In this blog, I will begin by documenting my decision to leave teaching full time and trying to make it as an artist in a gig economy. I am piecing together the quilt of jobs to sustain me and to allow me to devote time to my art and poetry. Most of my blogs include links to associated websites for more information.
Who's Driving? Sept. 5, 2025
I have a recurring dream where I am in a car and it is going down the road, but instead of driving the car, I am in the back seat. I quickly dive into the front seat and take control, but not without a huge dose of anxiety.
In June of 2025, I decided to leave my teaching position at a Montessori school and have a go at being an artist. I am sixty six and the demands of teaching were beginning to wear me down. I already had a few clients for pet sitting and I had been hired to teach one class a week at a new art school for children. I hoped to pick up some work at the Wellness Center across the street, do some substitute teaching and maybe teach additional pottery classes and maybe a poetry workshop.
It is all in the works and I feel like I am still in the back wondering why there is no one in the driver's seat of this car hurtling down the road. I spent June, July and August looking for additional work, but have not yet found all the pieces of gigs that I need to feel financially stable. During the summer, I also worked diligently on creating art inventory for fall festivals and I hope this work will pay off. I created the website you are visiting now and also started business Facebook and Instagram accounts. I have picked up some more clients for dog sitting and will be substituting at one school ,and I hope to find more opportunities. Currently my art is in four local galleries, but in this unsteady world, consumption is down and understandably; people are thinking more about their grocery bill than buying art, so sales are slow.
I am keeping track of my expenses and income to see if I can really drive this thing, make it out of the back seat to the steering wheel. Being in the back seat is comfortable, but it is a completely passive position. Crossing over the front seat to take charge involves a lot of work and timing. We will seat what the road will bring.
The Fool's Journey Sept. 6, 2025
I read tarot and take inspiration from the deck. Like dream analysis, the tarot provides a grid for the daily aspects of our lives so we may gain perspective and understand our deeper feelings. Right now, I am identifying strongly with the first card of the deck, The Fool. Now, before you suspect self deprecation, like all tarot cards, The Fool is complex. At first glance (I use the Rider Waite deck), the fool appears to be stepping off a high cliff, his head in the clouds. But look again, and he is just pausing at the edge to capture these first moments of his journey. He is happy with his face lifted to the rising sun. He has on festive, road trip clothing in bright colors and patterns. He is leaning back as if to breath all this freshness in. In one hand he holds the staff, (the wand manifesting), and this staff holds his sack stuffed with what he needs for the journey. With the other hand he delicately holds a fragile flower hinting at the beauty he will find and protect. His traveling companion, a small white dog, dances at his feet, more than ready for the journey. There are snow capped mountains in the background and adventure awaits. Sure he is young (even at 66 I consider myself an emerging artist!) and perhaps a bit too romantic for the challenges of the road, but at least he is beginning. There is so much he will have to learn along the way and so many challenges, but also friends and supporters from the physical world and beyond. So, this is the perspective I am trying to hold as I set off on the adventure of doing what I love to do.
The Spiral Sept. 7, 2025
I think I have always been drawn to the symbol of the spiral, the delving down deep into the center. The spiral reminds me of centering through meditation and mindfulness. In 2020, my 35 year career in arts in healthcare came to an end in the chaos of covid. I spent most of my time at home looking for more work and taking walks with my dog. I also found a box of wood and ceramic crafts and paint in my daughter's old bedroom. For my sanity, I spent a little time each day painting and decorating the wooden boxes and holiday ornaments and clay birds. I ended up with a table at a church bazzar and made a little extral money.
Around the same time, I had to change my computer password and the phrase "spiral dance" came to me. The spiral was a symbol for the way I was trying to manage the disruption of covid in my life. I had to be flexible and keep moving as in a dance and I needed to be centered. My computer passwords are mantras for me. The spiral gained more significance.
Eventually I found some work in a factory but I kept working on art projects and came back to the spirit I had made many years ago. I also began making jewelry with polymer clay working with the spiral design. I got the courage to be a vendor at a street festival and realized I needed some branding. Spiral seemed perfect as it encapsulated my time of spinning as I tried to reshape my life.
