CREATIVITY + INNOVATION Page 27 of 38

Turning challenges into opportunities: Arina Isaacson and Kimberly Riggins share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-26 at 8:00 am.

Today’s fascinating shared stories come from former clown and master storyteller Arina Isaacson and body image expert Kimberly Riggins.

Arina Isaacson

I am 10 years old. I am sitting in the beautiful old opera house in the classic western mountain mining town of Central City Colorado watching my, first ever, live theatre production. The Miracle Worker with Patty Duke and Ann Bancroft is the inspiring story of Helen Keller, born deaf and blind and how she first learned to express herself through non-verbal communication. My child heart is beating wildly and the hairs on my arm are standing in thunderous applause. Little did I know that the magic of this moment would define my life’s work, insisting that I follow my heart and do what I love.

Mimi-the-Clown

ACT I

In 1970 I received my Master’s degree in Communication and became a teacher of deaf children. At this time my best friend suggested that I take a mime class to enhance my teaching and my love of gestural language. I called my mother and I said, “Guess what? I’m going to become a clown.” There was dead silence on the other end of the phone. “You’re going to become a what? A clown? You just got a Master’s degree –Wherever did you get that idea?”

All I can tell you is that something very strong grabbed hold of my heart when I started doing mime, clown and improvisation work. I came alive and had to follow this tug wherever it was going to take me.

Buba-the-Magician

ACT II

I quit my job, sold all my belongings, packed my Chevy and moved to San Francisco to follow my heart’s calling and pursue creativity. For the next 20 years I immersed myself in theatrical clown work, sacred puppetry and visual art. I found ways to combine my creative work with my love of teaching and began to experience the power of visualizing my dreams and healing my deepest wounds. The sacred art pieces that I created held the energy of my dreams. My inner landscape helped form sacred artifacts—mythic performing dolls; fetishes, charms, amulets, and shadow boxes. Each piece represented a different intention or prayer.

The Devouring Tree Mother

You see, by the time I turned 35 years old, I had lost my parents and grandparents to cancer; endured a hysterectomy, dashing my hopes of ever becoming pregnant and, survived a brutal rape by a stranger breaking into my home. Early on, I realized that I could view these challenging moments as opportunities to become empowered rather than victimized. And so, adversity has been one of my greatest teachers. It has provided me with the chance to get to know myself. The constant theme in my life has been the path of the artist. By consciously experiencing, working with, and expressing my inner and outer obstacles, I have been able to find my authentic voice, to unleash my passion and use it to cultivate wholeness and creativity. Adversity has been my inspiration for following my heart and doing what I most love to do. My commitment to pursue the creative path guided me toward building confidence and authenticity.

I used my own suffering to heal and make other people laugh at the same time. This unique approach to creating personal clown characters enabled me to explore the place of vulnerability where the funniest and most touching clown persona reside. I developed a process of creating clown characters based on externalizing my inner world. Clowning gave me ways to express hopes, fears, heal my grief and hidden craziness by forming a clown character.

I created five characters over a period of 20 years, based on my natural inclinations of movement, voice, gestured habits, inner feelings, and stories. Each season of my life, a new character would emerge.

Baby Fatty

Boo-lu was my first character. She was a feisty single mother who traveled with five white baby dolls with red noses, all named Baby Kaka. Each vignette told a story about the love/hate relationship between the mother and her babies. Then came Mimi the Clown. Me! Me! She was based on my tendency to be a narcissist. Mimi made a lot of mistakes as a way to deal with my perfectionism. She would say, “Oh, you’re right, you’re right,” you’re right”, you’re right!” “How do you know? How do you know” How do you know?” Baby Fatty helped me come to terms with my body image and food issues.

In my early 50’s, Ms. Lotta Bucks appeared to help me face my fears of growing older. She was an expert in cultivating “inner beauty” and counseled women about retirement. She taught them how to invest their “socks in the sock market and wash them grow!” And, finally, out popped Mrs. Milton, whose favorite advice is, “Just remember, dearie, it only matters what other people think!”

