i had to share this {sigh}... i know, right?

completely and utterly amazing

this is the movement. of moms showing up... of loving and living fiercely. as caretakers. as leaders. as dreamers and visionaries. for the good our own lives. and for the lives of our children.

we. are. changing. the. world.

creative compass :: following your compass, even when it leads you away

by jamie ridler

Since the very beginnings of this beautiful, wish-full space, I have been sharing my take on the creative journey, writing about ways that creativity can connect you to your inner compass and guide you along the way. I will always treasure this time and the opportunity to be a part of such a magical community. But today I find I must follow my own compass, and my journey, for now, takes me away from The Wish Studio.

It’s been such a blessing for me to see the work I do as a creative self-development coach grow and expand over the past couple of years. If you hang out with me at Jamie Ridler Studios, you’ll know what I mean. There’s a lot going on! I’ve launched a new website, a podcast, events, products and classes, all in support of creative living. I'm coaching awesome women to embrace and express their authentic, creative selves fully, joyfully and passionately. And there’s so much more to come!

One of the great challenges in stepping deeply and wholeheartedly into your path is that sometimes, a lot of times, you have to say no. Sometimes you’re saying no to the things that you don’t want to be a part of, things that don't reflect who you want to be and what you want to do in the world. That takes its own kind of courage.

And sometimes, you are saying no to delicious things, things that you wish would fit on your plate. If you’re like me, you know this pain. You want it all! You don’t want to miss out on a single thing - especially sparkling, magical, wonderful things! So you overfill your plate and end up exhausted, stuffed, stressed and uncomfortable and after all that you still didn't get a chance to taste even half of what you signed up for because you were over-extended, over-scheduled and over-ambitious! It’s horrible!

So when do you say no? How do you make peace with not having it all?

I turn to love. I want to be loving with myself and with each and every precious delight that’s on my plate. I want to be loving with the people I connect with and the moment I am in by being fully and deeply present and offering up my very best self. I want to step into the love of the Universe by trusting, with all my heart, that when I am ready, something new and magnificent will fill my plate or something familiar and well-loved will return.

So it is with great love for Mindy, the Wish Studio, each of the sparkling contributors and every gorgeous reader, that I say, “au revoir,” knowing in my heart that along the way we will meet again and again, with joy, with creativity and in deep friendship. Here are some places you can find me:

Website: http://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/starshyne
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamieridlerstudios
Podcast: http://www.creativelivingwithjamie.ca/

Come by and see me anytime.

With love,

Jamie

wish*full virtual art retreat {spring 2010}

what kind of creative adventure could you go on where you had absolutely no travel expenses to pay, no accommodations to book, and you didn’t have to pack your bags and leave your family behind?

where could you go and gather with kindred spirits from near and far, nurture and play with you inner muse, learn from and be inspired by talented artists, and get messy with paint, words, glue, photos, ideas and dreams… all in your pajamas with your favorite mug in hand?

wish*full virtual art retreat
spring 2010
april 30th to may 2nd

you are invited to join us for a one of a kind, special online event; 3 days of art, creativity, and connecting with like minded souls, right from the comfort of your own home! for an entire weekend you will be immersed in creative exploration through an exciting variety of engaging workshops brought to you by 14 amazing artists and teachers...

mindy tsonas, madelyn mulvaney, susannah conway, hope wallace,

lisa field elliot, christine mason miller, stacy de la rosa, penelope dullighan,

lisa occopinti, leah piken kolidas, christine castro, jennifer lee,

kimberly wilson, & pam garrison

your wish*full virtual art retreat weekend will include:

* a well balanced schedule of 7, two hour, online creative workshops

* a wish*full retreat tool kit and goodie bag full of great tips and treats to help you plan a fun and successful weekend

* special access to the brand new (coming this april!) wishstudio website featuring: two virtual art studios, the inspiration lounge brimming with creative resources, and even a virtual café where you can mix, mingle and connect with other participants

