A few days in Asheville

I recently spent several wonderful days in Asheville, North Carolina, with my daughter Caroline.

She had just turned 18, and we'd been looking forward to this mother-daughter trip for months. We had plans to visit the Biltmore, explore Asheville, spend some time in the mountains, and enjoy a few good meals along the way.

But what I was looking forward to most was simply having several days together.

And what a wonderful time we had.

We wandered through shops, found some delicious places to eat, explored downtown Asheville, and enjoyed the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Even the weather gave us something to laugh about. One particularly rainy day, we ventured out twice in some pretty wild wind and rain, spending the hours between our outings curled up watching Gilmore Girls.

It wasn't exactly the day we'd planned, but we loved it!

Beauty in the Details

As we explored Asheville, I found myself noticing so many things that appealed to the artist in me.

At the Biltmore, I was fascinated by the craftsmanship throughout the estate. The intricate stonework, repeating patterns, carved details, and beautiful combinations of materials kept catching my attention.

       

I loved studying how the shapes fit together and how much care had gone into creating even the smallest decorative elements.

The architecture in downtown Asheville was equally interesting, particularly its Art Deco details. I found myself drawn to the strong geometric lines, symmetry, and patterns that gave the buildings so much character.

I took (more than a few!) photographs along the way. Not necessarily because I had a particular piece of jewelry in mind, but because something about a shape, texture, or combination of materials caught my eye.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of those details find their way into my work one day 😊

And then there were the mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains were beautiful, especially with the clouds moving across the ridges. We enjoyed getting out of the city for a while and taking in the scenery together.

An Appreciation for the Work of Other Hands

One of our favorite places to explore was Asheville's River Arts District, where we encountered painters, photographers, potters, jewelry artists, and other makers.

Among them was weaver Emelie Weber Wade whose beautiful textiles immediately caught my attention.

There was something about the colors and textures that made me want to reach out and touch them. And I especially loved seeing her loom.

Emelie told us about studying at Berea College, where she learned to weave through an apprenticeship. She spent ten hours each week weaving textiles in exchange for a full-tuition scholarship.

I love that. 

Weaving and metalsmithing are very different crafts, but both have been practiced for centuries. There's something wonderful about seeing those traditions carried forward by people who have devoted themselves to learning the skills and working with their hands.

I enjoyed seeing Emelie's work and hearing a little about how she came to her craft.

You can see more of her beautiful textiles at Lunadendron.com

A Lovely Little Coincidence

One of my favorite memories from our wanderings around the Biltmore estate was something quite simple.

Caroline and I drove past a field of sunflowers and we paused to admire them. We both loved their beauty, and it sparked a lovely conversation between us.

The following day, while exploring the River Arts District, we were hoping to find a print or two that would remind us of our visit to the Biltmore.

That's how we came to meet Joye at NorthLight Studios.

Joye was so kind and took the time to look for what we had in mind. When she couldn't find it, she generously gave us several notecards instead.

And wouldn't you know it? Two of them featured Biltmore Sunflowers, a painting by Wendy Whitson, who co-founded NorthLight Studios in 2011.

Wendy passed away in 2021, but her artwork and the studio she helped establish remain part of Asheville's artistic community.

I loved learning a little about her story. And I especially appreciated Joye's kindness.

The notecards were such a lovely surprise, particularly because Caroline and I had been admiring those very flowers just the day before.

We'd been hoping to find something to remember our trip by, and instead found something that brought us back to one particular moment we'd shared.”

What I'll Treasure Most

I'm home now with a camera roll full of photographs (it's kind of ridiculous 😂), some beautiful artistic inspiration, and a few little souvenirs from our adventures (did I mention shopping?!)

I loved seeing Asheville's architecture, discovering the work of other artists, and enjoying the beauty of the mountains.

But when I think about our trip, what makes me smile most isn't any particular place we visited.

It's the time I had with Caroline.

The shopping, the meals, the conversations, the laughter, the unexpected rainy-day watch party, and simply having a few days to enjoy one another's company.

I'm so grateful we made the time for this trip.

And I know these are memories I'll treasure for a long time.