The treasured Clown School of San Francisco, which I founded, became home to people from all walks of life who wanted to explore and tell their unique life stories by creating personal clown characters. Computer programmers from Silicon Valley, priests and nuns from the theological seminaries, CEOs, business professionals, emergency room doctors, and criminal lawyers all converged at the Clown School to tell their stories, find their voice and experience their joie de vivre.

Moona-the-Wise-Owl-Woman

ACT III

Next, I came to understand that self-awareness and telling one’s compelling life stories, are the key to becoming an authentic and powerful person. I wanted to take the essence of the clown – the aliveness, the vitality of that unique voice further out into the marketplace. Joining with colleagues, in a theater-based communication training called ‘Active Communicating’ (www.corporatescenes.com) we focused on finding and expressing one’s authentic presence, voice and compelling leadership journey stories. For the past 20 years I have been traveling the world helping leaders learn the skill set to inspire, motivate, influence and connect with any audience.

The River of life

ACT IV

Over time I came to painting, spirit journals, and vision storyboards. The River of Life has become a central exercise in my story-telling curriculum. By creating a River of Life, one is able to clearly track the richness of his/her life experience and draw from those experiences to tell stories of courage, triumph, risk, struggle, values, adventure, mistakes made and lessons learned. My life stories provide the context for my experiences and through them, I am able to find the inspiration to make an impact on the world.

The ability to create and tell certain kinds of stories is not only a useful tool, but an essential prerequisite to finding my original voice. These stories have provided visual maps and images for conveying who I am, the authentic moments of where I came from and who has mentored and inspired me along the way.

My 40-year creative journey has been about the healing aspects of art, ritual and theater. The thread that has traveled through each act is creativity and communication. It is and has been my greatest joy to first find my authentic voice and then to inspire others to open to their full self expression. This process has helped wake me up to life! My art work is the deepest manifestation of my gratitude for the gift of living a meaningful life and doing what I love every step of the way. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you.

The Beloved

To find out more about Arina visit her website or her art site.

Kimberly Riggins

I truly believe we all have a choice how we show up in the world. How we wake up in the morning, how we go about our day, who we interact with, how we handle our emotions and where we put our energy. Regardless of our circumstances, we all have the ability to choose.

Doing what you love is also a choice. A conscious choice to do something that brings you joy, inspiration and fulfilment, regardless of what other people may think.

I most certainly do what I love.

But it wasn’t always that way. I used to think I needed to conform to societal standards of what is proper, how to speak, how to look, what to do with my life.

Standing at a crossroads in my own life, staring down the path of least resistance or the path of an unknown adventure, I chose the latter.

I must say, choosing adventure which includes being authentically myself has been the best decision I have ever made.

Today, I get to empower and inspire other women to stop conforming. To stand up for themselves. To live an authentic, beautiful, passionate life. I show them how they can fall head over heels in love with their own bodies, regardless of its shape or size. I teach them how to wrangle their negative thoughts that are just keeping them stuck and most importantly, I unveil a world that includes pleasure and lots of it!

I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my time.

Believe me, my journey to get to this place was a bumpy one. I had to endure a lot of pain to get myself to this place. A rape, an eating disorder, depression, a crumbling relationship and a financial failure… all situations and circumstances that have the potential to break a person.

Rather than play the victim and let these issues consume me, I tried to find the lesson I was supposed to learn with each event. It wasn’t easy. There were a number of times I wanted to throw in the towel. Just give up!

But something deep inside me kept me going. It took years for me to realize that it was my innate strength that kept me afloat. That strength lives in all of us. Sometimes, it helps to have someone else help us pull it out.

Moving forward, my life is full of exciting things. My first book, “Love Your Naked Ass” will soon be published, I have an amazing new program coming out, I am rebuilding my relationship, and I am creating a new financial plan.

Looking back, if I had to do everything all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because I love who I am today and without those life experiences, I wouldn’t be me!

[Images courtesy of Kimberly Riggins.]

Kimberly is Founder and Creator of The Art of Eating Chocolate Naked is a Body Image Expert, Self-Talk Warrior and Transformational Catalyst who inspires and empowers women to love and accept themselves just as they are. Find out more about her on her website.

