From Shore to Gallery: How a Tiny Bird Inspired My Latest Collection
I’ve been creating nature-inspired designs through my shop, Posh Tide, for about 5 years, but I don’t always know where the next spark of inspiration will come from. This past year, it came from an unexpected message, and a tiny, tenacious shorebird.
A few months ago, I received a message to my Posh Tide shop from Carolyn L., president of the Lake County Audubon Society. “Can you help us with the endangered birds on our shoreline, the piping plovers?” I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but that conversation changed everything.
Carolyn introduced me to a pair of piping plovers named Pepper and Blaze, who have raised several clutches together on the beaches of Waukegan, Illinois. Their names reflect the plants of their shoreline ecosystem, a detail that immediately captured my imagination as an illustrator and designer. This past year, a sole surviving chick from a clutch of four was named Aster, after the wildflower. Tough little Aster has become a symbol of hope for the recovery of the Great Lakes piping plovers, and honestly, she became a symbol of something for me too.
The Audubon Society’s dedication and deep love for these birds moved me. I knew I wanted to create something worthy of their story. I began work on a new design dedicated to the Great Lakes piping plovers, weaving in the flora of the region such as the pepper weed, the rough blazing star and more, with special attention to Blaze, Pepper, and their resilient offspring, Aster. The scarf designs feature the growth of Aster from egg to chick to fledgling, to adult.
When I was invited to hang a couple of pieces in the Lake County Audubon Society’s show at the College of Lake County’s Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, I won’t pretend I didn’t hesitate. It was a leap of faith, both in how I could produce the work as well as transport it to Illinois. But I said yes, and I’m so glad I did.
My family and friends donated their travel points to help me get to Illinois to see the show in person. It was an experience I didn’t expect to move me as much as it did. The gallery was filled with the work of incredibly talented artists, all united by a shared love of the shoreline and the remarkable creatures that call it home. From photos that captured exquisite moments in nature, to sculptures and paintings, I left feeling genuinely inspired, not just as an artist, but as someone who cares deeply about the natural world.
If there’s one thing this experience reminded me, it’s that wonder is often just next door. The wild, extraordinary creatures we share this planet with, like tiny, fierce little Aster, are out there, living their lives, if we take a moment to look. I hope my work brings a little of that world into your home.
Check out the links below to learn more about the Lake County Audubon Society and the Great Lakes piping plovers, and visit Posh Tide to see the collection!
https://www.lakecountyaudubon.org/
https://www.clcillinois.edu/community/gallery
https://poshtide.com/collections/piping-plover-special-collection