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Caroline Simas: Following Her Purpose and Passion
286 Plays1 month ago
Stepping into Caroline Simas’s world is like entering a vibrant canvas of color, creativity, and connection. Listening to our conversation with her will leave you inspired and ready to explore your own creative potential.
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina’s historic South End, Caroline has spent over 15 years creating art that speaks to the heart. Her designs—celebrated for their bold colors and uplifting messages—are licensed globally, gracing homes and gift products worldwide. Yet, her greatest passion is helping others discover their own creative spirit.
Caroline believes creativity is as essential as breathing and dedicates herself to guiding women toward rediscovering their artistic side. Whether hosting retreats or leading workshops across the globe, she creates welcoming spaces where participants can explore and grow. Known as a “creativity cheerleader,” Caroline encourages others to find joy and meaning through art.
Beyond her work, Caroline is a proud wife and mother of four young adults, all carving out their own creative paths. Gratitude and love fuel her life and work, with every paint stroke reflecting her connection to art and the world around her.
Ready to feel inspired and uplifted? Tune in to hear Caroline’s incredible journey and discover how following your passions can transform your life. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!
Links:
INSTAGRAM: @CAROLINESIMAS
WEBSITE: CAROLINESIMAS.COM
FACEBOOK: Caroline Simas Studio
INSPIRED BY NATURE RETREAT / Connecticut Retreat with Caroline: https://www.artistsrising.net/caroline-simas-2025
Creativity & Culinary Retreat in Sabina, Italy: https://www.carolinesimas.com/blog/join-me-in-sabina-italy
FLOWER POWER (ONLINE/VIRTUAL WORKSHOP) https://www.carolinesimas.com/flower-power-workshop
CREATIVE COACHING WITH CAROLINE: https://www.carolinesimas.com/coaching
Podcast Title: Caroline Simas: Following Her Purpose and Passion
Thank You to Our Sponsors: Jet Creative and UrbanStems!
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Transcript
Introduction to Rebloom Podcast
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey, everyone. Welcome to Rebloom, the podcast where we explore the power of change, rediscovery, and living with intention. That's right. We're your hosts, Lori and Jamie, two friends who really love a good story about transformation.
Embracing Life Changes and Joy
00:00:16
Speaker
In each podcast, we're going to chat with inspiring guests who've made bold pivots in their lives or careers. They've let go of what no longer serve them to embrace something more authentic, joyful, and true to who they really are.
00:00:31
Speaker
And the best part, many of them reconnect with passions or dreams they discovered as kids. It's about finding the seeds planted long ago and letting them bloom again. So if you're ready for real conversations about reinvention, purpose, and following your creative heart, you're in the right place.
Hosts Discuss Their Busy Lives
00:00:52
Speaker
Let's dive in and see what it takes to re-bloom.
00:00:57
Speaker
Well, hello, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Rebloom. Hi, Lori. How are you? I'm good. I've been super busy. I know both of us have been traveling and teaching and just doing all the fun things.
00:01:14
Speaker
Oh my gosh, I just got back from New York City. I was teaching there. I love teaching. It's so much fun. And where have you been off to? Oh my gosh, where haven't I been? My friends and my friends kid me. They're like, are you actually home now? I've been out of the country in Connecticut, in Richmond, um all around. And, you know, this has been the best part of, I think, this chapter for us as we've started to rebloom. I have been an instructor at a you know at a local university for over 18 years, but now being able to take our show on the road a little bit is so fun. And that's why I'm so excited we get to talk to our next guest.
Meet Caroline Simas
00:01:57
Speaker
Welcome, Caroline Simas. How are you?
00:02:00
Speaker
Great, thank you guys so much for having me. Well, I get the pleasure of doing a little intro for my friend Caroline, who I've known for a while now, actually. We both shared the same licensing agent, and that's how we met. But Caroline is someone that I've always admired. We have similar approaches to art, um very colorful, very joyful. In fact, a lot of the things that we seem to do run very parallel.
00:02:30
Speaker
in a really weird way. So um she started a brand called Multiple Blessings and I know she's a woman of faith and she brings a lot of that into her work and her life. She lives it um and then she's gone on to now she's teaching and painting and mentoring and doing all the things so I can't wait to hear about her background like from day one being a teacher to where she is now so welcome you guys are so welcome Caroline thank you thank you I adore both of you well we ah we adore you and um if you can't already tell Caroline is from the south she's from Charlotte yeah and hey y'all I have a southern husband so
00:03:21
Speaker
um So Caroline, did did you start out as an artist? ah how how did your How did your career start? That's a great question. So many people asked me this question and I got it last night at an event.
00:03:35
Speaker
Um, when did you become an artist? And I say age six, uh, or actually as soon as I could hold a crayon. So that's when I became an artist. Um, i love it but I've just loved it my whole life. And my parents did a wonderful job of immersing me into creativity at at a young age. So I was surrounded by it and, um, just grew up creating. So.
00:03:59
Speaker
Yeah. Oh my gosh. We are parallel. I started around age seven. yeah's so It's freaking weird how many parallels we have. I know, but you went to towards teaching for a while. I was um an elementary education and early childhood education major at the college of Charleston. And I knew, I knew really at a very young age that I wanted to be three things. When I grew up, I wanted to be not necessarily in this order. I wanted to be a mom.
