Dear Reader,

While the weather in springtime is something I could do without, the symbolism of the season is a thing of beauty. Spring is nature awakening after a dark, dormant winter. It’s when the animals wake up from hibernation, the trees bloom with color, and the first flowers stretch out of the ground towards the warmth and the sunlight. Even though this rebirth and renewal happens every year, it always reminds me that life is full of possibilities even through the dark times. After the dormancy of winter, watching growth spring to life all around is a reminder that there is always hope for a fresh start and new opportunities.

Spring is a season of change with a constant flow of energy. I think it makes it the perfect time of year to shed some bad habits and focus on new growth.

What would I like to release?

• Unnecessary worrying

• Always doing everything by myself and almost never asking for help.

• The need to constantly be working and keeping my hands busy. Some of that is related to creative energy that needs to get out, but it’s also a way for me to calm my anxiety. I think maybe I’m going to start setting aside more time to not work on the weekends. Or perhaps, maybe I won’t work at all. The not working at all part might be difficult, so I’ll just take it one step at a time.

  Planting seeds and watching them grow

  Even after all these years of having a garden, I’m still in awe when I see the seeds I planted start to grow. The minute I see that little bit of fragile green sprouting out of the dirt, I’m mystified. It’s like I’m some sort of magician. Suddenly I’ve created life, with the help of nature. It gets me every time. Eating the plants I’ve grown and using them medicinally also still marvels me. I feel a kinship with the plants and the earth. And I love that I’m doing something here in 2026 that people have done for millennia, and for the most part, not much has changed over time. I feel a connection to the earth and my ancestors that grounds me.

  Having a garden and tending to it, is basically a metaphor for life. If we truly care for and nurture our plants, chances are that they will grow up and flourish. But, it’s always a gamble. Plants can be lost along the way and maybe your seeds never sprout. Perhaps the weather is bad, or maybe the plants don’t like the soil. Last year I lost a lot of my herbs due to the excessively warm days. Some of my more delicate herbs just literally dried up, even though I watered every day. And, my beautiful lavender plant that has come back strong every season, did not survive this year. It lived a long life and provided me with many beautiful healing flowers that I’ve used in different ways over the years. So, I pulled it out of the soil and a new lavender plant will take its place. I still have a large jar of dried fragrant flowers. Life is unpredictable, and no amount of planning or good intentions can change that. No matter how hard you try, sometimes things just don’t work out. Maybe it’s because you should have done things differently. But sometimes, things are just out of your control. Even so, you keep showing up and you keep trying your best, knowing that you’re always taking a chance on the outcome. Gardening is messy just like life, but it nourishes the soul and the mind. Every time we see those plants growing and thriving it feels so good. And when some of them don’t make it, we weather the storm (pun intended) because we know that we can always try again.

  I can’t wait to make a list of all of the plants that will go in my gardens this year. Pretty soon I’ll be prepping them and digging my hands in the dirt. This is my happy place, because it’s so healing to be among the earth and the plants. I know that soon enough I’ll be busy harvesting and running the dehydrator all day long. It’s hard work. But, the rewards are infinite.

  I truly appreciate all of you who choose to be here and read my newsletter.

  xo,

  Christa

  Last week at a glance

• I made a bunch of paper clay beads that I turned into necklaces.

  

• I paid my booth fees for my upcoming shows.

• I made more small paper clay bowls that I listed on the website. I plan on making more, which I will have available online, in the studio, and at my upcoming shows.

  

• I decided that I wanted to make wall art with the paper clay and I have a ton of ideas.

• I finished up some patches.

• We walked walked downtown with friends to get ice cream

• My nettle is already starting to grow. If anyone would like any dried nettle please let me know. I dry so much of it and I have more than I need.

  

• My lemon balm is coming in as well.

• We met up with an online friend (that my oldest had been talking with for over a year) and her family downtown on Saturday. They came for the Zenkaikon convention. They were lovely people and both the adults and the kids had a great time. The costumes were amazing.

• On Sunday, my husband and I totally forgot that we missed an art show at West Art that we were planning on attending Saturday evening.

• We did some spring cleaning.

• I made a new dress that I listed in the website. It’s also available in the studio as well.

  

• I saw a car that was covered with bumper stickers of sports teams only, with the exception of one Mary Poppins bumper sticker. I thought that was totally random and I loved it.

  Upcoming shows

• April: Odd One’s Bizarre

• May: Landis Valley Herb and Garden Faire

  Links

  Email: wildchildfibers@gmail.com

  Website: https://www.wildchildfibers.com

  If you’re in Marietta, you can find my work at

  River Pearl Studio.

  Book a shopping appointment: here

  Anytime 20% off discount in the online store for subscribers