Let’s talk about curve balls and meditation.

Have you ever had the rug ripped right out from under you? As you find yourself flat on your back, wind knocked out of your chest, seeing stars, you wonder what the (blankety- blank) just happened?!? Honestly, I prefer to use an f bomb but I’m trying to keep it clean around here.

That’s how I felt last week. Truly, I wouldn’t wish that day on anyone. It was the kind of side swipe that is so finite there is literally nothing to do but get up, dust yourself off and go home.

Art brings me such peace. Being in a state of flow is the most blissful feeling, a moment of respite from the chaos of life. The only way to get to the other side of the mucky mud is to trudge through it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take breaks from the pain and discomfort.

There are many types of meditation. My favorites are walking meditation, active meditation, and still guided meditation. In walking meditation, you slooooooooowly put one foot in front of the other feeling your connection to the ground with each step. Barefoot, you take the time to feel the way each part of your foot makes contact with the ground, how you shift your weight from one side of the body to the other and repeat on the other side. It’s painstakingly slow, but can be a great way to make you soften your stride while walking with small children when you just want to get where you need to go.

In an active meditation, like painting, you are in a deep state of flow. Your thoughts are able to process as you work your way around a canvas, choosing colors intuitively and placing them on a canvas in an ever so theraputic way. Sometimes the energy builds up and you need to dump the medium on the surface, or splash it, maybe you need to run your hands through the paint… or maybe the application needs to be slow, deliberate and quiet. This can depend on the type of release of control you need at that moment.

Still meditation whether guided by audio or guided by the breath is perceived to be the hardest by most people intimidated by being still with their thoughts. This method takes practice and is best to start by taking the pressure off of yourself to quiet your mind or control your thoughts. Start with 1 minute and work your way up.

Typically in a guided meditation you’ll be asked to imagine a place where you are safe, comfortable and calm. What do you feel when you are in this place? This week I transported myself to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida during my painting meditation. The fine sugary sand between my toes, the warm sun on my shoulders and the waves ever so gently rolling onto the beach no so surprisingly ended up in my paintings.

Here is a picture of a mini 4x4 painting that will be included in my Holiday Collection Release this Thursday, November 10th. Can you imagine being in this magical place?

Sugar Skulls celebrate life by honoring the deceased.

Painting a skull was not on my list of I can't wait to paint projects until I started researching the history. Shared experience is a recurring WHY in my work. Love, loss, celebration, honor, empathy are all boxes that the Sugar Skull checked! When I learned decorating a skull made out of sugar has been a tradition since the 1600s I decided to give it a whirl!

The Process:

An inspiration image is always a good place to start. I didn’t want to look at other Sugar Skull art work; instead, I wanted to see the anatomy of a human skull. A quick google search produced the perfect result. The image gave me the information I needed without feeling spooky or scary and without influencing my artistic interpretation.

In my studio I had some previously cut shapes that worked perfectly for the proportions of the skull. Using two different sizes I mapped the important features of the skull, eye sockets, nasal cavity, jaw bone and teeth. From here the painting began! Working quickly, I used color to build the form around the black eye sockets, nose and jawline. It actually reminded me of my days in cosmetics, it felt a lot like using makeup to contour a face!

First I needed the skull to look 3 dimensional. The trickiest part was embellishing the skull without giving it the illusion of having skin or being lifelike. A feeling that gave me the creeps! It’s one thing to honor a loved one by decorating a skull made out of sugar; Creating a symbol that represents this long standing tradition is another thing altogether! If I were decorating a skull in honor of my Grandmother I would embellish it with remnants of her favorite things to honor her life. The first experience of painting a skull was an exercise in letting go of the heeby-jeebies.

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It felt so good to be painting again!

