The final countdown...

With just about ten weeks to go, there have been some changes in the first part of the itinerary, and excitement is building. After heading south to Virginia and North Carolina (where it looks like we'll miss Asheville, but it's a semi-regular destination anyway) we'll drive east to Sullivan's Island and Charleston, then south again to spend a few days in beautiful St Augustine...

...Where we're looking forward to a visit with artist Iva Wilcox. From there, it's south again, to the southernmost point in the nation, Key West! Soooooo excited about this!

Next, it's a drive up the gulf coast, north just a wee bit (we're trying to stay off the interstates) and points west.

So many friends to see along the way, so many little towns to visit, quirky offbeat sites to see, so much of this beautiful country to discover! We'll be blogging and posting pics as we go, and do hope that you follow along, and join in the fun by commenting...We'd love to hear from you - and actually hope to SEE some of you, hehe!

In the meantime, it's back to the studio for me. Time is getting short, and there's much to be accomplished before our departure....

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

Fourteen Weeks!

Give or take a few days, our cross country adventure begins in just fourteen weeks!! Do you know how fast fourteen weeks flies by?

For a while there, with John in the hospital, it was looking as though we may need to postpone. But he's home and feeling great, for which we are ever so thankful. So as of this first day of February, it's looking like we may actually pull this epic road trip off!

There's much to be done, including getting a passport (on my own agenda this week) and a crazy cool vehicle (which Ann has decided to do, and OMG, wait until you see it!!)

We'll be traveling in style and comfort in a (insert game show prize hostess "TA-DAAA" emphasis here) *brand new Road Trek*!!!

How cool is THIS?

I'm giddy with excitement, and while we still plan to alternate between this, and hotels/B and Bs, I have to say - having never, ever camped - I think this is my kind of camping, hehe! :)

There's still much planning to do, but we've determined that the first leg of the trip will be south from Pennsylvania into Virginia, where our first stop will be a visit with fellow PFATTIE and EHAG artist Pam Gracia of Soft in the Head. I'm also hoping to visit EHAG's witchy stitcher, Lori Brechlin's Notforgotten Farm, and see her lovely shop.

From Virginia, we'll travel south to the Asheville, N.C. area, spending part of the journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is always amazing in spring...

The Folk Art Center there is a must-see, and a visit with my Mom over in Rutherford County. And of course, there's Asheville proper, one of my favorite places on earth. Where else can you find a free spirited drumming circle in the center of town every Friday evening?



From Asheville, we'll head southeast to Ann's beach house on Sullivan's island, N.C....How adorable is this little town?

*Swoon*! What a wonderful place to live...

From South Carolina, we're off to points west, but that all remains unplanned. We're hoping to make this tour as "artsy" as possible, visiting studios, galleries and artist and collector friends along the way. If you have a suggestion for "must see" sites across the country, please do share! We'll be staying largely south, then up the west coast, then back via the northern route, but beyond that, we're winging it (and hoping to see some of you along the way!)

Until next time, wishing you many artful adventures...

♥ Carolee

Old New Friends, and the Road Ahead...

Have you ever just met someone you felt as though you'd known for a lifetime? Someone who makes you consider the possibility of reincarnation, because you just know you were sisters in another life?

Such was the case when I met Ann "in person" for the first time last week. We'd chatted online and via telephone for some time, and regularly read the details of each others' lives on facebook, and I'm sure were both hoping we'd hit it off as well in person as we do in the virtual world (especially considering this road trip we're planning!) Anywho, I'm happy to report I found Ann even more delightful once I'd actually met her, and I think (I hope) she feels the same.

Some weird coincidences: We're the same sign (Leo), with our birthdays just days apart. We have the same middle name (Louise). We love art and collecting, and have many of the same friends in common. We share the same dream vacation, and a love of animals (more on this later as we determine whether a visit to the Best Friends shelter in Utah is possible along the way).

In short, sisters in another lifetime. ;)

The week went by far too fast, although we did manage to squeeze quite a bit in, beginning with a visit to the National Christmas Center in Paradise, PA. A few pics follow...

We also did a fair amount of driving country backroads, where we came across sights like this one - a one room Mennonite schoolhouse...

And even a covered bridge...

So cool. :)

There was dinner at mutual friend Jennifer MacNeill Traylor's house (delicious fajitas and margaritas) and far too many lunches to suit my weight loss goals, hehe. (Back on track today!)

The one thing we didn't do was map out the Road Dust and Wanderlust itinerary! So that's a goal for the coming weeks. :)

To that end, if there's a fabulous, quirky, or offbeat landmark or site you'd like to recommend, please DO! We won't be able to hit them all, but we're relying heavily on local knowledge when it comes to determining a route, and "must-see" stops. So please jump in with your thoughts. The trip is just seven short months away...

In the meantime, it's back to South Carolina for Ann, and back to the studio for me!

Thanks for your interest in our adventures, and I will try to post more often as the journey approaches.

Happy Travels!
♥ Carolee

Excitement is Building!

Welcome to the Road Dust and Wanderlust blog! Two friends (Ann and Carolee), two to three months, one vehicle, about twenty five states, visiting artist friends and their studios along the way, and documenting it all as we go!


The idea came about when I randomly posted on facebook I was feeling the need for a road trip, and my friend Ann responded. Things sort of snowballed from there, as we discovered we both shared the same dream vacation; see the US at a leisurely pace largely via two lane back roads, out west one route, all the way up or down the coast highway, and back another route. Ann has actually seen most of the states, with the exception of seven in the Pacific Northwest, and they're all on our list. I haven't seen quite as many, but I'm getting there!

Granted, the trip is ten months away, and I'm normally a "wing it" kind of gal, but something of this proportion deserves some advance planning. And the planning is a big part of the fun, yes?!

Soooooo, I have this map. It's big. As in don't-have-a-wall-big-enough big. So for now, it's taped to the dining room table. Which we never use unless we're entertaining, so it's fine there...

And as with ANY new surface in the house, Gwennie (or as we like to call her, The Cat Who Knows No Boundaries) has claimed it as her own.

Travel guides are arriving almost daily now, most of them FREE from tourist bureaus across the country. So many possibilities!

And I must share this incredible birthday gift from Ann - a Winsor Newton travel watercolor set. The entire thing is about half the size of a paperback novel, so can fit in almost any purse or tote...

Inside are a complete set of watercolors, a brush and two palettes. How cool is this!!? (Thank you, Ann!)

I want so badly to dive into them, but I'm being good and waiting, hehe. The plan is to keep a travel journal filled with watercolor sketches. :)

To that end, I've purchased a guide to art journaling - no time to really delve into it yet, but hopefully soon!


As the months pass, we'll be posting our approximate route as it evolves, and pinpointing "must-see" sites and stops along the way! We'll see friends and relatives, art acquaintances, as well as plenty of quirky, offbeat attractions.

We'd would also like to invite you to "follow" our little adventure here, and feel free to comment! (Feedback really does fuel a blog, hehe!)

Back very soon....

♥ Carolee