Little Bits of Charm | No. 1

I decided to start a new series here on the blog. I’m calling it Little Bits of Charm.

Every other week, on Thursdays, I’m going to share a little roundup of what’s happening in life: things I’ve done, what I’m reading, something new I’ve found, what I’m loving, and any other little bits and pieces that feel worth sharing. It’s kind of like old-school blogging, which I miss so much.

This type of sharing is something I’ve done here and there in my weekly or biweekly newsletters, but I thought it might be worth trying as a blog post too. This way, I can go into a little more detail, and it gives everything a permanent place so you can come back and reference it.

On the opposite Thursdays, I’m going to share a little recap of some of the art I’ve created over the past couple of weeks. I do have my Substack, Paint and Paper, where I dive deeper into my process, thoughts around art, behind-the-scenes moments, and all of that good stuff. Paint and Paper is more like a blog, but I also share plenty of shorter notes to my profile, similar to social media updates.

Be sure to subscribe over there if that sounds interesting. I’ve been having so much fun there. So much! But since my art practice has become a big part of my life, I thought it deserved a greater space here on Inspired by Charm as well. I’ll share some of the things I’ve painted, what I’m working on, what I’m learning, and probably a few random thoughts along the way.

Without getting too deep or too detailed, blogging is changing in a big, big way. I’m changing too. A bigger shift is happening whether you or I like it or not. I’m not planning on saying goodbye to Inspired by Charm (I really don’t think that will ever happen), but I am looking to explore some new ways forward, and this is one of them. Honestly, it’s one I’m pretty excited about. Change can be scary, of course, but I’m trying to see this type of change as something a little more freeing.

So with that, let’s get into the first A Sprinkle of Charm.

Remarkably Bright Creatures 

My mom and I watched Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix last week, and it was SO GOOD. I had started reading the book and made it about two-thirds of the way through, which is pretty good for me because I’m not a big reader. I probably should have finished the book before watching the movie, but that’s okay.

It’s such a lovely story, the setting is stunning, and Sally Field is just everything. Go watch. Bring tissues.

Theo of Golden 

Speaking of books, I also started listening to Theo of Golden on Audible. It was recommended by my mom and several others. I’m not very far into it yet, but so far I’m really enjoying it.

I’ve also heard that the audio version is especially wonderful because of the narrator, and I agree. I’ll report back once I get a little further along. Have you read it?

Dahlias 2026

I got my dahlias planted last weekend, twenty-six of them.

I typically leave my tubers in the ground, and for the past four or five years, I’ve had great success with around 75 percent coming back (and some years even more). Well, we had a particularly hard and long winter this past year, and I lost them all.

Yes, that’s a bummer. But since I was lucky to have so many years of them coming back, I’m still calling it a win. Plus, I’m starting from scratch with several new varieties, so it will be fun to see what blooms.

Flower Shopping

I managed to purchase and plant all my annual flowers for the season. It seems like every year I buy less and less, which is probably a good thing. They are so expensive, and it’s always a little heartbreaking to rip them all out at the end of the season.

So, I try to be smart and get just what I need. This year, I purchased a few small bushes that looked a bit like mini topiaries. They were $8, I think, at Lowe’s as a special. I plan to put them in the ground in the fall and hopefully use them again next year.

Bedford Plein Air

This weekend I’m participating in a plein air paint out in Bedford, PA. I did it last year, in August, if my memory is correct. I have mixed feelings about these events, but I thought I would give it another go.

I’m not sure I’m a fan of the pressure or the competition aspect, but it does get me out painting in a new location with other painters, so I guess it’s a toss-up. I’m going to see how this one feels and go from there.

The weather, however, looks pretty terrible for painting, so I’m not sure what will come of it. Luckily, there are a couple of cute antique stores in the area, so I’ll at least have a place to avoid the raindrops. I also plan to take some things to work on in my Airbnb should I just decide to stay inside. As long as I get a few paintings out from the weekend I’ll be satisfied. I’ll be sure to share what I paint!

Extra Bits of Charm

• There are some new original paintings in my shop. If you haven’t been over there, click on over to take a peek at what’s new.
• I bought these outdoor pillow covers (in pink) for the summer, and I’m loving them.
• These little mesh bags are fabulous for organizing things, especially in my studio.
• I started watching Elsbeth. Yes, I’m a few years behind. It’s just one of those easy shows to watch with a lot of charm.
• I preordered Haidee-Jo Summers’ new book, 50 Ways to Break the Rules in Oils.

And that’s a wrap on my first Little Bits of Charm.

I would love to know what you think. Is this something you like? I sure hope so, because it was a pleasure to share. I’ll have another one coming your way in two weeks. Until then!