With one Sugar Skull under my belt, and some positive reinforcement from my cheerleaders. I kept on going! Working on a collection all at once allows me to keep working while the paint is drying. In this process, some began to take shape more than others. It takes time to paint. And that is only the beginning of the process. When a painting is complete, it can then be photographed, digitized, edited and sent to the printer for testing, color matching… and finally, small batch printed. With the clock ticking, the paintings that had developed the most became my full focus! A very Heather Opal large colorful skull with hidden hearts and a mini skull with a more controlled color pallet.

A Glimpse into the Painting Process

Does this process fascinate you?

Once digitized, I have the flexibility to make changes to the original painting. One key factor of a skull design is the shape of the jawline and cheek bones and placement of the eye sockets, nasal cavity, teeth bones and teeth. I compared the shape of my digital image to the photograph of a skull and made changes to mirror the actual skull. After the colors and shape have been confirmed and approved, I create the necessary files to send to my printing partner. It has taken years to perfect this process! What once caused a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety has now become an enjoyable process. Learning new things and building confidence through practice and process improvement Lights. My. Soul. On. Fire. What is something in your life that once caused you extreme anxiety that now makes you stand a little taller? We are powerful beings and we can do hard things.

Practicing and improving your passion builds tremendous confidence. If this doesn’t seem that difficult, it’s because I make it look easy. Believe me, it is extraordinarily difficult. And I can do hard things.

This collection ended with 2 large Sugar Skulls and 1 mini Sugar skull. In the end, I decided to keep the large originals and only offer prints of the very “Heather Opal” version. The mini was purchased by a collector. Check out how we styled it!

Sugar Skull Styling

1. A glorious Sugar Skull with love at the forefront of the mind and a fire from within.

2. Black Feather Wreath (Commissionable Link)

3. Fuchsia 2 inch ribbon and bow - I use paper clips or safety pins for a no sew method of constructing the ribbon to wrap around the wreath and attach the bow.

Do you love a wreath? In the right size, a wreath can add a layer of dimension which creates more visual interest. It is also a way to combine a traditional look with a contemporary symbol on your door. Take it a step further by giving the illusion that the wreath is hanging on the door by a festive ribbon. Be sure to use your wreath hanger for the wreath and hanging wire for the Wreath Charm; the ribbon is just for looks!

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A huge Thank You to all of the people who have asked me to paint a Sugar Skull in the past and to my friend, Ginger for finally tipping me over the edge to go for it!

Sugar Skull Family activity

Click on the image below, save it to your computer or phone and send it to your home printer. Death is a part of life. Talk to your family about decorating a skull to honor someone who has passed. Want to keep the emotion out of it? Choose a historical figure instead of a family member. What would a sugar skull dedicated to George Washington look like? Not ready to go there? Just talk about the anatomy of a skull … or simply color and have fun!

A Glimpse into my Commission Agreement Process

Have you ever wondered what entering into a Commission Agreement with an artist looks like? Today, I’m going to give you a glimpse into my personal process, everything that is included and some unique benefits along the way.

On the Commission page of my website you will find a Request Form. This is where it all begins! You let me know you are interested in asking me to create a unique and special, one of a kind piece of artwork for you. Which is followed by a phone call to further discuss your vision and we create a plan for me to bring your vision to life.

Documenting the process is an important aspect of the Commission Agreement. A chronicle of the process is recorded and shared through a private webpage. It’s amazing to look back at the notes and pictures to watch the process unfold again and again. Today I am sharing some of the webpage details created for my most recent commission work.

*Personal details of the commission detailed below have been changed to respect the client’s privacy.

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A BUTTERFLY FOR Joy

Commissioned by Opal for her daughter Joy

Dear Opal,

Thank you for the opportunity to serve YOU and your family by painting these very special paintings. You shared with me your person conception journey and I am honored you trusted me with your story. The Mexican Monarch Butterfly is symbolic of your families heritage, transformation and the beauty of life.

THESE BUTTERFLIES PAINTED FOR JOY ARE EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOU.

Heather Opal Artwork Commissioned paintings are never reprinted for sale purposes. The commission agreement has the following benefits:

Phone Consultation to determine if I can exceed your expectations.

