bspoke

For those of you who have been around for awhile, you may remember that I grew up in the northwoods of Minnesota, and that my winter sport of choice was dogsledding. For those who are new to the blog, let me elaborate. My parents and I actually owned and operated a dogsledding adventure business that catered to those brave souls who wanted to experience a day on the runners of a dogsled. I spent many winters guiding trips in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area, as well as handling for my dad who raced sleddogs competitively. He competed in many races, including the John Beargrease, the UP200, the Can Am Crown, and most notably, the Iditarod, an 1100 mile race across Alaska. Let me summarize by saying that there was never a dull moment during my teen years… it was always an adventure! After I went to college, my parents sold the sleddogs and went on to pursue other activities.

Even though my parents don’t have the dogsledding business anymore, I still manage to get behind a team of dogs at least once a year. Each winter, in January or February, I grab a group of friends and head back home to give them a taste of the true north. We stay at my parents log cabin, and then spend a day treking through the beautiful wilderness atop the runners of a sled, accompanied only by the sound of the wind in the trees and the panting of the dogs. It’s amazingly tranquil, and at the same time, it is absolutely exilarating. I snapped this picture a couple years back, as our group was crossing a small frozen lake, about to stop and break for lunch. You can see the teams along the trail, and the amazing beauty that surrounds us.

If you happen to be in the northern region of Minnesota and want to give doglsedding a try, I would reccommend calling Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips. They do a wonderful job, and I can personally give them a big thumbs up. In large part, because they are family! My husband’s little brother got his start in the sport by working for my family during the years we owned dogs. Today they run this top-notch operation that caters to families who want to give the sport a try.

Now back to the palette… I love these colors because of their energetic, active vibe. The contrast of the pure white, with the dark black and the vibrant blue sets the tone for a palette that makes one feel awake and alive!

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Perhaps it’s because I grew up in the northwoods, among the towering pines, or maybe because I have an affinity for nature-inspired textures; either way, I love pine cones. Several months ago, I dedicated an entire Sketchbook to pinecones. And this month, you will notice that the new header features a branch of pinecones. I’m not sure exactly why I like them so much, but I know that I like their woody, warm scent, and the cylindrical shape and pattern they create. I also like the variation in brown tones that they have. This image shows the range of browns, from a honey-like gold color, to a warm, reddish hue, to a deep, rich black-brown.

What nature-inspired items do you gravitate towards? Shells? Leaves? Perfectly smooth stones?

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Happy Friday everyone! I’m here to share this lovely palette with you, and a flashback image from my travels in Europe a few years back. I love the contrast of subtle neutrals and bright, bold pops of color that appear here. I remember wandering the streets of London and finding this flower market tucked away beyond the “touristy” areas. I think if I lived in a city with such a sweet little flower shop, I would treat myself to a bouquet a week… just something bright and fresh to cheer up any cloudy day.

I’m so looking forward to this weekend. I have plenty of chores to do, but I am also ready to spend some time with my husband and relax and prepare for company arriving next week. If you have some extra time today, head over to the The Sweetest Occasion. Cyd contacted me awhile back and is featuring my Autumn Flavors party on her blog today! Thanks Cyd!!

I hope you all have a great weekend… ssee you Monday!

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Perhaps it’s the excessive number of gray days we’ve had in the past few weeks, but lately I’ve really been dreaming about the warm, long days of summer. Oh, the joys of lazy afternoons on the boat, flip-flops, golden brown skin, veggies from the garden and an abundance of fresh fruit at the farmer’s market.

I was looking through old photos and happened upon this shot from a trip the hubby and I took to the North Carolina in July of 2007. While driving from Norfolk, Virginia to the Outer Banks, we stopped at a roadside stand that was just bursting with ripe, delicious fruit. We bought a couple trays and spent the rest of the drive eating our purchases and trying to hide our berry-stained fingers.

To me this palette has the right balance of playfulness, with a touch of dark plum to keep it grown up and slightly moody. Perfect for a teen’s bedroom or maybe a fun, alternative wedding!

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