10/06/2026
❤️ A Personal Update from Susan — and What’s Ahead for The Studio
Well, friends, this isn’t exactly the update I had hoped to be sharing, but here we are!
Before I get into everything, I want to make one thing perfectly clear:
THE STUDIO IS NOT CLOSING! ❤️
Things are simply going to look a little different for a while.
As many of you know, earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had surgery in June, followed by 22 radiation treatments over the summer. I finished radiation in early September and thought I was finally getting close to putting the hardest part of this journey behind me.
Apparently, my body had other plans!
While dealing with some ongoing breathing problems, we discovered that I have some pretty serious heart issues that require major surgery.
On Thursday, October 15, I will be undergoing open-heart surgery. My surgeon will be replacing my mitral valve with a mechanical valve, repairing my tricuspid valve, performing a Maze procedure to address my AFib, and closing my left atrial appendage.
Yep. We’re apparently going for the deluxe package! 😂
Unfortunately, these heart issues have also meant putting the next phase of my cancer treatment on hold until we can get the cardiac situation under control. While completing radiation was a huge milestone, my cancer journey isn’t quite finished.
Once I’ve recovered enough from heart surgery, my doctors and I will determine our next steps.
It’s a lot for one body to go through in a relatively short amount of time. Coming into major heart surgery so soon after breast cancer surgery and radiation means I need to be realistic about my recovery. It may take longer than usual, and I honestly don’t know exactly what the coming months will look like.
And I’m not going to put a deadline on my recovery.
I’m going to listen to my doctors, listen to my body, and give myself the time I need to heal.
Now, let’s talk about something near and dear to my heart…
❤️ WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE STUDIO?
First and most importantly:
EVERY CLASS, GATHERING, CROP, CLUB AND SPECIAL EVENT CURRENTLY ON OUR CALENDAR IS STILL HAPPENING!
If you’ve already registered for something, your event is still on!
If you see something on our calendar that you’d like to attend, PLEASE SIGN UP!
We have some absolutely wonderful instructors, friends and members of our creative community stepping in to help keep things going while I’m recovering.
Here’s what WILL change.
Beginning October 15, we will temporarily suspend our regular weekday “open for shopping” hours.
This simply means that The Studio won’t have its usual drop-in retail hours. Our doors will still be opening for scheduled classes, gatherings, crops, clubs and special events.
Be sure to check our calendar so you know what’s happening and when!
AND WE MAY HAVE A FEW SURPRISES COMING! 🎨
Just because I won’t physically be at The Studio every day doesn’t mean I’ve stopped thinking about ways for us to create together.
In fact, you may start seeing some virtual events, prerecorded classes and other creative opportunities popping up on our calendar.
After all, nobody said I had to stop dreaming up new projects just because I’m supposed to be resting! 😂
We’ll find ways to keep creating together, even if some of that creating happens from our own homes.
❤️ NOW, I HAVE ONE LITTLE FAVOR TO ASK…
Please keep supporting The Studio while I’m away.
Sign up for that class you’ve been thinking about. Come to a gathering. Join a crop. Try something completely new. Bring a friend who has never visited us before.
Support the wonderful instructors who are sharing their talents and the amazing people who are helping keep our doors open.
Every registration, every event attended and every bit of support will help keep our little creative community thriving while I focus on getting healthy.
And believe me, knowing that The Studio is still filled with creativity, friendship and laughter will make my recovery a whole lot easier.
❤️ CREATE SOMETHING. BELONG SOMEWHERE.
When I first envisioned what The Studio at Paper Arts could become, I didn’t want to create just another place to buy art supplies or take an occasional class.
I wanted to create a place where people could walk through the doors and feel like they belonged.
A place to make friends.
A place to learn something new.
A place to laugh, encourage one another, share our creativity and occasionally make a glorious mess!
A place where you could walk in by yourself and leave feeling like you were part of something special.
And somewhere along the way, that’s exactly what happened.
We’ve built a community.
Now, for a little while, I’m going to have to trust that community to keep doing what it does best while I concentrate on healing.
I’m not disappearing, and I’m certainly not giving up on The Studio. I may just have to participate a little differently for a while.
I also know that returning to The Studio won’t necessarily mean that all my medical challenges are behind me. There may still be treatments, appointments and days when I need to step away.
So I’m giving myself permission to take this one day at a time.
And I’m asking you to keep creating, gathering and making The Studio the wonderful place it has become.
To everyone who has supported me through my cancer diagnosis, checked on me, prayed for me, encouraged me or simply shown up at The Studio with a smile — thank you.
Your kindness has meant more than you could possibly know.
If you’re someone who prays, Tommy and I would certainly appreciate your prayers as we head into this next chapter.
And please know that I am incredibly grateful for every single one of you.
The Studio isn’t closing. Our creative community isn’t going anywhere. We’re simply going to do things a little differently for a while.
Keep watching our calendar. Keep signing up. Keep showing up for one another.
I’ll be back when I’m ready, and I have a feeling I’ll have a whole notebook full of new ideas by then!
We’ve still got a whole lot of creating to do! 🎨❤️
With love and gratitude,
Susan
The Studio at Paper Arts
Create Something. Belong Somewhere.