00:04:29
Speaker
a teacher and an artist. And I've been so fortunate to get to do all three of those things. And, um, I didn't know how long those seasons would last, you know, um, of course, motherhood lasts forever. But, um, anyway, I was just, I knew that I wanted to teach, but there was, that was a season of my life. And I knew that I eventually wanted to do art full time. So anyway, yeah.
00:04:56
Speaker
So how long were you teaching then? And were you teaching art? Well, that's a no. i I tied as much art to the curriculum as humanly possible without getting fired. I taught first grade in Charleston public schools. And then I taught um first grade public school in Charlotte and then private school in Charlotte. And I'm still in touch with many of my students who are now grown and married and make me feel older than I am. But it it hit it was such a wonderful career and i I loved teaching, but I did try to do as much creative ah projects with the at the even math, I mean curriculum as I could. So I love that that season, but I really didn't want to teach forever, um but I'm really glad I did. I think that, you know,
00:05:53
Speaker
hindsight is such a beautiful thing. When you look back and you can see, um, yeah, I think like you can see God's hand and all the little steps to, from the seed, you know, and the planting to the growing and the re blooming and the way that, you know, like teaching for me was just a season and then it was time to re harvest, you know? And so, um,
00:06:18
Speaker
i I don't regret any of that. I love those years, but I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and then I wanted to focus on art. So yeah. So goal and goal number two, so goal number one, you started the teaching, check. Yes. Goal number two, you became a mama, yeah check.
00:06:38
Speaker
And like many of us do when we become moms, we do need to pivot because you need you would you would like to spend a little more time with your children. um And so then did the art start to the art has always been a part of your life. Did it start to grow in that season of your life? Yes, I actually
Creating a Business Around Family
00:06:56
Speaker
taught um children's art lessons while I was teaching first grade. So I taught at um a wonderful place in Charlotte called the Drawing Room, which is not here anymore.
00:07:08
Speaker
And it was a wonderful place for me to have that creative outlet. And then I tutored children in the summer from our home, um both with education and I taught private children's art lessons from our house. So the art was even there while I was an educator. um And then I began, and I started a company when the kids were really young called the creative palette. And I painted, I did custom murals, mostly indoor. I never even considered outdoor murals. I did, I painted baby nurseries, ah playrooms, bathrooms. I painted constellations on ceilings. um So I did a lot of custom painting. And then I, you know, it was what I was already doing for my own children. I had
00:08:05
Speaker
two little boys at that time and I was painting you know, for friends gifts, I was painting bloomers and, um, uh, step stools. I had a woodworker who was making children step stools and the small table and chair sets and coat racks. And I would paint them at a farmer's market. So I would paint all these custom woodworking pieces and then linens. I painted baby pillows, all these things. And, um,
00:08:36
Speaker
I used to do junior league pop-up shops in Charlotte. And I look back on even that season and it's just so interesting the people that I met who I still circle back with now. and And anyway, so that was the custom painting business that allowed me to kind of get that creative fix but stay home with the boys. And this is before I had twin girls after two boys.
00:09:06
Speaker
Oh boy, oh And let me just say that I didn't think I would ever get dressed again or touch a paintbrush again, but I did. Yeah. Yeah. Two to four. Yes. Oh my gosh. Wow. But now your two girls are really creative as well, but we'll talk about your kids in a little while.
00:09:29
Speaker
Yeah, we're we're keeping on track and going through your path. So I know you started multiple blessings at one point. Like how did you end up doing licensing and creating that brand and when did that come about?
00:09:44
Speaker
Yes, I love the way you're weaving this in. This is so interesting. So I had the creative palette and ah it was like a wonderful hobby and I was getting paid, but it was more filling that creative void that I felt like I just needed.
00:10:00
Speaker
And Laura, you know, talked about this before. Creativity is like necessary for me to live. Like it's like breathing. It's like breathing. It is exactly. It's just like, I kiss cannot imagine living without creativity anyway. Um, so we had a miscarriage after William, our second son, and that really put a lot of things into perspective and, um, the fragility of life and,
00:10:30
Speaker
Um, what do you want to do with your life and things like that. And we really didn't feel complete and we really wanted to try for another child and had a lot of trouble and, um, ended up doing, um, kind of talking and thinking and praying about it. And our, our infertility doctor is a friend from church. And, um, we decided after lots of testing to try one round of, uh, in vitro.
00:10:58
Speaker
and not knowing what was going to happen. and um And if it didn't work, we were at peace with that and would move on. Anyway, fast forward, twin girls were born, didn't think I would ever leave the house again, get dressed, paint, you know, all that. And I started designing, when I was pregnant with them, their birth announcement. And of course I was going to make it myself because that's what I do. And I had so much fun um designing that birth announcement.
00:11:31
Speaker
I, and I was home a lot because I was on bed rest and I decided to start painting some of the things that I had painted on the murals with creative palette on paper. And I designed 24 Christian greeting cards. Okay. So I matched my paintings, watercolors with greeting cards. And Lori, you probably remember this, but way back then,
00:11:57
Speaker
The only place that you could buy greeting cards that had um scripture on them, it was like a tacky photo of like a waterfall or a wagon wheel or something. It wasn't. And so there wasn't anything pretty.