Weekend book club: Japanese style

Posted on 2011-12-17 at 8:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

As a complete book addict and hoarder, I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourites with you! In each ‘Weekend Book Club’ I post about a set of lovely books, with a different theme each week. This week’s theme is JAPANESE STYLE, in celebration of having just booked my flight to Japan for March next year. Japan offers a whole world of inspiration and I find Japanese people have such an incredible sense of beauty, reflected in the style of their homes, shops and traditional clothing.

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In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki

The ultimate explanation of the essence of Japanese style.

Japan Style by Phaidon Publishing

The definitive guide to Japanese style through the ages covering everything from fashion to furniture.

My Made by Bunka Shuppankyoku Publishing

Gorgeous handcrafted interior decoration.

Japan Design to the new generation

Showcasing the best of moden Japanese design

Japanese Chic

Filled with beautiful images of simple but chic home furnishing and decoration ideas.

Elements of Japanese Design by John Dower

A directory of motifs most frequently used in Japanese design.

Basic Life 2 by Watashi no Heya

Lovely book showcasing cosy furnishings and items for the home from popular store Watashi no Heya (which translates as ‘my room’)

Do you have any recommendations?

Running businesses inspired by nurture and nature: Lisa Grace Byrne and Marie Pickering share their stories

Posted on 2011-12-12 at 9:24 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Marie Pickering and Lisa Grace Byrne.

Lisa Grace Byrne

The story of the birth of my business is really the story of when “That Which You Must Do” became radically clear and in focus. It also happened to coincide with my own birthing as a mother. It’s a fascinating phenomenon that many women share upon becoming a mother. Whether it happens early on after the birth of your first child or in a later season of your life… for some of us, motherhood is the crucible that refines a powerful urge to contribute in a specific way. It is as if your experience in mothering your actual child brings up your maternal nature toward yourself, toward others and toward the world. But first it isn’t always pretty.

I have three young children, all close in age from five years old to almost two years old. I can remember when my second child was born, my oldest just a young toddler. I was so unprepared for the physical, emotional and mental intensity of motherhood, that I had literally run myself ragged. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly, out of check stress, post partum depression. And then a cold hit that knocked me out cold. Double ear infections in each ear and deep infection in my lungs, I literally couldn’t move an inch without triggering vertigo and intense vomiting. It was a pretty bleak place. I was encouraged by many people to go and see a therapist (which would have been a very good and wonderful thing to do – I’m not against therapy!), but that is when a small flicker of who I was caught my inner eye and I knew. I knew how I was to reconnect to myself again and what I needed. At that point, WellGrounded Life began.

Something within whispered that in order for my mind and body to heal, I needed to give it the raw materials – the literal nutrition it needed in order to become whole and healthy. Some inner voice gently asked me to extend loving kindness toward myself and consider walking the path of whole nourishment, paying attention to a soul’s need for beauty, silence, friendship, meaningful work, laughter, fresh air, movement, joy, ambition.

Part of my meaningful work was to lift others up as I cared and tended to my own health. It was a way to self-care without wallowing. To firmly offer my gifts to the world without succumbing to self neglect (which happens all too often when our lives become others-focused and outward-looking- very easy for a mother to fall into).

WellGrounded Life just grew and grew out of my heart’s own journey of healing and stepping into a vibrant life as a woman and mother in the world. What started as a blog and private coaching grew into speaking and live workshops and grew still into online multimedia courses, an international community within my membership site and a forthcoming book. It has been a way for me to knit together an integrated and congruent life from what once felt deeply fractured and scattered.

One of the gifts of doing what you love in the world is that it can grow with you, you can keep moving your great work along your own growth edge. For me that is exploring how we as modern women of this generation are navigating the path of motherhood while honouring our ambitions, passions and great purpose.

I believe that in order to be a happy and energized mother you must begin by being a healthy and self-connected woman. My work offers tools to moms who are feeling scattered and depleted… and in turn it keeps me on my path of self-kindness, restoration and growth.

[All images courtesy of Lisa Grace Byrne.]

