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  September 26, 2014 Is the day my life changed forever with the passing of my mom. I had just had my first son two months prior. To say it was the hardest time of my life would be an understatement. A little background about my mom.

 

   My earliest memory of creative practice began around 4-5 when my mom and I would go on errands together (she would always say we were attached at the hip) and she would have a little hand-held red spiral note pad for me to draw in, in the back of our mini van! I remember it like it was yesterday, I would draw, we would listen to music, sing our hearts out to 80's big hair bands and have the windows down. I can still feel the wind in my face. She was so supportive of me and my "artwork" even at that early age. (of course my dad was and still is very much supportive of me, my dreams and my artwork). This is just the story behind Carpe Diem.

 

  My mom was larger than life in all that she did. She would transform our house for Holidays, birthdays, and make ordinary days not so ordinary. She was magic (as all moms usually are when we are little) 

 

  She's Christmas morning, she's emerald, she's Journey, Boston, Def Leppard and the Moody Blues, she's pumpkins, Santa Claus, holsteins, orchids, four leaf clovers. She is why I will also celebrate every little thing in my son's lives as BIG things. 

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  One of her many favorite sayings was Carpe Diem,  a phrase that comes from the Roman poet Horace, means literally "Pluck the day", though it's usually translated as "Seize the day". A free translation might be "Enjoy yourself while you have the chance".

 

  She would say it often. So often it sticks out in my mind as part of her, Though I can't remember all the examples of why or how she would tell us to Carpe Diem I do know for SURE it was a "reminder" to do the fun thing, eat the cake, order the steak, go out on the date, take the chance, find the magic because in life we truly don't know when we won't be able to. 

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  Fast forward to April of 2021 I finally said "Why Not Me" and I leapt and took a chance on myself, of pursuing being an artist and really doing it this time not just wanting too. It is and was for me, but also for my mom and hearing her say to me from above " You will never know unless you try!" - With this Carpe Diem has been born 

 

It is my hope that with these Carpe Diem designs,  you can think about the someone in your life who has been your reminder of Carpe Diem! (Seize the day) Your mom, dad, big or little sister/brother, aunt, uncle, grandmother, pastor, best friend, husband, wife, your kids.  I hope you truly wear it (or give it in the hopes of someone wearing it and letting it be a reminder in our daily hectic lives to stop, slow down, connect, be present but also to Live . Every . Moment . just plain and simple Carpe Diem.