Zone 8 | Spring 2025

I recently finished the Spring edition of my zine Zone 8. It features lots of nature photography, Spring in the south is one of my favorite times of year! The weather is amazing and all the plants start to come back to life. Also included in this issue are drawings from my sketchbook done during the winter and Spring. I thought I would share a biscuit recipe too, I was surprised how easy they are to make. You can take a virtually flip through a condensed version of the zine here. In two days it will be summer! After 8 years here in the Southeast, I have realized that it’s best not to fight the heat and instead roll with it.

Sambas Everywhere

I went to NYC and all I saw was Sambas. Just kidding I saw a lot more but almost every other person had a pair of Sambas on. I sat for a while in Madison Square Park and people watched, I found it funny that 90% of the conversations were people complaining about boyfriends, girlfriends, co-workers and family members. I guess the trip could have a titled “Drama in Sambas”.

The Many Shades of Sambas

Where Nature is Nice

This year starts the eighth year of living in Charlotte. The one thing I enjoy everyday here is the nature. Matt and I talk often about where else in the United States we would want to live. We have not come up with a place yet but I am sure we will eventually. When I think about what I will miss about Charlotte if we do move away it’s the nature. I often chuckle at the city’s slogan “Charlotte’s Got a Lot” because I don’t think it does, I have found it to be just one big suburb with lot’s of nature and endless options for grocery stores.

Zone Eight-Issue 1

I made a zine called Zone Eight. Creating a zine has been on my to do list for many years, so I am quite happy that I finally followed through. The name comes from the planting zone of where I live, which is Zone Eight. It’s a collection of photographs and illustrations from the year so far, ranging from our garden, my surroundings and my favorite beverages. Now I get to start working on the the next issue. Check out the full zine here!

Grackles a Plenty

The summer has been flying by and it’s been a hot one. I am already for Fall to arrive so I can not melt every time I go outside. Though this summer has been good for bird watching, in early June there were a lot of Grackles hanging around. They are unassuming at first and then you notice their iridescent feathers. I tried to capture their essence in this drawing but I find them very hard to draw. Next on my list to draw is a Hawk or a humming bird, or maybe I will draw a food item. So many things to draw so little time!