* an exclusive invitation to be featured as a selling artist in our wish*full artisan trunk show, which will be hosted that weekend in the wishstudio and open to the public

* a special wish*full discount to shop online at art supplies wholesale for your workshop supply needs

wish*full schedule preview:

~ friday april, 30, 2010 ~

1pm ~ retreat welcome, mix & mingle,
last minute prep time
2pm to 4pm ~ workshop 1
4pm to 6pm ~ dinner break
6pm to 8pm ~ workshop 2

~ saturday, may 1 ~

9am to 11 am ~ workshop 3
11am to 12pm ~ lunch break
12pm to 2 pm ~ workshop 4
2pm to 3pm ~ sun salutations and afternoon tea
3pm to 5pm ~ workshop 5
6pm ~ wish*full artisan trunk show opens in the wishstudio

~ sunday, may 2 ~

10am to 12pm ~ workshop 6
12pm to 1pm ~ lunch break
1pm to 3pm ~ workshop 7
3pm to 4pm ~ wrap up and goodbyes!

create your own perfect retreat experience…

first…choose the module that speaks to you! workshops for the retreat will be available in two different modules, each with its own unique mix of 7 creative classes. if they all sound amazing to you and you can’t decide, buy both modules (all 14 workshops) for one fantastically inspiring price!

second…choose a real-time retreat experience or enjoy the workshops at your own pace. this will be a really unique and exciting global gathering of creative souls! so wherever you are, burning your midnight oil or watching the sun rise, we will all be creating together and you can be a part of this amazing event!

each workshop module will be presented in it’s own virtual studio and in real-time (eastern standard time) over the course of the retreat weekend. classes will be taught through an engaging mix of photographs, video, writing, and will be very hands on. all of our workshop teachers will be online during their scheduled class time, and will be cheering you on as well as there to answer any comments and questions.

workshops will remain online for the entire month and our teachers will be checking in regularly… so if you want to work through the classes at your own pace, or you have a schedule conflict and have to miss a class, or you live in a different time zone don’t worry, you still have the opportunity to fully participate and get the most out of your wish*full workshops! take a peek at our FAQ page to answer more of your questions.

finally…choose a payment option. take advantage of early registration and you will have the option to pay for your retreat in 2 easy installments. pay the initial deposit, then your balance will be due by march 31, 2010. early registration, and the two payment option, will only be available until February 15, 2010… so don’t miss out! after that you can register in-full, until the end of march. all registration payments can be made using the paypal button on our sidebar.

wish*full retreat packages:

the wish*full virtual art retreat weekend
your choice of one retreat module
~ includes 7 online workshops ~
tool kit and goody bag, virtual retreat website access & trunk show invitation
$295

the wish*full virtual art retreat extravaganza
retreat module (your choice), plus the additional 2nd module
~ includes all 14 online workshops ~
tool kit and goody bag, virtual retreat website access & trunk show invitation
$395

once you register, your registration packet will be sent to you where you will choose your module(s) and get all the info on participating in the artisan trunk show!

see you at the retreat!

musepreneur :: what's cooking in 2010?

by jennifer lee

In a previous Musepreneur post, we explored what it’s like to be a creative woman trying to balance a plethora of passions. I was in awe of how this concept really struck a chord with many of you wishstudio readers. Isn’t it nice to know we’re not alone in our multitude of creative impulses?

Like a lot of us, a client of mine was juggling several passions, interests, and responsibilities while also struggling to find a way to make it all fit and not lose herself in the process. One of her favorite pastimes was cooking, so naturally we whipped up a metaphor of pots of soup bubbling (or sometimes boiling over!) on a stove.

We got out a large piece of paper, Post-it Notes, and markers to sketch her six-burner stovetop. Her pots might’ve looked something like the following with each category representing a different, delicious soup:

* Creative business
* Family/home life
* Self-care
* Volunteer project for kids
* Blogging
* New creative hobby

Next we looked at each pot of soup and asked things like “What temperature is this pot at now? Is it on high and ready to boil over? Or is it at a steady simmer? What temperature do you want it to be? And what do you need to adjust to make that happen? Which pots do you need to bring to the forefront and which can be on the backburner? Are there any new pots and, if so, which of the other pots needs to come off the stove for now?”

