Page 23 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2022

“It started in my heart and spilled into my garage. The trees got more attention as people driving by saw them,” Hudson recalls. “I was creating them for family and friends. I'm telling my story with stars, not words, and it's still evolving.”
Hudson was able to continue creating the trees during the COVID lockdown with minimal delay thanks to a large shipment of shells she ordered before the pandemic. She also used the time to set up the business for selling her creations, which now include starfish ornaments. “I had to have faith to sink a lot of money into the shipment.”
Because there's a lot of labor involved with cutting the wooden bases and drilling the starfish, Hudson now has a team of helpers, some of whom are retired. “They are a great team and a god send,” she says.
The starfish of various sizes are topped with many different types of shells. “The shells are responsibly sourced from the ocean floor in the Philippines,” she stated, “and starfish are prolific breeders.”
Hudson grew up in Gulfport, the daughter of Barbara Garner and Bill Covington. While she was enduring pain at a level 10 on the pain chart and having her first surgery cancelled, other family members were also going through serious illnesses. “There were days I would just look at
the clock and wait for Mac to come home,” she recalls. “I
tried everything non surgical but that didn't work for me.” Finally, the surgery was performed and she now rates
her pain at level two. Without dwelling on it, Hudson points to an abusive former relationship as a contributor to her injury. That's why she's a supporter of the Women's Center for Non Violence and donated proceeds from her pop-up show to the center. “There's fear, but there's also hope. We all need help,” she says. “My story parallels
the starfish story because we're growing again and rising above circumstances.”
She praises her husband, Mac Hudson, for being so supportive and a blessing. As a starfish artist and small business owner, she's moving on, not looking back. And the starfish are part of that journey.
Trees may be purchased at www.shoppingwithflair. com with local pickup available, at Robin’s Nest in the Pass, or at the Ron Myers Christmas City Gift Show.
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