Garfield Park Conservatory

Earlier this month I made a short trip to Chicago that included time at Garfield Park Conservatory. Before this trip, the last time I was there was in 2007. Here's a little blast from the past from that trip.

And now onto the photos from the April 2013 trip. Enjoy.

The conservatory had a Chihuly exhibit a while back and bought this set for their permanent collection.

 

What have you been photographing lately?

working on spring and summer articles

A few times a year, I like to put out a call for seasonal article ideas. Seasonal and holiday articles have been huge for me on HubPages, and I'm not planning to stop writing them any time soon. While I rarely have a shortage of ideas, I also like to want to know what people are interested in reading and if there are new trends that I should be covering. I have gotten some wonderful article suggestions from readers the past year such as Tailgating Party Ideas and Tips: Food, Recipes, Supplies, Decorations, and More (thanks, Edi!) and want to keep that door open.

I have started a few new article series already this spring.

Spring Themes and Units for Preschool, Pre K, and Kindergarten: Lesson Plans, Activities, and Crafts

A woman who used to work for an educational publishing company told me that this article is great and could easily be fleshed out into an ebook, which was a huge ego boost. I'm not sure that will happen in the near future, but it got me thinking.

Easy Homemade Mother's Day Craft Project Ideas: Button Projects

I'm sure it's not a surprise that I love writing about button crafts. On a whim, I started searching for seasonal and holiday button projects one day. There are a lot out there, so I'm going with it. I've also written an Easter themed button craft article.

Washi Tape Craft Project Ideas for Mother's Day

Everywhere you look these days online, there are washi tape projects. I have some non-seasonal ideas washi tape ideas planned already. However, with the Easter traffic long gone, I'm really ramping up my seasonal content this month so I published this article first.

This is not new for the spring, but I've also had a couple new seasonal and holiday photography series going this past year.

Spring Photography Props and Photo Shoot Ideas

Here are a few more examples of my existing spring and summer articles.

Fresh Homemade Lemonade Recipes

Alcoholic Popsicle Recipes: How to Make Popsicle Margaritas, Cocktails, and More

Spring Crafts for Kids: Easy, Fun Ideas

Fourth of July Desserts: Easy Patriotic Recipes

Things to Do in Milwaukee for Mother's Day: Brunch Specials and More

What do you want to see for the remainder of the spring and the summer?

I am most interested in ideas relating to teaching/education, crafts, photography, holidays/other seasonal topics, food/cooking, and Milwaukee, but I am always open to other suggestions. Some of my highest traffic articles are out of my norm, such as Frugal Storage Ideas for Small Homes: Creative, Unique Organization Methods. (I know that isn't a seasonal topic, but it's the first thing that came to mind.)

Where I Linked Up Today:

downtown Wauwatosa

I haven't been getting out to take photos lately nearly as often as I'd like, thanks to the ridiculous weather. However, I've been doing what I can when I can. I took these pictures in downtown Wauwatosa during a short detour on my way home from elsewhere at the beginning of the month. Enjoy.

What have you been photographing lately?

Treasury Round Up - 4/21/13

It's been another couple good weeks of treasuries! Please help me thank these wonderful curators by visiting their collections and checking out their shops.

Edi (memoriesforlifesb) included my Beaded Bangle Bracelet Purple in her Thank You 2 :) treasury to thank fellow Etsians who had included her work in treasuries or commented on her blog recently. She found a lot of lovely picks in blues and purples. Check out her Fern Plant Wooden Post Earring Studs.

Trina (trinasclaycreations) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet - Fringed - Champagne Party Light Brown Blue in her Birds Singing in the April Rain treasury. This collection has such a soft spring palette. Check out Trina's Dove Birds Wedding Cake Topper.

Margaret (SplendidLittleStars) included my Beaded Bracelet - The Leaf Series - Spring II in her Spring green and blossom pink treasury. This is one of my all-time favorite color combinations. It's perfect for spring. Check out Margaret's Moss Green Light Turquoise Blue Silk Scarf.

Ayla (Eyelah) included my Beaded Bracelet Purple Button in her Yellow and Purple treasury. This is such a whimsical, romantic collection. Check out Ayla's Ready to Ship Mustard Yellow Linen Clutch Handbag with floral lining.

LeAnn (pasqueflower) included my Beaded Pendant - Peyote Triangle - Spring Green in her Celebrate Arbor Day April 26 treasury. Many of you know how much I love earthy collections that include lots of leaves. Check out LeAnn's Oven Mitt - Green and White Chevrons.

Paige (OhNostalgiaDesigns) included my Beaded Bracelet - Button Embellished - Girly Purple Pink Red in her Cupcake Party treasury. I'm ready to go to this adorable cupcake party! Check out Paige's Turquoise Earrings - stone, nature, boho, simple, small.

I also curated my own treasury this week: Red and Gray for Spring. It is extremely rare that I work with or wear this color combination, but it has really appealed to me lately.

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