Lisa is author of forthcoming book ‘Healthy Woman, Vibrant Mom: 7 habits that will make you a calm, energized and healthy mother’. To find out more about Lisa visit her website.

Marie Pickering

The Enchanted World of Needle Felting is full of Rainbow dyed soft New Zealand Wool Its warmth and light speaks to me, I feel it breathe in my hands and fingers. I want to warm peoples hearts and ignite in them a stirring of their spirit. Magical creatures, fantasy figures, Waldorf Inspired, Gnomes, Fairies. Living out in the rural countryside. I am inspired by Mother Nature. Here all is calm and peaceful.

Children especially find my art appealing as it appeals to their wonderful imaginations. My small homestead and garden is organic and was built 25 years ago. I work on the kitchen table, and the sun’s light bounces off the wooden walls, to create a heart-warming glow.

I started making a few small wool dolls, and took them to markets and fairs to sell. They were well received. I friend suggested that I start a blog, and I have been astounded at the interest and following. I joined Etsy and the New Zealand on-line shop Felt. I wanted to share my art with others globally, to let them have in their homes a little piece of me. To this end my art is affordable to all.

By going global this has extended my view of the world. New Zealand is a fairly small Island nation, but now I consider the seasons happening in the world and create items for others’ Seasonal Nature Tables. I love what I do and have written a lot of short poems that go alongside my original 3D needle felt art. My hope is to publish these in a book.

Soft light falls

The pale yellow sun’s light

shines down on to the little child

Her pale pink dress glows softly in the pale sunlight

Flowers abound in her long golden hair

Soft light falls

May the sun’s soft light shine on you

My original designs come easily to me. I feel I have a spiritual connection to each piece and that the receiver is imbued with my light. This I feel is what I am meant to be doing in the world.

[Images courtesy of Marie Pickering.]

Find out more about Marie on her blog.

Doing what you love is an extension of being the person you love to be: shared stories by Kat Fulton & Tracy Verdugo

Posted on 2011-12-05 at 10:31 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from Kat Fulton and Tracy Verdugo.

Kat Fulton

Doing what you love is an extension of being the person you love to be. I think you first must be who you love to be before you even know what inspired actions to take. Once you live out who you want to be, then doing what you love comes naturally.

(Image via katfulton.com)

I went to grad school for music therapy on a whim. I had never heard of it. I thought my parents would disapprove, so I went for it. I always follow my gut, and my gut was telling me “Yes yes yes.” At the time, I was coming out of intensive studies, practicing piano hours and hours per day. I felt a bit burned out. I was ready for a drastic change, and I was ready for more human contact. 10 hours per day of me and a piano was fine for a few months, but I could never imagine a life-long love affair with the piano. As a music therapist, I’m having a life-long love affair with life on earth. I feel so blessed to have found this career.

When I moved to California as a music therapist, I was deeply moved by the rhythm-based wellness practiced by so many. I was sold. Doesn’t it just make sense that if you were born with a heartbeat, then you were born with rhythm? It’s common sense. It blows me away that so many people have turned common sense off, and listened to the false belief of “Oh no no no, I don’t have rhythm. I can’t make music.” I love defeating that belief with pure logic. We make music every day! Footsteps, breathing, heart-pounding, cycles of nature, etc… There’s no escaping the rhythm of life. Realize it, live it, love it, and take joy in the rhythm.

When pure logic kicked in to defeat false beliefs held by so many, I realized that this career was my calling.

I started developing marketing materials. I connected the research with the practical application. I delivered the message in as many places as I could. All these actions were 100% inspired. Now I have a booming business working with Alzheimers patients, older adults, children affected by cancer, support groups, corporate team builders, and more. On the side, I have created a site to connect with other music therapists and drum circle facilitators.

I’ve had to move far away from my family because my practice fits better into the culture here in San Diego. I’ve had to turn down social events in order to meet deadlines. I’ve had to live frugally in order to make ends meet at times. But I sincerely believe that any sacrifice is worth opening the space to just be yourself. I’m so fortunate to have found a gainful career where I can just be myself. If you must make sacrifices in order to be yourself, do it!

