Category: Art

An Artist’s Tale: Travel, Art and a Letter from Me || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Introducing An Artist’s Tale, a monthly snail mail club with collectible artwork, illustrated travel letters, and activities paired with a new art tool. We’re beginning with New Orleans, with a different place to explore each month and a community to share your photographs and creations.

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

I started An Artist’s Tale, a monthly snail mail club, to share my travels in more depth and give you ways to use the ideas they inspire. Creating a physical version of the travel, art, and food shared on this blog has always been the goal. Each edition includes artwork to collect, an illustrated letter, stickers, and a zine with activities and an art tool to use with them.

The club follows the same process behind the work you’ve seen here. In the New Orleans post, photographs documented details such as the French Quarter’s blue street tiles. In Color Persists, flower photographs became color references. An Artist’s Tale takes that process further by giving you activities based on the colors and design of each place, then a community where we can share our photos and artwork. We’re starting with New Orleans. Each month will focus on a different place from my travels, with new artwork and activities to explore together.

Meet An Artist’s Tale, my monthly snail mail club!

My mission is Travel. Capture. Create. This is where all three come together. Each month and each place, through my travels and photographs, we will follow the colors, design, and details that inspired me there. I’ll draw from my existing experiences as well as future ones. There’s plenty in a single trip to keep working with long after the suitcase is unpacked.

The art we encounter might be a painting, but it could also be architecture, a carefully planted garden, or the lettering on a sign. I want to spend more time with those details, show you how they become artwork, and give you ways to try that process yourself.

Each monthly envelope includes:

  • Kiss-cut stickers featuring my original artwork.
  • A collectible 4×6 travel-art postcard, printed from my original artwork.
  • An illustrated, place-inspired letter that goes further into the experience.
  • A mini activity zine, with interactive activities.
  • A new artist’s tool each month.
An Artist's Tale Snail Mail Club October 2026 by Sara Rose
An Artist’s Tale | Snail Mail Club, October 2026. By Sara Rose.

The first edition is inspired by New Orleans and will be mailed in the first week of October. Travel and art are the main focus of the club, with food woven into the stories and inspiration. As shared in my earlier posts, I rely on accounts from individuals I’ve met on my travels, giving context my photos alone cannot provide. That matters to me as this club grows: sharing my own observations while crediting the people whose work and knowledge help me understand a place.

Last Day to Sign Up for October’s Edition

Share your photos and artwork in my Discord and Instagram, linked in the zine. I’d love for us to compare what caught our attention, trade ideas, and see what everyone makes. All experience levels are welcome.

Today, September 30, is the last day to join for the first October edition. Join during October and you’ll receive November’s edition, etc. Monthly editions are mailed during the first week of the month, and postage is included.

Blog posts will also resume twice a month, and the podcasts are returning too! You’re welcome to keep following here, whether or not you join the postal club.

What’s one detail in a familiar place that you’ve started noticing lately?

Join An Artist’s Tale

Join An Artist’s Tale at AskSaraRose.com and choose the U.S. or international monthly subscription to keep receiving each new edition: An Artist’s Tale

Sign up by 11:59 p.m. Pacific tonight, September 30, for October’s New Orleans edition. Sign-ups during October receive November’s edition. Each edition is mailed during the first week of the month, and postage is included.

Share your photos and artwork in my Discord community, linked in the zine. Let’s compare what caught our attention, trade ideas, and see what everyone makes. All experience levels are welcome.

Blog posts will also resume twice a month, and the podcasts are returning too! You’re welcome to keep following here, whether or not you join the postal club.

What’s one detail in a familiar place that you’ve started noticing lately?

Join An Artist’s Tale and choose your monthly subscription to keep exploring with us by mail.

Love Sara’s Photos? Own Your Own Here!

Tiny Art, Big Adventure: Discovering ACEOs || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Step into a world of creativity with ThereGoesSaraRose.com, where photography meets hand-painted artistry. Discover the excitement of creating your own ACEOs, small masterpieces that capture the imagination. Perfect for collectors and artists alike!

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

A new creative chapter is unfolding at There Goes Sara Rose. After years of capturing color through photography, I am turning that same curious eye toward hand-painted artwork small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

Hello, fellow adventurers!

For years, my creative life has been built around noticing. I notice color hiding in weathered spaces, flowers wearing combinations no designer would dare suggest, and small details that are easy to overlook when we are moving too quickly. COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 grew from that habit of paying attention and using photography as a library for future creativity.

Recently, that same curiosity led me somewhere new. Instead of only capturing what already exists, I have been painting the little worlds living inside my own imagination. Somewhere between mushroom houses, unusual animals, dramatic skies, and headphone-wearing crabs, I discovered ACEOs and became completely obsessed.

If you love the excitement of finding a rare Pokémon card, discovering an independent artist, or collecting tiny objects filled with personality, you may be about to join me.

ACEO’s created by Sara Rose ©2026

What is an ACEO?

ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions, and Originals. An ACEO measures exactly 2.5 by 3.5 inches, which is the same size as a standard trading card. That specific size is the main rule, but artists are free to create almost anything within it.

An ACEO may be painted, drawn, collaged, printed, or created with mixed media. Some are one-of-a-kind originals, while others are signed or numbered editions of an artist’s work. Think of an ACEO like a trading card, except the image may have been painted directly onto the exact card you are holding.

That small difference changes the entire experience. You are not simply looking at an image of the artwork. With an original ACEO, you are holding the surface the artist actually worked on, complete with its brushstrokes, texture, decisions, and tiny imperfections.

How Did ACEOs Begin?

ACEOs grew out of the Artist Trading Card movement. Artist Trading Cards, commonly called ATCs, were traditionally created for artists to trade with one another rather than sell. The exchange was part of the culture, which meant selling the cards was initially considered controversial.

In 2004, artist Lisa Luree, also known online as Bone Diva, saw that collectors wanted the opportunity to purchase these miniature works. She developed the name Art Cards, Editions, and Originals to distinguish art created for sale from cards intended only for trade. The idea spread, and a new community of artists and collectors grew around it. [1]

That history is part of what makes ACEOs so interesting to me. They exist somewhere between fine art, trading-card culture, and creative community. It is an unusual combination, but unusual combinations are often where the most interesting ideas begin.

Why Tiny Art?

Creating artwork this small sounds easier than creating a large painting. After all, it requires less paper and less paint. What could possibly go wrong?

Apparently, plenty.

Every line, shape, and color has to earn its limited space. A composition that works beautifully on a large canvas may become crowded or confusing when reduced to trading-card size. Tiny art may use fewer materials, but it still requires planning, patience, and an impressive willingness to repaint something smaller than your thumbnail.

That challenge is exactly what pulled me in. The size encourages experimentation because each card can become a complete idea without requiring weeks of work or an empty wall. One card can hold a sunset, a creature, a joke, a strange fact about nature, or the beginning of an entire fantasy world.

My first ACEOs have already included mushroom homes, stalking tigers, gummy bears, tiny spiders, colorful crabs, and scenes built around light and atmosphere. Some ideas remain individual paintings, while others naturally grow into sets. The cards may be small, but they are giving my imagination more room than expected.

Why Do People Collect ACEOs?

If you have ever collected Pokémon cards, sports cards, postcards, pins, or other miniature treasures, you already understand part of the appeal. There is satisfaction in finding something special, protecting it, and adding it to a collection that reflects your interests.

ACEOs make original art easier to collect and display than many larger works. They can be stored in standard trading-card sleeves and binders, placed in miniature frames, displayed on small easels, or grouped together as a collection. You do not need a large home or a gallery-sized budget to begin supporting independent artists.

There is also something personal about knowing that only one collector can own a particular original. Prints and stickers allow more people to enjoy a favorite design, and I absolutely plan to explore those possibilities. Still, the original card holds the marks made during the actual creative process.

Once that original finds its collector, that exact little world belongs to them.

Where This Adventure Goes Next

Creating the art is the center of this project. Each new ACEO gives me something to paint, photograph, share, and learn from. Some pieces may remain one-of-a-kind originals, while others may eventually grow into prints, collections, or new creative ideas.

My available original ACEOs will be listed through TinyGallery and eBay, with reprints and stickers eventually on Etsy, while ThereGoesSaraRose.com will remain the home of the larger story. This is where I will share new artwork, behind-the-scenes experiments, lessons, and the ideas that connect one project to the next.

This new chapter is not separate from the adventures you already know me for. It was always the goal, and is another way of following the same curiosity that has always guided There Goes Sara Rose.

Travel. Capture. Create.

Sometimes I travel somewhere new and capture what I find. Other times, I travel into an idea and create what I wish I could find there.

What would you love to discover inside a tiny painted world? Leave a comment, follow the process, or send a raven. An email will also work.

Thank you, as always, for adventuring with me. Let’s see whether we can turn pocket-sized paintings into a dragon’s hoard.

Until the next time, checkout my current items for sale at www.AskSaraRose.com and head to my eBay!

— Sara Rose 🧚‍♂️🎨📦

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Out Now! Color Persists: Volume 1 || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

A visual meditation on color, creativity, and noticing what persists. In this post, Sara Rose explores how nature, design theory, and saturated color inform her new photography book, COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 — and why choosing color is an act of creative resistance.

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

For years, I’ve followed my curiosity with camera in hand. I am attracted to color and new life like a bee to a fresh bloom. I’ve always been drawn to flowers and plants. I am especially captivated by spaces where color appears layered and weathered. These colors are imperfect and fight to be alive. Eventually the habit of noticing the small things becomes a routine, and then a mindset. Now, if I am ever “stuck,” I return to this growing library of colorful photography for inspiration. And now, you can too.

