Artfully Meandering: I think I'm falling in love with Greenville...

Yes. It's started happening. I'm falling in love with this surprise! I had never heard of Greenville before a recruiter contacted me. It's a small city that has revitalized it's downtown in a thriving arts, shopping, and culinary center. It's in the foot of the Appalachians, so there is great hiking and camping not far away. I love seeing the mountains. Because it's small city (55,000), but still fairly populated county (350,000) there is a lot available here: good shopping, good restaurants, physcial outdoor activities, four seasons (with a shorter winter season than up north). They have jazz festivals, art festivals, and old movies in the park.

And! They have a thriving arts community. First Fridays they have open studios in the arts district. Once a year they have Open Studios, so artists who normally aren't open to the public open their studios for a tour. I went to my first First Friday with a fellow artist friend who is into ceramics. I'm looking forward to spending more time with her as we share a love of the arts.

I'm finding wonderful inspiration. Spring is in the air. The dogwoods and redbuds are blooming. I forgot how I missed them (Indiana had them, too). I love the way the tree looks when it's freshly washed by rain....

These dogwood blossoms are small. (If someone who knows better than me what these flowering trees are, please feel free to correct me...I'd appreciate it!) These sweet little blossoms landed on my windshield after a heavy rainstorm.

What I love about the country here is that it is populated country. Your neighbors are close (within eyesight) but not too close (a little space between...more than the suburbs and definitely more than an apartment.) I also appreciate the southern hospitality.

So, if you're wandering through the south, Greenville, SC is a little gem. And if you're making a tour of it, I hear Asheville, NC is similar in nature and it's only an hour north.

I'm working on a design theme for when I get going on the art again. I think the dogwoods are stimulating my imagination...stay tuned! I'm starting to get settled into my routine, I just need to make things official...file the business paperwork, etc. and I can start catching up on all my favorite blogs. I have a lot of reading to do!