I am thankful for you. I am thankful for a wonderful year with amazing events, both personal and professional and your support has meant everything to me. Each year, I take time to reflect on the things that have happened, as I plan for the next year for my business, and as I make a photobook for my family. This photobook has been a tradition now for seventeen years and although it’s a lot of work, going through the memories of stuff we did over the year as a family is wonderful. I kind of came into this world as a ridiculously sentimental person, always aware of time passing and wishful that I could relive times of my life. When I go through all of the photos from the year, it helps me find the joy, remember how wonderfully blessed I am, and put the year to bed so I can start the next.

This year was so big for me, personally and professionally, and I am grateful for you - for keeping in touch, reading my newsletter and caring about the art I create. THANK YOU! Here's a quick recap of my year…

In December, I celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary with my amazing husband.

In January, I won Still Life Artist of the Year from ADC Gallery in their Art Comes Alive Show and I was awarded an Artist Support Grant from United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and The North Carolina Arts Council.

In March, I was interviewed by Walter Magazine and had a photo shoot in my home studio for their May issue, and also participated in ARTS Day which is the two-day conference of art and advocacy that I help create through my part time position as Marketing Associate at Arts North Carolina.

In April, I turned 50, installed an exhibition in Hilton Head with my Artist Residency at Coastal Discovery Museum and participated in the Art Market at Honey Horn to share the work I am creating for the upcoming exhibition, Lowcountry Soil.

In May, CH2 Magazine featured my work and my exhibition, Faith, Family & Foundation showed in Hilton Head.

In June, my family and I took a ten-day trip up the coast to New England which has been a dream of mine for well over ten years. During this trip, I was able to share my childhood memories with my family and visit family and friends, while also visiting amazing colleges for my son who is a senior this year. Going to see schools with my child, that I could never have dreamt of getting into myself, was an amazing journey for me as a mom. Oh, and also, lobster!

In July, the second half of that dream happened when we visited St. Louis to see Wash U. with my kids. Again, an amazing school, and staying with my brother and his fantastic wife, while sharing St. Louis with my kids was beyond wonderful. We have lived there twice, once without kids, then with them, but the boys were little when we moved, so going back was a full-circle moment for us.

In August I was honored to be featured as part of a joint show at City Art Gallery, A Little Bird Told Me.

In September, my oldest child turned 21 and my husband turned 50! It was a big birthday month with a camping trip to the mountains.

In October, I dropped work at the NC Art Museum Store and had senior soccer night with my husband and son.

And here we are in November… I just dropped work off at Elk Local Foods – a fantastic, beautiful shop here in Apex that carries really great local foods. I am creating new work and just sent to the printer some new note cards featuring a winter cardinal!

I am looking forward to December! I am creating new work and preparing to kick off the holiday season at Boylan ArtWalk on Dec. 5. Also, I am having a demonstration at Elk Local Foods on Dec. 11th at 1PM, so if you are local to Apex, stop by and say hey!

I am sure more fun will pop up in 2022… already planned is  my solo exhibition in Hilton Head, opening in September. Please keep up with all that is going on by reading my blog (which I promise won’t usually be this long) and keeping an eye on my newsletters and social media posts. THANK YOU for a wonderful 2021! Here’s to an even better 2022!!!