11 months later…

This is why I shouldn’t blog.

I wrote the last post sometime in April 2024 and had every intention of publishing it on May 16, 2024. But here we are…11 months later. It didn’t get published until today and I didn’t write anything new until now. Well, not for blogging and honestly, I forgot about it until I decided to update the website.

This is the never-ending plight of the creative. The endless onslaught of ideas, projects, curiosities, and “what if’s” propelling you down path after divergent path. And that’s outside of client work which I am always grateful to have. Divergence can be a fun way to live. And I’m learning to embrace this flow and new life pace.

Penland School of Craft

…is dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Penland offers one-, two-, and eight-week workshops in books and paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, and wood. The school also offers artists’ residencies, community collaboration programs, and a gallery and information center.

A lot has happened in 11 months. The original plan was to take the summer off and start building up LivingKind once I got back from Penland School of Craft.  But September came, my dad unexpectedly had a stroke and 5 weeks later he was gone. During that time, we lost our 11-year-old Great Dane, Addie, on the same day we made the decision to move my dad into hospice.

It was a whirlwind autumn and all I kept thinking was how lucky I was to not be working at my old job. I had a few clients but was able to fit the projects in around everything else that had to be done.

By mid-January, I was at the tail-end of an amazing 9-month online group program called “Wild Women” that really helped get me through this life transition. (Never underestimate the power of supportive women – but that’s a story for another time.) I was ready to put energy into LivingKind – and that meant building the “good vibes” piece. I’m still not sold on the “good vibes” terminology, but it’s good alliteration alongside glass and graphics.

Since attending a creativity and yoga retreat in Montana with Hello Soul back in 2018, I’ve wanted to bring together art, mental health and music in my own spin on the creative wellness retreat. On April 4, the convergence of my experiences and education—from music therapy to psychology, from art & design to business & marketing—happened with the first LivingKind creative wellness workshop! (Shout out to Cory Jespersen for leading us in the Oil Painting lessons!)

I am passionate about helping people get well and stay well through all things creative. I want people to stay curious and be brave enough to be bad at something new. In the workshop, we came up with the saying “paint with the confidence of a four-year-old”. What freedom in that statement!

I’m committed to moving forward with the confidence of a 4-year-old and cannot wait to see how LivingKind evolves.