Riders on the Storm

Jim Morrison for my mom. She had a huge crush on him. Also her office doesn't have a window so I figured this would be a much nicer thing to look at than an empty wall.

Love in a Blanket

Being in a long-distance relationship is one of the toughest situations a young couple can find themselves in. I know, because four out of my last four relationships were long distance for a period longer than a year. It sucks. My mom, who was in a long distance relationship with my dad for the two years before they were married, always says, "You've got Facebook! FaceTime! Skype! You kids have got it easy!" It's a double-edged sword. Is it great that Peter and I can get together and watch an episode of Freaks and Geeks on FaceTime together? Sure. But I'm so hyper-conscious and hyper-informed of his comings, his goings, his parties, his shows, new friends...sometimes I'm not sure if we've made it easier on ourselves. In some ways those updates only emphasize his absence and our distance from each other. So every tangible thing we can do to feel close to each other takes on a value of tenfold importance.

Enter the blanket.

Dodger podger!

A portrait of Dodger for me Mum.

Sweet Bluebonnet Spring

This was the pillow I made for my mom last Christmas. She and my dad have been thinking of places to retire, and if they decide to move out of Texas I wanted her to have a little keepsake of one of her favorite things about this state: the bluebonnet. There's nothing quite like driving down the highway and seeing these pretty little white-tipped heads bobbing to and fro in the sweet spring breeze every year. Then, of course, after the two weeks of spring the temperature cranks up like a gas oven and the red ants swarm all over everything and anything that is remotely pretty or green or alive withers up and turns brown until the two weeks of spring the following year.

Ah, Texas.