With hindsight, I wish I hadn’t been so stressed about getting work when I started. I wish I had realized at the time that when you are living the life of someone you love, all the chips fall perfectly into place. Everything always works out. Bills get paid, mouths get fed, and lives get lived. Taking inspired action is the way to go.

My big dream now is to expand my online reach. I realize that my body won’t always be able to lug around drums from place to place, but reaching people online is so convenient and fun. That’s the next big thing for me: being open to more web-based exchange.

[First image courtesy of Karen Christensen of The Legacy Boutique. Other images courtesy of Kat Fulton. ]

Kat is a speaker, coach, and creative visionary. She believes that by making music, YOU can be the catalyst for change. Find out more about Kat at her website or connect on Twitter.

Tracy Verdugo

What does it mean to do what I love? I feel truly blessed to be at a point in my life where I am on the cusp of living the life of my BIGGEST dreams……painting, inspiring, teaching, learning, exploring, creating, spreading love, cultivating peace, appreciating beauty.

2012 will see me teaching my wholehearted, exploration-encouraging creative workshops in Australia, the U.S, Mexico and Thailand and in less than two months I will be holding my first International exhibition on the beautiful island of Koh Samui. I am also honoured to be joining an amazing team of artists teaching in the beautiful Tamara Laportes Life Book e course which will run throughout the whole year. It has been 18 years since I first picked up a paintbrush~a journey of self discovery, of moving through pain and joy, letting go of fear and embracing love and having the courage to name my greatest desires and give myself permission to feel worthy of receiving those gifts…

and then…. to help others to do the same. What do I love?

Having the courage and commitment to spend 27 years “growing up’ and “becoming” with this amazing man.

Designing a life of adventure with our family and teaching our girls by example that our dreams can become our reality.

Seeing LOVE and BEAUTY in all places,

and spreading happiness and inspiration through my art.

Gently guiding others……

to find their own unique creative spirit.

Creating a home which nurtures our souls

And our senses….

Looking at the world around me through compassionate eyes…

And standing up for the rights of those whose voices have been silenced.

Having the freedom to record our music in our own studio in my dressing gown if I want to!

And being brave enough to expose my soul in performance

Travelling far and wide,

Exploring and learning from other cultures…and making friends along the way.

(Photo by Sienna Verdugo)

Learning to give AND to receive with grace…

Daring to dream my biggest dream,

And taking the action needed

To bring it to reality…..

Through my art I seek to discover new worlds…

Explore the microcosm and the macrocosm

And tell the story of beautiful moments embraced and appreciated.

[All images courtesy of Tracy Verdugo unless otherwise indicated.]

To find out more about Tracy’s art and her upcoming workshops visit her website here or connect with her on Facebook.

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Have you heard about my collaboration with surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor?

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is open for registration now! Find out more here

Weekend book club: Textiles

Posted on 2011-11-26 at 1:36 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

As a complete book addict and hoarder, I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourites with you! In each ‘Weekend Book Club’ I post about a set of lovely books, with a different theme each week. This week’s theme is TEXTILES. These are the kind of books that make your mouth water, with photos so beautiful you can almost feel the textures…

Living with Textiles by Elaine Louie

This book features my dream lounge (second image below) and explores how textiles can change the character and feeling of spaces in the home.

Fabric by Suzanne Trocme

I have to admit I bought this after falling in love with the cover. The image below doesn’t do it justice – it is a dreamy shade of green, almost metallic. Inside there are more examples of beautiful fabrics.

Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge by Bradley Quinn

This gorgeous book features interviews with emerging designers and showcases textile designs from all over the world – so inspiring!

Textiles and Fashion by Jenny Udale

A brilliant introduction to the importance of textiles in fashion, and how each influences the other.

Rinen to kurasu (Living with linen) by Kunie Dayasue

Elegant book showcasing various uses of linen in the Japanese home – the beautiful neutral palette makes you really notice the fabric textures and quality

Transparency in Textiles by Dawn Thorne

This lovely book is filled with techniques for manipulating textiles to get a variety of beautiful transparent effects

Experimental Textiles by Kim Thittichai

Stunning examples of the art you can create when you experiment bravely with textiles.