Sample Paintings are created with your unique story in my mind and on my heart.

Fabric samples, decor choices, and other considerations are provided for color matching.

Approval of the Sample Painting ensures the idea is being brought through fruition.

The commission process is personal. We have taken time to connect over the phone sharing our lives and our hearts with one another. I understand the purpose and meaning for the the painting and take on the responsibility of creating a beautiful butterfly painting to the best of my ability.

SWATCHES, PAINT MIXING AND SAMPLING

Step 1. The first step in ensuring the color pallet is on point is to use a digital editing app to select the main colors. In this case, I used Instagram! With the dropper tool in the stories editor I selected the colors one by one to create the pallet.

Step 2. It is time for paint mixing! You can see from the paint pallet, each color was created by mixing colors together to create the perfect shades of pink, teal, blue and green. *Opal, you decided you did not want black to be included in the pallet. Monarch Butterflies are typically orange, black and white. You gave me creative liberty with determining how to create depth without using black. A challenge I happily accepted!

Step 3. The colors are finalized and the color recipes are recorded.

Step 4. Paint an Initial Sketch.

Step 5. Send a picture of the sketch with the fabric samples for approval.

The approval process is vital. In our conversation I learned the positioning of the wings did not give you a positive uplifting feeling. Even though the size of the canvas we discussed was square, the butterfly was to be in an open, fully visible position. Back to the drawing board!

THE 8X10 SAMPLE PAINTING

With a new reference photo in mind, the recipe for the perfect color pallet and an early quiet morning, I got to work on the sample. Dipping into a glorious state of flow 3 hours felt like 15 minutes. With all of the decisions already determined, all I had to do was paint. After sending a photo of the sample the one piece of feedback was to keep the background white rather than sky blue.

THE FINAL PAINTING

At this stage, all creativity must go to executing the completion of final painting. This is not the time to have a wild hair. This is not the time to make changes or come up with new ideas. This is the time to create, on a larger scale, the final butterfly.

After consulting with the designer, 18x24 was the final decision on size. With a fresh new canvas ready for gesso I sought out to create a painting worthy of a beautiful room for a daughter who is loved beyond measure. This gravity of this task is not lost on me.

In order to avoid any mistakes, I used a tracing technique. I ordered the sample butterfly in 2 sizes to be printed on poster paper. When they arrived I decided which butterfly would fit on the canvas best, applied charcoal to the back side, positioned the butterfly on the freshly gessoed surface and applied pressure to the areas I wanted stamped onto the canvas. A general outline relieved the pressure to free hand a new butterfly. I was able to follow the recipe for the perfect colors, follow the color placement from the sample and simply paint.

My painting technique is a cross between gesture painting and stippling. This combination means there are small gestural strokes which build on top of one another to create the image. It looks simple but it is very time intensive as each selection of color and each stroke is carefully and intentionally placed onto the canvas… until finally it is complete.

I absolutely love the way the final piece came together. I love all of the hidden hearts inside the wings. I love the color combinations to create depth and how the white spots pop. I love the atmospheric background with its subtle range of white color and brush stroke texture. The markings on the butterfly were a final detail that felt important, hearts to signify how loved she is.

Opal,

Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve you by painting these special butterflies. It was a pleasure to get to know you in the process. What an honor it is to take on the responsibility of creating something that Joy will have for her lifetime. Something that can be a visual reminder to you of the love it took to bring Joy into the world. A visual reminder of your strength, perseverance and the grace and beauty with which you remain along your journey in motherhood.

It is my hope the 8x10 sample and the final painting will find their special places in your lives for many many years to come.

With gratitude,

Heather

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STEP BY STEP COMMISSION PROCESS

1. Commission Request Form

2. Phone Consultation: Vision, Timeline, Price Quote

3. Verbal or Contractional Agreement: Sample and Final Paintings

4. 50% of Quote is due at the time the agreement is made.