The best example I can give is a quote from Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games. In it, Peeta shared his favorite color, saying, “Orange […] more like a sunset kind of orange.” Orange is not typically a favorite color. However, in the context of a sunset, it’s undeniable that it’s one of the most beautiful sights in the sky.

Why does this matter? When you make a habit of learning art theory and design, your work slowly becomes less about you as the creator. It becomes more about the people experiencing it. For example, take the color blue. Blue evokes feelings such as trust, honesty, and calmness. If you work in healthcare, you may see a lot of blue in your design work. You may also use a lot of blue in your design work. The worlds of design, branding, and marketing would say this is both a wise and strategic choice for healthcare design.

COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 by Sara Rose, COVER.
COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 by Sara Rose, COVER.
Buy YOURS Here

Our creative streak doesn’t end at 5 p.m., though. What color combo are you wearing to your friend’s birthday dinner? When searching for a pop of color, does your design-mind revert to tertiary and contrasting colors? Stuck in the methods we were taught? Not breaking a mold? This is the reason I find nature photography intriguing. It focuses on capturing saturated colors or unique combinations. This approach challenges that part of our honed creativity. Would you wear dark reddish brown with a pop of chartreuse? No? Well, the Black Rose Anemone dons it every day and it is stunning!

Color Reference Guide & Black Rose Anemone page from COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1, by Sara Rose. ©2026
Color Reference Guide & Black Rose Anemone page from COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1, by Sara Rose. ©2026

COLOR PERSISTS, do you?

Color doesn’t disappear just because trends say it should soften. It doesn’t apologize for being loud, layered, or alive. It persists — in cracked sidewalks, in stubborn petals, in unexpected combinations that shouldn’t work but do.

COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1 is my reminder to myself — and now to you — that inspiration doesn’t need permission. That beauty isn’t only found in perfection or palettes approved by an industry forecast. Sometimes it’s found in contrast. In courage. In choosing saturation anyway.

So I’ll ask you the same thing I ask myself:

COLOR PERSISTS — do you?

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Love Sara’s Photos? Own Your Own Here!

2025 Wrap-Up in Full Color || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

2025 was a year of quiet growth for There Goes Sara Rose. This wrap-up reflects on global readership, the most-read travel stories, and a creative shift toward observation, design, and alignment — including a look at what’s coming next with Color Persists: Volume 1.

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

2025 Wrap-Up: Quiet Growth, Real Momentum

Somewhere along the way, this little corner of the internet stopped being just mine and started becoming ours. In 2025, readers found their way here from all over — across the U.S., the UK, Canada, Europe, and even as far as Singapore and Hong Kong — often through posts written years ago that somehow kept traveling. That’s because you kept reading, sharing, wandering, and coming back. For the first time since this site began, it feels right to say this has grown into an international community — built slowly, organically, and entirely because of you.

JetPack geo statistics for ThereGoesSaraRose.com, 2025.
JetPack statistics for ThereGoesSaraRose.com, 2025.

These were the most-read blog posts in 2025:

Thank you for being here — for reading, sharing, and carrying these stories with you. Every visit, every quiet moment spent exploring a post, is what allowed this space to grow at its own pace. I’m grateful you’re part of this journey, and I can’t wait to see where we wander next.

2025: The Reframe

This year was about alignment. I moved to a new city I love, worked through graduate school, made new friendships, and developed a clearer understanding of how creativity fits into my life. Travel remained part of my world, but it shifted into something more observational — something I returned to when it felt healthy and meaningful rather than obligatory.

The posts I shared this year — about Point Lobos, Monterey, Santa Cruz tides, Sacramento food walks, and art spaces — reflected where I was in real time. They weren’t meant to be guides or itineraries; they documented place, presence, and attention as I experienced them.

Much of the work this year happened quietly and off the blog: graduate school and thesis development, therapy and long (sometimes difficult) conversations with friends, starting a research study and documenting that process at IDFieldGuide.com, developing my professional design portfolio, and writing Color Persists: Volume 1, to be released in January 2026. That clarity changed how I create and allowed this blog to function as a living archive rather than a performance schedule — exactly how I want it to exist.

Where Travel Meets Design

Travel matters to me as a designer because it expands how I see. For the past five years, alongside everything shared on this site, I’ve been photographing flowers and plants everywhere I go. These photographs were never meant to be souvenirs; they’ve always been references. I use them the same way artists have always used nature: to study color, contrast, texture, and light.

Over time, that practice became a personal design library, something I returned to again and again in my work. This year, I decided to make that library accessible to you.

What I’m Releasing: COLOR PERSISTS

As 2025 comes to a close, I’m excited to announce I have finished production on COLOR PERSISTS: Volume 1, based on a collection of photography that has grown quietly alongside this site. It will be available globally in January 2026.

The book is built on how I actually work as a designer. Over the past five years, I’ve photographed flowers and plants during my travels and used those images as ongoing design references. This book offers a curated version of that same library. Below is a small preview of Color Persists: Volume 1 – including the cover, note to readers, an example of the colors in this book, and about the author pages.