Do you have any recommendations?

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Inspired? See other Weekend Book Club posts here (on paper, pattern and sketching & illustration)

I am an artist… shared story by Soraya Nulliah

Posted on 2011-11-21 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s *shared story* comes from artist Soriah Nulliah.

I am an artist. From before I was even born…this is what I am. It’s what makes my heart sing… it’s what fuels and sustains me. However…I didn’t always know this or believe this.

I was born into a family and culture that was extremely oppressive, abusive and stifling; there was no room to breathe and grow. Girls were only meant to get married, be obedient and produce (male) children. That’s it! I was not allowed to have my own dreams or ambitions or creative expressions. For me…following my heart and doing what I love has really been the long road of individuation, empowerment and building my self esteem. I used to paint, draw, write poetry and journal when I was a teen but I was ridiculed and belittled so I kept it hidden. I put all of my dreams away in a box and locked it shut. I lost the key.

As I entered my 20s, I was fractured and very broken…dealing with the deep scars of my childhood experiences and wandering about the world as a lost soul. I entered a long period of soul searching. I left home and managed to educate myself. I travelled and lived in an ashram for about 6 months. I read voraciously, visited museums and art galleries but I was very very lost and living a life that was devoid of heart and meaning. Externally I had everything but, paradoxically, I had nothing.

The turning point in my life was when I turned 30 and went on a 4 month pilgrimage to India. It changed the course of my life. I am of Indian descent but had never visited the land of my ancestors before. It was this journey that led me to the very heart of my SELF and to my art. In the claiming of my whole self, I realized I simply had to create, write and paint; it simply wasn’t an option any more. I found the key to my locked box of dreams; that key was my true SELF!

When I came back from that trip I took classes on painting, drawing and photography. I started putting paint to paper and pouring out my heart onto large canvases. I spent all of my money on fat jars of paint, books and classes. Most of those early paintings were truly horrible…but I was happy for the very first time in my life. My heart was singing and I was learning and growing.

I think the biggest sacrifices I have had to make in the pursuit of my art has been after the birth of my daughter Tara. On one hand I absolutely adore being a mother and raising my little girl, but on the other I absolutely have to paint. So it’s a balancing act of sleep deprivation, guilt, passion, love, time management and creativity – a balance I am still struggling to find! I have an amazingly supportive husband so that helps tremendously.

Motherhood completely changed me and ignited all of my maternal instincts with wanting to be there completely for my daughter. And just to complicate things, motherhood also fired up my creative juices and I had all of these paintings and stories inside of me just aching to be told.

Doing what I love doesn’t mean that I don’t suffer disappointments, frustrations and setbacks. What it does mean is that when I do experience these, my heart and passion allows me to sustain the commitment to my art.

What do I wish I had known back then? Hmmm…everything and nothing! Every single joy, heartache, pain, success and failure has led me right to this moment here; it’s all part of my personal journey. In many respects I have had an extremely difficult and painful life yet I firmly believe that those very same experiences have allowed me to be the person/mother/artist that I am today. I can be a great mother to my child because I never had that for myself. I can tell these stories of brokenness and wholeness because I have been on that very journey. Doing what I love continues to be humbling, healing, invigorating and exciting.

[Images courtesy of Soraya Nulliah.]

Soraya Nulliah is a wife, mother, friend, artist, creative soul, seeker, budding photographer. Find out more about Soraya on her blog or connect on Facebook and Twitter.

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Have you heard about my collaboration with surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor?

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design is open for registration now! Find out more here

On the right path: Jozica Rade and Christy Nimeh share their stories

Posted on 2011-11-14 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today’s shared stories come from art therapist Jozica Rade in Slovenia and artist Christy Nimeh in the US.

Jozica Rade

For me, ‘doing what you love’ means expressing yourself the best way you can – freely, and with an open heart… It means going with the flow, forgetting about time, hungry stomachs, or even about where you are. You just do it, without really knowing why (and from where this need comes). And guess what? You don’t really worry about the answers. Doing what you love is enough.