Her imaginary six-burner stove was a helpful visual to see all of the important aspects of her work and life in a manageable and meaningful way. It no longer felt like a chaotic kitchen with food and utensils whizzing about. Instead, she was able to focus on and prioritize her important “pots” in a way that nourished her.

What's a metaphor that could help you with juggling all of your passions? Perhaps the pots-on-a-stove idea whets your appetite. Or what about getting inspired by the wishstudio necklace project? Imagine wearing a beautiful necklace with various charms representing all of your passions. What are the different charms? Which charm is the centerpiece right now? How can you keep each lovely charm sparkling?

Whatever metaphor you choose to play with, have fun. Use it to help you map out your 2010 and assess your progress along the way. I’d love to hear what you’ve got cookin’ for the new year!

P.S. – Something that I’ll be serving up starting February 1st is my yummy six-week Right-Brain Business Plan e-Course where you’ll craft a visual plan for your entrepreneurial success. Would be fun to have you, my fellow musepreneur!

Bon appétit!

Musepreneur and certified coach Jennifer Lee, of Artizen Coaching is the creator of the Right-Brain Business Plan. She loves yoga, painting, reading, and hanging out with her husband and dog. She blogs at Life Unfolds.

giveaway winners & news

have you heard about the bright side project? it's a beautiful place that shares sunshine and daily {fabulous} giveaways! today the wish*full virtual art retreat is being featured and you have another chance to win a $100 wishcertificate good towards any spring 2010 retreat package. head on over for your daily dose of goodness!



and the winners of this month's giveaways are...

heather, you've won the set of brandi's beautiful postcards! and congratulations to amisha, lisa, and trish. you are the lucky winners of the 3 copies of the spring 2010 artful blogging magazine. please email me with your snail mail address to claim your prizes.


*please note, any prize not claimed within 30 days will be recycled back into the wishstudio treasure chest for another chance to be won.

in a new light :: simplify

by susan tuttle

I have only one resolution for this New Year.

Simplify.

I am going to "take away" from my life in order to have more of what I want. As I write this I am watching my kids through the window -- sledding, laughing, dancing in the middle of a snowstorm. The spare, stark white paired with their laughter full of spirit is the perfect metaphor for what I am striving for. I want to clear away the clutter to allow what's important to me to shine; to shimmer -- so I can enjoy what matters most to me.

When we decide what is most important to us and filter our everyday experiences through this lens, we will say yes to what matters most and no to the things that get in the way of yes. Saying no can be key to getting to yes. It really is okay to say no to clear the way for spending your time the way you want to -- I've found that most people are understanding of this and the ones that aren't, well, it's about them and has nothing to do with me.

Family time is a major priority for me. Time slips away so quickly and when I am older I want to be able to look back on the time when my kids were at home and feel like I made the most of it and gave them what they needed. What kinds of memories do I want to have and want them to have? I guess I'm a bit old-fashioned and nostalgic. We love to snuggle in the down comforter and read library books together, play card games and bingo while snacking on popcorn and hot cocoa, watch family movies and go for walks in the woods.


I want my home to feel warm, cozy, uncluttered -- simple. It doesn't always have to be clean, but I do like it organized. Both my husband and I prefer a minimalist style, and that is a good thing, as our home is fairly small. The only collections I have are in my studio, but the rest of the house is somewhat sparse. I am inspired by the home decor found here and here.

I am going to make a conscious effort not to spend much money this year, especially on unnecessary things. Maddie Mulvaney talks about how she plans to save money this year too, only purchasing thrifted items, art supplies and necessaries -- sounds like an excellent plan -- one I am going to emulate.

