Welcome to An Artist In series. In this series a different artist, that is intimate in different parts of the world, will share their insider tips for where to eat, stay, see the best art, sketch the best views, rest at their favorite cafes and more. You will be able to go out and adventure here in the US and abroad and feel like your best friend shared the best kept secrets about an area and you can explore with …
An Artist in Bellagio | with Jeanne Oliver
Welcome to An Artist In series. In this series a different artist, that is intimate in different parts of the world, will share their insider tips for where to eat, stay, see the best art, sketch the best views, rest at their favorite cafes and more. You will be able to go out and adventure here in the US and abroad and feel like your best friend shared the best kept secrets about an area and you can explore with …
My Favorite Moments | The Cottage Table Experience Italy Retreat
I have often found that while traveling it can be hard to process beauty, significance of moments, the impact that the journey is having on me, the relationships, what I will choose to bring home in the way of gardening, food, decorating, lifestyle etc. I am a processor but most often after the trip. It will steep in me for days, weeks, months and sometimes years. Travel has impacted how I entertain, make art, use beauty in my day …
The Cottage Table Experience | Italy Workshop Registration Is Open!
We are back from our family trip to Italy celebrating Jack’s college graduation and my 50th birthday! It was absolutely beautiful in so many ways and I will be sharing more in the weeks ahead. The first 9 days of our trip was just as a family and then the next 7 days I joined friends for Daune and Keith Pitman’s The Cottage Table Experience. I was receiving so many messages asking whose retreat I was on etc. and if …
An Artist in Lombardy | With Sara Luisa Pozzoni
In 2018 I knew that 2019 was going to be the last year I led overseas art workshops for the foreseeable future. As much as I loved gathering, teaching and traveling it was the most deep knowing that it was time and I had complete peace about my decision. Then 2020 changed all of our worlds and I was not only grateful that I didn’t have scheduled trips to cancel but it also was a reminder how much I had …
When Italy Steals Your Heart {Again}
As I was making my way to my plane at JFK my mind was focused on a sick boy at home, camp details I was missing, empty arms that I wanted to be in and just the tug I feel anytime I leave my family. I had a nine hour plane ride ahead of me with the other teacher and at this point we were basically strangers. By the time I got to my seat Stephanie Ackerman was already there …
Top Ten {Amazing Art Retreats}
Happy Friday! I recently asked other friends and artists to share some of the art retreats that they have loved or are a part of. My list goes beyond ten because I didn’t want to leave anyone out. Maybe you will find the perfect retreat to get away, relax, create, connect and explore. {The retreats are listed in no particular order} 1.) Paint Mexico City 2.) A Painted Journal 3.) Plaster Painting with Stephanie Lee 4.) Autumn Vermont Getaway 5.) …
If you know me at all you know this makes me so happy!
It is pretty exciting to me to be asked to combine my love of art with my faith! There are few things that determine my day to day as much as my faith and the creativity that the Lord as placed in me. Those two factors have everything to do with how I make a home, raise my children, run a business, love my friends, open my home and grow my marriage. If you have taken any of my online …
The First The Living Studio {Lake Como}
I am back from the first The Living Studio and I am feeling tired, blessed and changed. I am also a little sick but that will pass:-) I had dreamed of traveling with other creative people to beautiful and interesting places near and far. My desire was to get out of our comfort zone and create not just in a studio but out where life is really lived I wanted to see people capturing their experiences with their art supplies …
The Living Studio {Lake Como}
**SOLD OUT** Do you remember when I first told you about my idea for The Living Studio {city art walks around the world}? “I wanted each retreat to be one of a kind. Each city has a heartbeat all its own and I wanted to hear it and share it. I wanted the retreat to revolve around the exhibits, some of the best food a city has to offer, finding the perfect cafe, creating art each day inspired by the …
Italy {Bellagio and Off To Florence}
I have loved looking through my Italy Instagram photos for these posts. I didn’t pick up my camera very often and I have to admit that using mainly my phone made me enjoy the moments more. I want to make a book with all of the Italy Instagram photos and I will let you know what company I go with (and how it turns out). We are now on days 5, 6, 7 and 8. You can read about the …
Italy {days one and two}
{all photos in this post were taken with my phone camera} Before I share anything I have to start here…. The fedora. I have begged Kelly to wear hats for years. I think he finally just felt sorry for me and how pathetic I look when I beg. It only took going to Italy to convince him to trust me:-) My mom came from Illinois to watch the kids for two weeks. Two. Weeks. She still was smiling when we …