Every once in a while I see something in a store that captivates me so much I wind up “visiting” it before facing the inevitable reality that I’ll be buying it. Today it came in the form of a white silk scarf hand-painted with bright-colored flowers. I decided to cut to the chase and take the plunge.

Kudos to artist Joanna Alot, whose work, according to her bio, has been enjoyed by the likes of Michael Jordan and Bill Clinton. The saleswomen at the Gallery of the Mountains, located in the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C., were delightful and engaging in the process.

I love this piece for its vibrancy, how it represents growth and blossoming, and how outside the box it feels compared to the much darker palettes I’m prone to buy.

Fresh and joyful. Yes, it is.