I am on a mission to find, learn and share what I love. Art, books, kids, food, the Pacific Northwest and more…
Four years ago I produced and self published a children’s board book called Art Baby - The Vocabulary of Fine Art for Young Children.
It was an amazing time of creativity, community and growth. I had the privilege of working with gifted and generous, Seattle area artists who wholeheartedly supported my vision to get fine art into the hands of children at the earliest possible age. They shared their time and talent and Art Baby was a huge success. I am tremendously grateful for each person involved in that process.
After an intense time of working on the book, publishing it, promoting it and selling it my mom was diagnosed with cancer for a final time. This is not an uncommon story of course, as we have all probably been touched by cancer in one way or another. But before my mom became extremely ill we had one more drama play out. January 2017 at the age of 50 I had quadruple bypass, open heart surgery.
It actually wasn’t as bad as it sounds - unless you ask my husband who was awake for the whole thing, took amazing care of me and never got to take pain killers.
It turned out to be good timing. As I was recovering, rather quickly, my mom’s health was declining. I didn’t have to go back to a job immediately which meant I was able to stay home and take care of my mom in the last weeks and months of her life. My husband again was the very best support.
My mom died July 2017, just six months after my open heart surgery. She got to die in the home she loved, on the lake she called “a little piece of paradise” and we got to be with her until she departed.
I took the month of August off from life to gather myself and recharge. I tried not to think about life, death, what I ate, how little or how much I slept, I just lived. But September 2017 I began my quest for better health in earnest. I didn’t know what that meant exactly but I refused to wind up back in an operating room under similar circumstance if I could help it.
I threw myself into research. I learned what a macro-nutrient was. I read studies on diabetes and heart disease because both run in my family, as well as cancer now. I spent 4 straight months reading and questioning everything in regard to my health. My plan was to begin the fresh new year with a better plan, since my last one had failed epically.
January 2018 would kick off my comeback year. But January 1st came and went because even though I had an answer I was too afraid to use it. In fact, I was terrified.
I kept reading and watching scientist, doctors, athletes, journalists and professors give talks and presentations on disease and diet. I talked to friends and strangers about their journeys and experiences. I wasn’t willing to give up in the face of fear, and finally on January 18, 2018 I took the leap and I haven't looked back.
I’m excited to share what has changed my life and taken me somewhere I thought I had lost forever.
I have closed down my art studio at home to do some remodeling and repairs. I don’t have the space to work on my truck doors and hoods at the moment. Instead, I can typically be found at Starbucks or the dining room table writing a middle grade novel about a 10 year old girl who finds her unique voice, in her chaotic world, through art.
Today I am better for everything the past two and a half years have brought me, spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. This site is my commitment to that kind of growth and hope. Please visit often, find inspiration and share your journey with me.