Devastating Uncertainty to Start off 2025.

January 14th and Already Overwhelmed by the News

Hard to believe it’s been four months since I posted last. So much has been happening, where to start?

Devastating Fires in LA

This past week alone, with all the devastating fires in and around Los Angeles (LA), its unimaginable, horrific, and down right overwhelming. For those of us not directly impacted, this feeling of helplessness is weighing heavy on our hearts. I can’t help but grieve and feel anxious about all the uncertainty for those who have lost everything.

I can’t imagine what the people of LA are going through, but I have to assume it’s as traumatic as what the people of Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas in Southeastern United States endured. They were absolutely devastated by Hurricane Helene in late September of last year. Anxiety is at an all time high. We’ve donated what we can, and I know others will do the same.

Remembering Western North Carolina

Derek and I traveled to Grandfather Mountain last July to attended the Highland Games. We remember how beautiful everything was in Western North Carolina when we visited. It broke our hearts to see all of the devastation on the news, knowing full well it will never be the same. It will take years for that area to rebuild. As it will for LA.

Challenges Ahead

There are a lot of challenges in this country, in the world, right now. I’m at a loss for the right words to say without sounding either full of despair or totally uncaring. I’ve lived through my own trauma, although nothing like losing everything to fire or flood, but we have to be resilient, pick up the pieces, and start anew; support those in need however we can, and be grateful for the good things in life.

Silk Painters International Festival; Change of Plans

Last October, I was heading to Gatlinburg, TN for the SPIN (Silk Painters International) Festival but Hurricane Helene had other plans for me. I was planning to stop in Asheville and stay overnight to break up the drive. While on my way to Gatlinburg, the hotel in Asheville called me and highly suggested that I NOT come to Asheville due to the major flooding that was taking place. I quickly changed my plans and stopped in Statesville, NC instead. I waited and watched the weather for two days and finally made my decision to turn around and head home.

Torrential Rains and Unsafe Travel Conditions

The torrential rains literally washed away several major roads, including parts of Interstate 40 along the NC/TN boarder. There was no guaranteed safe option to get me to Gatlinburg without going several hours out of my way. With all the uncertainty surrounding what roads and facilities would actually be open between Statesville, NC and Gatlinburg, TN, I didn’t feel safe traveling alone, plus the conditions in Western NC were to just too uncertain to take any chances.

In Times of Uncertainty, I’m Grateful for Opportunity

Since I didn’t get any kind of positive response from the organizers of the SPIN festival and/or Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts regarding refund options due to my not being able to attend the festival because of Hurricane Helene, I decided to donate my trip to my good friend, and talented artist, Susan Parks, who lives in Chattanooga, TN. Thankfully Susan is retired and could make it to the festival without issue. It was a difficult decision, but I didn’t want to lose the money I paid for the festival and my room and board. I am grateful Susan took my place and could enjoy the festival.

The Gratitude Jar

Speaking of being grateful, two years ago, ok maybe three years ago actually, Derek and I started a gratitude jar. We’re still doing this — although not keeping up as well as we could be. We have a lovely glass jar we purchased when we lived in Nova Scotia. This jar sits on a table with a pen and paper next to it. We try to make a daily note of something we’re grateful for and put it in the jar to be reviewed at the end of the year on New Year’s Eve. It is amazing how much we forget we were grateful for throughout the year when we sit down and read all we put into the jar.

Planning for 2025 with Intention

Today I’m grateful to be doing some art planning for 2025 — trying to start my new year with positive intention and goal setting. I recently completed a three day artist planning workshop with Alyson Stanfield of Art Biz Success. What a fantastic course! She started off the course with an annual review of 2024 and then with a three day workshop which covered Scope & Vision on Day 1; Strategy & Structure on Day 2; and Focus & Resilience on Day 3.

Art, Gratitude, and Creative Friendships

Derek and I are also grateful to have had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas a bit differently in 2024. We spent our holiday in Emerald Isle, NC at a rental home, located on the Intracoastal Waterway, with art friends Eric & Frances McRay from Raleigh. It was a lovely week where we shared quality time with our amazing friends. Check out Eric’s amazing art here. Eric’s daughter Erica is following in her Dad’s footsteps and is quite the artist too! Check out her YouTube channel.

We won this week long holiday during last year’s Art for Hope Project silent auction fundraiser event. An event we attended last October, to help raise money for the fight against pediatric cancer, in memory of our friends Richard and Jamie Moore’s son Mason.

Change is Inevitable; Transformation is a Choice

In mid-December, I was lucky enough to spend an amazing Sunday afternoon, with my long time group of art friends, the “Threads” ladies at Kathy’s home in Raleigh. I wasn’t able to attend this annual holiday event in 2023 due to the uncertainty of Derek’s health issues. I felt so grateful to be able to attend in 2024 and while at Kathy’s, I saw the most inspiring piece of home-made artwork on the front of her refrigerator that said: “Change is Inevitable, Transformation is a Choice.” What a great thought to carry us into 2025.

