Brush Studio; An Artistic Adventure

You know, I've stumbled upon this newfound obsession that's become my ultimate muse – painting classes. I've been on a wild virtual scavenger hunt through the tangled web, hunting for these elusive local painting classes. It all started back in 2022 when I dipped my toes into the enchanting world of paint by numbers. Little did I know, I was about to embark on an addiction that would consume my creative soul. Now, I'm not exactly the poster child for natural-born artistic talent, so I'll be the first to admit that I require a generous dose of guidance, maybe even a boatload of it. That's why paint by number was such a revelation. But, my friends, let me tell you, there's something even more divine – the freehand class. It's like stepping into the arena of your own artistic destiny, with some help.











Picture this: you're in a class, armed with brushes and a blank canvas, surrounded by fellow adventurers of artistic endeavors. There's a masterpiece on the horizon, and you're about to bring it to life. Now, I recently gave a little place here in Grand Rapids a whirl – The Brush Studio. Nestled downtown on Louis Avenue, it's a fusion of modern coolness and cozy vibes. The instructor was a wise and talented master of color. She guided us through the intricate dance of crafting a background, then unleashed the music and set us free. The studio walls adorned with a kaleidoscope of artwork from various classes, creating a vibrant tapestry of creativity.


This place is like a magnet for souls of all walks of life. Picture this: a man and his four-year-old daughter, side by side in the class. It's pure magic watching that little one dive into the world of colors, following the brush strokes with glee. You see, it's not a Herculean task to keep kids focused when art is involved. There was also a couple who found their bliss here, and two pals sharing this artistic voyage. Each one brought their own unique background and skill level to the canvas.

At the beginning, you're handed a pristine canvas and a palette of colors, the essentials for your creative journey. As you sail through the artistic seas, you can choose to chart your own course by mixing and matching colors, but these initial hues lay the foundation of your masterpiece.





Now, here's the kicker – our instructor, she's not just a teacher, she's a docent of the soul. She guides you on a quest to uncover hidden facets of yourself within your art. Her instructions are clear, yet they don't shackle you to recreating an exact replica of the art before you. It's about finding your artistic voice, about adapting the colors of your flowers and discovering how to bring forth a bouquet of diverse blossoms.

Her wisdom shines through in her teaching. It's tempting to fixate on every little imperfection, constantly tinkering and tweaking until you've overcooked the masterpiece. She suggests a different route – take a step back, peruse the work of your fellow travelers, and then return to your own canvas.

The enchanting part of this whole voyage is that every piece of art that emerges from that room is as unique as a snowflake. Same paint, same tools, same guidance, yet each canvas tells a different story.

As we painted away, curious souls strolled past the large glass windows, downtown's voyeuristic windows to creativity. It struck me that I've been on the other side of those windows before, peering in, wondering about the magic unfolding within. What's that project? How do I get in on this artistic escapade? And who knows, perhaps you're brushing shoulders with the next Picasso, or maybe, just maybe, it's you who's destined for artistic stardom....

Wine and Paint (Or unlimited Mimosas and messes)

I have always thought painters are so cool. It's probably because my mom can make amazing things out of paint. She has always had this talent and I have never even imagined I could do it or make anything remotely pretty. My handwriting and drawing is, well, basically, it's embarrassingly bad, so I never tried. It's not because I don't want to, its more because I don't think I'm capable and I don't want to make something ugly. Me doing this class is pretty adventurous, for me it is anyway. 

This class was something I was putting off. It seemed I was destined to take one of them. I avoided art classes like the plague since I cut my finger open on a mat cutter in 6th grade (true story, lots of blood, 6 stitches). Several times I've been invited, or my ex-husband always wanted to do it, or friends. I was terrified my work of art would be humiliatingly ugly. This was the day I got over it. 

So, I decided I would try it out and found people willing to go with me, otherwise, I was prepared to do this alone. Luckily, I didn't have to, my best friend Anna came along for the ride. It's always better with a friend. This is true of almost anything in life. 

It was awesome. They walk you through the painting bit by bit. First, they show you the painting and describe the brushes you will use and what each of them is used for typically. The instruction is extremely detailed, and you can ask questions if you get confused. They are very helpful, and they circulate around the room as you paint so they make sure everyone is following the instructions correctly. 

As you are doing this you can order drinks, or like this class it was a special with unlimited Mimosas for $10. So, for $48 each we got unlimited drinks and a piece of art to create and take home. It was very messy. I'm very messy, so it's not surprising, but you put an apron on, but sometimes that's not enough. 

