I’ve been traveling a lot for family needs these past 8 months and have had a lot of road time. Road time/drive time means thinking time since my trips have been along the same routes over and over again. I’m not complaining. I’m thankful I’ve been able to go and help where needed. We tease in our family that I have gypsy blood in my veins and like to keep traveling. This is somewhat true, it seems. I COULD have gypsy blood in my veins, a restless spirit but more likely, I enjoy new sights, fresh inspiration and seeing family.

As I drive throughout Minnesota during the various seasons, old routes look incredibly different throughout the seasons. Autumn colors give way to the clean, crisp colors (or lack of color) of winter and right now, the dreary mud season of early spring.

I like to take this time of year to look ahead on my calendar to plan rug schools I’d like to attend, people I’d like to gather with for a retreat or two and also rugs I’d like to draw and hook. That’s the focus of my April planning. Do you have a sense of new adventures, projects, color palettes, patterns in the spring? New home projects, new classes, retreats and gatherings to plan with friends and family? Just like the tips of tulips and daffodils poking through the leaf mold, new energy for experimentation with colors and pattern creep into my day.

We have days where it’s not fit to be outside enjoying the weather yet so I hope you give yourself time to start a rug design wish list for the upcoming year, new styles, new palettes, experimenting with color combinations. Doodle it, list it and reread it. Spring is definitely coming and we all need rug adventures to look forward to.