5. Sample Painting

6. Approval of Sample

7. Final Painting

8. Approval of Final Painting

9. Remaining Balance is Paid

10. Painting is Delivered

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

After reading, and seeing what the Commission Agreement Process is like, what are your thoughts? What questions can I answer for you? Was it what you expected? Leave a comment below or reach out to me at hello@heatheropal.com for more information.

It is READY! It is finally ready!

The Spring Collection is here and it is really special. You all have been watching the Butterfly come together now for a very long time! I am so happy with the way it turned out. From the street, it looks like an explosion of vibrant color that is sure to bring a smile to everyones faces!

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Butterfly, Door Charm

$125.00

Inspired by the magic of possibility! When we think about butterflies we are reminded that beauty can come from unexpected places and experiences. We are reminded that transformation is absolutely possible with intention and rest. Butterflies carry a sense of magic and wonder. Have you ever had a butterfly land on or near you? From what I hear, it is a truly magical feeling to know a butterfly has brought you the gift of love from a special person.

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Palm Fronds Heart, Door Charm

Sale Price:$98.00 Original Price:$125.00

Inspired by the feeling you get when you see the light passing through intertwined palm prawns? Palm trees remind us of vacation, rest and relaxation…. where special memories are made with the people we love. The Palm Fronds Heart represents hope for the future because of the fond memories of past family vacations and the hope that one day you’ll return to the place where the palm fronds sway in the wind. The place where the hammock is tied between two trees. The place where you reconnected with the people you love the most.

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Cupcake, Door Charm

from $30.00

Inspired by the active pursuit of joy and glee of celebration. From birthdays to holidays this is the most delicious cupcake you’ll never eat.

Version 2: Changes include minor adjustments to the shape and a UV top coat for additional protection which adds a gloss finish.

Size: The cupcake is available in 3 sizes. Extra Large 18x28, Medium 13x20, Small 6.5x10.

Size:

Select Size LargeMediumMini

Large Medium Mini

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Long story, Longer…

My wonderful printing partner met me yesterday to deliver the samples and I did a happy dance in the gas station parking lot. We reviewed a few options for each sample and made some final decisions all while Jackson napped in the back seat. A wave of relief washed over me as I took a moment to eat my Chick-fil-a Cobb salad in the quiet calm of patience and perseverance paying off. Delays and set backs caused us to slow down, take a breath, remember what is most important… accept the things we cannot change and move on in the right direction.

My sister shared this quote with me, “Desperation can make a RED flag turn YELLOW.” Often times we want things to happen on a predetermined timeline. The stress and pressure of things not going according to plan can be crippling.

The lesson I learned through this experience is:

• My true Cheerleaders will be OK with the delay and happy when the collection is ready.

• In general people just want clear communication and honesty.

• Setting expectations is important; being flexible with said expectations is key.

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And the winner is… MELISSA!

A few weeks ago I asked my cheerleaders to post pictures of their Door Charms, share to Instagram and tag me. Thank you to everyone who took a moment to snap a quick picture! Additional entries were awarded for stories and reels! You all really are the best influencers and I appreciate you sharing so very much!

Congratulations Melissa! You have won the drawing for the Spring Butterfly Door Charm!

Are you so excited about the Spring Collection?!! If it feels like this collection has been in the making for years, you’re right! It has been in the making for a very long time! Here in North Carolina, Spring is a fleeting season. The chill of winter quickly fades into brisk mornings and the sun shining through a clear Carolina blue sky. It won’t be long until the dog days of summer are upon us.

What I have for you are 3 paintings representing new life, celebrations and hope for the future.

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THE BUTTERFLY

When we think about butterflies we are reminded of possibility! We are reminded that beauty can come from unexpected places and experiences. We are reminded that transformation is absolutely possible with intention and rest. Some imagine butterflies are God winks or special visits from passed loved ones. Butterflies carry a sense of magic and wonder. Have you ever had a butterfly land on or near you? From what I hear, it is a truly magical feeling to know a butterfly has brought you the gift of love from a special person.

