Valentine’s or Whatever
First though:
Imagine I’m running at ya, shouting “hiyyeee!” in a loud voice, body slamming into you and wrapping you in a big bear-hugged welcome for signing up to receive emails from me. Me! I’m honored beyond words to be connected to you and just want to say thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Too much? Nah, I’m a good hugger.
Second thing:
As I kick off the part of my life where I write emails and blog posts on the reg, my plan is to share one about once a week (ish?) with good stuff from my studio and life in general.
The “life in general” part is probably what will get the most page time. Because well, life is life-ing hard for us all, and in my corner of the universe - a little dip into anything joyful, whimsical or even joy and whimsy adjacent is Welcome, capital W.
Third thing:
A quick reminder about who I am if we don’t know each other.
I have recently transitioned into life as a full time artist+ from a multi-decade career in advertising, working for ad agencies large and small (the smaller ones were way better for the soul in every way - Enlighten Forever, and everything’s POSSIBLE with Zaaz, IYKYK).
Art, artful living, joy-making was my refuge over the years, but in 2025, it became the clearest thing I’ve ever experienced that it was time to step into the role of a full time Artist and Joy Keeper.
Valentine’s or whatever…
February is a whole dang month where we get to celebrate love. Love. LOVE. For real. I need this. Don’t you?
What’s stopping us from love bombing our lives for the better part of an entire month? We don’t have to just pick a day, use all the days, some of the days. Use February to get in the habit of leaving love notes for people.
Love notes:
Last night, my friend Janson asked me to participate in a Valentine’s drive for immigrants, protesters and neighbors in Minneapolis. Literally making love notes for strangers. YESSS! This is what I’m talking about. Let’s do that.
Love Themed Treasures in the Shop!
I’ve just added some juicy love themed goodness to my website!
Flying Hearts, Little Swan Queens, a piece of Smallsie’s heart and more!
Swan Queens - I love these little beauties so much. They are made with literal love poems, ahh!
Flying Hearts - I’m forever and always gonna be a heart with wings person and I’ve created a small batch of some little whimsical and wonky hearts in paper mache, clay and fabric.
Also, a flying heart trucker hat which I will be wearing on repeat for as long as it holds up.
Make your own Galentine’s with a downloadable printable kit filled with everything you need to whip up some delightful love notes for your gals or pals.
And would you really believe this is from me without some reference to Smalls the dog? Smallsie’s big Heart print is available in 4 sizes. There’s an original painting in the shop similar to this too!
Joy Keeper Words
Neighbor - Who is my neighbor? Hint: This is a borderless word.
Empathy - It starts with us my friends.
Lunch Ladies - talk about love, my friend Suzanne and my soul daughter Jane, calling themselves Lunch Ladies, are serving the love to unhoused people in their town of Spokane, WA every Thursday. Cooking up good meals and putting themselves in community. I want to be a lunch lady too.
Music that’s moving me this week
Rob Zombie Dragula (I blame the Lunch Lady who sent it to me who knows that I gave myself whiplash headbanging once when I was in high school. It’s good therapy for rage)
Rufus Wainwright, Go or Go Ahead (Singing this is so satisfying)
James Morrison, Precious Love (Oh, Catherine O’Hara)
A Valentine for You!
From me to you!
Oh, Love
Digital print you can download for free!
Well, Friends & Neighbors,
That’s it for this week!
Stay whimsical out there,