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Winter Residency

Winter Residency

I just spend an amazing, abundant, inspiring 7 days doing the Winter Residency at Penland School of Crafts in the mountains of NC. I honestly cannot think of a better way to start my year than 15 hour days spent in a studio surrounded by really great tools and incredibly dedicated artists- experimenting, pushing boundaries, failing and succeeding. I want to put in words what makes that experience so powerful- I don’t know that I can do it justice.

I seem to be into lists lately so I will go at it that way:

Dedicated, intentional time

Well-equipped space

Beautiful landscape

Shared drive

Amazing people

Long uninterrupted days

Set intentions

Openness to experimentation and failure

Conversations with tears, laughter, beautiful nerdiness, the obsessions of makers…

The history of that place and seeing the work of creative hands everywhere

Snow falling

Early morning silence so thick that the wind sounds like a train

Hot Gingerade

Meeting Elizabeth Brim

Having a family that supports me wholly.

 While at Penland an article was shared with me about stress reduction and happiness by a fellow artist Laura Fortune. I really enjoyed the article and was truly struck by the segment on gratitude. The basic idea is that being grateful, even just wondering what we might be grateful for, releases dopamine and serotonin in our brains helping to focus on the happier things. Gratitude is my guiding force these days- just can’t help but feel and be abundantly grateful for the opportunities, experiences and people in my life.

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A belly full of gratitude

A belly full of gratitude

I ate many meals while at Penland that were prepared for me by women in my life, women, who had invited me to their homes in the days before I departed for dinners and celebrations. And as we said our farewells kindly boxed me up delicious food to take on my adventure. Women I am grateful for and inspired by. Makers and Mamas who work tirelessly with their hands to create things that change the landscape.

I grew up in a family of warm and loving women who feed you from their hearts and the labor of their hands and always send you home with leftovers. That expression of love is so deeply ingrained in me.

I wanted to share a delicious cold weather soup recipe from my friend Lara Nguyen

Apple, Carrot, Pumpkin and Coconut Soup

Carmelize One Thinly Sliced Onion in Olive Oil and Sea Salt - Remove to cool
Saute 4 Chopped Carrots Still Soft and 2 Green Apples till Warmed - Add Back the Onions

Add 1 heaping tsp. of Yellow Curry Powder and 1 minced garlic clove till fragrant

Add 1 can of coconut cream or milk (I did cream from Trader Joes)

Turn off Heat - Pour mixture in a blender and blend till smooth.

Return mixture to pot

Add 1 can of pumpkin puree

Add 4-5 cups of mushroom or vegetable broth stir and add 2-3 bay leaves.

Heat on Medium to a boil - Season to taste with salt, pepper, brown sugar… and I usually stir in a tablespoon of olive oil after I turn off the heat.

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