2024 Open Studio Tour: A Success!

On a brighter note, 2024 was my first year participating in the New Bern Artists Open Studio Tour. This event took place the first weekend in November. Veronica and I had our studio open on both Friday and Saturday, which was a new option for 2024. We did demonstrations, showing visitors how she works with alcohol inks and how I paint on silk using dye. Many people told us how much they loved having the opportunity to try their hand at painting with alcohol inks and dye on silk. We later figured out that we were the only ones doing demonstrations.

Welcome 2023 Subaru

Another big event for 2024, Derek and I bought a new car! Well, new to us! We made the leap and bought a 2023 Subaru Forester Touring with less than 14,000 miles. She’s a beauty and her name is Olive. It has been on our list of things to do for a while, as Sadie Subie, our 2011 Subaru Forester, was ‘getting long in the tooth‘ (as Derek would say) and she really needed to be replaced. We loved Sadie so much we decided to get another Subaru Forester. Sadie Subie now lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan with our dear friend Rhonda.

Thanksgiving ‘Deer’

Meredith Alumnae

In the meantime, before the car fiasco, I was able to take time to attend a Meredith College Alumnae ‘art event’ and enjoyed making some new mono-prints with fellow art major graduates. It is always an enjoyable day when I can make art.

Art with David Higgins

I also participated in an online silk painting class with Aussie Artist, David Higgins on Nov 16th – 19th. Since I wasn’t able to attend the SPIN Festival in Gatlinburg, TN earlier in October, I really wanted to do something that would get me back into silk painting, and what better way than to take David’s class.

Below are two of my latest silk paintings.

David and his lovely wife Gail showed us his painting process and also showed us how Gail turns David’s hand painted silks into the absolute, most beautiful, wearable works of art. David works MUCH LARGER than I have space to do (see image below).

One quote from David during class (that really hit home for me) was when he said:

Just Start! Be Brave! Even if you don’t have a solid plan, you do have solid experience! ~ David Higgins

Add a little Pumpkin Spice

And if life wasn’t crazy enough during the last two months of 2024, we decided to adopt a new member of the family!! We welcomed Pumpkin Spice into our home on November 23rd. So we’re a family of three ginger kitties now!! Everyone is getting along well and she is super cute and so much fun.

Pet Rocks Do Still Exist

On another fun note, I found a painted ‘Pet Rock’ at one of the local gas stations in New Bern. That made my day! I mentioned this to Veronica (my studio-mate) and she told me about the group who hides these painted rocks in the area, seems they are pretty well known. They’re called Onslow Rocks. I looked them up on Facebook and found the group!

I posted a photo of the found rock on their Facebook page and then promptly hid the rock again for someone else to find. Funny how the little things in life, like a fun hand painted rock, can bring a smile to your face. I try to be mindful of the generosity of people, and for their efforts, no matter how small.

Mindfulness and Recommendations

Continuing on the mindfulness and recommended reads thought from last post in 2024, I want to share a couple of things with you. First, I finished a wonderful book called “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. Hands down, this was the most amazing book I’ve ever read, I couldn’t put it down. It covers 78 areas of thought and identifies everyone as a creator. I’ll just leave you with that. I highly recommend it.

Second, I recently finished watching a Marie Forleo interview with Liz (Elizabeth) Gilbert on YouTube entitled “To Anyone Feeling Lost & Unhappy In Life, Watch This to Find Meaning Before 2024 Ends” — Wow! Is all I can say. So much to think about and the key message is to Wake Up and Start Living. I highly recommend you watch this interview if you need something to inspire you for 2025.

Gratitude in 2024

As for the last of 2024, I just want to say I’m very grateful for my parents; I’m glad I still have them both in my life, as so many of my friends don’t have their parents anymore. I’m also grateful that 2024 was a much better year health wise for my hubby Derek. Grateful to be settled in New Bern with an art studio and studio-mate. Life is good.

Heading into 2025 with Purpose

My plans for 2025: I hope to build a new website, an online portfolio, continue blogging (more than once every four to six months), start some new works of art, and hopefully find my purpose along the way.

As for finding my purpose — I hope to continue building on it over time: piece by piece; starting small — one goal at a time, one action and step at a time. Along with purpose, I look to find clarity, by simplifying and breaking down my goals, and taking small actionable steps. I finally admitted to myself in October, that I am lacking in Self Confidence. So, I need to work on this in 2025 as well.

“ReNew” Exhibition

As I work toward building my self confidence, I recently entered one of my mono-prints into the latest exhibition at the Bank of the Arts, called ReNew. It’s an exhibition showcasing the creative works from active members of the Craven Arts Council here in New Bern, NC. My studio-mate, Veronica, and I both have pieces in this show. The exhibition is open through the end of January, if you happen to be in town.

Introducing Online Biz Success Tools

In addition, I’ve been putting together an online, downloadable, PDF document. It will be called “Best Tools for Online Biz Success”. Its an introduction, and work in progress (since 2023) to the top tools I’ve found to help people achieve online success.

I’m currently updating this and getting ready to make available to my followers. Message me and let me know if this is something you’d be interested in. It will be available when you sign up to follow my blog. Also, ask your friends if they would be interested in it as well and let me know. Thank you.

Stay Positive!

Thank you for continuing to follow me on my artistic journey. If you are interested in reading my future topics, please subscribe below and share my blog with your friends. Sending love and positive energy your way during uncertain times. Happy New Year!