Some days are a whirlwind. Seasons can be that way too. Well, I may have finished my July birth flower bag before the end of July, but August, and September were more of an afterthought this year. I could have pushed it and hastily made “something” before their months were up. However, I felt inclined to wait — wait for them to “sprout when they were ready”.

Creativity is like a flower. It slowly takes root inside you, growing until it breaks the surface, getting stronger until you absolutely need to bring it to fruition. While I won’t blame the other “things” that occupied my time, I will say that they were casting a shadow on my garden patch.

Unlike the adage ‘you reap what you sow’, I have indeed sown the seeds to a garden of leather flowers, and I intend on watching them bloom. So as September days dwindled to a close, I pulled back the shade, turned on my Audible App and closed my studio door. There were Poppies (for August) and Aster’s (for September) to make, and I had been looking forward to them all year.

Creating can be tough on the emotions. Even for the most well practiced artist, feelings of trepidation can easily overtake you in the process. My early periods of laying out a design are usually fraught with indecision. On occasion, the time flies and I’m done before I can give in to the demons of doubt. That was more or less what happened with these last two bags. The indecision period was the wait, and by the time I sat down to make them, I had dreamed them up, over and over again. It was hardly any deciding at all.

First, I found a supple, warm gray leather to make my Poppies on. It was perfect. It contrasted the bright red elk leather I used for the poppy flowers, and it’s a neutral. I decided to make it a standard size that fits most wallets and cell phones with the ability to be worn over your shoulder or hand carry. I knew lining it in red would be just the punch of color those poppies deserved.

When I named the bag I pulled open the ‘Farmer’s Almanac’ page on birth flowers to read about its mythology and folklore. I was immediately struck by the story of how the Greek gods were believed to have given Demeter (goddess of the harvest) poppies to help her sleep. She was distraught when her daughter, Persephone, had been abducted by Hades. And so they say poppies sprung up in the wake of her footsteps. The warm gray leather of the bag is a dreamlike state suitable to Demeter’s woe. The red poppies are a bright reminder of her love for her daughter and the sunny days of summer.

And as the summer came to an end, the Aster’s were blooming in NW Montana. Aster’s in the woods, and along the river reminded me not to forget their sweet loveliness. So, on an incredibly beautiful Sunday romping along the North Fork, I was greeted by her and reminded to tend my garden.

A few days before this I made a bag (also belated) for my sister-in-law’s birthday. It was something new. She wanted a simple bag with just a little something unique. It was in the creation of that bag that I knew I’d be revisiting the design. So, when I sat to make the Aster bag, I decided the best time was now. It was reborn in ivory calf leather, with caramel accents. I adore ivory with my flowers because it creates such great contrast and its smooth for painting, which I did on this bag.

Again the creative process can easily pause here, as putting paint to leather can cause panic. It wasn’t like that at all this time, though. I simply poured the paint, mixed my colors, and made my stems and leaves. It was a happy moment celebrating this happy flower. The blue leather I used for the petals was painted with shades of purple to make it lighter and more realistic. Though, every time I take a picture, it still looks blue. True blue and so friendly, I have looked forward to this bag all year. And so, I will keep tending these flowers, creating, and learning. I hope you enjoy these bags as much as I do. Thanks for visiting my garden!