Hi Friends,
Hidden in the Hills Open Studios, which this year featured over 164 artists in 41 studios, making it the largest and longest-running artist studio tour in Arizona, was incredible! I was thrilled to host at Meandering Paths Studio, and especially honored to have Meg Harper, Tracy Laasch, and Kristin Kleyer Mangum join me again.
Last year’s theme for one of my art series was “Mushrooms will Save the World”. This year, I celebrate our interconnectedness with each other, everything on this planet, and beyond. It was wonderful to have so many guests coming through and learning about our processes, chatting about art and life in general. I was happy to speak with others who really resonated with my theme of connection.
Many of you have followed along with my occasional blog/therapy sessions in my head. I’ve always been working on myself, but I’m diving deeper these days. It’s necessary with everything going on in the world. My coping mechanisms were not always terribly healthy, nor did they solve any problems. I’ve chosen a different way. Meditation, breathing, Ram Dass, Alan Watts, and James Fadiman on YouTube, and then seeing whatever the universe sends me via the amazing algorithm of life. I am in love with the way this is all unfolding. It’s fascinating to me, as always, how obvious things become when your mind begins to change. Ah so.
Andy and I went on a couple of car-related adventures this summer, and I realized that my favorite moments were had mostly by myself in nature. This inspired me to ask questions. Why couldn’t I just have a good time with all of these people? Why couldn’t I be more grateful for the experience? Am I truly an introvert or do I realize that this life is short and I want to spend quality time with people that make me feel more like me? As I become more skilled at asking myself questions, I find that I already know the answers to more and more of them. I am learning so much! If you know, you know that you can learn something terribly important and then life takes over and you might forget it, only to learn it again later… so I’ve made a list on what I know so far so I remember not to forget: 😆
Being in nature and having my hands in clay help me ground and feel happy and peaceful.
My thoughts and mood are under my control. No one can make me feel a certain way, that’s my choice.
Spending time with friends and people who make me feel my best is important. We all have an energy, and it’s easy to see who your people are. It’s essential to reach out and make connections, and to nurture those connections as long as they’re healthy.
Journaling is a great way of getting thoughts out of my head so I don’t ruminate on them.
Dwelling on the past and worrying about the future is a waste of the present, the only moment we truly have.
Working out guarantees both emotional and physical results.
As I become more mindful, I also become more motivated to eat healthier.
My practice has helped immensely, I felt quite relaxed this year at open studios! I greeted guests and let them take a look at my work. When they showed interest I offered more information. When they asked a question I came alive and told them anything they would like to know. This approach works best for me, allowing genuine connection to blossom through curiosity and discovery.
Back in my studio, I am working on something totally different, you can catch glimpses of my process on my Instagram. This year, I’m embracing experimentation with a sense of purpose, aiming to elevate my work to the next level. Expect even more attention to detail and a fresh artistic vision.
My online shop is now open! There are still awesome pieces available to gift to yourself or others. If your total is over $145 I will gift you a little ceramic nature study. Here are a few pieces you might find:
The image above is a close up of one of my ceramic pendants. It is terra cotta I have impressed with cholla, then added gold. I have more not yet added to the shop, click here to see and let me know which one(s) you would like.
The bridge to the main entrance of our home was getting to be a hazard so Andy and I rebuilt it. It needed painting and I was much too busy. That led to hiring a fantastic painter I met at a clients, then we decided to paint over all of the baby poop brown wood accents all around the house. Choosing the new color took me less than one second, I used my go-to Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray, it’s so good! I absolutely love it with the patinated copper roof, and it looks like a different beautiful color everywhere!
Here is the before and after ~
Oh here’s something interesting!
Though AI creeps me out, it saved me so much time writing this. I usually talk to text all my thoughts, email them to myself, then reread and rewrite them over a few days to ensure they read well and sound like me. This time, I asked Google Bard to rewrite some weird sentences and paragraphs, and it was spot on for many of them!
The original:
As creeped out as I am by AI, it has saved me so much time writing this! My normal way is to talk to text all my thoughts out. Then I would put them in an email form and send it to myself. Then I will go back in and keep rereading and rewriting over the course of a few days. I don’t ever want to send something out that doesn’t read well or feel like me. This time I asked Google Bard to rewrite some sentences and paragraphs that felt weird to me and on quite a few it was spot on!
So much clearer, I am grateful for it even though it’s creepy!
I wish peace and love, joy and light to you all,
Scarlett
