I marvel at the "littlest / simplest things" in life and am here for that feeling of joy, adventure, excitement, and discovery in my everyday experience!
I am a lifelong artist, born to be in the creative flow.. that's my happy, joyful place!
Throughout my life I've dabbled in a bit of everything: drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, latch hooking, mixed media art, macramé, punch needle, cross stitch, sashiko, and crafting of all sorts. I'm always curious to try new art techniques and learn new skills. I find it quite fascinating.
In early 2020 I was introduced to punch needle rug hooking, which has launched me into exploring the world of fiber arts.
My art is VIBRANT, COLORFUL, BRIGHT, CHEERFUL, UPLIFTING, JOYFILLED, and most of all SHINES FROM MY SOUL.
My art is also very intuitive. When I think of creating something new, I get a vision of what to create and I create it. As I get working on a piece, I can feel what its communicating to me, like a change in color or composition, an added texture or element, adjustment of size, etc. It's like the art speaks to me. I know the moment when something feels "a bit off" with it, so I sit to contemplate and make the changes that I think it needs until it feels right.
The zen like, meditative, easy experience of the art making is something I love to be in. It's like a bubble of creative flow where I can enjoy each movement of my hands, each stitch, the feel of the materials, and the deep sense of tranquility within myself.
This is why I say art is my meditation.
I enjoy the slow process of craftsmanship and the feeling of being present with my art. In that way, each piece feels very intentional and cared for. I also love old-timey traditions and traditional ways of crafting and artisan work, so the foundation of many of my pieces comes from tradition, but I give it my own unique style and pizzazz.
Since 2014, when I started a formal practice of mindfulness, I have thought about combining art and mindfulness somehow as a way to offer it to others, but I didn't quite know how to put that together. In 2023 an opportunity presented itself to take a mindful crafting course, which led me to where I am today.
I teach a variety of mindful crafting classes and workshops with various mediums to inspire people to connect to themselves and to their creative souls.
I love being able to help guide people back to a joyful, peaceful, calm, and uplifted state of being through the creative artmaking experience.
ART
Lifelong artist
Certified Mindful Craft Teacher, 2024 - With the Mindful Crafters Institute
Certified Oxford Punch Needle Instructor, 2023 - With The Oxford Company
Bachelor's Degree in Studio Art, 2010
MINDFULNESS
Practitioner and Mindfulness Teacher, mostly of the Plum Village tradition, since 2014
Formal mindfulness & meditation practices:
2023 - An afternoon of mindfulness with Plum Village monastics, Ecuador
2016 - 1 week at Plum Village, France
2016 - 10 day silent meditation retreat at Vipassana Center, USA
2015 - 2 weeks at Plum Village Nhap Luu, Australia
2015 - 9 weeks at Dharma Gaia Mindfulness Center, New Zealand
2015 - 1 week at Chandrakirti Meditation Center, New Zealand
2014 - 1 week at Plum Village, France
Other fun tidbits...
I'm fluent in Spanish.
I love to travel (especially internationally!) and have lived in or visited 15 countries.
I make the most delicious gluten free banana muffins.
You'll likely find me with heaps of ice cream and snacks.
My favorite book is The Way of the Peaceful Warrior.
I love glittery, super bright colored things with embellishments of stars, hearts, and fun patterns.
I enjoy making art as gifts for all occasions.
I could watch tiny house videos for days.
My favorite season is summer with those blue sky sun shiny warm days!
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
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