00:12:13
Speaker
with versus. And so I did i created those that set of 24 cards to give to friends and to share with people and to give when a friend's baby was born. I had no idea that I was creating a brand, really, didn't I? And a neighbor- Interesting.
00:12:33
Speaker
a neighbor ah saw those and she said, I really would like for you to come do a home show at my house. I'm launching these, do you know, Ann Nielsen and the angels, she does. these yeah yeah Yeah. Oh yeah she's yeah. Our kids are the same age. And she said, I'd really like for you to come.
00:12:52
Speaker
bring um this set of print some of these cards and do a little spin display and come sell them. I'm launching my angel paintings and we literally launched the same day and a woman was in the house and she said, I would like this brand in my store next week. And I was like, what brand? Oh my gosh. What brand? Yes. I'm a watercolor thing that said multiple blessings because I felt like when you send a card with scripture, you multiply the blessing by sending it on and I was having multiples. So anyway, that's how that started.
00:13:36
Speaker
Oh, wow. I love how I didn't know the story about how that name ties into your daughters. I love that. I was, you know, up a lot in the middle of the night going to the restroom. yeah And that name really just came to me in the middle of the night one night about how I'm having, I'm multiplying my family. And then when you send something that's life giving, you multiply the blessing by sharing it rather than keeping it. So that's how I love that. I love that. So yeah you made a brand. You didn't know you were going to, but you made a brand made a brand and and a couple of babies at the same time. yeah yeah yeah and know know
00:14:21
Speaker
No small feat those three goals you had are now like coming true in multiples. yeah So were you were you able to get the cards into her store in a week? Yes they were they were my first store at again had no idea what I was doing and they sold so well I started having to find a local printer. The printer I used was wonderful they don't exist anymore but it grew so quickly that um I had someone reach out about re repping the the stationery. I did go exhibit in Atlanta because there was so much interest in the cards. And when I went to exhibit in Atlanta, by then I had, once I found the printer, I went from just offering the greeting cards to um also having like magnetic notepads. And then I actually invented a couple of products.
00:15:20
Speaker
um One was called Grace Bits and it was like a metal, like a tin. um People that hear this will remember these. They were really so sweet, but it's like a little metal tin that I sourced and designed the sticker label and inside they were larger than Post-it notes and they weren't sticky, but they were these little notes that you could just leave and bless on somebody's doorstep.
00:15:47
Speaker
or in a lunchbox or, you know, like the little lunchbox notes, things like that. So you could just, I kept them in my car and just like gave them to people. And so grace bits became, um, a really neat thing. And, um, I did a regular everyday version and then a mother bits, which were all mother child based.
00:16:10
Speaker
I love that. I love that. So so you you brought yourself to Atlanta. For those of you who maybe are out there and don't know this, there are different markets that people that stores go to to actually purchase what they bring into their stores. And so designers, um companies will bring their wares to Atlanta. did you So, Caroline, the first time you went to Atlanta, you bought your own booth. Is that correct? I did. I was in the Temporaries. My sweet mom went with me to work. and Were you in Handmade? Were you in the handmadeid section or Handmade I was just in the Temporaries. And
00:16:55
Speaker
Gosh, if you never went to business school, this was like business when I went like, I mean, you just had to learn it and figure it out. It was. Yeah. Um, and I really loved those years. I wouldn't do it again now if you paid me, but I love, but i love it's hard.
00:17:15
Speaker
Very hard. It's hard. but you You know, this is the thing that we get asked all the time, too, but you are making an investment in yourself. You're making an investment in your brand because to go there, you must buy a booth. You must bring yourself there. You must. pay for a interest and you all blah blah blah hey for ah yeah pay for Pay for a lot of things and to be there and you're on and you're on for quite a bit. But my guess is and I'm going to ask and I'm asking a question that I don't know the answer to. Did then one of the larger brands see you there? And is that how the licensing career started? Actually, no, I know. OK, so I exhibited in Atlanta. I'm trying to remember I may have this wrong.
00:17:59
Speaker
I think it was about three years, um three or four years, and I also went to the National Stationary Show in New York City. and um
00:18:12
Speaker
When I was at the National Stationary Show in New York City, there is a show called CERTEX, which is her in conjunction. So it's in the same building in the Javits Center. And I knew it was there and I kind of knew what licensing was, but I was manufacturing. I was on the manufacturing and designing side and I had my own brand. And so,
00:18:39
Speaker
It was later that I transitioned to CERTEX and kind of got discovered pretty easily because my brand already existed. Again, another parallel. I bet I was in a booth in Surtex probably around that same time you were on the manufacturing side i mean because we showed at Surtex for a few years. And that's how I ended up with my first agent and then ultimately my second agent, which we shared an agent, but that's a little bit still down the road in the story.
00:19:15
Speaker
How crazy if we were right down from each other and didn't know it? Oh, I'm sure we probably passed each other. You probably wandered into CERTEX and I probably bumped into you ah before we knew each other. Isn't that funny? So what happens at CERTEX, ladies? Tell me what happens there.
00:19:33
Speaker
Well, I can answer that. So it's called surface and textile. So artists are there to show their work and you can make connections for licensing deals. But there's also a section where ah people can buy out the artwork, you know, do a full buyout. So licensing, you're getting paid on a percentage when people do a buyout, like it might be a pattern or something. And the company will pay a fee and then they'll have ownership of that of that whatever it is, a pattern or a piece of art or whatever. So we we showed there several years and you're making connections with manufacturers who will then put your art onto a variety of products.
