Emily worked with us in the past when we photographed the high school dance team she coaches, and we also photographed her sister. I love the small world of connections we get to work within. Emily and Mike will be married next year on a beach. This has me incredibly jealous, as currently, my toes are so cold I can hardly move them. ;)

Looking back as far I can remember, I have always greatly admired my Aunt. She was an art teacher who lived in a beautiful historic home. The house seemed so enormous to me as a small child, and incredibly mysterious with dark nooks and doorways. Going back to visit as an adult it made me laugh, because the place really was no bigger than my own home in which I grew up. It was simply the style and interior that was so enchanting to me, largely in part due to my Aunt’s art. You would find pieces here and there, surrounded by other things that were precious to her and my Uncle; photographs- old and new, elements of nature, and pottery. Lots of pottery. I can remember loving her style before I knew what style was. It looked beautiful to me, and I felt magnetized.

A few weeks back I posted about our family’s visit to the mountains of North Carolina where we stayed with my Aunt and Uncle. This was the first time we’d visited their new home since they moved from Cincinnati years ago, and we found that part of the country completely captivating. And of course, their home as inspiring as ever. Different from their home in Cincinnati, they now have jaw-dropping scenery surrounding them, and instead of a room for a studio, they built a beautiful freestanding outdoor studio for my Aunt to do what she loves. Every artists dream. Light pours in and showers her displays of oil, pastel, enamels, and jewelery. I had to coax her a bit, but in the end I convinced her to allow me to capture her in this element. My kids jumped in to get a mini-lesson as well, and I think they were as smitten with her art as I am.

The town of Burnsville where they live in the foothills of the Black Mountains, is a town rich with an artistic culture and heritage. So much so that twice a year the local Toe River Arts Counsel holds a fabulous studio tour, allowing the public to travel by map to artists’ personal studios. The tour is June and the first week of December- which means, it begins TOMORROW and goes through the weekend! I so wish I could be there to see my Aunt and also take the tour. I will be adding that to my bucket list, for sure.

If you happen to be near the town of Burnsville this weekend (about 45 minutes west of Asheville, NC) I encourage you to check out the Studio Tour and buy some fabulous local works. More info and maps found HERE.

If you would like to follow my Aunt’s continuing journey with her art, please LIKE her facebook page HERE!

If you visit my Aunt on the tour, you would travel on their street….

and this is the sign that would greet you ….

And THIS is my Aunt’s gorgeous studio!

She was showing my boys how she works with pastels.

She has beautiful art for sale displayed all around….

Thank you, Aunt Carol, for being an example of doing what you love in this life. You’ve inspired me over the years much more than you know! Hoping the studio tour goes fabulously well this weekend!!