  • Color Persists: Volume 1, Cover.
  • Color Persists, Message to Readers
  • Screenshot
    Color Persists, Custom Color Wheel
  • Color Persists, About The Author

It includes 75 close-up photographs, each paired with five hex codes pulled directly from the image, for a total of 375 color references grounded in real environments. Think of it as a digital paint book, a working palette built from observation rather than trends. The focus is intentionally up close. Instead of documenting where I went, the book documents what I noticed: color, texture, and detail. In that way, it functions as both a micro travel record and a practical design resource.

The book will be available as a softcover 5×5, printed on high-quality luster paper and designed to be used as a reference tool rather than decoration. This is Volume 1, a snapshot of the last five years. The goal is for each year to eventually have its own volume of color to choose from, but this one stands on its own.

I’ll update this post with the link when the book is available to the public. Happy New Years Eve!

— Sara Rose

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Balboa Park, Soundchecks, and the Art of Being Present || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

A quiet moment in Balboa Park became one of the memories that shaped my “in-between year.” From soundchecks drifting through arches to gardens layered with history, this post explores presence, creativity, and what this San Diego landmark taught me about designing a meaningful life.

TRAVEL. FOOD. DESIGN. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

It was late August 2024 when I found myself wandering through Balboa Park — one of those aimless, golden-hour afternoons that happen when your plane doesn’t leave for several more hours and your brain finally gets permission to breathe.

The sun was sliding behind the Botanical Building, casting a soft glow across a lily-covered pool. Somewhere beyond the plaza, a soundcheck drifted through the arches — The Doors, then Pink Floyd, echoing from the Spreckels Organ Pavilion like a memory waking up. It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t a performance. It was just enough to stop me mid-step.

Water lilies photo by Sara Rose, 2024.
Reflections and water lilies at the Balboa Park lily pond. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

I didn’t go to Balboa Park with intention, or an itinerary, or even the thought that this moment would matter. But looking back now — over a year later, after finding peace in quiet truths — I realize this was one of the moments that stayed with me. A memory from the “in-between year” that knew it belonged to a future version of myself.

Because the best travel moments don’t announce themselves.
They find you.
They ask you to be still.

Spreckles Organ Pavilion. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

Exploring Balboa Park

For those who haven’t wandered its pathways yet, Balboa Park is San Diego’s 1,200-acre cultural heart — a sprawling network of gardens, trails, museums, historic architecture, and performance spaces just north of downtown. Home to 18 museums, the San Diego Zoo, the Starlight Bowl Amphitheater, miles of walkable promenades, and more than a dozen curated gardens, the park is designed for slow exploration. You can browse world-class art, watch a rehearsal drift from an open-air stage, grab something delicious from The Prado, or simply follow whatever path the day hands you. If you want to plan your own visit, the official park website offers maps, current exhibits, and accessibility details: balboapark.org.

Bean cakes, Sake, and Tea in Balboa Park, San Diego. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

Layers Upon Layers

Even in 2024, when I wasn’t posting much, the park felt like a reminder of how much a single place can hold. Balboa Park hums with layers. Spanish Colonial façades wrap around art galleries. Desert gardens unfold near koi ponds. Palm trees brush the sky beside Moorish columns. It’s not one story; it’s dozens of them stacked and shifting as you walk. Free art museums sit unassuming yet host paintings I’d only ever seen before in history books.

Portrait of Marguerite de Sève by Nicolas de Largilliére. 1729. Oil on canvas. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

Those few hours, I drifted through all of it, just soaking in the atmosphere. I wandered the Prado walkways and explored the botanical gardens. I enjoyed the sun-warmed alcoves between the San Diego Museum of Art and the Mingei. There was art everywhere — much of it protected, all of it deserving to be seen in person. Screens flatten what the world intends to be dimensional.

Saint Francis in Meditation by Francisco de Zurbarán. 1635. Oil on canvas. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

And maybe that’s why this moment returns to me now.
Because presence — real, grounded, unforced presence — is becoming the center of everything I create. Some things can be shared, the importance the history – but to be changed one must experience it for themselves. I can only relay how these places in California have changed me. You must decide to get up and be changed yourself.

Museum of Us entrance. Sara Rose, 2024.
Entrance to The Museum of Us. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

The Quiet Year

I wrote in my Point Lobos post about the quiet season I stepped into. It included graduate school, new work, and new rhythms. There were also inner shifts that don’t happen on a public timeline. That year wasn’t loud, but it was formative.

Travel has always been how I process the world and myself. But in 2024, something shifted. I began thinking not just about experiencing moments like this. I also considered designing experiences that help others learn. These experiences help others reflect and explore.

That’s what led me deeper into instructional design.
That’s what led me to graduate school.
And ultimately, that’s what led me to begin writing a book.