00:20:17
Speaker
who Interesting. So did you ultimately show at CERTEX then?
Transitioning to Licensing and Creativity
00:20:22
Speaker
I did. and And I was on my own no agent. Just, I was like, I can do this. Anyway, talking about a financial commitment. I mean, when you, it is such an investment and you're just praying that it pays off. And we used to call it the promise land. Yeah. Cause everyone would come by and promise you that they would be in touch.
00:20:48
Speaker
about a big deal. Oh yeah. And some of those came to fruition. It's more about the hustle. Yeah. Well, you have to hustle so much after the show. I think a lot of people don't realize that. You think you're just going to go and the deals are made and you're done. Well, you make the connection, but then it's up to you to do the, you know, calling and recalling and all the things. I was really fortunate though to get, um, to have a deal signed there, um, which was,
00:21:18
Speaker
almost unheard of. ah Excellent. I think that's important for folks to know too, because people think, oh, you just create art and and the world comes to you. That is not it. You have to be in sales. You have to be in marketing. You have to, to your point, Caroline, you have to be in business. You have to really put yourself out there. And I've worked with a lot of different artists over the years.
00:21:41
Speaker
just talking to them and I think they don't they forget that part of it. Yes, you're creating beautiful work, but you've got to put yourself out there and make those connections too. It's super important, super, super important.
00:21:53
Speaker
Yeah, if you want it to be a business. I mean, if you want it to be a business, if you're not doing that, then it's basically a hobby, which is that's great, too. That's totally fine. Yeah. So you're right. We went to we made an investment like you did. And I laugh about the first time we went schlepping our Like we we shipped everything to the hotel because we were worried about it getting lost at Javits and we're like finding a dolly to get our stuff up to the show. Like the stuff that you do when you don't know what you're doing, you look back and you just kind of laugh because you know everybody starts somewhere and nothing's perfect and you just kind of do it and plunge in and then you learn. Absolutely and I love that you know I love those humble beginnings because
00:22:42
Speaker
If you start with the fairy tale, you don't have the journey and it's back to the re-blooming and seeding and planting. It's like, I'm so grateful for the struggles and the, you know, one thing I haven't said is, you know, I, with printing on the manufacturing side, I over-printed because you don't know which design is going to sell best. And I mean, I was like,
00:23:05
Speaker
over my skis, really. And we had, we finally had to get a warehouse at the printer in Charlotte because this was before, well um, before I transitioned to licensing and my husband was like,
00:23:20
Speaker
You know, we had to like move product to sit down at the table. It was just like, there was so much stuff. And anyway, my point is, I think it's important that the listeners know, like I had overprinted, um I was not in smart financial shape.
00:23:39
Speaker
And doing the transitioning to licensing was a huge leap of faith to spend that money on surtex, not knowing if I could clear out that debt from the the printing.
00:23:53
Speaker
um But it did turn out to work out and be a huge blessing. And for me, I realized that I didn't love the manufacturing side. I just wanted, again, it was another re-blooming of realizing I really just want to focus on the creative side and not, you still have to do the business side, but I didn't want to be the manufacturer. And that is why licensing was such a beautiful transition. It allowed me to focus on the creative and less on
00:24:29
Speaker
less on the business side. You still have to do some of that. right I wasn't wearing all the hats. Right. Right. Yeah. So you were not with an agent for ah several years. Like how long were you on your own and navigating licensing before you actually were with our agent? I was, I started, I transitioned from the manufacturing to the licensing, in 2007 and that was without an agent. And then I didn't sign with an agent until December of 2012.
00:25:11
Speaker
So I was without an agent from, I'm really terrible with the timeline, but I think that's correct. And ladies, why do you have an agent? Why why why have an agent versus not having an agent, Caroline?
00:25:24
Speaker
I really loved both. I have to be honest. I, I think it was a wonderful thing for me to start without an agent and figure out, um, can I do this on my own? um Um, I mean, maybe I'm a little bit of a control freak, but I also felt like, um, I wanted to see if I'm such a people person and I love the connections. So I felt like if I was going to have a deal happen,
00:25:51
Speaker
um, in a partnership with a manufacturer, I wanted to know the heart and hands behind it. And so for me, it was important to start without an agent and maybe it out was a little bit, I don't know, cocky of thinking I could do it all myself. So I did enjoy that. And I, you know, I got to know so many wonderful people who, you know, and I, I know, I knew their grandchildren's names and their kids names and like,
00:26:19
Speaker
where they went to college and I would email them and check up on them. And I love that part. It's a lot of work to do that, but if you care about people, then you do that. Um, but it, I was working with, um, I don't know, maybe six or so companies and it was a lot to manage and I had four children.
00:26:45
Speaker
So I think about the time that I started to feel overwhelmed, um I was approached about the agent ah situation. And initially it was like, I got this. And I had a conversation with my husband, he was like, you need some help. This is a good thing. Um, anyway, that turned out to be a wonderful, yes, also. And I loved working with them. I was with them 10 years with Courtney Davis, loved, um, all of that journey. Um, and you know, I, I was not certainly not the number one
00:27:29
Speaker
um by any stretch of the imagination, licensed artists with them. But I grew a lot. I learned a lot. um I started to understand collections and motifs, which we can explain what that is. Do you want us to, for the listener, Lori, I'm going to let you do that.
