Michelle's Blog

Our family recently took a trip to Sedona, Arizona—one of the most breathtaking places on earth. With five grands, plenty of hiking, and endless exploring, I knew I wouldn’t have much time to paint. So instead, I went with a...

Last month, I had my first experience teaching an art retreat outside the country—in Portugal—and it was unforgettable. The joy and fulfillment I felt teaching Painting & Play completely took me by surprise. I knew it would be fun, but...

On my recent trip to Portugal to teach an art retreat, I arrived a few days early and spent them wandering Lisbon. When I travel, I love to treat it like a treasure hunt—ducking down side streets, peeking into alleys,...

I’ve been wanting to visit Cosanti Originals in the Phoenix area for quite some time, and we finally made it happen — and it truly didn’t disappoint. The architecture and layout of the place were incredibly creative and inspiring. My...

There’s still time to grab your spot for Paint & Play in Portugal — a dreamy, joy-filled art retreat happening August 16–23, 2025 in the stunning Ribatejo region! 🌸 Imagine spending a week in a beautiful countryside estate surrounded by olive groves,...

The other day, my friend Mary and I carved out a few slow hours to visit the Tucson Botanical Garden—and it was just what my creative soul needed. We wandered the paths, admired all the blooming beauty, and eventually found...

Living in Tucson, we’re lucky to have access to some of the most stunning cycling routes in the country—routes that wind through desert landscapes, climb into the mountains, and offer endless blue skies and cactus-studded views. Some of my favorite...

For years, I’ve been thinking about taking a pottery class, and I’m so excited to finally say that I’ve started! About a month ago, my kids, mom, and I took a handbuilding mug workshop together, and it was such an...

Last month, I had the absolute pleasure of traveling to the enchanting city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with seven fellow artists and dear friends. For 8 days, we immersed ourselves in creativity, pushing artistic boundaries, sharing & caring...

I recently got back from the 2025 Atlanta Gift Show, and wow, what a whirlwind! Every year, this event holds a special place in my heart, but this one? It was next-level amazing. I can’t even begin to explain how...

I told myself that this time around I’m going to invest in some good pieces of furniture to make it super comfortable and so that everything has a place to go. And so far, I’m stoked with the pieces I’ve added...

My kids have teased me that I’m terrible at sticking with traditions. I love the IDEA of them, I just think I get bored of them after a few years and want to try other ones. So…. here are few...

My husband and I lived at the beach in Southern California when we were first together. I loved trying to surf and hanging out in the water. That is, until I started fishing right up from where we’d frequently go...

Random things that are inspiring and making me happy... Estate Sales have been amazing these past few months and I’ve found the perfect place for my little basket collection. I’m still making sourdough bread and am happy to say I...

For the past two years I’ve been using our dining room as my art studio and it’s worked well. It’s a decent sized room, with good light and high ceilings. And I’m a firm believer that you can create magic...

The picture below is of my great grandparents, my grandma and her siblings as they were heading from NY to the west coast. They were a farming family and continued to be, until they passed away. I have such fond...

Found a clever way to transport a snack plate to a friends for dinner. Also, thanks to Dani & Thomas, discovered these stuffed pimentos & grilled olives from Trader Joe’s. Bike rides with friends are the best! I love summer...

I’ve been thinking about this topic quite a lot lately. I’m over 50 now and who knows how long I will have a strong and healthy body to travel and see all the things I still want to see. I’m...

The smell of the Creosote plant is strong & lovely right now. My grand helped me gather a couple sprigs to pretty up the nook in our “cozy” room. It’s so pretty. The Tucson Sonoran Desert has inspiration blooming everywhere...

So I decided to join a group of creatives doing a 100 day challenge. The challenge is open to anyone and it can involve anything you want it to be. It could be a build up of little things to...

What happens when EIGHT ARTISTS (several who didn’t know each other) decide to meet up in Oaxaca, Mexico?! Let me just start by saying, @gaylekabaker was very thoughtful in gathering a group together that had a lot in common but...