Cactus Head 35

05/25/2026

The Trade. Loving this idea now in my "Twilight Years". Reevaluating all that has gone before 🙏🏼🤔✨️✌🏻🌏

From help with websites and video editing to free accommodation and haircuts, artists are trading their work on Instagram and TikTok to escape the traps of capitalism

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/05/18/art-bartering-artists-start-viral-social-media-trend-to-fight-cost-of-living-crisis

05/07/2026

Here's the reminder just in case it got missed...

Changing it up here in my head is the hardest part.
Finally getting used to it. May 11 will come this year without the Corporation Renewal.
Seems odd after 35 years of doing it, not to...
It was such a fixed part of my LIFE.

But now?? FREEDOM

☮️⚘️🧚🏻‍♀️🦋🤠♀️🍄👷🏻‍♀️

This was tough to write. LinkedIn has this explanation now:

After thirtyfive years Karen McClain Visuals, Inc. has closed.
12-31-2025
My choice as I "Retire" lol
What a ride its been!! All the amazing people I've met, all the knowlege passed on to me, the talent I have had the privelege to work with... Gracias!
My next chapter? Art. In all its forms. Teaching-Exploring-Designing are in my nature. It's like breathing.
I started out way way back with the name Cactus Head...true. Something to do with my HAIR? Again, TRUE.
The furniture & Sculptures were tagged with that...
so it seemed fitting to go back to my roots. I had a long time fascination with the actual Plant... the desert & all it's glorious colours as well.
I loved being a Decorative Paint Contractor. Faux everything! 26 years of truly circus-like performance took its toll on my body. It's very physically demanding as most of my connections know. The last few years I focused differently, exploring my Art extensively, making Magic out here on the Farm and taking care of my Pups & hub as well. ALL THAT will continue.
35 years is a good run. I'm Proud. And Grateful. And I know I ran this thing with everything I had.
It was a blast.
There are more things coming down the road...
That's a promise.
It must. It's like breathing. I'm not done.

05/07/2026

Hey! Great idea...🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Make a simple and effective insect hotel with bricks 🐝 🐞

https://www.craftionary.net/diy-bug-hotels-material-instructions-to-attract-bugs/

05/06/2026

Spring. Yep lol It happens every year.

The extra sunlight fires up my creative synapses...and lo & behold a Story emerges. There's a colour theme that happens organically. The result of pulling treasures out of the Studio, repurposing with paint perhaps? Or gluing a few widgets or 3 (or 5) 😁

The Story is long. These things I collected for many years hauling them around with me from the beginning before landing here in the Valley 20 years ago. There are MANY display props from the early Retail days. Big. Whew. Lol

Chapter 4 ~ I'll call this as ME, Cactus Head 35. 🌵

The evolution of all the tricks & skill from my past,
created for personal JOY this last incarnation.

Honestly it's weird.
But as I transition it's getting more familiar.
So many people have inspired this work.
Many gone now. 🙏🏼
But here in my creative heart 💙 they live ON. Through design, colour and most of all LOVE.
I am Grateful.
I am Inspired.
Sam I Am.
🧚🏻‍♀️🦋🥸

Pssssst...I may have another Sale Event soon 😉