00:27:48
Speaker
um Well, basically when you create for licensing, you you have to provide the manufacturer with enough that they can work with. So typically, you know, my formula by being with Courtney Davis also is we would do like maybe four to six main images and then do a series of complimentary patterns and maybe provide um text or lettering or all like basically you're giving the manufacturer a kit of parts that then they can use to put on a variety of products.
00:28:24
Speaker
yes interesting. And it and it seems to each step of the way, Caroline, that you're wanting, as you grow, you're still making decisions that bring you back to your your love, which is to be creative. Because each time you grow and each time you get bigger, that requires more of the business side of it or more challenges. And so having an agent lets them do some of that and lets you really focus on the creative part that you love. Yes, the other thing that I would say for, I'm trying to put my hat on as a listener. And one of the things that I think people don't know is that one of the blessings of working with an agent is they have relationships with manufacturers who you may never know about on your own. And they have relationships with some manufacturers who won't work with anybody
00:29:20
Speaker
who is doesn't have representation. And so they took me from, I don't know, six or seven companies I was working with to like, you know, many. And so i that that was ah something that I could not have done on my own.
00:29:42
Speaker
didn't want to, and I could have just stayed in that bubble of working with a handful. Um, but it really opened my eyes to just the world of, you know, when you walk into a green, a store, a retail store and you see beautiful colors and patterns and art on products, someone made that. I mean, somebody created it either by hand or digitally or, you know,
00:30:10
Speaker
put it into a repeat, you know, somebody made it. It was either done in house or by an artist and, you know, artist makes the world more beautiful and it's everywhere you look.
00:30:24
Speaker
it It sure is. And go ahead, Lori. Oh, I was just going to maybe move us on to your next phase because yeah um I know that you're doing all kinds of really exciting things. And we both we both decided to leave our agent like I think I was maybe a couple of years before you.
00:30:47
Speaker
Um, and I think both of us had similar reasons where there were just things that were calling us in our hearts, um, to maybe teach and travel and just do other things other than licensing. So can you talk a little bit about yeah that next part of your
Heart-Centered Work and Workshops
00:31:06
Speaker
journey? Yes. I mean, it was really hard when I made that decision and They came to Charlotte and I cried like a baby and I just, it was nothing personal. They were amazing. I just was feeling this pull, uh, this change of season. Um, part of it was, you know, is about to be, and all of the children were leaving the nest and, you know, for so many decades we've been traveling for our kids sports and I want to see the world and I loved
00:31:39
Speaker
teaching I'm capable of teaching. um And so I was feeling called to do more heart centered work. And again, all of what we're talking about today is when you pivot and rebloom and grow and change.
00:31:54
Speaker
I think the most important thing is like trying to get back to what makes you come alive, right? And so I was starting to kind of dread the deadlines and I was starting to kind of resent some of the commitments and I was like, I just want to paint what I want to paint and I want to travel like go and I want to teach. And so yeah um it was a little bit of that and I'm so fortunate I'm at that stage of life where I could make that change and Um, right. And so anyway, they were so handled it so well. Um, we're still in touch. It's all great. Um, but I, yeah. So do you want me to talk about what I am doing now?
00:32:38
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Yes, share what you're doing now, what you're dreaming about. all Yeah, well, I do feel like, again, Laurie and I have this just shared joy of life and yeah and ah we call ourselves what creative chameleons because we just yeah like all the stuff.
00:32:56
Speaker
But right now I'm focused on still a lot of things, but one one thing that I really love doing is I love teaching workshops, private group workshops in my studio here in Charlotte, North Carolina.
00:33:14
Speaker
Um, I'm in a historic 102 year old building with 30 artists in it. And it's called Dilworth Artisan Station. And it is a fantastic place. And for anybody who's listening, please come see us. It is just a very cool creative hub. We have a sculptor. We have many, many fine artists, painters. We have photographers, architect firm, a jewelry welder. Anyway, it's amazing.
00:33:41
Speaker
um And so I have a, I just moved to a larger studio space here and I have capacity to seat 20 people in workshops. Typically they're six to 15 or so, but I can seat up to 20.
00:33:58
Speaker
um And I love, love, love having people here. Most of the women that I teach, it's it's adult women. um However, I do some corporate groups, so team building, so I can do co-ed workshops, and I love that. um I just did a group of middle school girls from a church. I will do kids and birthday parties, but I really prefer teaching the adults, which is kind of funny since I was a first grade teacher. but I was wondering about that. I will do it. I will do it. um And I ah do enjoy it. It's just not the most popular age group to sign up. um But anyway, i do I love encouraging young people to be creative. So anyway, um so I'm doing the workshops. I also have um other artists and ah counselors and people renting
00:34:57
Speaker
my studio space to teach their own workshops, seminars, and some artists here don't have space this big and, or they just don't, you know, they don't want to pay rent all year. And so I'm trying to allow some other people to come use this space on occasion. So that's another thing. And then can I tell you one more thing?
