Five years ago, my family and I made the decision to open our hearts and home to an adorable, yet very timid little girl named Gracie. The reason for her fear? She had suffered the early portion of her life in the bleak surroundings of a puppy mill. Fortunately, yet sadly, her little body could not handle the stress of that life and rejected the mill's second attempt to breed her. After it was determined that the life saving surgery she endured would cause her to be sterile, she was no longer of use to the mill and was passed to a wonderful cavalier rescue organization. With that change of fate, she ended up being one of the lucky ones to find her freedom from the breeding world.

  What she didn't realize yet was that she was now in the care of an organization that was going to do everything in their power to heal her inner and external wounds and find her the safety of a furever home that she and all the others in rescue groups always deserved. She was fostered by a wonderfully kind family and after a bit of time, our application rolled in to them and our introduction was scheduled. Upon first meeting, my heart sank to see a broken, beautiful little girl with those big, sad eyes and fear of any human contact; but just as quickly, love fell over me. I knew right then and there that I had to be the one to show her the compassion and patience she would need for her to develop trust and grow into the best version of herself. Gratefully, thanks to the rescue group, I was given that opportunity and today an entirely new girl has blossomed right before our eyes. 

All it took for my sweet Gracie to bloom into the beauty she is today, was the love and attention that we showered her with. That's where my inspiration for this painting came from. Witnessing the growth of her trust and spirit over the years has been nothing short of miraculous. When asked, I always tell people that the rescue process is similar to tending a garden, a spiritual garden if you will. Like the hummingbird in the painting, you must nurture and guide your rescue through their healing process. Provide them with their every need and become the support system they can latch onto.  The beauty that you will eventually see sprout from within will be one of the most treasured experiences of your life. This is the reason I have decided to create these limited edition prints of this painting. My hope is to bring as much attention, awareness and funds to an organization like the one that gave her a second chance at life, and help provide relief for the needs of the other precious cavaliers currently in their care. For every sale of "A Spirit in Bloom" I will donate 50% of all gross proceeds to The Cavalier Rescue group. The impact this will have on the organization's mission and the lives of these beautiful spirits will be immeasurable. Just imagine the garden of hope and love that we will be able to plant into their lives by providing them a chance to find their own furever homes. This art will serve as a permanent reminder of the cavi lives you've changed and my sincerest gratitude to you and your family for your support of our mission.