I knew that 2020 was going to be a year of changes, but I could never have predicted the tumultuous twists and turns the year has taken. We knew that we’d be moving our first born, Maddie, into college this fall; but we did not foresee that exactly one month and one day after we moved her into the dorm, we’d be moving her back out. It was tough watching her miss the end of her senior year, have a very modified high school graduation and then decide to skip the planned party due to Covid complications. But I think this past month has been the worst (maybe because it involved so much physical labor.) She spent a good deal of the summer (and graduation money) planning the perfect dorm room and the move in was very smooth. We all had high hopes and held our breath. Maddie came back home, the first time, after one week with a suitemate in tow, because her own roommate went to get a test. The entire suite had to leave the dorm until the results came back. The test was negative, they went back. A week later she thought maybe she wasn’t feeling well and came home, the next morning she felt fine and headed back to the dorm. The university announced all classes were going online and her roomate left for good. Three days later a suitemate, a cheerleader, had a routine test come back positive. The remaining nine girls in the suite got tests and evacuated to quarantine housing. The tests were positive. Facing ten more days in the isolation dorm, Maddie and a friend chose to spend the rest of their quarantine at the girl’s family home on Emerald Isle. In the meantime, the university closed all housing. Maddie stayed safely at the beach taking her online classes and texting up a storm, while I scrambled to figure out where she could live. Because now, to all four of us, her coming home felt like a let down we couldn’t really bear. Her grandparents came to the rescue: offering up their rarely-used Raleigh apartment as a residence for she and a roommate. Now she and a good friend from high school, herself an evacuee from UNC Chapel Hill, are comfortably ensconced (and seriously upgraded) at an apartment in North Hills. She has a car, privacy, and lots of cushee amenities. I dropped by yesterday and she proudly showed me the neatly arranged groceries in the fridge — everything she needed to make a big batch of low mein. It was a good scene — two years earlier than I ever expected such a scene, but you’ve got to take the good when you can get it.

Needless to say, these events and the corresponding roller coaster of emotions have dominated my life lately. But, I did do some other things. Also in August, my friend Courtney Pernell signed the lease on a space that she will turn into a studio and marketplace for art and handmade goods. Very exciting news and a lot of work for Courtney as she converts what was basically a glorified farmer’s vegetable stand into a year-round studio and display space. I’ve helped out some — the floor boards in the picture at left were laid by yours truly. When it’s done it will be a lovely space; I’m looking forward to having creative work for sale in the market, and possibly teaching some art-themed classes and workshops!

I’ve also listed some new items in my Etsy shop, The Muse and the Magpie, and will be posting more throughout September and October. I’ve really enjoyed creating small scale collage on handmade gift tags and will definitely be creating some tags and cards for the upcoming holidays. I’ve listed a couple favorite pieces that have been a little hard to let go . . . I’m making new work — there’re projects underway and lots of plans. I’m crossing my fingers for a more routine schedule and a lot less drama for the rest of the fall.

I also have blog posts in the works and plan on publishing three between now and the end of November: a tutorial for some cute and easily crafted organizers; tips on creating gallery walls with an update on the mini gallery I created in my half bath (in lieu of putting up wallpaper); and in November — some simple tips on how to create art from special objects and memorabilia. In the meantime, here’s a post from last year to help get you in the mood for the changing seasons.

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