The House of Hospitality, Historic Garden. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

Building Something New

For the last year, I’ve been deep in a Master’s program in Instructional Science & Technology — work that’s reshaped how I see places like Balboa Park. Travel isn’t just movement; it’s experiential learning. It’s design in the wild. And the more I studied how people learn, the more I wanted to help others create experiences that feel just as intentional and human.

That’s why I’m writing The Instructional Designers’ Field Guide — a practical, research-informed handbook for anyone building courses, trainings, or online learning environments. Whether you arrived in this field on purpose or by accident (like so many of us do), this guide is meant to feel like a compass: clear, friendly, and grounded in real practice. It’s for the curious, the career-switchers, and the quietly ambitious creators who want their work to actually make a difference.

Tiger Rug for sale at Blaboa Park
Tibetan Tiger Rug for sale in Balboa Park. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

This guide is for you if you’re stepping into online learning, just like this blog is for you if you enjoy experiential learning, second-hand. It is also for those entering course development, accessibility, or training design. This is especially true if you come from a nontraditional path. It’s built for the curious, the quietly ambitious, the people who want to create meaningful learning experiences that feel human.

And it turns out that travel, food, and design all belong in the same story:

  • Travel is experiential learning.
  • Food is sensory storytelling.
  • Design is how we shape the way others move through knowledge, places, and moments.

Balboa Park reminded me that those threads were always connected.

The Old Globe Theater. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

What’s Ahead

ThereGoesSaraRose.com is growing into what it has always been:
a space where Travel, Food, and Design intersect.

Here, you’ll find:

✨ stories from the road — past and present
✨ the ways culture and creativity show up in unexpected corners
✨ behind-the-scenes looks at my graduate work and book development
✨ instructional design insights grounded in real lived experience
✨ reflections on curiosity, reinvention, and building a life you want to stand inside

I’m still Sara Rose.
Still going places.
Still learning, still designing, still following the small moments that light up the path forward.

Just bringing a few new tools along for the ride.

El Cid Campeador, statue. Photo by Sara Rose ©2024.

Join the Story!

Have you explored Balboa Park or a place that surprised you in a similar way? Tell me what stayed with you. I love hearing about the moments that change someone’s journey. Until next week’s blog, make sure to take some time to enjoy a special bit of Travel, Food, and Design!

Empowering Play: Women-Led Games 2024 🎉|| ThereGoesSaraRose.com

2024 is a landmark year for women in gaming, with innovative titles from developers like SnapFingerClick and live streams from women in STEAM like myself, Sara Rose (NerdGlassesLLC on Twitch). Join as we celebrate the women reshaping our gaming experiences!

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Happy Women-Led Games Showcase 2024! As we near the closing of the week, I would like to congratulate all women working in the gaming industry, you are some of the most talented and resilient individuals I have had the pleasure of working with! Congratulations to SnapFingerClick, a game development company made up of over 70% women! Awkward 2 (by SnapFingerClick) is as one of my most memorable games on Twitch! So last but not least, congratulations to my Twitch Channel, NerdGlassesLLC and my Twitch community for being featured on Steam and Awkward 2 during this awesome week!

Steam, “Women-Led Games” week and NerdGlassesLLC featured playing Awkward 2! ©2024

Share your favorite Women-Led stream or game company in the comments, below or THIS SATURDAY for my return to Twitch! Check out our PRIDE stream Saturday 6/15/2024 at 12:00 PM PST for a colorful, interactive, 12-Hour event!

www.Twitch.tv/NerdGlassesLLC live stream on 6/15/2024 ©2024

So, how does one create? To design something that is aesthetically pleasing and useful? That begins to tap into the world of a Multimedia Designer and Developer, an entire skillset, ever growing and rolled together.

Now, try this concept on for size: How does one review the stream objectively – when the product … the service …. is YOU? When you pour your heart into and project that your dace is literally on, it becomes more about tamping down your own demons. Getting used to the sound of your voice in editing, to stop cringing at silly moments that you actually enjoyed. Never in my life had I needed to look at myself so unbiasedly and realized, I was very judgmental on myself!

300 Followers 1-month after NerdGlassesLLC began on Twitch! ©2020

Not withstanding the hiccups Twitch.tv, Discord or video games struggled with during lockdown, I wrestled with my own demons. However, we all did something amazing during that time stuck at home, we reached out to each other-online. We had fun, we made friends. With the support of others on Twitch and my college project, the NerdGlasses channel and community (“The Nerd Herd”) grew overnight.

Throwback to NerdGlassesLLC Event in 2020 ©Sara Rose

Then, the “impossible”, happened. Twitch hired me as an Affiliate streamer six days after I started streaming! The next few years brought more twist and turns than I thought possible. And here we still are, enjoying every moment. This story is not new to those who have been part of the journey – what may be new is the personal struggle to continue to create consistent content after lockdown.

Multimedia Artist & Streamer in Charity Event hosted by EonsOfIan ©EonsofIan/NerdGlassesLLC 2020

Jump to 2021, Sara Rose has went there and back again, as I’d always intended! I pulled away from regular game streaming and I did the best thing I could think of: I traveled to grow and heal and shared it with you, here! http://www.ThereGoesSaraRose.com was born. One of the biggest trips of my life happened, 16 States in 16 Days!