00:35:21
Speaker
yeah So I haven't announced this yet, but I am going to be announcing it soon is one of the things that I really want to offer is, and it's probably only going to be once a month, but it's going to be an open studio create with Caroline and you come bring your own art supplies and your own projects and you just come and we have a block of a few hours where you um you know bring your coffee and you have
00:35:52
Speaker
um and you bring your own project and you were just at a table and I'm here to give feedback and conversation, but I'm not teaching and it's not a workshop. It's just a creative time with Caroline. And so that's going to be probably happen starting probably in January and the winter, you know, I'll have coffee and cider here and we'll just, it'll be open to anybody who wants to come and bring their own project. So that'll be fun. Oh, fine. That reminds me of our artists gatherings. Yes. Yes. Because I taught at a place called Richard on the River. I have been and I decided I love the space so much, but I don't really get to create much when I'm teaching there. So I do the same thing. I invite artists and we just bring what we want. And both of you were at the most recent one. It was awesome. It's so much fun. It was awesome, yes. It's fun to just be with kindred spirits. I love teaching. I love that. But it's also really great just to be surrounded with creative kindreds and working on whatever each of you want to be working on, whatever fulfills you.
00:37:06
Speaker
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00:37:22
Speaker
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00:37:42
Speaker
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00:38:10
Speaker
I think it's so cool, Caroline, because I think, too, when I'm in my own space and i I would bet for you both, too, it's nice. But we love the connection. I love to chat with other people and just to have a visit. And it doesn't have to be. ah You don't to your point, you don't necessarily need the instruction. You just want to have a nice cup of coffee and chat with someone and see what they're doing and be inspired by what they're doing. what i' brilliant up Yeah. Yes, yes. Your, your extroversion is showing there. It's funny because at Richwood, like I'm an introvert. So even though I'm around a group of people, most of the time I had my head down and was just working on my birds or work. And Jamie's flitting around, aroundin flicker they're talking to everybody. and
00:38:58
Speaker
but yeah we ah we need We need our people and you know i love I love to be alone. I do, but i I think that there's something so special about connecting with other people through teaching, through just gatherings. I think that that's so important and I love I think that's the thing that I love that, Caroline, in your journey. But I also it's so interesting as you've pivoted, you've kept that consistency of art and creativity, but also connections throughout each choice that you've made, even if you were working with the licensing agency or doing it on your own and what
00:39:37
Speaker
ah people are hearing, I think, is that you had relationships with people and the relationships make the connections and the connections help us to grow. And that is so beautiful about your journey. Yeah. So sometimes on the podcast, we have people who have made like.
00:39:52
Speaker
really major shifts like from neuroscientist to making ginger beer or stock exchange to making bourbon. and So, but not everyone makes that extreme of a pivot, but I feel like You always had the same seeds from when you were young, but you have made little tweaks along the way. Always kind of gearing yourself or heading yourself towards something that felt even better at that season of your life. Yeah. Yeah. You listen to your heart. but You listen to your beautiful heart. I agree with that. And, you know, I'm still doing it. um It's, it's.
00:40:33
Speaker
Like even in the last week, you know, some decisions and changes. And I think, you know, it's just important to keep listening and shifting and pivoting. And certainly COVID taught us that. I mean, you know, we we had to.
00:40:49
Speaker
So yeah. Yeah. And I saw that you're doing something creative with your daughters, which is another parallel because I do things with Gen Z all the time. So talk about that a little bit. Yes. So um my twin girls are sophomores in college and It's so funny when all four of our kids were young, um you know, they were surrounded by this mom who was the artist who had, you know, I always say I'm addicted to art supplies, which is, you know, could be worse, right? And um anyway, they were always surrounded by art supplies and just did not really have an interest in it when they were younger, probably because it was everywhere.
00:41:31
Speaker
And really now all four of them are incredibly creative, but in very, very, very different ways. Walker designs golf courses and does creative digital golf design and documentary work. And William used to design athletic sneaker drawings and did a little internship with Nike and he's really creative and has designed band posters in college. And then, um,
00:42:00
Speaker
But my girls, um Charlotte is a student athlete, but she has taught herself how to do hand lettering. And it is fantastic. She taught um adult courses over zoom during COVID. She has taught workshops in my studio. And then um anyway, so we are, we are about to do, and then I'll tell you, Sarah Grace is a fashion tech style designer at NC state. And she,
00:42:30
Speaker
is incredibly creative. um But all of this is just so interesting. She did not start sewing until the beginning of COVID. So I got into this program. But anyway, what we are doing is we decided this summer to launch a collection, which is launching this week called the Moda Collection Mother Daughter.
Creative Collaboration with Family
00:42:52
Speaker
kind of like moma MoMA in New York, but Moda. love it And Charlotte named it, which I love. And we just thought it would be fun to do a collaborative project together. And um so we have merged some of my watercolor paintings with Charlotte's lettering. And we had such a great time figuring out, you know, the colors and the theme and the wording and ah So it's beautiful. They turned out great and some of those originals will be sold this Friday at our gallery crawl and then digitally they will they've been scanned and will be on products which will be sold exclusively online on journals and
00:43:35
Speaker
Christmas ornaments and things like that. And so they are um that will come out probably next week. They'll be available online. And then my other daughter, Sarah Grace, we bought a huge bolt of ah duck canvas and she sewed these huge tote bags with pockets and I have hand painted all of them. So it's fun to have. That won't be a digital product, but it's a great way for them to make a little money, understand how to be an entrepreneur and just fun to watch my girls use their talents. Oh my gosh, I can relate. That is phenomenal. And how interesting to Caroline that you've come back to your manufacturing days. I know. You know, we so we wonder, I picked up on that, but I thought, you know what, but you now know because of your experience way back when with the printing and the greeting cards,
00:44:34
Speaker
about quantities and how to do it. And even your licensing work and all of that, you've built on all of that experience. But what a beautiful gift to give to your daughter. so This is amazing. The products online are, I'm not print, they're print on demand. So I will not hear it. Which is new. Yeah. Beautiful thing. Which is a very beautiful thing. And that's been a shift in the industry. So you're not locked into that. and But what ah what a beautiful thing to both emulate that creativity for your girls, but now to bring them back into it. What a gift. What a huge gift. And it's the best to collaborate.
