I know it’s easy to call the painters, the singers, and the dancers artists. And they are. But you know by now that the kind of art we talk about here is broader than that.
Kendra is one of my favorite examples of an artist because she has taken brave steps to uncover what it is that makes her come alive and she has found a way to package that up as a gift for others. This didn’t come quick or easy.
She loves to bake, she loves movies, and she loves to create environments for people to connect with one another. How can all those different passions make up a thing?
In the spirit of a true creative, she took all of those seemingly unrelated things and decided to put them in a box – literally. She created The Sugar Box, a monthly box of happiness filled with sugary treats all inspired by a different Hollywood theme.
Our local news featured The Sugar Box in a story that aired last week, so you can hear Kendra share in her own words from her own kitchen in this two and a half minute feature.
This month’s box theme was The Wizard of Oz. Here’s a peek at mine:
And then (then!) she hosted a Wizard of Oz party last night. A costume one.
And she dressed up like the Mayor of Munchkin City (in the county of the Land of Oz):
I left the party last night so happy that someone cared enough about fun and togetherness to create an environment where we could all share it. And the fact that I got to dress up like one of the Wash and Brush Up Company girls and eat cake with a rainbow on it and listen to Judy Garland’s voice signing in the background? Bonus.
Remember, art is what happens when you dare to be who you really are; when what is most alive in you is offered as a gift to others. There are no rules for that – no matter if you think your thing is silly or unimportant, the truth is if it’s important to you, then you have to pay attention to it. If you don’t, we’ll all miss out.
Just like it’s work to host a party on a Tuesday night, it’s a fight to keep a light heart in a sorrow-heavy world. I’m thankful for artists like Kendra who have made it their job to become wonder-fighters. And I’m even more thankful they bring us along. That’s why Kendra is an artist who influences.
Those of us who are local are loving this monthly box of sugar. And if you are local and haven’t yet ordered a box? Orders open for next month on November 1!
Now listen, I know you want to get your hands on a Sugar Box. Right now it’s only available for pick up (no shipping), which means if you live in Florida you probably can’t order a box unless you want to drive to Greensboro on Sugar Box Day (which you are more than welcome to do).
But you can still enjoy some of the happy Kendra creates because she writes regularly on her blog at boxupthehappy.com where she shares delightfully hilarious lists, recipes, recaps, and obsessions (of both the food and fangirl variety). For example:
- Who Crushed Better: You or Your Grandma?
- Who Will Be Winning the Oscars in 30 Years
- What Dessert Personality Are You?
- How to Make a Meal Plan that Will Save Your Life and Make You Pretty
You can also join the Sugar Mob and get all kinds of fangirly-ness delivered straight into your inbox for free.
Debby Hudson says
October 22, 2014 at 12:13 PMWhat a great idea and I’m all in for the broader version of artists.
Emily says
October 22, 2014 at 12:29 PMLet’s hear it for all the art! Thanks for stopping by, Debby.
Jennifer Camp says
October 22, 2014 at 12:27 PMHi Emily, I haven’t been commenting much anywhere lately, but I wanted to slow down a moment and let you know how grateful I am for the art you create. Your choice to be brave and keep offering, again and again, pieces of you, for the love of your readers, is beautiful. You are changing the world here, sister . . . I am grateful for you, and I love coming by your beautiful, encouraging place here.
Emily says
October 22, 2014 at 12:29 PMWhat a gift your words are to me today, Jennifer. Thank you for taking the time to say them.
Elizabeth Marshall says
October 22, 2014 at 6:49 PMThis is the best. Such Sweet joy. I’m all giddy happy.
Sarah M says
October 22, 2014 at 9:44 PMI love this so incredibly much. Thank you for sharing!
Sarah m
Marian Vischer says
October 22, 2014 at 10:33 PMI love her so much. : )
Caroline Starr Rose says
October 23, 2014 at 12:10 PMI just love how you define art, Emily. It’s generous and freeing.
Kimberly says
October 23, 2014 at 12:49 PMOkay…I love this post for SO many reasons. I confess I have already checked out Kendra’s amazing site. I simply had to after seeing your Oz box on Facebook. And I was so impressed! Gorgeous sweets plus movies? Yes, please!
And I love what you called her – a wonder-fighter. One thing I pray often is that my girls will be “wonder women”. Not in the flying an invisible jet, wearing a bustier kind of way, mind you. Just that they would never lose their sense of wonder.
And then you. You just look too cute as a Wash and Brush Up Company girl. Totally makes me smile. 🙂
One of my favorite posts in this series. Packed full of wonder and joy and art. Thanks for sharing!
Alysa says
October 23, 2014 at 6:09 PMI just finished your book (A Million Little Ways) on Saturday, which gave me the courage I needed to finish the hospitality guidebook that I released today. THANK YOU for writing the words my heart needed to hear.
It’s incredible reading about the way Kendra packages and lives her art!! Very much in the vein of what I’m doing too. I’m seeing this food/real hospitality theme spring up over and over and am grateful for it.
Karen P says
October 24, 2014 at 6:00 PMLove, love, love this!! Had such an amazing time!!
Flower Patch Farmgirl says
October 26, 2014 at 8:23 AMYes to this!
And “There are no rules for that.”
Here’s the truth (haha): I like you so much, Emily. Did you know? If you feel like you’re hearing from me a lot lately it’s because I read all of your words. Won’t ever quit you.