That’s how I feel when working with clients attending my art therapy or phototherapy sessions. I forget about myself and my needs, and I feel like I’m in a trance whenever I’m with them. They are my teachers, my inspiration, my way of learning about Life. I’m very thankful for them, for their open hearts and shared sad stories. It is not easy to tell your deepest thoughts to a stranger. I’m really thankful for their trust.

My journey to here is a long story, but there were moments in my life when I just knew I was on the right path. 17 years ago, miles and miles away from my home (in the US), I heard about art therapy for the first time. At that very first moment I knew that it was something I would like to do for life! But the circumstances at that time didn’t allow me to get into it then, and in fact ten years had to go by to make it happen – to begin my journey to become art therapist.

Studying a post-graduate program of art therapy was not easy. Not only because of all the books and texts and workshops, but rather because of the work we’ve had to do on ourselves. Lots of self-analyzing, observing our inner Selves, exploring our limits, revealing and working on our weaknesses… Sometimes it’s not easy to face all the little pieces of our-Selves, is it?

And just when I thought I was ready and happy to swim with the art therapy flow, another powerful idea hit me and I have gone through another wave of “I-know-what-I-(would)-love-to-do”! This time it is phototherapy. At one of the workshops I discovered this therapy technique and fell in love at once! How did I not know about it? A whole new world has opened to me and this river of energy pushed me in a new direction, learning all about this new therapeutic field. So I ended up choosing phototherapy for my final dissertation and research, and I even found mentors from abroad to help me out. Nothing can stop me now! I can’t even stop myself from thinking, breathing and ‘swimming’ in the river of art and phototherapy!!

Sometimes I’m sorry that I didn’t start studying art therapy in the US seventeen years ago. Maybe I didn’t try hard enough to make my dream come true – I would love to have started this journey sooner. But… who knows? Maybe I was not ready, maybe I didn’t understand the purpose of that mission, maybe I didn’t understand people the way I do now?? I believe everything happens for a reason, at the right time and in the right place. That’s why I believe that my journey is the best journey for me. I go with the flow…

The only thing that makes me sad is that I can’t work as art therapist full time. Social support and understanding of this field are lacking here in Slovenia. The projects I have proposed to the government – projects working with vulnerable people like victims of crime, women in shelters and people on very low incomes – have all been turned down. Every project needs funds, but social ones rely on the good people who are willing to help and support them. The current model of the social field doesn’t generate its own money, so it is always struggling, always begging… That’s what makes me sad as I know quite a few people who would give their hearts to make a change and help all the people in need.

That’s why I have a dream (no, I won’t give up!). I have a dream of a beautiful place, a special place for those people who need our help. A place where they are able to get themselves back on their feet again with the help of art therapy, phototherapy or other therapies. And angels in the shape of good people will support our projects and our mission. They will trust us and believe in us. I dream… I know I dream big, but you know, I can wait another seventeen years to make it happen. It’s not ‘long’ for me if I know I’d be blessed to help a person or two or three…

I’m following my calling, I’m on a journey… I hope your journey is as special, inspiring, fulfilling and yours as it is mine. Enjoy the ride and… do what you love!

[Images courtesy of Jozica Rade.]

Find out more about Jozica on her website ‘Creatissimo Lab’ here.

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Christy Nimeh

I have always thought of myself as a sort of “secret artist.” One who only dares to show others the very best that I have to offer. I have been creating in one form or another since I was a little girl. Painting was always my passion, but with no formal training or an art degree, I didn’t think of myself as a ‘real artist’. Over the years I painted less and less because the fear of rejection grew bigger and bigger. I found myself completely shutting down. Still needing to be creative, but fully aware of that ‘secret artist’ that wouldn’t go away, I dove into other avenues such as interior design, jewelry making, styling, extravagant parties, and a little gardening. Not to mention raising a family. While learning a lot during this time, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so empty and unfulfilled creatively. I remember saying to my husband that I felt like I was clawing the walls down inch by inch in search for something bigger… my true voice.

