Forks in the road!
I met Cathie Lavin Stotesbery several years ago and we became instant friends.
We have shared a lot together through all the good, bad and ugly. lolol
Here is Cathie's Inspirational Forks in the Road.
I have been blessed to do what I love & make a living doing it! I love helping my clients “Re-Imagine” & breathe new life into their living spaces & furniture.
My journey of creativity started in kindergarten when my beloved teacher, Miss Tone, (who was an inspiration herself in creativity, ALWAYS dressed in purple & multi-patterned clothing!) Miss Tone suggested to my Mom that she should encourage me in my art. (I always colored outside of the lines).
Well into high school, ART was by far my favorite subject. My high school art teacher was also instrumental in developing me as an artist and encouraged me to think about an art school.
The first fork in the road! Of course, being the type of teenager that was not so motivated in looking into college, became a young Mom of 17. I married my high school sweetheart (we met in art class) and raised a family of 4 children. All the while I just knew SOMEDAY I was going to pick up my art again! Well, I did!
Squeezing in painting classes here & there in between raising 4 kids I developed my love & passion for watercolor.
I was on the verge of working on my portfolio for art galleries when I encountered a detour. This fork in the road led me to paint a bathroom for one of our landscape customers. She wanted the proverbial Tuscan grapes that were so popular in the late 90ʼs, as well as a Faux finish & a skyscape. I was amazed that I got paid for doing something that I loved & started looking into more classes to enhance my skills. That’s, when I started, my business “Faux Finesse “. I had the privilege of painting murals, wall & ceiling finishes in homes, businesses & medical offices in Southern California.
Fast forward 18 years with a major fork in the road brought about a move across the country & starting over again. This is when "Imagine This" Decorative Painting blossomed ... and then another fork in the road shortly after!
After painting furniture pieces for several of my clients MY LITTLE DREAM SHOP "ReImagined" was created. With having my own shop, I decided to teach the DIY'ers in my area and carry a paint line as well.
Then one of the largest forks in the road...I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
With that, I decided to let the shop go and downsize to an artisan mall, so I could sell my furniture pieces, small items, and possibly still teach and continue to do what I love.
Months down the road, low and behold Miss Lillian's NO-WAX Chock Paint found its way into my life, onto my furniture makeovers, commissioned jobs and into the DIY classes I teach. What a blessing to say the least.
I still do decorative wall, ceiling finishes, commissioned furniture pieces and occasionally business signs.
There are always new surfaces popping up along with new opportunities. With all of that, I have combined my business names to now be
"ReImagined Surfaces"
because that pretty much sums up what I do.
My motto when I started out 18 years ago was,
"No White Walls"
is now coined
"ReImagine One Surface at a Time".
Who knows what new fork in the road lies ahead?
If you are in the area of Mt. Home Arkansas look her up and send her a message on her Facebook page. Need some furniture redone, a mural painted or a new wall finish. Her new studio for her classes is a work in progress and coming soon.
Below is some of Cathie's work. She amazed me everytime.