We are going to try to make things whenever possible, instead of buying them, recycling things that we already have in our home, or find at our town's recycling barn. I found three old teacups at the "dump" and repurposed them as votives for our eating table. I wanted a chalkboard for the kitchen, a place where I could write reminders or little bits of poetry, and decided to make one from the top of a fold-up snack table -- the same one I used for late night feedings when my kids were babies -- lots of sweet memories tied up in that piece of wood. Three great resources for ideas on recycling and repurposing objects for the home are here, here and here.



Making time for art is important. I must always be making something -- creating is my lifeblood and without it I feel lost, disconnected, sometimes depressed. I'm a night owl and find that I produce my best work in the wee hours. It is the time I feel most still, open, and mellow -- the censor goes away when I feel a little tired, making it easier to get into the flow of creativity. If I can create, I am content and feel whole. I can be my best self -- in all aspects of my life.

So there you have it.

Simplify.

Happy New Year!


Susan Tuttle is a mixed-media and digital artist who resides in a small-town community in the state of Maine. Her first book, Exhibition 36: Mixed-Media Demonstrations + Explorations, was released by North Light Books in December 2008, and her second book, Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements, a technique-based publication on digital art, will be published by North Light Books in May 2010 and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. Susan is a frequent contributor to Stampington & Company publications and other mixed-media books. You can visit her site at www.ilkasattic.com and her blog at www.ilkasattic.blogspot.com through which she is offering online digital art workshops on the subjects of photomanipulation, digital montage, and a variety of Photoshop techniques.

we're celebrating {with another giveaway}

i came home to this in my mailbox ~ and look... we're mentioned on the cover! hooray! i can't tell you how much my heart swells when i hold this in my hands. and because it really is everyone here who makes the wishstudio come alive with such inspiration, of course i want to say thank you. while i wish i could send each and every one of you a copy (i really do), i am going to offer to 3 lucky winners a copy of the spring 2010 issue of artful blogging.

to enter this giveaway leave a comment on this post sharing 3 of your own wishes in just 3 words. you will have until tuesday morning, jan. 26th when i will announce the winners (along with brandi's prize winner...see below).

the gratitude is overflowing because all of you who dwell in this space have made it a beautiful place to be... thank you!

january sponsor giveaway

"Who doesn’t love postcards?! You can mail them, frame them, beautify your office, clothespin them to fishing wire, give them to friends and use them as affirmation cards. Postcards are the new black, ya’ll.

This set of six postcards feature images from Joy Rebel Images, with rich texture and pretty words for extra oomph. Too fun! They will be appearing in the Joy Rebel Images etsy shop along with more fabulous new goodies on 2/1 but you have a chance to receive an advanced set! " ~ brandi

i couldn't have said it better myself and can't wait to see all the newest goodies in brandi's shop!to win this prize, please leave a comment on this post telling us how you are letting your inner joy rebel shine! one random winner will be chosen and announced on tuesday, jan. 26th. good luck!

tranquilology :: happiest of 2010 to you!

by kimberly wilson

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Plato

It's that special time of the year where you may take a step back to evaluate where you are, where you've been, and where you're heading. Each year I love to list my past year’s highlights, lessons learned and dreams for the new year. This offers an opportunity to take stock annually to ensure movement in the right direction. Pull out your journal, kick up your heels, grab a mug of tea, and let's indulge in a dose of reflection.

What are your 2009 highlights? Can you bring them together in visual form? Collect photos from your adventures and make a collage or desktop. Doodle the highlights, mindmap, or simply list them. A few of my 2009 highlights include learning about mindfulness-based stress reduction, spending 10 days in Paris, leading retreats in Costa Rica and New York, returning to school to pursue MSW, Tranquil Space Foundation's film festival, celebrating Tranquil Space's 10th year, penning Tranquilista, releasing a 4th yoga to go CD, and celebrating 5 years with my supportive beau. All in all, a productive, blessed year.

Now let’s list your lessons learned. You know the ones - those ongoing “opportunities” disguised as “challenges.” What lessons are you taking away from your experiences this year? For me, I plan to keep working with my 2009 word of the year "spaciousness" and remember it when over-scheduling or over-committing, declutter daily, savor the simple things (lesson brought back from Parisians who you'd never catch with a to-go cup). Keep these lessons in a prominent space that you can reference often.

