my story
2022 : and then i moved to the mountains
My one and only kid was graduating and heading south to Clemson, and around the same time I started wondering what was next for me, too. My life had come to a natural crossroads and the possibilities were suddenly boundless. Writing and photography had become two of my biggest passions, and I was now at a point where I could devote more time to both. I’ve always loved the outdoors, North Carolina in particular, so Paul and I picked up and moved to a tiny town neither of us had ever heard of, smack in the middle of the Blue Ridge mountains. And we love it. The trees, the people, the ability to connect with nature every day. This is my time to slow down, breathe, and reflect on what’s next.
2014-2020 : change is inevitable
Sometimes you just know it’s time for a change. I had been in business for nine years by now…my logo was dated, my brand was feeling tired, and there was a gorgeous 100+ year old building for sale down the road. I moved my shop from the strip mall it had originally been in, and gave it a facelift that felt natural, simpler, and more autonomous. The next few years were some of the best the business had ever seen. But in early 2017, as the digital age was exploding, the paper industry shifted yet again. Deciding less was more, I sliced my overhead, shuttered my brick and mortar, and moved my business home, where I could enjoy more flexibility while focusing on what I did best: custom wedding invitations. Definitely a good decision, considering 2020 was looming. Most small businesses, including mine, were never the same after.
2011 : my first real camera
“You need a hobby,” were my brother’s exact words. A week later, he sent me a camera. A really nice camera. A bunch of mediocre photos later, I realized I loved capturing moments, textures, light, feelings–I now had the right tools, I just needed more skill. I decided to keep going with it, more for myself than for any sense of professional aspiration. One of my proudest moments was on December 31, 2015 when I completed my first 365 Project.* It may not sound like much to take one photo every day for an entire year, but trust me, it is. Especially when you’re exhausted and in bed for the night and realize, “Oh, sh*t, I haven’t taken a photo today….” These days I take my camera with me most places, and try to capture and share my journeys whenever I can.
*The sparkler photo on my homepage is 2015 photo #365.
2005 : the beginning of an era
My professional life really began (somewhat by accident) in 2005. Working in a stationery boutique had taught me the art of print design, and the paper and wedding industries were booming. I opened my own store, and threw myself headfirst into learning how to be a shop owner/graphic designer/boss lady. It was a blur of juggling, learning, constantly adapting, and navigating more than a few bumps.