Start up with the striped umbrella. She reaches for her dream with determination and strength. With arms open wide, she gathers the energy of joy—ready to rise and meet the day. My work—whether in quilting or photography—is rooted in that same energy. I move through the creative process with curiosity and trust, guided by feeling more than formula. There are moments when I take a photo and I know—that was it. The moment when the spirit revealed itself. It isn’t about the perfect camera, lens, or edit. It’s about presence. It’s about trust and vulnerability in connection. That is where the moment lives. With quilts, too, it’s not only about the fabric or thread. It’s about rhythm, memory, and intention. Each stitch becomes a meditation. A story told through texture. I often feel like I’m balancing an invisible umbrella—just like life with playfulness and the fearless grace of youth. Both mediums allow me to explore what it means to be fully alive: to notice, to feel, to respond. My hope is that others feel this energy in my work, something honest, something open, something that invites them into their own moment of joy or reflection.