Artsy Octopus

10/09/2026

I call this image “Each Way to Paradise” and it is a favorite among OBX locals and longtime vacationers.

I almost always get the question: “Where is this?” And now I have to tell them it no longer exists. Here’s the story.

I took this image in late afternoon on January 5, 2025, after exploring near the Bonner Bridge Pier and the old Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station. The sun was setting as I was leaving and these two signs were right in front of me, making me choose between paradise and paradise. 😉

The soft colors of the winter sky backdrop made the dual direction signs pop, so I snapped a picture. I’m so glad I did, as heavy storms in October that year took down the North sign and it has yet to be replaced.

The iconic NC 12, which runs from Nags Head south through Oregon Inlet and the villages of Hatteras Island, has seen its share of floods and damage. Last month’s nor’easter severely damaged the road at Pea Island, leaving folks stranded on the south side of paradise for days, but was recently restored for two-way travel (shout out to NCDOT).

My mantra has always been:
“Take the picture, capture the moment” because life is a story that can change in an instant and photos are a time capsule. Moments captured to take our hearts and minds back to the people and places we love.

It makes me happy when folks resonate with my images and we can talk about what visually brings them joy and comfort. This one is available as matted prints, notecards, and a seascape frame (one still available) at the Artsy Octopus in S. Nags Head. Notecards can also be found at Our Charmed Life in Manteo.

As always, thanks for being here. 🌊🩵

10/09/2026

Artsy Octopus, mile post 16, Beach Road

10/08/2026

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SERIES #21 🎨🐙
📸 Meet Mike Trauscht of Perfect View Images! 📸

This week, we’re excited to introduce another talented artist at Artsy Octopus OBX — Mike Trauscht, the photographer behind Perfect View Images!

Mike’s passion for photography began over 40 years ago while vacationing on the beautiful Outer Banks with his wife, Cindy. Like so many of us, they fell in love with the natural beauty of our coastal paradise and found it difficult to leave when vacation ended.

Photography became Mike’s way of taking those special moments home, preserving the breathtaking views until their next visit.

Over the years, his passion has taken him beyond the Outer Banks, capturing stunning landscapes and unforgettable scenes throughout his travels, including the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where he and Cindy now reside.

Mike’s photography has been featured in the Outer Banks Visitor’s Guide, The Coastland Times, and The Charlotte Observer, and his work has been displayed and sold in galleries and retail shops.

What makes his photography so special is his desire to help others discover “something more” — those little details and extraordinary moments of natural beauty that we sometimes overlook.

🌊 Stop by Artsy Octopus OBX and explore the beautiful photography of Mike Trauscht! Whether you’re looking for a reminder of your favorite Outer Banks vacation or a special piece of art for your home, you just might find your own perfect view!

📍 Artsy Octopus OBX
7128 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC

🌐 www.artsyoctopus.art

📸 Explore more of Mike’s photography at www.perfectviewimages.com

💙 Shop Local. Support Artists. Discover Something Beautiful.

10/01/2026

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SERIES #20 —
Meet Suzan Koester

This week’s Artist Spotlight introduces Suzan Koester, a talented local laser artist whose creativity—and love for the Outer Banks—shows up in everything she does!

Suzan creates a wonderful variety of laser-cut and engraved pieces, including beautiful hair clips, intricate puzzles, ornaments, and other unique creations. Her work makes fantastic gifts and keepsakes, especially for anyone who wants to take a little piece of the Outer Banks home with them.

But Suzan’s creativity reaches well beyond her own artwork. She also heads up the Outer Banks Box, a fun way to have a little OBX delivered right to your doorstep! Shipped every three months, each box brings together a taste of the Outer Banks and makes a great gift for OBX lovers—or for anyone who starts missing the beach the minute they leave. 🌊📦

Suzan is also heavily involved with our local SPCA, giving her time and energy to help animals in our community. 🐾❤️ We love having artists at Artsy Octopus who not only create beautiful things, but are also an active part of the community we call home.

Next time you’re in the shop, be sure to look for Suzan Koester’s laser creations and see what catches your eye!

📍 Artsy Octopus OBX
7128 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
🌐 artsyoctopus.art

#20 🐙💙

09/23/2026

🎉🐙 WE MADE IT TO THE FINALS!! 🐙🎉

Artsy Octopus has made it to the FINAL ROUND OF VOTING for BEST GIFT SHOP in the Outer Banks Coastal Life Best of OBX Readers’ Choice Awards! 💜🌊

To say we’re excited is an understatement!

