Life and Whim by Heather Harrington

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Life and Whim by Heather Harrington

Happy Creations for a Colorful Life by Heather Harrington. Creating Happy - Art Inspired by Northern Michigan

Happiness isn’t something to chase.

Inspired by Traverse City’s beauty, I create vibrant art, host workshops, and offer colorful goods to bring joy to your everyday moments. The more we chase it, the farther away it seems. Happiness isn’t reaching the peak of the mountain, it’s enjoying the climb. It’s the day-to-day, moment-by-moment experience of pursuing an intentional, purposeful, fulfilling life. At Life and Whim, our mission i

s to help you create more happiness in your life. For us, and hopefully for you too, we believe the best moments in life are the simple ones spent in the outdoors, being active and expressing creativity. That’s what we’re about, and our means of communicating what inspires us is painting, writing, and creating goods and events that bring more happiness into the world.

27/08/2026

🐾 Happy National Dog Day to all the dog lovers!

Meet sweet Gypsy Pearl! 💕

I had the honor of painting Gypsy Pearl earlier this year for Kim in Bryan, Texas, and had so much fun capturing those adorable ears, sweet eyes, and all that cuteness on canvas. For this 20 x 16" portrait, I chose a horizontal format specifically to celebrate those fabulous ears.

One of my favorite parts of the process is hearing from clients when their finished painting arrives:

"I love it! So so precious! Thank you very much!" — Kim

In honor of National Dog Day, it seems like the perfect time to share that I'm opening a limited number of pet portrait commissions for this fall. I love creating colorful, expressive paintings that celebrate the pets who bring so much joy into our lives!

If you've been thinking about having your favorite furry face painted, I'd love to create one for you!

https://www.lifeandwhim.com/pet-portrait-commissions-open

15/08/2026

A little something new from my studio! 🌊

I’ve been painting, stitching, and playing with this idea for a while, and I’m so happy to finally share my first little collection of Beach Mini Trucker Hats.

Each one starts as a tiny original painting on raw canvas, inspired by the colors and carefree feeling of time spent along Lake Michigan. Then I fray the edges, stitch each one by hand, and add it to a trucker hat.

I’ve always loved the idea of taking art off the wall and bringing it into everyday life. Each trucker hat is a mini original piece of art you can wear!

I made just 10 for this first collection, Days by the Lake, and each one is completely different.

I hope you love them! 💙

https://www.lifeandwhim.com/beach-minis

24/07/2026

Celebrating Creativity in Leelanau

One of the things that makes Northern Michigan so special is the way our communities continue to support art and creativity. The Old Art Building in Leland is one of those special places.

I'm grateful to have two paintings, Finding Light and Where Joy Grows, included in this year's Art Leelanau Exhibition & Fundraiser alongside so many talented regional artists.

If you're looking for a wonderful evening out, tonight's Benefit & Preview Party is a beautiful way to support the Old Art Building and celebrate the arts. The exhibition then continues daily through August 2, with free admission.

Thank you for supporting local artists and the organizations that help creativity flourish in Northern Michigan. 💙

21/07/2026

🌸 The Promise of Spring

I'm grateful to share that my painting, The Promise of Spring, has been selected for the Cherry State of Mind show at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City.

Created in celebration of our Northern Michigan orchards, this exhibition marks the 100th anniversary of the National Cherry Festival and explores the landscapes, traditions, and memories that make our region so special.

As a Traverse City artist, it feels especially meaningful to have this painting included alongside the work of so many talented Michigan artists.

If you're downtown this summer, be sure to stop by to see the exhibition!

🌸 The show is on view through August 22

15/07/2026

🌊 Last night's beach painting workshop was such a special evening.

One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching people discover that there isn't just one way to create. We all started with the same paints and brushes, yet every painting became a reflection of their own favorite beach memory.

There was laughter and wonderful conversation as everyone slowed down and gave themselves permission to simply create.

I believe creativity helps us notice the world a little differently. Sometimes all we need is a couple of hours away from our to-do lists to reconnect with that sense of wonder.

Thank you to everyone who joined me at the studio. Your beautiful paintings, and the joy that filled the studio, made my heart so full.

I can't wait to paint with you again. 💙

14/07/2026

💙 Last-minute plans for tonight?

