THE PERSISTENCE OF SUMMER Woven Blankets

Need a little more color in your life? Try on this 100 % pure cotton woven blanket for size. You can hang it on a wall, throw it across the back of your sofa or in your car for a charming picnic spread. Each blanket is woven in vibrantly dyed yarn from 195 color combinations with the backing made a mirror image color negative of the front to bring one of Jennifer S. Levine's original paintings to life. The blanket is washed after weaving. The yarn contracts for a firm hold. Then, the piece is finished with a 2 IN fringe to prevent fraying and frame the design. Due to the process, size can vary + / - .5 / 1 IN.

Machine wash in cold water. Mild detergent. Gentle cycle. Do not bleach or wring.

ABOUT THE PAINTING

THE PERSISTENCE OF SUMMER: Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 30 IN.

When I was a kid, summer was the most magical season swimming between the pool in the backyard and lapping waves against the dock at the lake. It’s funny the things you remember and forget as the years slip by, especially when you’ve been long gone from the halcyon days of childhood and far removed from the lifestyle of your home state of mind.

In Texas, life revolved around backyard BBQs, piñon wood fires, beach towels and swimsuits. It’s not that Colorado is so different for the outdoors. It’s just different. Drives to a lake or reservoir usually involve a switchback or two with crisp mountains on the western horizon. When people tell ya to go take a hike, they usually mean clearing your head with rocky trails and evergreens. Parks are flooded with Canadian geese and picnicking. It’s a wonderful life, no matter which way ya slice it but there are days my pixelated memories of childhood are missed and I’d just enjoy floating in my parents’ pool, counting clouds while splashing away the clumps of purple Crape Myrtle leaves, until getting called in to decide what’s for dinner.