Fast forward to about two years ago, I had an explosive breakthrough. My husband was ill and needed to have heart valve replacement surgery. The thought and fear of the unknown lit a fire inside of me that I thought was long gone! Thinking about my two children, (one of them having autism), and the future, led me to face many fears and the ever present ‘secret artist’ head on. On a whim, I enrolled in Kelly Rae Roberts’ ‘Flying Lessons’ e-course. Let me just say it changed my life. I remember shedding a lot of tears during that time, but it was in the peeling back of all those layers that I realized that it’s the process, not the destination that matters. That was a big concept change for me – the first of many changes that I have made on the road to Doing What I Love.

Now I make time for myself and my art. I am more open to anything and everything that the universe is telling me. This next lesson is a work in progress, but I am learning that it’s OK if the laundry and cleaning isn’t done from time to time, and that it doesn’t make me a bad mom or wife. I have also learned that I am forever learning, and it’s OK to not have all the answers. Mistakes will be made, but I now view them as a learning tool and a necessary part of my success. Since I believe in the journey, unfolding as it’s supposed to, I wouldn’t change anything, except maybe for listening to my amazing Grandma Eileen and my dear friend Leslie. Both encouraged me all along to never stop painting and they believed in me as an artist.

Now I listen to my dreams and give them the honor and power they deserve. While I have many dreams and goals swirling around in my head, I have currently set my sights on opening up an art store that specializes in the most current products.

[All images courtesy of Christy Nimeh.]

Find out more about Christy here.

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The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor starts TODAY!

If you sign up now you can still squeeze in! Don’t miss out, register here

Featured in Somerset Life!

Posted on 2011-11-09 at 9:30 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Image via Gypsy Girls’ Guide)

Earlier this year I said that one of my goals was to get featured in one of Stampington‘s beautiful magazines, and now that has happened twice in two months – first with new title Mingle and now with the ever gorgeous Somerset Life – thank you world (and Christen Olivarez)!

(Image via Gypsy Girls’ Guide)

It is such a privilege to be featured in this fab article by photographer Alessandra Cave, mentioned as one of her global tribe of wandering contributors to her lovely blog Gypsy Girls’ Guide. It is such a fascinating eclectic group of women and I have to pinch myself that my name is there among them. You can see more about the article on Gypsy Girls’ Guide here.

Thank you Stampington! Thank you Alessandra!

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Countdown to the start of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor… only five days to go! If you haven’t yet signed up you can still register here!

Finishing touches

Posted on 2011-11-07 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Rachael Taylor preparing an audio message for class

Working with the very lovely and talented Rachael Taylor on the planning, design and development of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design has been such a fantastic experience. I have learned so much from Rachael, and had such fun along the way. I have loved diving into all the delicious exercises, and cannot wait to share some of my designs here with you over the coming weeks.

(Image courtesy of Rachael Taylor)

I have also loved helping to wrap gifts for our participants around the globe (who each get sent a surprise set of postcards designed by Rachael and exclusive to the ecourse, sent in the mail!)

As we are now just a week away from the start of Module 1 ‘Designing Your Way’, we are both really excited about the opportunities it is going to open up for budding surface pattern designers all over the world. We have been staggered with the response to the course, with pattern lovers signed up from 20 different countries on 5 continents! We cannot wait to see how everyone’s different backgrounds and cultures are going to influence their pattern design.

As we put the finishing touches on the classroom, which Rachael has designed from scratch with so much love and attention, we cannot wait for class to begin!

There is still time to sign up if you are quick – find out more and register here.

Weekend Book Club: Pattern

Posted on 2011-11-06 at 4:09 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Last week I launched the Weekend Book Club with the theme ‘Paper’. This week I am going to share some more of my bookshelves with the theme ‘PATTERN’ – which is very timely with the start of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design a week tomorrow! In preparing for the class with Rachael Taylor I have immersed myself in the wonderful world of pattern, and here are some of my favourite discoveries…

(PS With ‘Weekend Book Club’ I intend to share a different theme each weekend and archive them on the sparkly new Weekend Book Club page here.)

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Pattern by Orla Kiely

A wonderful peek into the career and thoughts of pattern design guru
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Print & Pattern by Bowie Style

A compendium of contemporary pattern designs from the world’s leading designers (NB: The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design features an exclusive interview with the author of this book)