The ladybugs enjoy the garden. Hi Reader, I've been a hermit for the past few months and I have to admit, it's been glorious. It's been boring, quiet, and uneventful. When I was young that would have been a nightmare but now that I'm getting older and rarely have quiet moments. It's a kind of paradise. I'm wondering how you're doing these days. Have you been giving yourself boring moments? I've spent hours sitting on my sunny porch just staring into nothing. I don't know if that's the reason...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It's a foggy morning day today. It felt like I was driving inside a cloud on my way to my daughter's school. We pretended we were inside a cloud for fun, humor and playing pretend are the best ways to stay connected and happy (possibly with anyone at any age). I have to admit, I'm not a natural morning person and find it easier to stay up late. However, having the responsibility of being the morning routine leader or "boss" has forced me to be better at being a "morning person."...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, We're inching closer and closer to the new year. Sheesh! Did it fly by for you too? I managed to move across states and finally participated in more in-person art events. I have a tiny and cozy home with a workspace by a big window. My indie shop is finally coming together after a decade of it falling apart. So many wishes granted. What were your goals for this year? Do you usually choose a specific milestone to focus on each year? Or do you wing it? I've learned over the years...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Archival Prints About Newsletter Hi Reader, As an artist and parent, I've had to juggle full-time parenting and working full-time for about three years. I have the grey hairs to prove it! I've done all the things possible to protect my mind from the stress of it all (self-care, therapy, journaling, finding support) but it's still a challenging experience to go through. Our minds can only handle so much before it becomes "too much." I like to share what it's like to offer comfort that hard...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Indigo Bunting, Gouache, marker on watercolor paper, 2024 Hi Reader I hope the warmer weather has found you lately. It's back to 30 degrees here. If you ever visit the Nashville/Tennessee area during "winter" months. Make sure to pack shorts and heavy jackets because one day will feel like summer and the next your nose will burn from the cold wind. Variety is the spice of life always keeping things interesting. :) I wanted to say hello and wish you a smooth flow into March.At the moment, I'm...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
A Behind-the-Scenes Journal SUBSCRIBE SHOP SHARE JANUARY 2024 Creative Sparks! LetterRelaxing & Nourishing Creative MomentsFrom Our Studio Hi Reader The snow has melted and it has been replaced by rainy days. They were fun while they lasted. Rainy days are my favorite kind of day. What better time to sit down for a few minutes to reflect on our hopes and our dreams? Have you been listening to some rain sounds? Back in 2022, I shared how I replaced music with a variety of rain sounds...
over 2 years ago • 1 min read
behind-the-scenes into nourishing creativity (Amidst the wildness of everyday life) SUBSCRIBE SHOP SHARE Dear Reader I hope you're getting settled into the new year. My wish is that it may be a year filled with moments of creativity and simplicity for you. Every new year, the norm is to push ourselves to make piles of goals that end up making us feel pressured and stressed. For the next Creative Sparks! letter, I'll share a way to make plans without all the anxiety and stress of planning. I...
over 2 years ago • 3 min read
Issue #19 PIECES OF AUGUST, 2023 Dear Reader, I'm looking out my new window and smiling at the rain cutting through the morning air. Did I take out the trash? Is the laundry dry? What's next on my agenda? Those worries melt away as I watch the gentle drizzle scatter when it hits the ground. I love the feeling of "newness." I wish I could capture it in a bottle. That first sigh of contentment, those gentle butterflies in the stomach. I want to remember those feelings years from now when...
almost 3 years ago • 3 min read
DRAW GROW SMILE Issue #18 it's the little things Dear Reader, In the last couple of months, I made a big move. I happily said goodbye to the big city of Nashville and hello to the rolling hills, wild turkeys, and beavers of rural Tennessee. It may not be forever but it will be home for the next few years. I'm still buried by boxes but I wanted to say hello. Here are little things that I'm grateful for right now during this major shift: Limited optionsEverything I usually use for my artwork is...
almost 3 years ago • 2 min read