshine and the breeze, receiving a letter from a friend in the mail, having leftovers in the fridge, and little treats like a coffee with pretty latte art (I'm aware that not everyone has this skill). These joys definitely turn my day from blah to TADA!

5. Indie Bookstore Day 

Indie Bookstore Day is celebrated on the last Saturday of April (April 26) and I'm all for it! Let's keep reading new books (or old books) and support the businesses in our neighborhood. Their success is the community's success.

April heralds the start of spring and I wish all of you fresh beginnings!

*****

You may subscribe here if you'd like my future blog posts delivered straight to your inbox and you can follow me on Instagram for more crafty ideas.