A backpacking experience to the Ozark Mountains learning to forge a path with limited resources has become a life long lesson to trust the journey.

Muriel writes about Joan Walsh Anglund's timeless books, which capture the essence of human emotions and have had a significant impact on her as an artist and writer.

Muriel shares the experience of hiking a trail in "Cathedral Pines" eager to learn about Lucy Rumsey Holt who was influential in sparing forty acres of old-growth White Pine.

Muriel compares the lives of storybook mice to the lives of actual mice in personal encounters that give a lighthearted look at her favorite children's books.

Memories are a part of who we are. Muriel's blog for Art and Books Studio revisits imagery that has influenced her art and writing over the past forty years in her creative process.

Now that autumn is here, Muriel reflects on their gardening season, the highs and lows, and plans for next year. At the same time, we are waiting to harvest watermelon and replant to extend the season.

After receiving an email from a blog reader, Muriel writes about the critical issue of modern slavery and includes links to raise awareness and learn about global estimates of victims. Thanks to Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

Muriel is collaborating with her uncle on a collection of short stories about their childhood in North Central Florida. Also, stories with a unique perspective from past generations.

After a frustrating time with website problems, Muriel shares the serenity and mood-boost of a relaxing boat ride on the Peshtigo River.

Muriel shares a friend's journey from painting abstract watercolors to writing poetry to the culmination of life as an artist in G. Pierson's published work entitled Collections.

Muriel shares her review of Bonnie Jo Campell’s new fictional novel, The Waters. She explains what she likes about this mystical tragedy of healing and love.

Muriel writes about building connections and strategies she has learned for setting up her booth at an art fair, where she displays her art and books.

When writing about events in our lifetime, do you remember everyday life without the conveniences? Attention to detail helps to explore mindful writing in recent history.

Muriel explains her reaction to Cassatt’s painting entitled “The Swim” or “Le Bain” based on her experiences as a mother, lifeguard, and swim coach.

A personal story about imaginative cooking and a nostalgic memory based on Winslow’s children’s book Mud Pies and Other Recipes.

Muriel explains the power of persistence, one shovel at a time, in a project and how it relates to the challenges of creating art and writing, using the example of Michangelo and Seurat.

Muriel writes about how artists’ techniques and expressions often blur the boundaries between drawing and painting. How does the viewer respond to the definition of traditional labels between the two?

Breakfast on the Farm, sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, is sure to please all ages during June-Dairy Month.

Muriel pays homage to Zora Neal Hurston's skillful art of storytelling, using the dialect of Kossola (Cudjo Lewis), who tells his story as the last “black cargo.”

Muriel shares how connecting dots while writing boosts her creativity and links information to build her understanding of a story and how making connections relates to her writing.