Here is where we went: Grand Rapids | Wine and Canvas MI

Airport Runway 5k- GRR

So, I ran in a race for the first time in a year. I now realize, if I am sign up for a 5k, I should actually take the time to run a little before the race, like training or practice in the months or weeks before hand. You cannot (or should not) just run any race without some previous training. I did have kind of a rough summer and was concerned about so health stuff, so I hadn't really been running until about two weeks prior to the race when I got an "all clear" for some test results. 

This is not about that though; this is about how cool it is to run on a runway and donate money and time to a great cause. I chose this race initially because I thought it was super cool to run on a runway.  The year I signed up for the first time, it was cancelled for covid and when it came back, I wasn't in shape, and I couldn't attend anyway so my race fees were just a donation- which is still wonderful! Truly and honestly, I wasn't in shape for this one either, but I knew I had to do it. 

Running on an airport runway was interesting. Obviously, the airport has many runways, so planes were still taking off and we could see them over head. We ran past a private airport hangar and some private planes with a few people standing on the tarmac waving us on as the group sailed past. People at this race were very nice. The first interaction I had when I pulled into my parking space was with the car next to me. His name was Jim and he was in a wheelchair, he was using it to qualify for a different race and he was so nice. We had a wonderful little chat before I headed to the starting gate. After speaking to him I felt better. I felt less alone, less scared, and more connected to the situation at hand. 

The starting gate was an actual gate, with actual guards, and it was closed until about 15 minutes before the race. When I lined up at the start line people filled in quickly. It started off on a service road which turned into the runway. I never realized how big an airport runway was until I ran on it. When you are in a large plane you never really see the runway unless you are in the cockpit, and I imagine it probably looks smaller in the cockpit of a large plane then it does when you are on the ground running on it. 

A man who was holding his shoes ran past me barefoot. Women and men pushing strollers, small children, old people, young people, all running, all going for the same thing, the finish line. We were all stretched out over the asphalt running at different paces.  It was inspiring to see so many different people in one place all pushing themselves to be the best they can be and all going to the same destination. 

As I was running an old friend I hadn't seen in a while sidled up next to me. He was running too, we had a nice chat even though we were both out of breath, we kept going. Then towards the end, when I thought I could take no more, I was walking a bit and another woman, about my age said "You're doing great, just keep going, you are almost there" inspired by her breathy words I finished right behind her a minute less than the time I had chosen for myself. 

The donations for the race went to Kids' Food Basket, which here in Grand Rapids is kind of a big deal. Kids' Food Basket provides food to a lot of children in the area who would otherwise not eat well because of many different situations in their family life. It is an excellent program which helps out a lot of struggling families. 

Running these races is great. It's healthy for the individual. It develops an unusual comradery with strangers and a feeling of accomplishment. It is something I will do again and again and again as much as I can for as long as I can because we never really know how much we have left in us. We never know if we are in the middle until we reach the end, unless you are in a race that is.... and maybe next time I will train and write the date on my calendar or even set a reminder in my phone.

Peaks Island, The Umbrella Cover Museum

Do you ever wonder what happened to your umbrella cover? Probably not. But have you ever seen an umbrella cover and wondered how it got there and where is the umbrella it goes with? Maybe.  Well, I have news for you, my sister and I found the Narnia of lost umbrella covers in this little island off the coast of Maine. 

We took a ferry from Portland to Peaks Island. A charming little place full of whimsical looking houses and miles of beaches full of multicolored beach glass. The place really was kind of magical. 

When you get off the ferry at Peaks Island, immediately to your left there is business to rent golf carts. It's really the only way to travel on the island, they have cars; however, this is much easier and a lot more fun. 

If you are just visiting for a day, it is best to just go with the golf cart. You must be over 18 and have a valid driver's license. It was really easy to rent, and it made cruising around the island fun. The houses were gorgeous. Huge, lovely things and they all looked like bed and breakfasts, but more likely were the summer homes of people who live in Maine or on the island full time. 

There was a little grocery store, restaurants, and some other interesting businesses scattered around the island. The Umbrella Cover Museum was what drew our attention to the island. The slogan is "Celebrate the Mundane." I cannot think of a more mundane thing than an umbrella cover. 

The museum is basically one room and a bathroom. It does not charge admission but has a donation box at the entrance and sells magnets. The woman who runs it is an accordion player. Her story was fascinating, and she currently holds the world record for the most umbrella covers, and she has them from all over the world. 

The bathroom is where she puts the "Sexy Umbrella Covers". She ends her tours (and sometimes begins them) with a song from her accordion. 

Overall, I give the museum 10 stars and I would visit the island again. Just a side note: I love her Instagram posts; she shares her experiences and guests with the world. She also has a good point; we should celebrate the mundane. Maybe that's the point of life. 

