It all started with an electric outage. After a few hours we realized the lights weren’t coming on anytime soon (nor was the well pump or the water heater), so we packed the cooler and our suitcases and headed for New Jersey. This isn’t normally what we do when we are without electric, mind you. It just so happened that we had a meeting with a client the next day and wanted a guaranteed shower.
After a long drive, a short sleep, and a hot shower, we headed off to our client meeting and soaked up the divinity that is strong black coffee. A relaxing afternoon in the Garden State led to another hotel – this time back in Pennsylvania, but still hours from home. No sense in heading back now: we were delivering art supplies to our new friend the next day.
Checking email that night, we found out that what we thought would be a quick visit had turned into an #OMHG garden party. Not only would we meet Colleen, but Heather, Jenelle, and Cheyenne would be there too!
Our hearts skipped a beat.
We hardly slept – and not just because a very excited 3½ year old was kicking us in the gut – but because we were going to meet our new community in person. We were going to share stories and supplies with people who would understand us without long explanations.
Let us backtrack a little…
We had been searching for a creative community for a long time. Some felt very austere, while others were overly dramatic. We just wanted somewhere comfortable to be ourselves and share our gifts without fear. If you look for something long enough, you find it. And we did. Enter: Oh My! Handmade Goodness.
One blog post and we were hooked. We spent the afternoon poring over the site, checking out links, exploring the community members’ heart and handcrafted work. After our discovery, we joined in on an #OMHG chat and felt a familiar excitement and sense of belonging. We jumped in.
This was our community!
These were our people!
Now to go a little further back…
Darice’s parents used to own an art supply store.* When her father’s health started to fail, they closed the store, sold what they could of the supplies at a discount, and put the rest in storage. Over the years the supplies were donated and used, but some still remained. After her mother passed, they came into Darice’s possession.
Which brings us back to this spring…
After reading Colleen’s post about altered books and healing, Darice knew she had to contact her and offer the supplies. It just fit.
Colleen joyfully accepted and a date was set for delivery.
A hop, skip, and jump into early summer put us in the hotel with a trunk full of art supplies and bellies full of butterflies.
The next day as we were driving the winding roads of the Philadelphia countryside, we could hardly contain ourselves. The weather was perfect and our hearts were bursting with anticipation.
We pulled up to a little white cottage at the end of a long dirt lane with Colleen’s colorful, recycled flowers bursting from the window box.
What happened next was magic…
(Thank you, Jenelle for sharing the day through your lens!)
The afternoon was full of hugs, laughter, ideas, and stories. We shared business goals, experiences in parenthood, cherries and chocolate cake…but most importantly, we shared ourselves. We celebrated our new friendships and the amazing woman responsible for them. Thank you, Jessika!
While everyone helped to unload our trunk, they selected a few treasures for their own studios, and the rest was carefully packed under a table for later use during Colleen’s mission trip to the Bahamas.
Before we ambled back down the dirt road, we were all gifted with Colleen’s words – quiet reminders to be sprinkled throughout our homes and studios.
For us, the experience was so much more than a good will trip. The miles of highway, country roads, and that little dirt lane took us somewhere truly special. They took us to a door, a threshold, a new beginning…they took us to our community.
I know there is comfort, where we overlap.”
Ani DiFranco
Here’s to community and its many blessings…
* A little side story for the romantics out there: Matt used to shop at Darice’s parents’ art store when he was a kid…and she saw him there. And the Ames lettering guide her dad special ordered for him? He still has it.
Truly magical! What a glorious day it was indeed. I’m so thankful to have met you Matt + Darice & your sweet baby girl! Janelle & Cheyenne too!! And like a set from a delightful movie, Colleen & her charming little cottage studio–and the farm that surrounds it-have once again created a backdrop for a joy*filled day of happy memories. I count myself blessed to have been in on the fun. Looking forward to many more OMHG gatherings-with even MORE of this endearing community. Come one- come all!! xoxo
Syl still talks about you, Heather – the lady she gave all of the cherries to! <3 What a fabulous time we all had – it was like coming home. 🙂
So very special Heather. Serendipitous…like our many adventures! xo
This made my heart burst with happiness!! It actually has me teary eyed. What a beautiful story of connection. Not just the creative meeting, but that tid bit at the end is awesome and so special. Thanks for sharing this story and the power of the OMHG community. Thanks to Jess, too, for making this meeting possible.
Colleen’s studio seems like the perfect place for this magic to happen, gorgeous!!
Matt & Darice, I totally relate to that feeling of finally finding a community that feels just right. This OMHG community is priceless! No drama, no stuffiness… it’s welcoming, supportive, encouraging and all kinds of happy!
It really was a journey for us…I just read a quote the other day: “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone.” – Robin Williams (?) This is so true…and OMHG is the cure! 🙂 So very blessed to be a part of this amazing community.
Such a true + lovely quote, Darice!!
This gathering needs to get bigger! And yes, this community is priceless….
I think we should plan the ultimate gathering: An OMHG (in person) gathering. Easier said than done, but a girl can dream, right?
I do not think there are any coincidences. I love how we all make these little decisions that lead us somehow to the very same place at the same time and we make the friends we are destined to know. Matt and Darice….thank you so much for putting this magical day into words. This story really tells of the power of connection and of Jessica’s magical web. Let’s do this again soon… Heather, Jennelle, and Cheyenne…big hugs. xoxoxoox
You don’t have to ask me twice! <3 An autumnal gathering with hot cider + pumpkin bread, maybe? There will be enough room in our car to bring food this time! 😉
yum……….xo. Lets aim for some October afternoon……hugs…
This definitely makes me burst with happiness and smiles!!! Of course, OMHG makes me feel that way all the time, but this is even extra special – pure magic!
I am constantly amazed at #omhg. So much love!!
I love everything about this – I love the magic of Colleen’s little studio hideaway, the magic of new friends and the magic of fated meetings in art stores!