00:45:17
Speaker
and Yeah, I mean, we're teaching together and we work together because she licenses art and I love like going to the gift show and being in a meeting with one of our manufacturers and just I can sit back and she like takes over the meeting and just to watch her, you know, take notes and be articulate and I don't know, there's nothing more gratifying than watching our children.
00:45:44
Speaker
flourish and just so true. Absolutely. So very, very true. They are very happy for me too. Like I've seen it with them that they're, they're so thrilled to see me traveling outside of their sports now and leading domestic and international retreats and, and doing all these things. So it's, it's right. Well, will they come with you? Cause Kenzie's come to a few of mine.
00:46:09
Speaker
They can't right now because of college. However, Sarah Grace has applied to a textile fashion thing in London next summer. So maybe I can make something happen over there. So we'll see. That's amazing. and And that's also taken you right back to your teaching too, because you're teaching, as you said, internationally and your travel teaching, which is also very parallel to Lori.
00:46:35
Speaker
And and it's this new season of your life. And I think that's the thing for listeners is that we think, oh, this is what I have to do. And, OK, well, maybe you have the time or the ability or the energy he or any of it at a certain phase, but things do shift and you have to shift with those seasons. But yet there's always new opportunities. And so, yeah, you've been you just got back from Italy. I mean, that looked amazing. Amazing. Oh, my gosh. Great. um We had 12 women on the Amalfi Coast and I have a friend who's a culinary tour. He owns a culinary tour company. So I've taught in Tuscany with him before and then this was Amalfi Coast. But I really, there's just something so amazing about travel and um I'm not, I ah feel kind of bad sometimes saying this is only for women. I mean, the spouses can come on the front or back end.
00:47:33
Speaker
of the trip, but there's something magic when women gather. And I love, and I know Lori, you all agree with me on this, but for me, I love like unleashing the artist within. And I love helping women discover or rediscover that little girl inside who used to love art. And we all, when I tell my students this all the time, when you were four, five, six,
00:48:02
Speaker
ah Trust me, you thought that you were the best artist on the entire planet yeah yeah until someone told you you weren't. And it was either yourself, a friend, a parent, a teacher, somebody, and they squash that creativity. And it's just so fun to see people play again.
00:48:23
Speaker
Yeah, so interesting, because I was just thinking about this this morning. um are Our two grandsons, both of them are very creative. But Nash, the older one, he has started to notice that his younger brother, who is very past Holden, he's very passionate about art and wants to do it all the time. Nash has already told himself that Holden is the artist.
00:48:52
Speaker
So we just had them here this weekend and we bought we got them both pumpkins and we were going to paint them. And Nash is all about sports now. And, you know, Holden sitting there painting his pumpkin while Nash is running around our basement throwing balls and stuff. But part of it, I think it is because he already thinks, well, I'm not the artist. Holden's the artist.
00:49:18
Speaker
And it makes me sad because, you know, we I had all these memories of creating with him. And I think it's a really good therapeutic thing for for young people and older people to spend time creating. um He's very, very active and i he could focus when he was making art. So I was just thinking this morning, I'm like, I'm going to enforce that a little more on him.
00:49:47
Speaker
and bring him back to that because I know he loved it and something's happened where he's disconnecting and I don't like it. Yeah and it's and you're right you're both right because it's it's somebody does tell you no and it's so interesting that we listen to that voice and we've had many of our other guests say the same thing. Someone said, no, you have to go do a career that makes money or no, you can't. And that small little no is the voice that you listen to. But it's such a blessing and it's so amazing when people shut that voice down and let the creativity just fly and just soar.
00:50:30
Speaker
um Caroline, you are incredible. Now, I also want to let let our listeners know you're doing some pretty mad ah pretty amazing travel teaching. Certainly, they can come see you in Charlotte, anybody who's listening from the Charlotte area, but you're doing some really cool things in 2025, too. Yeah, so I'll be teaching in France in the spring ah with UpTrack.