The original butterfly is painted with acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. At 36 by 36 inches it has an impressive wingspan full of color, layers and texture. I chose to look to a variety of butterflies as inspiration in order to create something unique and new. Because I knew I could create a mirror image in the editing process I focused on painting one side of the butterfly. To maintain its uniqueness, the original painting will not be symmetrical.

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Butterfly, Door Charm

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THE CUPCAKE

Have you ever met a person who didn’t like cake? Truly, I believe Publix has the secret sauce for delicious cake… Every. Single. Time. This weekend we celebrated my niece’s 5th birthday with all things Barbie.

This particular cupcake was purchased by my sister years ago. Recently, I asked her if I could have it photographed to be able to offer a printed version. Thankfully she said yes and I returned it in time for the birthday celebration this weekend!

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Cupcake, Door Charm

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THE PALM FRonds HEART

You know the feeling you get when you see the light passing through intertwined palm prawns? Palm trees remind us of vacation, rest and relaxation…. where special memories are made with the people we love. The Palm Heart represents hope for the future because of the fond memories of past family vacations. The hope that one day you’ll return to the place where the palm fronds sway in the wind. The place where the hammock is tied between two trees. The place where you reconnected with the people you love the most.

It amazes me to realize what God had in store for us long before we had any idea. This Palm Fronds Heart sat unfinished in my studio for a few years now. All the while we have visited my Mom in Florida many times. Palm trees, a gentle breeze and family time are what makes 30A hold a special place in my heart.

I have some really exciting news to share! This month my Mom is getting married! She will have the beach wedding she has always dreamed of! And, we bought a house in her neighborhood! This will be the place we call our home away from home when we go to 30A to visit … and it is a place we are happy to share with guests. More to come on that… for now, look deep into this palm fronds heart and feel hope for a bright future.

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Palm Fronds Heart, Door Charm

The WAITLIST

Under each of the new Spring paintings you see a button for the WAITLIST. By dropping your email address in the waitlist field you are signing up to be notified when that Door Charm is ready and available for purchase. You will be the first to know and alerted by email the moment it is available. I use the waitlist to gauge interest!

The Spring Collection will be available for preorder the first week of May!

The inspiration for this painting was a butterfly, light and whimsical. We feel a sense of magic when we see a butterfly, marvel in their beauty and watch them flutter on a very non linear path. Accompanied by a powerful quote, the painting exemplifies the juxtaposition between strength and beauty, grace and grit. "They whispered to her, you cannot withstand the storm. She whispered back... I am the storm."

My interpretation of the concept is a mirror image of the butterfly, physical body on the left and emotional/spiritual body on the right side. The physical body is deeper in color where the spiritual body has an overlay of gold. There are 16 hearts representing being 16 years old when the car accident happened. The anniversary of the accident on 7/3 is represented by the hearts between the butterflies 3 purple and 7 teal, the 3rd day of the 7th month. These hearts also represent the space between our physical experiences and how we respond to them. The spiritual/emotional butterfly contains the call and response quote on the top and bottom wings. "I am the storm" is repeated 11 times, for each inch of the Desmoid Tumor. Storm is the only word that is visible outside of the butterfly to catch the attention of the viewer... this isn't just a butterfly or pretty painting, it is symbolic of major life experiences that were hard. It felt like a storm and you and she fought the storm with storm like grace and grit.

As a whole the painting reads as one butterfly initially because we are both our physical and spiritual beings. It is very important that the bodies and wings are identical in heart placement and teal ribbon placement. The swoops on the wings are different because we process our experiences in both our physical bodies and our emotional bodies. The bodies have a heart open posture with chest and gaze lifted showing confidence, determination and power. They are full of color and life. The energy of the two being in sync flows freely from them depicted by the gold swoops.

Together they are a beautiful, graceful, light and airy storm.