Now it's time to look forward. What do you want 2010 to hold? When you ponder what you want your life to look like December 31, 2010, what do you see? A new career, an adopted pet, a new city, a continued relationship. Take a moment to collage, draw, dream, or paint it. Cover your new planner with images that speak to your vision. A few of my dreams include: More strategic use of time and energy. Design new e-course based on Tranquilista or living your yoga. Set up my etsy store. Daily meditation. Host monthly dinners at chez moi. Return to dance. Daily sun salutations. More you tube videos.

As we cross the threshold into a brand new decade, I wish you oodles of tranquility. Raise a glass to 2009. Honor your efforts. Choose a word to focus on in 2010 - my attachment to "spaciousness" will continue. Relish in being uniquely, fabulously you. As Buddhist monk Pema Chodron reminds us, you are perfect just as you are. I like to think that we can simply add dashes of enhancements (like the boosts we add to our smoothies at a juice bar) through practices of reflection, intention, and action.

Let your life sparkle and shine in 2010.

talking about my creative life...

wanna hear me?

you can listen to my podcast with jamie here

it's a little fuzzy, but i hope you enjoy it.

(it's my very first spoken interview, definately a creative stretch for me :)

thanks jamie!

the BIG wish*full giveaway!

some of these little wishes will be in
the retreat goodie bags!

today is the day you can enter to win a coveted spot in the wish*full virtual art retreat! it's going to be such an inspiring weekend, with women gathering and creating together from all over the globe... from california, australia, london, texas, and everywhere in between.

will you be joining us too?

this is the one opportunity you will have to win an entire retreat weekend package, which includes 7 fabulous workshops, a spot in our artisan trunk show, a tool kit and goodie bag full of fun little yummy treats, special access to the brand new wishstudio website coming this april, and a chance to meet some really amazing artists and friends.

how do you enter? well, all you have to do is spread the word about the retreat! you can...

• write up a blog post (grab the info here)
• tweet about this giveaway
• grab the wish*full button and link and put it on your site
• email a bunch of your creative friends (and send a copy to the wishstudio)
• put the event info on your facebook page

each time you share, you must leave a comment on this post and let me know how you've buzzed about the retreat in your world... yes, that is 5 ways you can enter and up to 5 chances for you to win! you will have from today until the end of the month (jan. 2010) to enter. the winner will be chosen by a random drawing from all the comments posted, and will be announced early in february. good luck to all, and thanks for helping me share the wish*full goodness!

***please also know that because of your wonderful support of the wishstudio including your participation in this event, i have decided to make a donation to the haiti relief effort in honor of our entire community of caring and creative women. you are helping me to make a difference in the lives of others... thank you from the bottom of my heart.***

listening

by rachel awes

georgia o'keefe spoke about how she could see more and more in a flower the longer she gazed at it. i have found the same to be true in listening to people. the closer i lean in, the more i find my breath gasping. i think and sometimes say, "did you hear what you just said?!" and "do you hear how beautiful you are?!" for many, their gold has been long forgotten. i have always loved to collect pretty things like marbles and agates and now it seems to be the gold inside. it is there. it is in you and in me.

over the past year plus, i have written and illustrated a book about such things. specifically, it is about my work as a psychologist and how moved i have been by the wisdom and beauty i have heard in my clients. this process of listening and creating has been transformative to me. i feel more centered and joyful and awake and thankful. now i am working on maintaining courage. maya angelou says that courage is our most important virtue because without it, we can't accomplish anything else. i have been looking into the land of agents and publishers. i hopehopehope it can be launched into the world and spread love and encouragement. i include here a hidden peek at an illustration from it!

