I read a quote the other day on one of my Yahoo groups that made me think. Cathy Johnson is a fine artist in the Kansas City area who said:

"There is an art to wandering. If I have a destination, a plan – an objective – I've lost the ability to find serendipity. I am on a quest, not a ramble. I search for the Holy Grail of particularity and miss the chalice freely offered, filled and overflowing."

Hmmm. We are all on a quest as artists to find whatever it is that makes us better, more creative, more capable, maybe even more marketable. We hunt high and low for information or techniques or inspiration to make us better at what we love to do. But is that enough? Do we miss something in our quest? Something serendipitous?

As it happened, I had scheduled a day trip to the North Georgia Mountains (yes, I know, when the highest point is less than 3,000 feet above sea level they aren't REALLY mountains, but that's what they're called around here.) My quest was to capture the colors of the fall foilage. I learned all kinds of things as I got ready, so I thought my mission was set. (There are more tree species in the southern end of of Appalachians than in all of Great Britain--who knew?) Then I read Cathy Johnson's quote.  Perhaps I was over prepared?

I enjoyed my day. It was a perfect fall day in Georgia: 65 degrees, sunshine, plenty of yellow and scarlett mixed with rich browns and green. The water at Amicalola Falls tumbled over the granite mountain in glory.  I took picture after picture. I even got in some trail running (there's nothing like running on the single track between trees with the wind in your face and the sound of rushing water in your ears.)

As I traveled home, I made a few unscheduled stops at a few farmer's markets and apple orchards.  I meandered around the bushels of fruit and snapped a few pictures of some of the apple trees. I was really thinking about apple pie and not photography, so I didn't put much thought into composition. Until I got home.

Once I downloaded the pictures I realized that one of my favorite pictures wasn't one from my quest for foilage, but rather a serendipitous shot of a pair of apples.  In my rambling, I found unexpected beauty.

So, my challenge to you this month is to reliquish your grip on the quest for a bit and enjoy the ramblings. Be grateful for the little things that come along when you aren't even looking for them.

As for Stamper's Quest this month, you'll find lots of opportunity for rambling and meandering.  Designers Penny, Bea, and Christine join me in providing heritage and gratitude projects for Discoverers, Adventurers, and Inventors. Kevin Nakagawa and Stampscapes provide the vendor challenge, and of course, Regena's exclusive sketch design appears mid-month. Our guest artist is Kevin Nakagawa, bringing us a new tutorial creating cool scenes with his scenic stamps.

So, wander around the pages of the Zine this month. Peruse, enjoy, meander, and accept the chalice of serendipity.

Awaken your Muse!
Stephanie
Editor-in-Chief

To see Cathy Johnson's art, check out her blog:
http://cathyjohnsonart.blogspot.com/