OnKeepingThingsBare

Decemberiswhenthestudioexhales.Theweddingseasonisbehindus,theholidayordersarefinished,andwhatremainsisaroomfullofemptyvesselsandonegoodpairofshears.Westriptheshelves,sweepthefloors,andletthespacebespare.

Thereisakindofbeautythatonlyappearswhenyoustopfillingtheframe.Asinglebranchofcontortedhazelinanarrow-neckedbottle.Driedpoppyseedpods,stilldustywithfrost,standinginarowonthewindowsill.Noteverymonthneedsabundance.Sometimesrestraintisthemostgenerousthing—ittruststheviewertofindwhatisthere.