i have also recently begun a blog and you can find it at allididwaslisten.blogspot.com/! come visit me, see the latest of what's happening here, and reflect on how beautiful your very heart beat is! a surprise for me as i was creating my book and deepening a practice of listening to others was how i began to also listen more closely to my insides too and learning how much i wanted to draw and color! here is a 2010 posting from my blog of an art piece i created about what blossoms within...

lastly, i wrote on another blog posting in december, 2009, about the world waiting for the goodness and love we carry within us. i am loving seeing all the beauty that people are creating and being! thank you for being exactly who you are. i send you love.

the necklace project {link #1}

by mindy tsonas



this was really a joy for me to make because of everything this little charm represents... me as an artist and really where my heart is these days. it's fun and whimsical and especially full of hope!



i wore it all morning long while i was creating in my studio, and then out to run my errands in the chilly northeast air. as i heard it jingling around my neck, it was an exciting and fun reminder of all that is to unfold with this project as well as my own artistic life. i am really looking forward to seeing how this one necklace will link together a community of inspiring and caring souls, and see what kind of adventures it encounters along the way. there are sure to be many surprises!

inside the tiny jar is a scrap of vintage paper that i trimmed, deckled the edges and then burnished in an antique brown to give it a nice finish. i wrote my little wish (well, very big wish really) and closed my eyes for a moment to send it off to the universe...

i carefully rolled my tiny messege and tucked it into the little jar, added some sparkley wish dust (because we all know sparkley things have magical powers ;) and wrapped it with a teensy dangling crystal. voila! the first charm in the necklace project, imbibed with the spirit of sisterhood, creativity and possibility.

i hope this journey inspires you as much as i know it will inspire me!

blowing bubbles in a concrete jungle :: a joy rebel’s take on getting what you want

by brandi reynolds



Like many, instead of a list of resolution’s every year, I choose a word for the year. I learned of this idea from Christine Kane and I like it so much better than a tedious to do list.

I have come to learn, though, that putting an intention out to the universe like that brings me exactly what I need…and usually nothing I expect.

The first year, my word was clarity. I was unsure how I wanted my life to look like, how I wanted to create, what I wanted to do with my life. A few weeks after choosing that word, my world turned upside down. I realized I was still adjusting to being (recently) married, holiday stress was looming and we’d just rescued our dog, Keely, who had been severely neglected and needed constant care.

So, yeah, life really sucked right about then. I was stressed, worried, tired, and feeling lost. And yet in that time, I started to realize what was important to me and what I needed in my life. I found a life coach that helped me get clear on what was important to me and helped me let go of old beliefs that were holding me back from expressing my authentic self.

By the end of the year, I was feeling so much lighter and more centered and ready to focus on something positive and fun.

I choose ‘passion’ for my word with the idea that I wanted to unearth and embrace what I was passionate about. It turned out that my passion was joy-in my own unique way-as the joy rebellion was born. But guess what? I found myself really being challenged to figure out what joy actually meant to me and what it looked like and how I wanted to express it. And I was given the extremely hard challenge to find joy in situations that were hard and painful…like losing a friend to cancer.

My ideas on joy and how I’d like to express that have deepened and grown and yet, gotten more simple.

In both cases, I had ideas about what would show up. When I choose clarity, I kinda thought that I would get these amazing insights, that my path would become more clearly defined and that old beliefs would shed like skin. And they did…but not in some magical, gentle way.

In choosing passion, I didn’t realize that having a passion would be such a challenge at times. I thought when I found my passion; I would always be excited and motivated and focused. What I’ve learned is having a passion requires belief in oneself and dedication-and those don’t come without practice and a few knocks on the head.

And now, another year is upon us. My word of the year is beauty. And I would like to just be open to how that shows up for me.

What’s your word of the year?

wishmamas :: relishing in the now

by michelle cohen

It is 1:30 in the afternoon and my son just went down for his nap. I could journal. I could paint. I could scrapbook long outdated photos. I could do a load of laundry and attempt to clean the entire house. Or…I could just take a nap. Lately, the nap has been winning out. The combination of an active 21-month-old son, a second baby on the way, and the chill of winter have brought me to a place of stagnation, hibernation and exhaustion. My creativity has been whittled down to mostly mental daydreams and a heartfelt longing. This is the reality of my “now”.

