A Quiet Life…

I’m married to John.

We have two boys (now men), Brett and Bryce, and the most BEAUTIFUL golden doodle boy, Ben.

We live a still and quiet life in a 115-year-old brick house (the house I told a friend in my teens I would live in one day). Brett, his wife, and his beautiful daughter live 25 minutes away. Bryce is in seminary school in Chicago.

In 2014 we bought the old newspaper building downtown and converted it into a beautiful white & light studio space. Life could indeed look like a dream. But as life goes… it’s been a journey with many ups and downs along the way.

10 years ago, my husband was diagnosed with leukemia. Overnight we moved 3 hours from home for what was supposed to be a few months. Almost a year later, we made our way home. In 2017 John had a setback (Graft vs Host Disease). He developed ulcers on this one leg and in December of 2017, he had to have his leg amputated.

The journey continues.

I'm blessed and grateful to be able to support our family by doing something I love. I'm so grateful for every customer that supports this business.

What brought me here?

11 years ago, I was a licensed artist. My work was available in print, fabric, wallpaper, and stationery.
Somewhere in there, began a difficult journey for our son, Bryce. He was 14 when he started experimenting with alcohol and drugs.
I found myself paralyzed with fear, waiting for the next phone call. Eventually, the (almost) worst happened. Amazingly we all survived.

A few months after that terrible night, my camera called me. I took it with me for a walk. I came home, loaded the images into photoshop, layered a digital texture, and my whole life changed. That may sound a bit dramatic, but it was life-changing.

I poured my whole self into understanding photography, photoshop, textures, and blogging and eventually started teaching online.

Bryce's journey with addiction continued for 11 years. It was devastating to witness. Yet, he gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life. He brought me to this work I do today.

I'm so grateful that as of January 2023, Bryce is six years sober, in seminary school, and will be off on his second mission trip to Lithuania.

God has been so good to our family.