For those of us in the northern hemisphere tonight, with the rooster’s crow comes the first day of spring and my personal favorite time of year. For me, nothing says spring like a dogwood tree. When I was growing up there was a dogwood tree outside my bedroom window and nowhere can be found an Easter picture of my family without a dogwood somewhere in the background. With the first day of spring on the horizon I have selected some handmade items, some photography, and a recipe for candied violets, all of which were inspired by the coming season.

[Editors Note] We are simply reporting on the popular styles of the season. We are in no way decking the Tango Echo halls with plaid, which seems to be the ‘to do’ this fall season.

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, plaid is back with a vengeance, and it’s going to stick around through the season.

It’s popping up on jackets, shirts, dresses, scarves, and even shoes. Comb your local thrift store for pieces that were loved the last time plaid was in style. Don’t let that awkward thrift-store fit limit you; if you have a sewing machine, it’s super easy to turn a men’s XXL into a fitted shirtdress for less than a fraction of what you would pay at a chain store.