It's the Simple Things....

I wanted my first blog to be one that would help you see a bit inside of me. So much of what I will feature going forward will be more reflective of what I create and the environment that I create in, so I thought it was important that this one be more personal. Hopefully my future stories will allow you to get to know me through my work, but this one is going to be more of an introduction. So ... hello!

Where to begin? Let's go back in time to when things were simple ... I would say I was a pretty feral child. My bedtime story was The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. We were nomadic and rarely stayed in one place too long. As a young child, home was often an off-grid cabin in the woods. This is where a little girls imagination could flourish amongst the giant trees and moss covered ground. Perfect fairy territory. With evergreen filtered sunlight and the sounds of song birds. These were some of my happiest early memories.

But art ... when did my love of color begin? I would have to say that was also a very early memory. I remember we were visiting a family friend. Her home was a quaint fairy cottage (in my childhood imagination that is). A simple wooden cabin tucked amongst the trees. This family friend also happened to be a very talented stained glass artist. As a young child I really didn't appreciate that SHE was the creator of the magic. The magic that one morning captivated my heart, sung to my soul, and left a memory so warm that it would carry through a lifetime. We had stayed the night, so I awoke in the morning with those first soft rays of sunshine pouring through her artwork. My innocent drowsy eyes opened to a room, already made cozy by the warmth from her wood stove, but made magical by the colors that danced around the room. Her talent and the suns glory sparked a love of color in me that I will never forget.

Those early childhood memories of living feral amongst the trees and forest souls, and that magical fairy cottage deep in the woods ... that was home to me. So, although my adult life took me through twists and turns, a rewarding career in aviation, the privilege of being a wife to an amazing husband, and the mother of a beautiful son .... I always wanted to return to the simple things. As a team, my husband and I made that happen.

For decades I painted nature, I worked with color in all mediums of art, I vacationed in mountains and emersed myself in the forest whenever I got the chance ... all to stay connected to that magic. Until we finally found that magic in our own forested piece of property.

Now my artistic creative side has full rein. My need to be surrounded by animals and nature is fulfilled each and every day.

My goal for this chapter in my life, is to create and share. To help, and to inspire others to reconnect with themselves so they too can discover, appreciate, and find peace ... with the simple things.