“Love is the bond created at the heart of shared experience”

— Heather Opal Cole

Can you relate to the butterflies in this painting?

The Team Spirit Door Charms were inspired by our local pro football team. I was contacted early this summer by someone associated with the team looking for a special gift for their Football Family. It was an honor and a responsibility I didn’t take lightly!

Why do people love football? MAGIC … that’s why!

The larger than life players, the magnificent stadium, the fierce mascot and the pure love of the game are what makes football so exciting.

This collection of paintings includes 2 panthers, 1 helmet and 1 football. All hand painted from true to life inspiration.

While working on these paintings I imagined what the players could be thinking on the field and magic contained in the ball on game day. What goes through the mind of a player when they are on the field? When they have their game face on they must have one objective: winning! The football is the object of possession, both teams fighting for the goal. The ball is catapulted, tucked, kicked, buried and spiked bringing all the excitement, anticipation, and glory to the coaches, players, and fans invested in the game.

Hear Me Roar and Roaring Spiral on the left are available to you while supplies last.

Game Face and Brain Waves on the right were printed and numbered in a limited edition, exclusively for the client.

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Hear Me Roar Panther, Door Charm

Sale Price:$75.00 Original Price:$125.00

BLACK FRIDAY BUNDLE

Panther: Door Charm + 8x10 canvas print + decal

Inspired by the larger than life football players this panther is game day ready! Ears back, teeth showing, whiskers in tune and if you look closely eyes dilated with the reflection of the Carolinas… nothing says team spirit and beast mode quite like this Hear Me Roar Door Charm.

Dimensions: 22in wide 21in tall

Door Charms must be hung on the OUTERMOST door. Do not hang your door charm in between a glass storm door and entry door. The magnified heat will cause damage.

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Roaring Spiral Football, Door Charm

Sale Price:$35.00 Original Price:$98.00

Inspired by the energy of the ball on game day. It is the object of attainment; catapulted, kicked, tucked under an arm and buried under players. The swirls represent the power that is infused into the ball on game day.

**Note: the last football is marked down to $35 because it is one of the original vinyl versions. (Which are VERY archival!!!)

Dimensions: 22in wide 13in tall

Door Charms must be hung on the OUTERMOST door.

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The idiom, apple of one’s eye, is a way of saying a person, pet or thing is loved very dearly.

In this way, the apple represents love.

These two boys are the apples of my eye, my little loves.

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Apples also represent the transition from Summer to Autumn as the peak of apple picking season is in August and September. School starts during this time and the apple has found its way into class rooms, on teacher’s desks, in back packs, in kids’ lunches and … on your front doors!

We come full circle with this quintessential symbol as it represents learning and love.

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Sweet Cameron on her first day of school last year with her original hand painted Fuji apple Door Charm.

There is something so special about a picture on the first day of school of our littles on the front porch with an Apple Door Charm in the back ground!

I love comparing front porch photos from the first and last day of school to see how much they have grown. There is something so nostalgic about the apple representing learning and love with our kids, back to school and changing season.

Even if your little ones are grown, hanging an apple on your door will always represent your little love leaving the nest, whether for a half day, school day, college, or to fly off to create their own place in the world.

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Honey Crisp Apples are available NOW!

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Long Story, Longer

As I was adding a fresh coat of juicy red paint to the solid Teacher’s Pet apples I couldn’t help but think about my Pappaw. I was the apple of his eye and I adored him endlessly. My grandfather was known as Happy Jack; he always wore smile on his face, horse riding belt buckle and an heirloom diamond cluster ring. When he passed the diamond ring was disassembled; 6 diamonds were made into 3 sets of earrings for his 3 daughters. Just before my wedding day, my mother and aunts presented me with a very special necklace. Sapphires, filigree and the 7th diamond from Pappaw’s diamond ring were used to create this very special necklace for me.