Twitch 2021 Recap ©2021

Although not everyone in my life agreed on my travel plans – I am happy to say, The Nerd Herd (the name of our Twitch Community) was always a balance and held me accountable. Truly listening to everyone in an online community is the reflection no one asked for, and sometimes the truth is as harsh as the mirror from old fairytales.

Sara Rose traveling to HEAL ©2021

Looking back, I jumped in the deep end of content creation, didn’t I? What makes me happy coming BACK to Twitch.tv? The need to learn, accept help from friends the promise to myself to always have fun FIRST. I believe Twitch is the melting pot which gives a creator the space incubate ideas and to continue helping others.

Remembering this stream began as a school project, I have an INCREDIBLY exciting announcement to share with YOU still yet! Mark your calendar and join the LIVE Event for FUN, ART and INTERACTIVE GAMING at Twitch.tv/NerdGlassesLLC at 12 PM PST for a 12-Hour Stream to find out more!

Discord & Twitch stream Announcement ©Sara Rose, 2024

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Artistic Oasis at Fort Sutter Hotel in Sacramento, CA || ThereGoesSaraRose.com

Join a visit to Fort Sutter Hotel in Sacramento, CA, with Sara Rose! A blend of history, art, and relaxation, with exceptional service, the hotel’s modern amenities and connection to Sacramento’s cultural heritage made it a memorable experience. The central location was ideal for immersing in the city’s vibrant art scene. Check out more at ThereGoesSaraRose.com!

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

As a Travel, Food and Art blog, featuring the Fort Sutter Hotel Sacramento, Tapestry Collection* was a must as it combines all three worlds! Nestled in Sacramento’s vibrant cityscape, this hotel offers a unique blend of relaxation, rejuvenation, and art appreciation during my stay for the city’s Second Saturday Art Walk. Join me as I delve into the hotel’s serene ambiance, conscientious design, and their impeccable service.

What Stood Out

Front desk staff greeted me like an old acquaintance upon my arrival. Although I wanted to arrived earlier in the day (see my trip to Sacramento at Traveling with Amtrak || ThereGoesSaraRose.com), I strolled in after a hot afternoon to meet the evening crew. However, unlike hotels I’ve visited before, the air-of-too-busy-importance filled with phone calls and radio checks was nowhere to be found. The calm, open atmosphere called for me to relax. This new age hospitality is stress relieving. Mere blocks from the last stop in the Second Saturday Art Walk, VIP Guided Tour, there couldn’t not have been a better spot to stay.

California Republic Flag in Fort Sutter Hotel Lobby. Sara Rose ©2024

As the elevator drops me off on my floor, I notice something immediately different, it’s quiet. But, what is it? Signs lead me to my room and, as my feet lead me there, it hits me. The floor has an extra layer of soft, rubbery cushion, reminding me of modern playgrounds. Perfect for the extra weight of luggage and those anxious to get to their rooms. I consider running to test the theory but I’m already pleasantly exhausted for the evening, and I still have to get ready to go eat!

Curious about my eating experience at The Fort Sutter Hotel? Check it out here in my first ever double-feature at The Four Palms and Cafe Bernardo.

-Sara Rose

The Morning After

Opening the door to my suite, a hallway separates the door from the rest of the living space, giving a true sense of privacy (Tour on YouTube out soon!) Turning the corner, the TV is on and it says, “Welcome, Sara!” on the screen. Whoa, trippy. I continue my exploration, but the separate bedroom was even quieter. After my stay here, I remember thinking, “Is there extra soundproofing in this room?” because I literally heard nothing at night. I freshen up and out of the room to finish my evening at The Four Palms (check out my restaurant review, here)!

Fort Sutter Hotel, Bath Salts & Robe. Sara Rose, ©2024.

Leaving a hotel is typically one of two experiences, either a walk of shame or, at best, an awkward necessary transaction before your exodus. Awake at sunrise with a check-out of 11:00 AM and the train not leaving until noon, it hits me that this hotel stay is neither of those previous experiences. This is something new. I was hesitant to pack up and found myself ready to lounge, something typically hard for me to do. Salts on the bath and sore feet called for me to chill out…enjoy myself. I laugh to myself and decide to do just that.

To be very honest, I went the weekend of Mother’s Day, the first without my mom in this world. It was necessary to plan something special, but I knew I would also feel guilty to out and about so I planning to indulge in something we might have done together seemed like the best of both worlds. In different ways, (as you will see in the next few articles, too!) this experience healed something for me. Thank you, Hilton!

The Artistic Fort Sutter Hotel

Fort Sutter Hotel Entrance, Street Side. Sara Rose ©2024.

