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there’s nothing quite like finding friendship and connection where you can chat, eat yummy food, hit the town with the girls or your hubbies, celebrate art and culture...and then there’s crystal miller, who taught me that friendship is all those things and so much more -- it’s taking the hard times and using your experiences to make someone else’s journey a bit smoother or a bit less unexpected. meet crystal: the cheerleader everyone needs in their life, a warrior, survivor, mother of five, nurse and midwife, and one smart cookie to boot!

"tell me about your process"...sometimes there's just not enough time to really describe it all...so let's dive in. below you'll find a link to the YouTube version where you can see my paintings, materials & tools i use in the candy colored studio. i talk about my inspiration, how I choose my subjects, the symbolism in each subject, and my latest portrait series that combines all of these elements. enjoy!

hear about my sister, sweet lady desiree madsen, or as our kiddos call her: auntie dez or auntie dezzer. dez is so much fun, a lover of christmas lights, eastlake, holidays in general, all things dance, the cosmos, movie quotes, gift boxes & games. she’s a massage therapist, and an artist... and i’m so grateful to be her sister...even if you can’t tell which of us is the oldest (personality-wise of course lol).

sharing some raw and hard things in this episode...please be mindful of those around you while your listening (earpods might be good) or take it as an opportunity to have a hard conversation with a loved one, friends, your children. these triggers are real. they are seemingly large and small but truly, no matter how large or small, they need to be acknowledged and used to better ourselves. know that you’re loved and thought of and that i have the greatest confidence in you and your heart to allow you to work through these triggers...and be there for others as they work through theirs.

whether you want to break into your creativity or have a friend or child looking to do the same, here are some things to get you started. there’s never been a better time to create, to work with your hands, to find respite from this crazy world, and to lift others in the process. enjoy these tips and keep me posted on your creative journey or the journey of your loved ones!

for many of us, the 1st word most kids learn is “no”. it is one of the most valuable words in any language…”yes” is a close second...really what’s invaluable is knowing when to use each. it’s something i’m constantly working on...some situations are easier than others to say “no”...and some seasons are easier than others to use it. hear some confessions, giggles, 16 things i’m actively saying no to and 5 things i’m saying yes to before i can say yes to anything else.

if you need a triple shot of goodness, today is the day...meet my cousins gretchen cronin & alison dodds, and their mom margaret amy. talk about amazing sister and mother relationships, these fabulous ladies are such a light to so many. hear how gretchen is a docent at an atlanta museum, taking classes during COVID, and alison is now a realtor in northern utah. their sweet mom is an absolute hoot, no wonder these ladies are so much fun. enjoy!

creating and maintaining a website can seem so overwhelming. And yet there’s no better time than right now to sell your work online and make it easier for your collectors & future collectors to connect with you and collect your work. It’s easy to get lost with all the possibilities...instead, here are 6 things you can do that will quickly improve your website. for more details on each of these tips and to go further with your website, check out my mini course on “upleveling your artist website.” 

SWEETlady ashley and i met through her sister amy ashworth. talk about the ideal sister friendship...everyone needs a sister in their life like ashley & amy. these two have so much fun together, they also team up on interior design projects...i personally have been blown away by the spaces these two have created. ashley also creates projects on her own and sells her fairy gardens large & small all nestled into the cutest finds. she sells them locally to friends and family, does custom orders and you can purchase them directly from her, at her bff chalene parkin’s salon in salem utah, or at local markets like the beehive bazaar in orem, utah.

meet my artist friend and neighbor jordan daines! a lover of color and texture, jordan has a unique style that evokes meaning, thought, draws in the viewer and invites them to create their own story with each piece. hear about her process, style journey, thoughts on education, priorities in life, art and motherhood...and their ever evolution. she and her family recently built their modern home designed by her architect husband matt. Hear about their build journey, jordan’s new art studio, and studios spaces she’s used in the past. there’s so much goodness and knowledge in this chat with lovely jordan, enjoy!

our lil’ family has been so lucky to have lived with family in the same town...and for a while, in the same neighborhood. i grew up far away from cousins, aunts & uncles, so having these opportunities and friendships for my kiddos have been so dreamy. today i want to introduce you to my sister-in-law traci berg. full of talent, kindness, a great listener and super organized, she is the kind of friend we all consider ourselves lucky to know. 

during “stay at home” i’ve noticed that hard things in my life and the lives of those i love and care about have amplified and caused quite a bit of havoc. sometimes it’s nice to know that you’re not the only one facing anxiety, depression, or panic attacks. if you’ve been facing any of these, or have family members or friends that have experienced this great discomfort, here are some things that have helped me personally... 

1. boundaries
2. saying no more than yes
3. minimizing my responsibilities 
4. embracing the imperfect and more importantly, the process of becoming
5. sleep and rest 
6. walking/biking/dancing/moving
7. food - being intune with our body’s needs
8. meditation
9. alone time 
10. sunshine