our story

mindful art by mw is art and other creations mindfully
made with love to inspire, comfort, and promote joy

In our first chapter of this adventure, we worked under the name “our kitchen table creations” as the resident artist at Kelly’s Bakery and Café in downtown Bloomington. We enjoyed sharing creations at local craft shows and hosting First Fridays throughout our ten+ years. Our modest blog was a source of joy for me as I shared my favorite things from our kitchen table. The name was also a tribute to my grandma because she could make the bad disappear when we visited at her kitchen table and shared a cup of coffee and solved the world’s problems.

Just like the rest of the world, 2020 brought big changes into our lives. The pandemic closed the cafe where we were showcasing our pieces. This closure for “our kitchen table creations” was also timely because I entered the fight of my life at that same time. My diagnosis of lymphoma, a cancer that was attacking my organs and bones and blood, took me off my feet in December 2019 and then 2020 was spent undergoing chemotherapy, complications from the cancer, surgeries, more chemotherapy, many days and nights in the hospital, and so many hours in a treatment chair.

As remission was achieved and I started to regain my strength, my creativity kept me sane. My art bag was filled with different items from my studio and I created small collages in journals and as cards. It took awhile to get back into my studio and the flooding in 2021 did not help that any either. We have rebuilt my studio better than it was before and I am love the natural light I have streaming in from the south now!

In 2023, I did pop-up shops and small vendor events in Downtown Bloomington and Uptown Normal. Being able to share my small collages and earring creations with others filled my heart with joy and it felt amazing (albeit tiring) to be able to do these one day events again. I met so many artists and lovers of art as I visited with the community.

At one of the pop-up shops we offered a “make and take” experience. This morphed into “Collage and a Cocktail” and has became a beautiful way for me to guide others in their collage experimentation and self-expression. I love hosting events, whether it be at my home or a friend’s, where I bring all the goodies needed to spark the creativity of others and guide them in making a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. I am so excited the opportunities that are unfolding with this!

Maybe you have landed on my page by way of one of these events! I am glad you are here and excited to share my creations and love of art with you again! Maybe you attended one of the collage experiences and are looking to take another class with me! No matter what brought, I am so grateful that you are here!

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