00:50:54
Speaker
um in the Lure Valley and ah that one is full. I feel bad that well all of the retreats in 2025 are full other than I believe there's some spaces in Connecticut at where Lori just taught at um the Connecticut River Valley Inn in Glastonbury, Connecticut. I do believe we have some spaces for that. And I'm really looking forward to being there. We'll put a link up for that. We'll put a link up for that. So anybody wants to go visit with Caroline there? I would love that one is called Inspired by Nature. And again, just back to
00:51:31
Speaker
You know, I'm singing your, your, you know, you love those Jamie, you know, flowers i do and leaves and all of that. So, um, there's just so much art in nature. So, um, that'll be a wonderful retreat. But anyway, yes, I'm teaching in France. Um,
00:51:48
Speaker
Canada, which is where I did a residency and lived for a month. It's just above Maine in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and that one is full also. I couldn't believe that one filled in less than 24 hours, and which is great, but I will be offering some other retreats. It's just hard to do too many international in a year, and yeah we're still traveling for college sports and things. so Um, I'm trying to be really mindful of time and family and leaving. Um, but I, I definitely am always open to having, um, workshops and events in Charlotte. And speaking of Jamie speaking out, yeah Jamie is going to be coming next spring. We will announce the details soon, but we are going to be doing a really neat, um,
00:52:38
Speaker
workshop, two day workshop um in Charlotte that is focused on ah flowers and ah capturing and creating. um So we'll give you details about that. And then Lori and I have been talking for probably two years about teaching together somewhere. So stay tuned because we are ah working on it.
00:53:02
Speaker
We'll have to figure it out. We we keep we text each other, what about going here? What about going there? And now you have that beautiful space in Charlotte and I have friends there. I'm like, maybe I'll just come to you. yes so we It's got it's gotta to happen. we We will make it work. We are definitely kindred spirits.
00:53:20
Speaker
Yes, we are are. Well, I think we all ah are kindred spirits and Caroline, you are incredible. We ask our guests sometimes if there's just a little piece of advice that has been given to you or you would like to share that you feel is is really helpful um to inspire them. Well, I do creative coaching for women um in person and online.
00:53:50
Speaker
and one of the things that i share a lot um with them, especially women who are trying to make art a career. um But even if you're not, this is just good for any listener. and i And we've told our kids this from a very early age. If you can discern your gifts and talents, your God-given gifts and talents, whether you're trying to do that at a young age,
00:54:21
Speaker
or whether you're older and you're trying to rediscover your your current gifts and talents, if you can really zone in on those. And if you want to make those passions and your gifts and talents a career, then you will never dread Monday because you will love what you do when you wake up. And I absolutely,
00:54:48
Speaker
jump out of bed with joy most mornings because I'm so grateful to do what I love every day and I don't view it as work. i I would do it for free. And when you feel that way, and it's hard, like not everybody can say that. And I know that I'm really fortunate to be able to say that. um But I think no matter what your career is, or what you Sometimes it's thinking about the things you're not good at and ruling those out that helps you discern what you should be pushing yourself toward. So I hope that helps. And I hope that makes sense, but discerning the way, cause I believe everyone was created on a purpose with a purpose and for a purpose.
Aligning Passion with Career
00:55:36
Speaker
And if you can figure out your purpose and merge it with your passion, then there you go.
00:55:43
Speaker
That is beautiful and what a perfect way to end. Caroline, thank you so much for joining us. You're incredible. I hope everyone has a chance to meet you one day because you are just joy. I love also, and I'm hugging you through the computer. Yeah, virtual hugs. Big hugs. Thank you so much. And thank you everybody for listening.
00:56:10
Speaker
Yeah. Well, you got some great seeds. You shared some great stuff. Super. Thanks everyone. So I think I need to have the phrase never dread Monday on a t-shirt or maybe purpose plus passion. And I'm thinking about some conversations I want to have with some people in my family about ah surrounding this idea of really, really thinking about your God given talents and really thinking about what lights you up and trying your very best to bring that into your life, whether it's your full time career or whether it's, you know, stealing 15 minutes every other day doing something that just maybe it's cooking, maybe it's
00:56:59
Speaker
you know, taking a walk and appreciating nature, anything that you can just light yourself up. and Absolutely anything. And you know, I love that Caroline started as a child with the crayon, but never let go of the art. That was the thing that lit her up. That was the passion. And yes, she had goals. But even as she was going throughout her career,
00:57:22
Speaker
holding on to that, holding on to the creativity, holding on to her joy. And and it's okay to say no or let go of the stuff that quite frankly is a little annoying. You know, if you don't like accounting, let it go. If you don't like busy work, let it go. Because if you are holding on to that, it's taking away from the thing that really does fill your heart. And so at each pivot point she made,
00:57:51
Speaker
she grew but then also grew and realized she needed to to scale back on certain things so she could keep that joy and passion growing. It was fabulous. Yeah, I think it's a really great skill to recognize when it's time to make a change and change is not easy. It's not an easy thing but if you don't change at the right times when things are weighing you down, you'll just keep getting more and more weighed down. And that leads to mental health issues and depression and sadness. And so I think change is hard, but sometimes change is necessary to get you to a place that makes you really happy.
00:58:37
Speaker
It is, and change is good, and you close one door and beautiful doors open, and you have to trust in your heart that the closing of one door will lead to a beautiful, something beautiful on the other side. And if you believe that, then I think you have the courage to do it. And you are going to get how. Amen. Well, thank you, everyone. Peace, love, and read blue until we meet again.
00:59:04
Speaker
Life is too short not to follow your passions, so go out there and let your heart plant you where you are meant to be and grow your joy. We will be right here sharing more incredible stories of reinvention with you. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode of Rebloom. Until next time, I'm Jamie Jamison. And I'm Lori Siebert. Peace, love, and Rebloom, dear friends.