Instead of flowers, I carried a violin. Dating back to 1745 this is the oldest representation of my mother’s family, a special homage to my grandfather. The tiny delicate hand of my sweet niece in my other hand. When it was Hailey’s turn to spread flower petals and ring the bell she was too nervous to walk down the aisle alone. I embraced it and we walked together. I was escorted down the aisle by the oldest and youngest representations of my family.

As we usher our little treasures off to school this year I hope the Teacher’s Pet and Honey Crisp apples on our doors bring a smile to our hearts as we all continue to learn and grow, together.

My Mom, Aunt Carol and Aunt Dale sharing a very special gift with me; accompanied by my sister and niece.

Photo Credit: Critsey Rowe Photography

“Fine” is a socially acceptable way to tell someone you are NOT OK without oversharing. If a friend or loved one, or even an acquaintance tells me they are fine, I’m going to listen closer… there is more to the story… Fine is not okay.

I’m Fine, We’re Fine… Everything is FINE!

This slogan is on mugs, t-shirts and is usually followed with wine. Maybe the gal wearing the t-shirt is drinking wine… looking pretty normal with hair quoiffed and makeup done. She seems ok but she’s struggling to deal with something privately and she doesn’t want people to know about the root of her struggle. She’s searching for the solution to her problem. She needs grace and time and support … and without a doubt she needs a licensed professional therapist.

Why can’t we say what we really feel? Why does it take wine to share what’s really going on? Why can’t we talk about the thing rather than brushing it off as, Fine? Why don’t we seek professional help? Why do we feel nervous to say, “Yep, I go to therapy!”

I feel strongly about this because my life changed when I realized the danger in not saying how you feel. Fine is a 4 letter word.

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It was Freezing, the middle of afternoon, we were all exhausted and thrilled to have made it to summit camp. in a few short hours we would hike the last leg of the climb to the summit of mount kilimanjaro.

I crawled into summit camp on my hands and knees. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, or a terribly hard climb. There are no ropes or walls to scale, no special gear outside of shorts at the bottom and ski suits at the top. You simply put one foot in front of the other carrying a day bag, camera and walking sticks.

I had trained for this trip by doing Crossfit most days of the week and was in the best shape of my life at the time. Porters carried our bags, fed us and made sure we had plenty of water. By the time we reached our 10+ mile hike for the day they had already arrived, set up camp and had food ready. We drank coffee in the morning, ate well and were led by the best Kili guide in the biz, Macon Dunnagan.

You can only be at summit camp for 24 hours. The objective is to arrive in the afternoon, take in the scenery, eat, rest and then finish the last leg of the climb to the peak. 4 days to summit, 2 days down. The sun went down, I suited up in my ski jacket and pants over sub zero base layers and topped it off with another ski suit on top. With a Nalgene nestled inside the layers to keep my water from freezing and boots on I was ready!

Half way to Stella, the half way point, I sat down on a rock knowing I wasn’t getting back up. I was dead last. Well, actually Mike was dead last. “If you kick my heels one more time, I’m going to divorce you on this mountain!” We were newly weds and although we had traveled, adventured and renovated a house among other challenges this was the first time our vows were really tested. I just couldn’t do it. I could not physically put one foot in front of the other. I couldn’t handle the altitude, the lack of oxygen running through my veins made it hard to move and or even think straight.

In our group there were people 50 years older than us, people who had trained for 10 years for this and others who hadn’t trained at all, a couple celebrating a major milestone in their business and a family checking this off their bucket list. How was I dead last? Was it my heart? Was it my abnormally low blood pressure? Or did I just not want it as bad as everyone else?

Whether it was apathy or coming close to fainting I was relieved to see Michael, the triathlete of the group, appear and quite possibly save my life that night. The porter guiding him DOWN the mountain ran stopped and knelt down beside me. How are you doing Heather? He said in a great accent, with beautiful heart warming eyes showing genuine concern.

“I’m fine.”

I replied… no, actually… I lied.