This is where we went:

The Umbrella Cover Museum

Portland, Maine: Lots of Lobstah

My sister is similar to me in the fact she has an adventurous spirt. This spontaneous (and short) trip was in inspired at church. Our conversation was simple 

Her: You're off work this week?

Me: Yes. 

Her: Where are you going?

Me: Nowhere. 

Her:  You should go somewhere. I want to go somewhere, and I can this week. Let's go somewhere. 

Me: Wanna go to Maine and eat a lobster?  

Her: Sure. I've never been to Maine. 

Then after church I went to her house, and we booked a flight. It all happened pretty fast, but so does life so sometimes you just have to do things.  Even if it costs you more money than you intend on spending. Even if you have things to do in your own house. Sometimes you just have to go. 

So, we went to Maine. We flew into Portland, and it was dark, so we didn't see much. A lot of things close early as well, so there were only a couple of places with food open. In addition to its being late there was a basketball game playing, and everyone was watching so the bars serving food were packed. We did end up getting some really delicious food. It was like extra fancy bar food, curried wings, Brussel sprouts, and fries that had some really amazing seasoning. 

The next day we walked around Portland a little bit. We found a place with Lobster rolls, oh my. Lobster Rolls are basically lobster with sauce on a toasted hot dog bun.   

For dinner we went to Luke's Lobster and had a whole Lobster. They pull them out the ocean that day so they are super fresh. There is instructions on how to crack it. Our server brough it already taken apart. "Lazy Lobster" she called it. We were intending on doing it ourselves, so this was a major disappointment. She said people keep breaking the lobster crackers, which seems odd that they wouldn't have an overabundance of them considering its a lobster place. 

One more thing, the pier can be dangerous, wood is uneven and it's been there a long time. There are some holes and bolts that stick up. BE careful walking around. 

Istanbul: City Sounds Include Music!

My friend Heather has a brother, Michael, and he lives in Istanbul with his wife. He has been there for 7 years. What began as a study abroad has ended in an entire immersion in another culture and a life Michael truly enjoys. He was very helpful as my tour guide during my trip, and he took this job very, very seriously. Michael is a Musician, so he took me on an errand while we were in part of the city, he needed a skin for his drum.

Walking the streets in this particular part of town there were a lot of music shops. Istanbul is full of strange, amazing instruments, many of which I had never seen. Michael was an amazing resource in knowing the names of them and I learned so much from him. I am not a musical person. I love music, but I cannot sing or play any instruments. My disability in this area does not hinder my lust for knowledge of it and wandered up to so many windows saying "What is this?" in the way a child does. Michael knew them all. 

We walked into one shop, I went in to buy guitar picks for my boyfriend, and saw all these amazing instruments hung from the ceiling. The guy behind the counter was playing a Saz and started singing as well. After he finished, we chatted for a bit, but his English wasn't great so he and Michael chatted a bit more in limited Turkish. Every instrument I pointed at he would pick up, tune, then play. It was extraordinary. He and Michael also had an impromptu jam session. It was truly . I could've spontaneous and I could've stayed there for hours, but we were on our way to the tower. 

I feel like Turkey was full of interesting, wonderful people and this was not an isolated incident. It was just amazing that we had a common language to communicate in, music. 

Here's a video: 

https://youtu.be/rTCBHUohXfk

Galata Tower, Istanbul

In the city of Istanbul there is a tower. It is not a huge tower, but it does have excellent city views. It is old and has been in existence since 500 AD. I think this is the oldest building in which I have ever been. I know at some point there has been renovations and it's been re-built from fires and damages from wars, but this tower is a landmark which helps define the landscape of Istanbul. 

First of all, unlike most of the towers I seem to find myself drawn to, this one had an elevator to take to the top. So, good news, no major stair climbing. The way down was all stairs, which is much easier than the way up. 

In a post Covid world, you must have vaccination card and negative antigen test to enter. There are testing sites all over the city and the one at the airport only costs a little over 100 Turkish Lira, or about $16 us dollars.

You can see the entire city and Asia from the top of the tower. The Bosphorus is below with boats and ferries gently making their way in between the two continents and opposite sides of the city. When at the top of the tower you can see all the bridges. There are so many bridges crossing the water everywhere. 

I was lucky, it was a beautiful day, and I was able to see a woman walking her cat on her roof beneath me. It was cool because she had it on a little leash and everything. It is nice to watch people in their everyday lives move about the city peacefully. It's like a window into the life of the city. 

This is a must see if in the city of Istanbul. It was within walking distance of my hotel, and it's surrounded by amazing little shops! The view is worth it! 

Where I went: Galata Tower