Connections Sept. 8, 2025
When I first moved into Rosemary Place, one of the first neighbors I met was Gail. We were fast friends and ended up bartering cat sitting (me) for haircuts (Gail). Gail is a hair stylist at Fringe Salon on Weaver Dairy Rd. in Chapel Hill. I was lucky during covid to have great haircuts! Gail would just stroll over and cut my hair in the kitchen.
I was heartbroken a few years ago when Gail decided to return to her home in Britain. But after three years, she returned and picked up her career at Fringe. She came back with wonderful styles and products from Europe.
Well, maybe my website is already working! Gail came over yesterday and I showed her my site. As luck would have it, my home is full of inventory as I prepare for fall festivals. Many of the things she saw on my website were just steps away. Gail did her Christmas shopping in my living room! And I am bartering a couple of pancake syrup pitchers for a haircut (which I sorely need!) So, here's to connections and to perhaps connecting you to Gail and her beautiful salon. She is a bright light in hard times and an artist!
Bolin Creek. September 9, 2025
We lived on Bolin Creek for 15 years. Our property descended to the creek and our family hikes often began there. We waded, swung on the rope swings no longer allowed, let our dogs play and swim, and hunted for treasures. My daughters' American Girl Dolls were baptized in muddy water with leaves and twigs matted in their hair. I actually had some contractions on the banks as my first daughter played on the foot bridge. Ah, the footbridge, a source of controversy in our Bolin Creek neighborhood. Some neighbors wanted it removed as it created access from the public paths to their property. Others wanted the bridge to provide access to the natural setting so treasured by many. One time one set of neighbors actually removed the bridge and the next set gathered to build a new one.
Erosion was always as issue, but yesterday, I saw the results of our July flood. A path that once allowed for easy running and biking was treacherous due to all the unearthed, jagged rocks. I worried about stumbling at my age. There has been talk for many years to pave more portions of the path, and for the first time I thought it might not be a bad idea. Maybe a path would be safer, allow access to more people and limit future erosion.
As on many of my hikes, I gathered cedar limbs for my art pieces. I often attach wood to the back of my spirits so I can then screw a hanger to the back; most of my spirits hang. The wood pushes the spirits out from the wall a bit so that the figures create interesting shadows. I like cedar because I can identify it and I know what it does. Cedar lasts. Often on hikes I encounter fence posts from the farm or pastures from the time before our homes encroached. The posts are leaning, a bit worn, but even in full exposure, they last. I hope the paths along Bolin Creek and the chance to hike all our local paths will last, but I can't say I am not worried. I fear Chantel brought one flood with so many more to follow. Yesterday I found a few branches and also some beautiful turkey tailed mushrooms with their unfolding concentric beauty. These will serve as crowns for some of my spirits. I took a few of the mushrooms thanking their community and thanking the forest for the branches.
This morning I am going to a friend's house. She received a donation of beautiful cards and we will cut and collage bookmarks for the local non-profit, B-3 Coffee. We are supporting B-3 Coffee in its effort to raise funds for a clubhouse. In case you have not noticed, B-3 Coffee is located in the front lobby of the Chapel Hill Library. As the library website claims, Coffee and books - could a better combination exist? The cafe is open Thursday- Sunday from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm. They offer all the favorites: expresso, drip coffee, chai tea and hot chocolate. You may take your cup to go, or enjoy it at tables in the lobby perhaps leafing through the new books you checked out. Members will be selling the hand made bookmarks along with coffee and tea.
B3 is a nonprofit that provides social and vocational opportunities for people of all abilities. Using the way coffee brings people together, we aim to facilitate community between people with and without disabilities and ultimately advance disability justice, allyship, and inclusion. For its members, B-3 offers meet-ups, special events, art classes and parties. It is a strong community with hopes of raising funds to build a permanent club house for these gatherings. So next time you are in the Chapel Hill Library, check to see if they are open, have a coffee and tuck a bookmark in your fresh reads.
Stamp, Stamp, Stamp! Sept 11
I love teaching esepcially art and poetry. In November, I will teach two workshops in making stamps and molds to add texture and design to clay, in both handbuilding and thrown forms. We will make our own stamps and molds, learn techniques for the best results, work with the slab roller and make a design sampler. These workshops will be a lot of fun and you will leave with new tools and design ideas. Please come! I am not sure if the Arts Center has set up registration yet, but here is the info so you can call and request the workshops:
The Arts Center, 400 Roberson Street, Carrboro 919. 929. 2787
Nov. 1st: 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Make stamps and molds, created sampler, work with slab roller.
