For the past few years, I had heard about a talented book artist named Carolyn Whitesel. When we finally caught up with each other a little more than a year ago, she was on her way to the Chicago Botanic Garden to complete a horticultural internship.

        When one of her students reminded me that Ms. Whitesel had returned, I eagerly called to see if I could see her work.

        I was welcomed into an artist's home and garden. All around were the things she loves: a mosaic kitchen table; tiles that were gifts from friends, displayed in a turquoise kitchen where we sipped tea; a garland of whimsical tin figures made by another friend who works with terminally ill children; yellow ceramic birds here and there, perhaps a symbol of Yellow Bird Editions, the name of her business.

GARDEN ART

Carolyn Whitesel will offer eight classes, beginning April 2. Each will run 6:30-9 p.m. on Monday or Thursday. Classes will involve making note cards, pop-up paper topiary cards and a gardener's seed book; sketching garden plants; garden writing in journals; and binding a garden journal. A teacher's workshop also will be offered.     Fee: $18 per class. Prepaid registration required.     Information and registrations: 471-2377.

        All of these playful pieces are delightfully displayed in her charming Price Hill home, which is surrounded by hillside gardens getting ready to awaken to spring.

        Besides being an accomplished artist, Ms. Whitesel is a horticulturist and garden designer. Her biggest challenge, she says, is how to take all of her passion for bookmaking, poetry, illustration and horticulture and find the best way to express it.

        Ms. Whitesel shows me some of her work. Bound in one book are nearly 40 drawings — in colored tinsel on black drawing paper — completed at Krohn Conservatory over a month and a half of daily visits one winter.

        Another book holds drawings of large callas accompanied by her poetry. A tiny book sits in a matchbox, with miniature drawings of topiary. Another cover of a book is decorated with stamps she has made from leaf and plant motifs.

        I feel homemade paper with touches of artemesia. Garden journals hold plant record forms, envelopes for seeds or pressed plants, heavier pages for photos and graph paper for planning a new garden.

        The best part is that Ms. Whitesel has opened her home to students. In April, she will offer a series of classes specifically for those who love gardening and want to express that in bookmaking projects.

        For a complete list of local classes, workshops or gardening events,subscribe to Gardener's Network, a 28-page publication for Tristategardeners. 542-2466; www.gardenersnetwork.org.
       
       

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