Where Life and Work Intersect

Finding inspiration in new routines

Good morning from our breakfast table. Our threenager (I say with the most affection) is still snoozing, truly her mother’s daughter. Our 2 year old is joining me for coffee and zucchini muffins. The best time of year to put that late summer squash to good use. And I’m doing my best to channel Kathleen Kelly (ironically also my kindergarten teacher’s name, similarly great with children and had an adorable hair cut) as I click away on my keyboard this fall morning.

For the first time since having kids, I feel at ease with the season I’m in (will this last?! Time will tell!) If you know some of my story, I worked as a physical therapist for six years before transitioning to art full time. I partly chose PT because I was interested in the human body, but more practically I chose it for its stability and flexibility once I became a mom (a job I’ve known I always wanted). Also the reasons I chose it over going to art school. Of course, what you resist, persists, and somehow I still made an art career for myself and no longer work as a PT. And frankly, I never thought I would love my job so much. Certainly a privilege, but also a surprise that makes the balance of work and motherhood, well, not very balanced.

After having our daughter, I experienced the common struggle of reconciling my old self with my new self, and I tried and failed to ‘have it all’. I’m learning I can sort of ‘have it all’, just not at the same time. Or maybe, I can just strive to ‘have it most’ as much as possible.

Over the past year, my family has required more of me, and now that we’ve moved back home, I’m finding more space for work. I find a predictable routine very grounding (don’t we all?) yet my creative mind likes to resist predictability. Our kids starting school for the first time has been that external factor I needed that gives more structure and balance to our days.

All that to say, one way I aim to build more structure into my work is through this Substack - sharing a shorter, but more frequent version of this newsletter on a weekly basis. I find it less daunting to sit down and share what’s inspiring me this week rather than catching you up on an entire month (or quarter, at the rate I was going). My life and creative work have blended over the years, and much like mixed paint, the two have become inseparable. I enjoy using this outlet to share how the two inform each other.

Tomorrow will be my first Thursday note. I’ll share some new work, a treat for you, some spooky crafts + inspiration.

Next week I’ll finally share the lighting sources from our home renovation (thank you for your patience to all those inquiring!)

Table Talk

Speaking of getting back into routines and finding inspiration:

Getting Curious About Art That Makes Us Uncomfortable - This is a free local event part of NWMI Arts and Culture Network’s ‘Caffeinated Conversations’ Series. The conversation is hosted by my friend Kate Korroch who just completed a doctorate in visual studies at UC Santa Cruz. The date and time are linked!

The Artist’s Way

Five Minute Journal

Productivity Planner

Mother/Founder Pre-order

Restore 2

I’d love to know what you’d like to see more of here. Please leave a comment with any ideas or suggestions!