Nov. 15: 12:00 - 1:30 pm. Pick up stamps and molds, play with new tools, explore iron oxided and learn glaze painting.
The Community Garden Sept 13
Since I left full time work and chose this path to explore art and writing, I have been cutting a lot of corners - keeping the AC low, the lights down, not going out to eat or traveling. One thing I am depending on is bartering. I love the Carrboro Community Garden for this reason! On Saturday mornings, I work for three hours along with other volunteers, weeding, watering, and planting. Some of us harvest what is ready and at the end of the session, we divide the food between the number of volunteers. In addition, we donate a portion to the local food banks. It's a good workout and I meet interesting people. I have been gardening all my life, but I learn something new each week. Today I left with the last of the summer's mini tomatoes, lots of green peppers, garlic and a butter nut squash. I also cut some purple Thai basil for a new version of pesto. The garden is open usually one night during the middle of the week and each Saturday. If you get on the list serve, they will email you each week to let you know the exact times. You can link to the website by clicking the above title.
Festivals Sept. 15, 2025
The number of festivals in our area can make even a seasoned arts vendor dizzy. How to decide which ones to invest in? (There is usually an entry fee to sell and then there is the sweat equity of loading, unloading...) Which are best attended?
How to price items so they repay at least a little bit of what you put into them, but keep the price friendly so your work will sell?
I decided when I left teaching,, that I would get more serious about vending at shows. I bought a tent and a table, a banner and some special table covers. Whew.
I went to the Carrboro Bazaar yesterday to shop and to check out the booths. I noted that almost every vendor had two tables arranged in an "L" shape. For some reason stepping into the space forme by the "L", seemed much more welcoming than just walking up to a single table. Of course it gave the vendor a lot more display room, but the arrangement seemed to be more than the sum of its parts. So now, do I buy another table to draw more folks in? Probably. My inventory is growing quite a bit.
I have to admit I am a little nervous investing so much already. I usually do fairly well at crafts markets, but people just seem hesitant to buy these days. Understandably. No one has any idea where the hell the economy is going. My hope is that my spirits will bring good feelings even in these troublesome times and that people will think even more about buying from local artists. No tariffs! So come out, enjoy the fall air, do some holiday shopping. meet your local artists and support them.
Come out to Centerfest, one of our largest fairs and come by to see me. I will be at the booth in front of Fusion Gallery on Sunday, September 21. My spirits will also be there on Saturday, September 20.
The Booth Sept. 18, 2025
I find myself thinking a lot about the booth, thinking and over thinking, unthinking, rethinking. I am at once excited and apprehensive about my setup. I go to festivals alone so there is a lot of thinking about the packing and unpacking, the lifting and dragging. The weather forecast for my first festival this fall is rainy. I bought the wrong tent, a sun canopy, not knowing that meant it is not great for rain. The company says to take the tent down if it rains. Can that be for real? I have bought a tent that can't handle rain? And that is after I did a fair amount of research.
I have a friend who can give me a weather proof ten foot tent but I have been reluctant to go get it. The tent I bought and all my booth equipment fit so nicely into my coat closet right now. How will I find room in my tiny place for yet another tent?
How heavy is that tent? I have one table, but should I invest in another? Should I have wire sthands? How do I stabilize them?
Of course I have taken to the internet for answers and there are so many amazing looking booths that vendors have put thousands of dollars into. I am trying to make it on the fly. These vendors have their logo printed on everything, their bags, their adorable aprons...They prepackage to inspire impulse buyers, cute boxes with ribbons. Maybe I will be there one day, but not right now.
So I keep thinking and rethinking, sketching plans, setting up my booth in my head and then taking it apart again. I want to make my booth welcoming. I want to get to the decorating stage after I have figured out how to make my products most visible, my setup stable, my sandbags filled.
I did make a cute garland after seeing one on the internet. I had some vintage tatting from the Scrap Exchange and I also bought some fabric scraps. I cut the swatches with pinking shears and looped them through the tatting. It's pretty cute. I like to think about having my booth all set up and then stringing my banner as the final touch. That is the part of planning I really like.