06/12/2026
HONORABLE MENTION! What?!!! 🎉🥕🌽🥦🌶️
I’m still a little stunned.
This week, Cultivating Kindness Crew received an Honorable Mention at the 61st Annual Exhibition & Conference of the Association of Nebraska Arts Clubs.
Out of 293 submissions from artists across Nebraska, these four cheerful produce pals, Dilly, Pepper, Broccolette, and Cobb, were recognized among so many incredible works of art.
The funny thing is… I very nearly didn’t submit my art.
Somewhere along the way, I had convinced myself that my work just wasn’t “that kind of art.”
You know the kind. The serious kind. The gallery kind. The award-show kind.
But from the very first sketch through the final doodles, my purpose for Cultivating Kindness Crew was never to create something worthy of a ribbon. It was simply to be a cheerful messenger and connector of people.
A reminder to encourage someone.
A reason to celebrate someone.
A way to tell another human being, “I see you, and you’re doing better than you think.”
As much joy as this recognition brings me, the greater joy comes from knowing these little cheerleaders are already out in the world helping people congratulate, encourage, thank, and support the important people in their lives.
Thank you to everyone who has welcomed them into your homes, classrooms, businesses, and mailboxes. You’ve helped prove something I needed to learn myself:
Kindness belongs in art.
And apparently, art about kindness belongs in art shows, too. 💚
P.S. Dilly, Pepper, Broccolette, and Cobb are available as notecards, stickers, notepads, and Color Me Happy coloring cards. I’ll drop a link in the comments for anyone who would like to bring a little extra encouragement into the world.