Fort Sutter Hotel, a part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection, is an architectural gem that speaks volumes about Sacramento’s history. The hotel is named after the historic Sutter’s Fort, a 19th-century agricultural and trade colony in the Mexican Alta California province [1], just down the block. While the hotel itself, according to Hilton’s official website, is a relatively recent addition to Sacramento’s landscape, it has been meticulously designed to reflect the city’s rich history and charm [2].

Unique Features That Set It Apart

One of the most striking features of Fort Sutter Hotel is its nod to Sacramento’s history. Although the Hotel has no affiliation with Fort Sutter the hotel’s design embraces a contemporary aesthetic while still paying homage to the city’s cultural heritage, creating a unique ambiance that is both modern and timeless. The hotel’s art collection, curated to represent the local art scene, further enhances this feeling of being deeply connected to Sacramento’s cultural pulse. Little nuances, like mini canvas key cards and original art pieces in your room is part of the experience at Fort Sutter Hotel.

Fort Sutter Key Cards (front), Sara Rose ©2024
Fort Sutter Key Cards (back), Sara Rose ©2024

Perfectly Positioned for the Second Saturday Art Walk

Fort Sutter Hotel’s central location was ideal for immersing myself in Sacramento’s renowned Second Saturday Art Walk. This monthly event, as detailed by Visit Sacramento, showcases the city’s vibrant art scene, with local galleries and studios opening their doors to the public [3]. After a fulfilling day of artistic exploration, the hotel served as a tranquil retreat, providing much-needed relaxation and comfort.

Comfortable, beautiful, and easy? Salt bath soak, firm-yet-fluffy mattress and tap-to-unlock doors, this stay regenerated my soul as if designed to do so from the ground floor up. I’m always worried about losing my keys or documents so the Hilton Honors app made checking in and out even easier! It was nice to just be able to say, “Good bye!” as I walk out restored.

A Message From Fort Sutter Hotel!

“A lot of our guests are interested in the Second Saturday events through the Midtown Association on Instagram: @exploremidtown. We host 2 art pop’s a year, one is the July and the other is in October during the 2 nd Saturday event. There are a ton of concerts held downtown and some great festivals coming up in October!” – General Manager, Fort Sutter Hotel.

Check out my experience taking the Second Saturday Art Walk, VIP Tour at ThereGoesSaraRose.com, new blog coming out soon!

Drink at The Four Palms. Sara Rose, ©2024.

Conclusion

To summarize, my stay at Fort Sutter Hotel was a delightful blend of local culture, art appreciation, and relaxation. The hotel’s commitment to showcasing Sacramento’s artists, coupled with its modern amenities and exceptional service, made my experience truly memorable. If you’re planning a trip to Sacramento, I highly recommend adding Fort Sutter Hotel to your itinerary. Until next time, safe travels, fellow wanderers!

References:
[1] “Sutter’s Fort.” California Department of Parks and Recreation. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485
[2] “Fort Sutter Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.” Hilton. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/sacftup-fort-sutter-hotel/
[3] “Second Saturday Art Walk.” Visit Sacramento. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://www.visitsacramento.com/events/second-saturday-art-walk/

*Feature Article Disclosure

This not-for-profit blog is photographed, written, produced, published and funded entirely by me, Sara Rose at NerdGlasses, LLC. Each location has been chosen for both its beauty, historical significance or unique qualities. This blog accepts donations or partnerships with a business to bring you additional content in exchange for my authentic feedback. I received a discount to stay at Fort Sutter Hotel-Sacramento, CA in exchange for writing this review. However, all opinions expressed in this review are my own honest assessments of the hotel.

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The World’s Largest Lego® Art Exhibit || EXHIBIT Review

Experience The Art of the Brick, the World’s Largest Lego® Exhibit, in Los Angeles, CA! Find out more at ThereGoesSaraRose.com or Spotify!

TRAVEL. CAPTURE. CREATE. ThereGoesSaraRose.com

The Art of the Brick

One week ago I visited an extraordinary Lego® art exhibit in Los Angeles, California. 100 sculptures and over 1 million Lego® bricks blew me away! I visited Nathan Sawaya‘s The Art of the Brick and left nothing short of entranced. Here, the inner-child shines even though these sculptures are nowhere near your typical living-room Lego® creations. Supported with emotional depth, I must encourage you to attend before it leaves! Let me share with you, The Art of the Brick.

Only Until January 2022?!

Most of my travel spots you can return to at leisure, but not this one! The Art of the Brick is only at the Los Angeles California Science Museum until January 2, 2022 when it moves to San Francisco. Check here for the most current schedule. Art Exhibits change and are moved (curated) around the world so generations can experience the wonderful collections. However, I “OH MY GOODNESS-” ‘d so many times, I knew I had to share more with you immediately.

California Science Center

A massive faceless, yellow figure made of Legos® greets me from a building-sized poster as I step out of my car into the quiet morning air of Los Angeles. The drive from Hollywood was far too hectic and I was glad to be out of the car. But, we are hours away from the 10:00 AM opening time Google lists for the Center. I can’t quite tear my eyes away from the man, pulling his chest apart to reveal a hollow inside, spilling out more Legos®. Welcome to the California Science Center, where most things are not what they seem.

