artclectic suits me.

last week i was in nashville, tn.

i’d only previous been to a convention center for a book publisher event, and this trip was all the things i wished to do in a new city & more. (i didn’t get to go to the josh groban concert friday nite, but i DID sell art to someone who was on their way. i hope they gave all my love to josh & idina menzel for me.)

“artclectic” was the art festival at the university school of nashville. it was a terrifically diverse student body, and all of their art teachers and drama teachers and every other sort of creative teacher are also working artists. so meeting them (broadway bound, authors, & more!) was in itself inspiring.

friday afternoon docents brought classes around to 5 different artists to chat about our work and the process. so i got to talk to kindergarteners and fifth graders and everything in-between this week, as well as their parents and grandparents and everyone else who came to shop during this fundraiser!

it’s always nice to have an indoor art festival, too. no tent. no weights. no worrying about the weather or re-packing everything up at night and wondering about its safety while you’re in the hotel. USN had transformed the gymnasium into an art gallery and it was beautiful! (i’m not so adverse to gyms if there’s gallery lighting, coffee, and chandeliers!) ;)

and drumroll: i sold a RECORD number of original paintings at this show— six! (my previous personal record was four originals in one weekend.) it just inspires me to quit doing admin work and get back to the painting table! (all good necessary things, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded why we do the hard stuff too, you know?)

the husband & i even had some time to do FUN local-y stuff.

like absorb barista parlor. delicious. the best latte i’ve ever had. (here’s my “headless horseman.” it was nothing short of PERFECT.)

and… booklover’s pilgrimage accomplished: i got to go to PARNASSUS!! it was even more beautiful than i expected. bought a few gifts & a couple autographed books for my own collection. and will hopefully journey back one day to collect more &/or attend one of their fantastical author events.

oh- and dozen bakery was seriously the BEST breakfast sandwich i’ve ever ever had. i was on my way to the booth for the day and could only eat half for nerves’ sake, but boy would i have loved to eat eight of them. ;) (you can almost see behind me the loaves of bread that were bigger than my arms+legs!)

we definitely ate like locals (the best way to travel!) including amazing sushi at the very non-pretentious but best-tasting samurai sushi (one roll had strawberries on top; each bite was a new flavor and we’ll keep dreaming about that place.)

and sunday brunch was at farmland cafe and equally perfect and delicious with the nicest owners you could hope for. (“jack,” an art show attendee, sent us. we’re so glad. they had me at “breakfast always served.”)

and my fave kid comment at the school?

“are you in ravenclaw?”

indeed i am, kid. thanks for noticing.

i hope you had an amazing week.

i did.

& i can’t wait to go back to nashville. <3

do you hold your breath and make a wish when you drive through tunnels? my husband has never heard of it, but i’ve always done it.

anyway, my wish on the drive to nashville came true. let’s hope the ones i made on my return trip do, too. ;)