Starting where I am…

Starting where I am…

Starting where I am… In an apt metaphor for everything else in my life, I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to start really writing and documenting my skoolie story. I wanted to start at the beginning and tell the story in the proper order… but if I wait until I really have time to sit down and write it all, it will never happen. So let’s just start, shall we? I’ll start where I am and go backwards and forwards in the story until I catch up. If I catch up. So it’s Monday, August 1, 2022 and I’m drinking my coffee and looking out the window of my bus at the cardboard graveyard next door. One of the questions I get asked most about living in a bus is where I’m going to park it. Fortunately for me, my friend (and fellow fabulous artist) Ruth Baggett has a gorgeous commercial building turned home with a giant parking lot. She parks her camper there and has a 30 amp outlet that I can use when she doesn’t need it. It’s the perfect setup for giving me a place to park, giving Rocket her two dogs to play with, and giving us plenty of time to sit outside and talk about art! We have an arrangement that I pay her a small amount monthly and I can park in her lot whenever I’m in town. Right now that’s all the time, but hopefully in about three weeks I’ll be able to hit the road! The other most asked question is where I’ll go for my first trip. My plan...
You’re doing what?

You’re doing what?

You’re doing what? Mazatlán, Mexico Yes, I’m selling my house and the majority of my stuff and I’m going to live in a skoolie. What’s a skoolie? It’s an old school bus that’s been converted into an RV, or if you prefer, a tiny house on wheels. Why am I doing this crazy awesome thing? Well, I’ll tell you. First, I’ve been fascinated with tiny houses since I first heard about them. I’ve been following Instagram accounts and reading articles and fantasizing about them since the minute I learned that they exist! But I never seriously considered buying/building one for myself. I’d say, well yes, I could live in one, but I’d need a second one for my art supplies and a third one for all of my books! Second, I love to travel. I love to go somewhere new for a month or two or three and not be a tourist, but really get a feel for what it was like to live there. The first time I did that was in college, when I spent six months studying art in Cortona, Italy. All I had with me was what I could bring on an airplane. I loved every minute of it and never wanted to leave. The next time I did something similar was when I was working for IBM and they sent me to Paris for over a month. I had a suitcase and a backpack and moved from hotel to hotel within the city. I did it again (twice!) in Mazatlan, Mexico. The first time in 2006 (I think?) where I spent three months there...
Say hello to South Dakota’s state flower, the Pasque.

Say hello to South Dakota’s state flower, the Pasque.

Say hello to South Dakota’s state flower, the Pasque. It’s also called the May Day flower, prairie crocus, wind flower, easter flower and meadow anemone. The state insect is, you guessed it, a honeybee. I’ve used the same three or four bees multiple times, so I need to draw a new one to go with this...
Trying a new vendor for large canvas prints.

Trying a new vendor for large canvas prints.

Trying a new vendor for large canvas prints. This is an 8×8 inch test for quality before I order a 48 inch canvas. The quality is great. Can’t wait to see it huge! P.S. I cheated on this one. Maine’s state “flower” is the white pine come and tassel. The state insect is a honeybee, but I have a zillion honeybees and the firefly looks awesome with the...
I was supposed to have an exhibit of my state flowers and insects prints at The 1857 Hotel in April during Quilt Week, which – for obvious reasons – was postponed.⁠

I was supposed to have an exhibit of my state flowers and insects prints at The 1857 Hotel in April during Quilt Week, which – for obvious reasons – was postponed.⁠

I was supposed to have an exhibit of my state flowers and insects prints at The 1857 Hotel in April during Quilt Week, which – for obvious reasons – was postponed.⁠ ⁠ Now that things are slowly opening up again, we are rescheduling! It won’t be quite as extensive as it was originally going to be, but I’m currently working on getting some large canvas prints together and some smaller ones printed on paper and framed.⁠ ⁠ Get ready to put on your prettiest face mask and take a look at these gorgeous flowers and insects!⁠ ⁠ More details coming soon!⁠ ⁠ #ijustwanttodrawprettypictures⁠...
Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Monday everyone! I start each week with planning what to work on for the upcoming week. Trying to fit in client work, working on my own business, and still having time for my art is challenging. I don’t know how people with kids do it all! My only dependents are my dogs and cat and it’s a struggle! This morning’s activities include working through @erin3flynn’s #successfullysimple planning process and drinking water from my beautiful @kimfiliaggipottery and @elizabethschowachertart dragonfly cup in the...
I still have a handful of 2020 calendars left in my studio!

I still have a handful of 2020 calendars left in my studio!

I still have a handful of 2020 calendars left in my studio! They go through January 2021, so there are still 9 months left and 13 beautiful prints you can keep forever! I’m deeply discounting the price for the 3 birth month flower calendars and 6 southern state flowers and insects calendar I have left. Originally $28 and $30, they are now $15!! $8 shipping in North America. Free local pickup. DM or comment if you’d like to purchase one and I’ll send you an...
face covers for men

face covers for men

I’ve had several people ask me if I had any face covers for men, so I put these together and made them available on my website! They are soft and stretchy and wrap around your face and neck rather than over the ears! I mocked some up and showed them to my sister and she immediately said they were perfect and she needed three of them! Best of all, these face covers also double as headbands, scarves, bandanas, hoods… so once we are free to show our smiles to the world again, you still have a beautiful accessory to wear. As with the rest of them, $5 from each sale will be donated to @sprocketpaducah, a non-profit makerspace that I work with here in Paducah. They are currently working around the clock to provide these aerosol boxes for local hospitals to use on patients diagnosed with or showing signs of...
Currently making these awesome earsavers on my Glowforge!

Currently making these awesome earsavers on my Glowforge!

Currently making these awesome #earsavers on my Glowforge! Glowforge provided the template and is running a program to #Save2MillionEars. I will partner with @sprocketpaducah to distribute them to local health workers. If you need some in Paducah, let me know. If you need some outside of Paducah, visit @glowforge and check out their post about it. They have a form to sign up to receive them free! Stay...
Friends, I am super excited to announce that these protective face covers are now available on my website

Friends, I am super excited to announce that these protective face covers are now available on my website

Friends, I am super excited to announce that these protective face covers are now available on my website. Six different designs to choose from and endless ways to wear them once we are allowed to show our smiles in public again! Link in bio $5 from each sale will go to Sprocket Innovation, who is currently producing PPE for frontline healthcare workers, but does awesome things for the community all the...