My Favorites

“So much movement and natural shape starts with the simple form of a cube.” This revelation followed me as I continued around each corner. A surrealistic artist with a fascination for breakout artistry (i.e. Monet), I have to be honest, I assumed I was about to walk into *insert eye roll* yet another pop art exhibit. However, even the recreations of historical pieces brought new life to familiar scenes! Allowing the viewer to experience what was once just viewing a 2D image sent fireworks through my neurodivergent brain. I only wished for a walkthrough of famous scenes next! Check out highlights of my favorite sculptures in my video link below!

@theregoessararose

The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya’s in Los Angeles’ California Science Museum. Only until January 2022! #legos #mustvisit #specialexhibit #traveltiktok

♬ original sound – ThereGoesSaraRose.com
The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya Exhibit Highlights. (Videography and production by Sara Rose, 2021)

PERNiCiEM: The Endangered Species Collection

Pairing with photographer Dean West, the Perniciem Collection sits at the end of Nathan Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick. With talents combined, the best was saved for last. I am delighted as I turn the corner to see the Perniciem scupltures. Each sculpture sits next to a beautiful photograph, at home in their own world. To be honest, the first several photos earned a double-take. I didn’t realize the Lego® version of the animal was in each photo! The biology was so well designed, the cubed creatures seemed real.

Art Making a Difference

I am excited to share, “A percentage of the [PERNiCiEM] proceeds will go to NGOs that are on the ground protecting and preserving the beauty and splendor of our world,” (PerniciemCollection.com). Lego® is even perfecting bricks made from recycled plastics and we appreciate their efforts (Wired.com, 2021)! I’m not a scientist, but I love nature and animals and any attempt to understand how we can do better is vital (Sara “Milbrodt” Rose, 2019).

What To Know Before Visiting

Proof of vaccination or proof of negative test was required before entry into the California Science Museum (one of the several buildings at the Science Center). Fortunately, signs with links and QR codes made finding my information very easy. I did not plan this stop on my trip and if the information was not so easily accessible, this article would not be here today! I did notice several testing tents around Los Angeles and at one on a street corner near the Center, a reminder of COVID-19.

Pre-Purchase Tickets

Order your tickets online before you go! Choosing time slots online made my day a breeze and allowed for breaks. I arrived over an hour early so picked my ticket bundle while eating Quiznos across the street. I wanted to try everything but overall, three activities cost me less than attending a movie theater!

Can’t Make It?

If you can’t get to Los Angeles before the exhibit leaves, you may still be in luck! Just up the West Coast, San Francisco is the next stop for The Art of the Brick. You never know, maybe I will see you there! Find the most up-to-date details on where to see the exhibit, here! Until next time, There Goes Sara Rose.

A 4K Introduction to Watercolor | “Octopoda” by Sara Rose

Welcome to my FIRST watercolor tutorial, “Octopoda”, by Sara Rose, April 2021. Traveling as I can and watching nature documentaries in between, this little mollusk was inspired by my previous trips to the coastlines of California and oceanographer’s documentaries on the species. It made sense to paint a creature made up of so much water with watercolor and to also paint the entire piece of art in saltwater. Might as well make her feel at home!

Listen to a podcast of this article here: https://anchor.fm/theregoessararose/episodes/Ep–2-A-4K-Introduction-to-Watercolor–Octopoda-e155if7

LOVE “Octopoda” and want to purchase a print? Check out my store here!

Paint along with me in this time-lapsed, instructional video for beginners in my YouTube video below! If you need to grab similar supplies first, check the list below to see what I used for “Octopoda”!

This is my first watercolor of this size and my aim is to improve with each painting. Constructive tips and tricks are most helpful for each artist and part of why we share our work. Please be respectful in the art community, everyone starts somewhere! What would you like to know I might not have covered in the video? What art medium are you currently using or projects you are working on? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and let’s get started!

Watch the 4K Watercolor Intro Tutorial here: https://youtu.be/mkDSuwOHpvk

Paint & Tools Used:

  • QoR Watercolor, Made by Golden Artist, Introductory Set of 12 Colors
  • Royal & Langnickel Jumbo 50 Watercolor Paintbrush
  • One (1) small and old watercolor paintbrushes (misshapen is great!), inexpensive
  • One (1) line “thin” watercolor paintbrush, inexpensive
  • A Corelle plate
  • Three (3) large cups of water- 2 salted, one unsalted (for cleaning)
  • 15″x23″ Fabriano Artistico cold pressed extra white 300 g/m2 watercolor paper
  • 2″ Masking Tape
  • Kosher Salt
  • Table Salt
  • Lint Free Towel

I highly recommend setting aside a space for painting, a drop cloth is an inexpensive purchase compared to attempting to clean or replacing flooring. Let us know how your painting goes!

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