Here is a detailed report of the past year:
January -
Around the first of the year, I visited Pawleys Island and mapped out some goals for the year. One of them was to partner with my friend Susan at Curated Pawleys to offer a lineup of art products for them: ornaments, calendars, prints, and note cards all customized to the region. I also got connected with Gray Man Gallery down there so that now I have 2 shops carrying my work!
I started working with Crabby Chic in Wilmington as a new retailer for my work.
We went to a UNC basketball game. We had a rare snowstorm in Wilmington at the end of the month that took the kids out of school for a few days. We got to see snow on the beach which was fun!
February -
This was the month I found out that I had been selected to be the Azalea Festival Artist for 2026!
March -
Day trip to Myrtle Beach, visit to see the Symphony at the Wilson Center, a second honeymoon with my hubby in Dominican Republic. It was a magical retreat at Zoetry Agua - Highly recommend!
Work was in full swing to update Dad's beach condo: kitchen remodel, two bathrooms remodeled, and all new flooring was in order. This wrapped up in May.
New originals collection for Pawleys Island was in full swing. Was featured in Wilmington Magazine as having new work at Crabby Chic.
I had a photoshoot to help provide images for my new website and social media for the Azalea Festival 2026 events (man I really planned ahead!)
April - Early this month, Mom and I went on the Georgetown Plantation Tour in SC. It was one of the highlights of the year! I took about 1000 photos of the azaleas in full bloom, it was really like stepping into one of my paintings!
Mid-April I went to the official grand opening of Curated Pawleys. I did a live painting demo there and met some of Susan's customers. I went back in June to deliver the final pieces of the collection.
Over spring break, we had family in town, celebrated birthdays, picked strawberries, & went to Aurora NC to the fossil museum. In late April, we traveled to TN for my cousin's wedding and saw family.
May - End of year school performances, lots of Winter Park baseball, to Camp Seagull for family camp and decided we had the BEST weekend as a family. Already signed up for 2026! The kids started participating in the Bike Bus at school, a weekly ride to school.
June - This month was mostly filled with shuttling kids to camps, picking up paintings from the frame shop, shipping out prints, and painting house portraits.
Something new I did this summer was a monthly pop-up show in Bald Head Island. These shows were a great way to connect to the summer crowd on the island.
July - We traveled to Hilton Head Island and rented one of the treehouses in Harbor Town. It was one of the BEST family vacations we have done. The weather was so nice and we enjoyed every moment.
August - I developed a final lineup of ornaments for my website, adding a couple new Bald Head designs. My offerings for the holidays began to take shape. School started back and so did the kids' afterschool activities: sports, tutoring, & music.
September - We spent a long weekend at Bald Head Island with friends. We went on a Church retreat that I had organized. We ended the month with a week-long trip to Disney with Livingston's family. I continued to develop 4 large Azalea Festival Paintings.
I released a collection of 9 Tree Study paintings (which I had painted in January, LOL!).
October - Finished the Azalea Festival Paintings. We went to WP Optimist baseball games.
November-
The Cape Fear Kite Festival was a lovely weekend in early November. The whole family came along to take photos and play with friends on the beach.
I created an ornament for the Harrelson Center, a non-profit hub here in Wilmington, They used the ornament as a fund-raiser for their gala in November.
Digital TV art created for this holiday season. I sent it to all my email subscribers as a free gift this year!
December- The first 10 days of December are a blur with shows, online sales, and filling orders. I had two more holiday shows: one at Bald Head Island and one at Landfall Country Club. I got VERY sick in mid-December which knocked me out for most of the rest of the month. Somehow I mustered up the energy for the Azalea Festival Art Unveiling event!
Phew! When I look back at everything I did this year it becomes apparent why I'm so tired! I hope that this review helped provide a glimpse into my world and what goes into making the art that I create. Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and art-filled 2026!