Michael’s altitude sickness manifested as irrational behavior. He dumped his water, starting stripping off layers of clothing in the freezing cold. I longed for an oxygen tank. All red flags that get you sent back to summit camp. The conditions are serious and there is no 911 call for help. So… Michael and I turned back for summit camp allowing Mike and our 70+ year old porter to continue the climb to the peak. By morning they would arrive, see the glaciers, take the iconic photo proving they made it, have a snack and ski down the scree back to camp.

Michael and I slowly walked down the mountain, looking up at the glorious star filled African sky. One of the occasions where I felt spiritually lifted, surrounded by angels and absolutely connected to and supported by the universe. It was magical, glorious and breathtaking (literally).

When I awoke from a deep sleep made extra comfortable by double sleeping pads and double sleeping bags… I could hear people begin to making their way down the scree back to camp. Outside of my tent, the same porter with the heartwarming eyes was waiting to check in on me. “Heather what happened? You said you were fine.”

If a Southern American woman ever says she’s fine… that means she’s not OK. I’m sorry I lied to you. But I am good now, I promise!

I sat with a cup of coffee watching them come down. Some were energetic, thrilled to have made it. Others shed tears in amazement. Some were carried by porters almost unconscious. Mike made it back last, hours after everyone else. He collapsed into the tent and fell asleep. By afternoon we were headed out, all relieved. We all had life changing experiences on that mountain in that 24 hour period whether we got the picture at the top or not.

Often, I feel like the people who don’t make it, the people who don’t win the gold medal, the people who fall short are the ones who learn the most and have the most transformational experiences. Failure teaches us something achievement doesn’t.

When someone says they are fine… and you really care… I hope your ears perk up, I hope your eyes dilate in wonder, I hope you empathy seeps from your heart and you find the courage to say with your words, actions, body language or telepathically:

Fine?

You OK?

Want me to sit with you for a minute?

Is there anything I can do?

I don’t know what to say but I would really like to hear more.

What do you need?

How can I help?

If you are comfortable sharing, I’m comfortable listening.

You don’t have to share but I’ll be thinking about you.

You aren’t alone.

Hey, me too, I get it.

It is hard to know how to support our loved ones when they aren’t OK. The first step is to let being not good be OK! Then let them find their solution and show them your support. Eventually we figure it out and move on to the next curve ball life throws at us!

Newly weds hiking Mount Kilimanjaro: Day 3

Mike and Joseph at Uhuru, Africa’s highest point: Morning of day 5

Mount Kilimanjaro Zara Tours: End of day 5

Art is as much about the artist as it is about the investor and viewer. All 3 people are necessary for the art loving relationship. In this special format I have created space for everyone by offering a special kind of print thick enough and specially coated to be able to write a heart felt message on the back. Gifted art carries the intention of the artist through their investors on to their loved ones.

Framed in 5x5 lucite magnetic frames is my absolute favorite way to offer Sweetheart prints. Ready for a book case, tabletop or picture ledge this freestanding frame is the perfect way to display two sided art - painting on the front and sweet words on the back.

Each framed print comes with the option of having your message hand written on the back, carefully wrapped, packaged and sent directly to the receiver.

Ray of Light + I, Sweetheart Print

Sale Price:$5.00 Original Price:$15.00

Inspired by a literal ray of light in the sky this collection of paintings aims to depict sparks of joy, life, energy and excitement of gold in contrast with the soft and cool hues of the vast and open blue sky.

The Sweetheart Collection is printed on specialty paper coated on one side to prevent markings. The back side of each print is uncoated allowing a special message to be written without bleeding through to the front side. 8 of the 10 total paintings in the Ray of Light Collection are available as a set, unframed.

Here the prints are shown framed in lucite 5in x 5in frames. Held together with tiny magnets these prints are freestanding and ready to be displayed on a table, desk or shelf. A special note to/from your sweetheart can be hand written on the back visible as the frame is clear on the front and back sides. The prints will also fit inside a standard 5x5 matte board or 5x5 frame.

To customize a set of your own, add the prints to your cart individually from their listings!

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