iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

shel @oleander.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Some progress made today

An unfinished painting of datura flowers on an oval canvas. Only the leaves are complete.

shel @oleander.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I realize I never even introduced you: This is Pearl. She's a Flat Coated Retriever puppy I brought home two months ago to train as my next service dog!

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In other news, Pearl is 18 weeks old now and training is going very well 🐕‍🦺

A woman and a medium-sized black retriever puppy sit with their backs to the camera. They are looking at a pond full of mallard ducks.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Okay fine, I'll start making art again

A messy sketch of datura flowers on an oval canvas

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

And I still haven't been making a lot of art this year, but I did finish this study of a friend's dog a couple weeks back

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Life lately I'm something of a gym bro these days

A woman balancing in a shoulder stand on her acro partner's hips as he holds a bridge position. The flyers legs are in the splits

An aerialist performing a hip key on hammock

An aerialist in an arched position on hammock

An aerialist upside down on an aerial hoop

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Trialed another apparatus tonight. This one may be my new favorite.

A woman positioned on her back within a steel lyra hoop

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Another favorite from our trip was the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Gorgeous museum, amazing collection of art.

A plant-filled courtyard surrounded by 4-story walls with arched windows and a glass roof

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

This piece at the Peabody-Essex was breathtaking to see in person All the Flowers Are for Me" by Anila Quayyum Agha

A light-filled cube in the center of an empty room projects a laser-cut mandala pattern onto the walls, ceiling, and floor

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

My partner and I spent a week in Massachusetts recently. It was so hard to say goodbye to this.

Fog resting on the surface of a pond surrounded by green trees

Fog over a field of purple and gold flowers

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

When my doctor cleared me for "any activity you enjoy and tolerate," I don't think this is what she had in mind. I'm having fun, though.

Side view of a woman hanging in a back bend from aerial silks

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

It was hard to pick a subject to follow yesterday's beach sunset, but I think this egret fits well

A greyscale marker drawing of an egret in flight

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

You know what? I like my second sketch of the day, too.

A sketch of a warbler bird drawn in warm grey alcohol marker, acrylic marker, and graphite pencil

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Really fond of this little sketch from today

A sketch of an African painted dog drawn in warm grey alcohol marker and graphite pencil

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

We did the same thing today 🖤

A black standard poodle laying on his side with one back leg popped up

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Now that my young service dog has just about completed his training, I figured it was time for his first zoo trip. He acted like he had been doing this his whole life. I am so proud.

A black standard poodle sits in front of a sign for the Cincinatti Zoo.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Fun surprise from my caladium today

A white flower emerging from a white and pink-spotted caladium plant

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Long time, no post. Yesterday, I took my boy to his first sporting event - a Wicked-themed dock diving qualifier. Baby dog isn't all that familiar with swimming, so we only did a trial, but he willingly submerged up to his ears to retrieve a floating toy!

A black standard poodle sits in front of a backdrop depicting the winding yellow brick road with a green castle on a hill in the distance

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

A study of one of my local robins

A digital painting of an American Robin in blue, purple, and gold

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

We weren't the only ones taking pictures at the garden center, but we were arguably the cutest.

A photo taken from a distance of a Standard Poodle sitting on a wooden bridge surrounded by plants

A black standard poodle sits on a wooden bridge, backdropped by green plants

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Another 3-mile stroll through nature with my endurance athlete of a service dog today

A faded black standard poodle sits in a grassy field scattered with trees

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Gloomy day for our weekly hike, but everyone else stayed home and we got the whole place to ourselves.

A faded black standard poodle stands in the center of a grassy path through a field. The sky is cloudy and grey.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Conquered a mountain with my best buddy today

A photograph taken from behind of a short-haired woman and her black standard poodle sitting on a large, flat rock formation, overlooking a valley filled with trees

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Drove up to Columbus for Equine Affaire today. Please enjoy this horse sitting on a bean bag.

A dark bay mustang sitting on a large bean bag chair

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

I haven't stopped drawing since I got this tablet

Two sketches - one of a dual-headed lamb skull, and the other of two stag heads locked together via tangled horns - drawn digitally on an iPad

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

My marble queen when I got her in February vs her today. I love to see a happy plant 🪴

A green and white variegated pothos plant in a hanging basket

The same green and white variegated pothos plant in a hanging basket. This time, it is noticeably bushier.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Textures you want to rub your hands on

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I don't follow the "never trim more than 30% of the plant" rule. I'm taking off half of that thing.

A freshly-trimmed wax begonia sitting next to a pile of the growth that was cut off of her. The pile is as large as the plant that is left.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

My partner brought home an extremely overgrown begonia to receive some tlc from me - one major haircut and many consistent waterings later, she looks like an entirely different plant. 🪴

An overgrown wax begonia with many dead leaves. She is very brown in color, with a few scattered pink blooms.

The same wax begonia, after being cared for. She has been majorly cut back, her dead leaves have been removed, and the new growth she has developed is a healthy green.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

She must be really happy in her new location - she's already started on another leaf

A side view of a philodendron white knight. The tip of a new leaf can be seen forming on the stem.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Thank you to my philodendron ring of fire for being such a great model 🐡

A colored pencil drawing of a green and yellow philodendron on grey-blue paper

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Despite my frustrating experience with colored pencil yesterday, I decided to give it a second chance, and... I think I actually really enjoy this?

An unfinished colored pencil drawing of a philodendron plant on textured blue-grey paper

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Cut up my giant philodendron today

Large cuttings of a pink-variegated philodendron

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Did I set myself up for success by picking a style and subject matter I was comfortable with? No. Did I follow my reference image well or get the hang of my materials? No. But did I take my time and remember to pause to stretch so I could finish without hand pain? Also no.

A rough colored pencil sketch of a scorpion on toned tan paper

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Still suffering today, but the weather is nice, so we're suffering outside

A faded black standard poodle sits in a grassy yard

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

The begonias seem pretty happy, too

New leaves growing from the base of a begonia rex

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

I'm opting to stay in bed and start a new book today

A hand holding a copy of Eric Larocca's book "At Dark, I Become Loathsome"

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

She's finally open 🖤 🪴

A newly-unfurled leaf on a philodendron white knight. It is almost perfectly half green, half white.

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Progress progress progress 🪴

An unfurling fenestrated leaf on a monstera thai constellation

An unfurling white leaf on a philodendron white knight

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I finally found a shelf to house the majority of my collection, which means that I now have a lot of available space for new plants 🪴

A tall stairstep shelf filled with various houseplants

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

In my excitement to show off the new plants I found yesterday, I totally forgot to share the gorgeous begonia my partner picked for himself 🪴

An overhead view of a silver and magenta speckled rex begonia

A side view of a silver and magenta speckled rex begonia with green and red undersides

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Two new plants for the collection

A gift box filled with a pink and green begonia and mutated arrow leaf plant

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

He certainly wasn't happy that I felt up to giving him a bath today

A black standard poodle stands soaking wet in a bath tube. His expression could be read as one of betrayal and contempt

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Thai con making some progress, too

A new leaf beginning to form from the stem of a monstera Thai constellation

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

This leaf is going to be so worth the wait

A white leaf emerging from a green philodendron plant

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shel @oleander.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Back to positive plant news: The tradescantia I purchased a number of weeks back, which was completely green at the time, has started to develop some purple

A close up of an iridescent tradescantia plant that has begun to turn purple around the edges and center of the leaves

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