There are still a few spots available for tonight's Abstract Beach Painting Workshop at my studio in Traverse City.

We'll be painting with acrylics, adding real sand for texture, and creating artwork inspired by your favorite memories by the water. No experience is needed, I'll guide you every step of the way.

Come slow down, get creative, and spend a relaxing evening making something uniquely your own.

Life and Whim Studio
Tonight from 6 to 8 pm

If you've been meaning to treat yourself to a creative night out, I'd love to have you join us!

Reserve your spot here:
https://www.lifeandwhim.com/shop/workshop-abstract-painting-with-sand

11/07/2026

🧚✨ Winner Spotlight 3 of 4 ✨🧚

Congratulations to our 2026 Fantastical Fairies (Ages 16+) Fairy House Competition Winners!

🥇 1st Place: #25 Cobblestone Knoll
Created by Claire Re'Soullier

🥈 2nd Place: #19 Cobwebs & Gossamer Threads Quilt Shoppe
Created by Michele Mizell

Congratulations to these talented makers for their creativity, artistry, and incredible attention to detail! Their enchanting fairy houses captured the imagination of our visitors and helped make this year's Fun Fairy House Competition The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park such a magical celebration.

Each fairy house tells its own story, and we're so grateful to every maker who shared their time, talents, and imagination to help create this beloved community tradition.

💚 Congratulations to our Fantastical Fairies winners!

11/07/2026

🧚✨ Winner Spotlight 4 of 4 ✨🧚

Congratulations to our 2026 Organizations Fairy House Competition Winner!

🏆 Winner: #14 Fairy Collective – A Magical (and Mischievous) Maker Space
Created by The Blue Zone Group: Terri Kachadurian, Diana Churella, Beryl Striewski, Marina Deering, Patti Sharrow & Shelly Charron

Congratulations to this wonderful team for creating such an imaginative and inspiring fairy house! Their collaboration, creativity, and craftsmanship helped make this year's Fun Fairy House Competition a magical experience for our community.

Thank you to every maker, family, school, business, organization, volunteer, voter, and visitor who helped bring this year's Fairy Trails to life. Together, you've created a place filled with creativity, wonder, and imagination for our community to enjoy all summer long.

✨ The fairy houses remain on display at The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, so there's still plenty of time to explore the Fairy Trails and discover your favorite magical creations!

💚 Congratulations once again to all of our 2026 Fairy House Competition winners, and thank you for making this year's competition one to remember!

11/07/2026

CREATIVE EXPERIENCE
Bring the Beach to Life: An Abstract Painting With Sand Workshop
$58.00
Tuesday, July 14th
6:00-8:00 pm

🌊 You know that joyful feeling after spending a day at your favorite beach?

Imagine capturing that feeling in a painting.

One of my favorite parts of teaching is helping each person create a painting that's uniquely their own.

I'll guide you in choosing colors, building layers, and creating beautiful texture, but your painting will reflect your style, whether you love soft, beachy blues or bold, joyful color.

Together, we'll create a painting that's uniquely yours, a joyful reminder of time spent near the water.

If you've been thinking about joining Tuesday's Bring the Beach to Life workshop, I'd love to paint with you. A few spots are still available! 💙

RESERVE YOUR TICKET BELOW:
https://www.lifeandwhim.com/shop/workshop-abstract-painting-with-sand

10/07/2026

🧚✨ Winner Spotlight 2 of 4 ✨🧚

Congratulations to our 2026 Sprites (Ages 9–15) Fairy House Competition Winners!

🥇 1st Place: #7 The Fabulous Fairy Village
Created by the 4th Grade Girl Scout Troop from Old Mission Peninsula School: Clementine, Vivianne, Ruby, Ainsley, Harlow, Sahanna, Quinn, Baylor & Reagan

🥈 2nd Place: #20 Home Sweet Mushroom
Created by Midori & Chelsea Dennis

From whimsical villages to cozy mushroom homes, these young artists brought imagination, creativity, and craftsmanship to this year's Fairy Trails The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park. We hope you'll visit the Fairy Trails this summer to experience their enchanting creations—and all of the magical fairy houses, in person!

💚 Please join us in congratulating these wonderful young makers!

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Life and Whim by Heather Harrington

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