At the Center of It All

Since I’ve started painting the beauty in the small mundane details of life has seemed to jump out at me more. I’ve noticed myself taking the time to bend down and look at things more closely, where I normally would of just passed by in the hectic nature of the day. The colors in the things have also become more vivid or perhaps I’m just more aware of them. Recently, we went to one of our favorite places where they have a beautiful garden and I couldn’t help but notice the lovely produce and cabbage they were growing. Perhaps it was partly because I have so often tried my hand at gardening without much luck (although the critters do seem to enjoy it) that I was drawn to its beauty and shape. The way the leaves opened and unfolded seemed symbolic of life and it’s many layers and the need to stay centered and true.

The painting above is one that I finished a few weeks ago titled “At the Center of It All.” I hope it brings a little joy to your day and that you find yourself noticing the color in the small details of life!

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7 Reasons a Small-Town Lifestyle Can Make You Happier

Almost every time my wife Heather and I used to go on vacation, we’d spend time during the car or plane ride home going back and forth about how nice it would be to live full-time in the destination we had just visited. By the time we got home, we inevitably talked ourselves out of the idea.

Too hot. Too cold. Too expensive. Too isolated. Too big. Too small. Too...whatever. No matter the destination, we came up with a reason why it wasn't realistic.

That is, until we visited Traverse City, Michigan.

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The Long, Slow Path to Progress

It has been close to two years since I wrote a post for the Life and Whim blog. You may not have noticed. After all, there has been no shortage of words, images, and sounds to fill the tiny void we left behind. The Internet, like nature, abhors a vacuum.


These are some of the most important questions to consider if you want to lead a purposeful, rewarding life, but few of us take the time to give them critical thought. Instead, it’s easy to retreat to default mode and surrender dreams to the idea that there’s simply not enough time in the day.


If you’re someone who’s of the belief that there’s not enough time in a day to accomplish something big—be it starting a business, writing a book, or learning a new skill—then you’re correct. There’s not enough time in a day to accomplish something big! These types of things take a long time—many days—to accomplish.


The problem is that many people get overwhelmed by the enormity of a task and never get started. They overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the impact of making small improvements on a daily basis. Big success doesn’t require massive effort within a short period of time. It requires a clear objective and daily, incremental action.

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The Return of an Old Friend

The arrival of Fall this year has felt like the return of a good friend I haven’t seen in a while. Lately, even though life has been crazy and hectic, I’ve been trying to embrace the beautiful colors, scent of goodies baking in the oven, hikes with friends, the feel of cozy sweaters and diving into creative projects that got put aside during the warm summer months.

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Meet Maker Stephanie Starner Greiner

We are thrilled to introduce you to our February Made to Make artist Stephanie Greiner from Leelanau Pottery Company.

I first met Stephanie five years ago when our oldest kids started kindergarten together. Right away I enjoyed her bubbly personality, infectious laugh and creative spirit! Stephanie is a mom, artist and owner of Leelanau Pottery Company. Her beautiful ceramics are inspired by the incredible beauty that surrounds us in northern Michigan! She creates hand built ceramic plates and platters, mugs and more in a unique bubble glaze inspired by the shores of Lake Michigan. We are thrilled that she will be leading our February workshop and teaching us how to make a gorgeous hanging ceramic planter!



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Meet Maker Alissa Thomson

Meet our December Made to Make Maker Alissa Thomson from IndieGrow Flower Farm! hey design, plant, and maintain beautiful floral and vegetable gardens. We practice no spray, organic gardening methods.

Alissa is a mother, wife, gardener, floral designer, herbalist and entrepreneur that loves to bake, kayak, hike, design, craft, brew, camp, swim, paint, travel and is always up for an adventure! She tries to eat organically, recycle, and do her part in taking care of our earth. She loves coffee, brunch, going to concerts, eating foody foods, and locally brewed beverages. She’s been in the garden her entire life, and picked flowers and arranging them for others for as long as she can remember.



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