This year has been an incredible journey for us — reopening Artsy Octopus, filling our shop with the work of so many talented local and regional artists, growing our classes, and watching this little shop become such a special creative community.

If you love Artsy Octopus, our artists, our classes, or simply love having a unique little gift shop on the Beach Road, we would be incredibly grateful for your vote for BEST GIFT SHOP! 🛍️🐙

👉 VOTE FOR ARTSY OCTOPUS HERE:
https://bestofobx.outerbankscoastallife.com/

Every single vote matters, and making it this far already means more to us than you know. Thank you to everyone who shops with us, takes a class, follows and shares our posts, tells friends about us, and continues to support our artists and our small business.

Now let’s see if this little purple octopus can bring home BEST GIFT SHOP! 🐙🏆💜

Please VOTE & SHARE — and THANK YOU from Maria, Don, and all of us at Artsy Octopus! 💜

📍 7128 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
🌐 artsyoctopus.art

We rely on readers like you to determine who the best in the OBX are!

09/22/2026

🎨 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SERIES #19 —
Nags Head Cottage Co.

This week’s Artist Spotlight takes us right to the heart of Nags Head! 🌊🏡

Meet Sallie and Grayson, the mother-daughter team behind Nags Head Cottage Co. Their story is rooted in family, tradition, and a love for the place they call home.

Their family’s Nags Head history dates back to 1950, when family patriarch Johnie Whaley built their cottage. Since then, generations of memories have been made among the ocean breezes, walks along the water, and neighborhood porch gatherings that make old Nags Head so special.

Inspired by those memories, Sallie and Grayson created Nags Head Cottage Co. to celebrate the casual, comfortable, and classic style of Nags Head. Their designs are timeless and nostalgic, with a cottage logo inspired by the architecture of the historic Nags Head cottages we all know and love.

We’re so happy to have Nags Head Cottage Co. as part of the Artsy Octopus family and to share products that celebrate not just the Outer Banks, but the traditions and memories that make this place feel like home. 💙🐙

Stop by Artsy Octopus OBX and check out Nags Head Cottage Co. on your next visit!

09/21/2026

🌊 Okay… can we talk about these WAVES?! 🌊

Our latest Ocean Resin Wave class brought the foam, the cells, the gorgeous blues — and a whole lot of personality!

This group created three charcuterie boards and three sea turtles, and I’m loving every one of them. 🐢💙 Some waves rolled in soft and delicate, while others came crashing onto the shore — which is exactly what makes this class so much fun!

There’s always that moment when the heat gun comes out and everyone wonders, “Is this actually going to look like an ocean?” 😂 And then the magic starts happening.

Six students. Six completely different oceans. 🌊

Thank you for spending part of your day creating with us at Artsy Octopus OBX! 🐙💙

09/17/2026

🌊 LOOK WHAT OUR CLASS CREATED! 🌊

We had such a fun time in our Resin Coastal Frame Class at Artsy Octopus! Just look at these amazing creations! 😍

From crashing glass waves and colorful shorelines to sea turtles, dolphins, crabs, an octopus, starfish, a baby seal, shells and driftwood—every single piece is completely unique. That’s the best part of this class: there’s no “right” way to create your coastal scene. You get to make it YOUR ocean. 💙

I absolutely love seeing everyone’s ideas come together, and this group knocked it out of the park!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and spent some creative time at Artsy Octopus. We hope every time you look at your finished piece, it brings a little bit of the Outer Banks home with you. 🐚🌊

Art creates happiness! 💙🐙

09/15/2026

🎉🐙 WE DID IT — 1,800 FOLLOWERS! 🐙🎉

We are so excited to officially welcome our 1,800th follower, Margaret Britten 💜 Thank you for helping us reach this fun milestone!

And a HUGE thank you to all 1,800 of you who follow Artsy Octopus OBX, like and share our posts, cheer on our amazing local artists, sign up for our classes, stop by the shop, and continue to support our small business!

Every follow, comment, share, visit and kind word helps our small business grow — and we truly appreciate every single one of you.

From all of us at Artsy Octopus OBX — THANK YOU for helping us reach 1,800! 🎨🐙💜

Now… onward to 2,000! 😉🎉