Desert Flowers in January

A nice way to start 2024

This is January and the desert is full of flowers! 2023 was quite a year, change and turmoil seemed to be the theme again and many friends and family have had big changes in many aspects of life. We all lost many people we loved. Our world is changing environmentally we had a tropical storm in the desert in late August and now we have flowers! It’s changing culturally too, drama seems to be everywhere!

And yet when I look back over my personal year, I would have to say that it was one of the best years I have had in a long time. As many of you know, I have been struggling for quite some time wondering where I belonged and what I should be doing. Especially since the pandemic, my life has been in turmoil. Last year much of that uncertainty was settled and although there are still questions unanswered, I am feeling pretty positive as I start 2024 and I think there will be more resolution throughout this year.

Here are what I would call the highlights of my 2023.

Mystic Dreams of Transformation– My solo show at Maturango Museum, writing poetry, publishing a book of my surreal art and poems, and having it well received within my community of Ridgecrest. I was so surprised, especially by the reception of the art and poetry, and actually, to be honest, I was surprised I even wrote these poems! I have not done any more and I do wish I would start writing again, I need to start drawing again too. I think it’s likely I will.

The next amazing discovery and change was learning how to make and paint handbags. I had been wanting to get back to sewing for years, however, this was a complete surprise and the fact that people wanted to buy them was another big surprise! I am continuing to explore and create and currently working on new designs and making custom orders. This is one of my very first sales.

My working with Maturango Museum on my solo show led me to a better relationship with people I have known for years there and in September I was offered a job maintaining the website and helping with publicity for the museum. It is a part-time job that allows me to continue to be creative while being able to contribute to one of the best community builders in Ridgecrest. So many good things come from this place and I am happy to be able to make things work a little better there.

So I will be staying in Ridgecrest and I will continue making art and exploring new ways to create, plus help at the museum, writing more poetry, get back to blogging and hopefully starting a garden and planning some redecorating and building a life.

My life is busy and full and I will continue to believe that the world will find a way to come together and we will save the planet from destruction. Yes I know, you are rolling your eyes reading this. Me too. But putting it out there and doing my best to live it is what makes the difference.

And with all of that I will say Thank You, Thank You to all of you for supporting me as an artist, friend, and family too, and I couldn’t have done any of it without you.

I wish for you love, prosperity, and lot’s of joy, the more we share these things the better the world becomes.

Have a Happy Day!

Cheryl