Made of Memories: The Stories Hidden in the Layers behind my new mixed media collection

Lately, I’ve found myself doing a lot of reflecting. Maybe it’s this season of life.

Our three girls are grown now, building beautiful lives of their own, and while I absolutely treasure being “Grammy,” life has become quieter in ways I never expected. With that quiet has come something I didn’t have much time for years ago—the gift of looking back.

As I began creating this collection, memories began finding me.

The funny thing is, the collection didn’t begin with an idea. It began with piles of painted papers, colorful scraps, experimental marks, and pieces from years of painting that I couldn’t quite bring myself to throw away. Every artist has them—the leftovers from one painting that somehow feel too full of possibility to discard.

As I started sorting through them, tearing them, layering them, and piecing them together, something unexpected happened. The papers weren’t the only things being gathered. So were the memories.

I found myself back in one of my favorite seasons of life.

Backyard birthday parties where every year called for a new theme. Princess dresses, cowgirl boots, relay races across the lawn, laughter echoing through the neighborhood, and cake crumbs scattered in the grass.

Afternoons spent picking wildflowers. Picnic quilts stretched beneath the trees.Dress-up clothes that transformed ordinary days into magical adventures. Forts tucked away in the woods where imaginations ran free.

Scooters, skateboards, soccer balls, basketball hoops, scraped knees, hot cocoa after snow days, and the familiar sound of children calling for one another from driveway to driveway.

We were blessed to live in one of those neighborhoods where kids seemed to appear the moment breakfast was over and stayed outside until the streetlights came on. Looking back, I realize how extraordinary those ordinary days really were.

At the time, I thought I was simply raising children.

Now I see I was collecting memories.

As I reflected on those years, I realized something else...Children have always been my greatest inspiration.

First, it was my own three girls. They filled our days with imagination, laughter, color, and a sense of wonder that found its way into my heart long before it ever found its way onto a canvas.

Then came the many years I spent teaching art. Watching children create without fear reminded me that art isn’t about perfection—it’s about curiosity, play, and having the courage to simply begin. Their willingness to experiment, make a mess, and embrace the unexpected has shaped me as an artist more than they will probably ever know.

Now, that inspiration has come full circle with my grandson.

Seeing the world through his eyes reminds me once again to slow down, notice the beauty in ordinary moments, and create with joyful abandon. His little hands even helped make some of the very first marks in one of the largest paintings in this collection, Where Wild Hearts Wander. Every time I look at those playful marks, I’m reminded that creativity isn’t something we outgrow—it’s something we’re invited to carry with us.

Without even realizing it, all of those moments found their way into these paintings.

Not as literal illustrations, but as feelings.

The bright colors echo the joy of childhood.

The playful marks feel like laughter.

The flowers, cakes, leaves, and layered textures celebrate imagination, friendship, and carefree afternoons.

The collected pieces remind me that every season of life is connected to the next. Individual pieces, each with their own story, become stronger and more beautiful when they’re brought together.

There is another layer to this collection, too.Every painting contains remnants of previous work. Pieces that might have been considered failures. Experiments that didn’t quite become what I had imagined. Marks that once felt unfinished. Rather than throwing them away, they became part of something entirely new.

Isn’t that true of life? The moments we think are ordinary often become the ones we treasure most. The things we almost discard sometimes become the foundation for something beautiful.

Nothing is wasted. Not the painted scraps. Not the memories. Not the seasons that have shaped us.

As I’ve reflected on those years of raising our girls, I’ve become deeply grateful—not only for the big milestones, but for the everyday moments that quietly shaped our family.

My hope is that when you experience Made of Memories, it stirs something in you, too.

Maybe you’ll remember birthday parties in your own backyard.

Maybe you’ll think of a favorite neighborhood, a family tradition, or afternoons spent outside until the streetlights came on.

Maybe you’ll remember picking wildflowers, building forts, riding bikes with friends, or sharing hot cocoa after a day of adventure.

Or maybe you’ll simply be reminded that the sweetest seasons of life are often the ones we don’t fully appreciate until we have the chance to look back.

These paintings are made from remnants of old artwork.

But more than that…

They are made of memories.

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I’m also incredibly excited to share that Made of Memories marks the beginning of a wonderful new local partnership. This collection will make its debut at Art on the Square Gallery in Bentonville, where you’ll be able to experience the artwork in person. It feels especially meaningful to introduce this body of work in a gallery that celebrates original art and the artists of our community.

If you’re in Northwest Arkansas, I’d love for you to stop by, spend some time with the work, and experience the stories woven into each piece. There is something special about seeing the layers, textures, and details in person that simply can’t be captured in a photograph.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. Sharing this collection feels like sharing little pieces of my heart, and I hope these paintings remind you to treasure the beautiful memories that have shaped your own story.

With gratitude,

Stacy