Prior to motherhood, these feelings would have left me in a state of panic, anxiety and maybe even a mild depression (okay, truth be told, even now they still surface occasionally). But I am growing and learning that this, too, is just a stage, will pass more quickly than I know, and when life is on the brink of a major change, it’s best not to get too attached or mired down in any one thing—even feelings. As a yoga teacher and student, my mind has been stretched and expanded by ancient yogic philosophies and precepts, world cultures and religions, and Buddhism. At the heart of Buddhism lie the 4 Noble Truths, and the concept that our entire Universe is subject to impermanence. Our suffering as humans comes from wanting to cling to the good and avoid the bad. But the reality is, happy moments and sad moments pass by equally, and we can neither cling to one and keep it near, any sooner than we can keep our children little and safe forever. All we have is the now--this moment, this breath--in whatever shape or form it seems to be appearing.

Nothing makes you more acutely sensitive and aware of change than motherhood. Just when you think you have gained some footing, some semblance of balance, it all disappears. I find myself constantly butting heads up against my own struggle with the concept of impermanence. So very often, I want things to change, or stay the same, or to do both at the same time that my head feels like its spinning. Ironically, my blog is titled “Savor It” not because I have mastered the art of appreciation, by any means, but because I need the daily reminder.

Judith Hanson Lasater writes a great article about impermanence, titled, “After the Laundry, the Laundry,” in which she states:

Now is a word that is powerful and sufficient enough by itself to be used as a life study, a sort of mantra. The ability to respond to now, to live in now, to enjoy each precious moment without clinging to it or pushing it away is the essence of spiritual practice... When we forget the truth of impermanence, we forget the truth of life. Spiritual practice is about remembering that truth and then embracing it. In the past, I kept doing the laundry so it would finally be "done." Of course, it never gets done. Now when I look into the laundry basket, whether it is full or empty, I try to see it as an expression of what life is all about: moving through the different stages, surrendering to impermanence, and remembering to embrace it all.

Productivity waxes and wanes. Time is seized or squandered. My “now” may consist of more care giving than creative output, but I know that will not always be the case. With each breath, I release the need to be more, do more, and achieve more. I know that in the very depth of my soul, I am, and always will be creative. Even if I never create another single piece of “art” or craft. This thought alone is what keeps me going when the door to my crafting space stays shut for weeks at a time. Or when the nap keeps winning out again and again.

Michelle Cohen is, a wife, a mama a creative explorer, a yoga teacher, and a believer in big dreams. She is passionate about yoga, parenting, mindfulness, travel, empowerment for women, and all things creative and inspirational. To learn more about what she’s up to when she’s not napping, visit her blog at http://savorit.typepad.com. photos by sally mannix photography

see you at the show!

wish*full artisan trunk show

may 1 to may 3, 2010

{you are all invited!}

this spring, wishstudio will be hosting an exciting and unique virtual trunk show alongside the wish*full virtual art retreat. the show will feature artists and their handmade items of all sorts, from lovely confections, to paper goods, to jewelery, art and more. there will be exciting special offers in addition to some brand new items for you to peruse and purchase. it's going to be a smashing show!

this event has been created to showcase and support all of the creative participants of the wish*full virtual art retreat (teachers, goodie bag sponsors, and of course all of our talented registrants!), and to share with all of you, our beloved readers, some wonderful shopportunities. don't miss it! mark your calenders for may 1 to may 3 and stop by to shop, shop, shop (just in time for last minute mother's day gifting). if you would like to be featured in the trunk show, well simply sign up for the retreat... just an added bonus to an already wonderful event.

it's going to be a fabulous weekend here in the wishstudio! hope you will join us.

ordinary sparkling moments :: harmony

by christine mason miller



In the fall of 2008, I gave my website a facelift. Everything was updated and re-designed, from the colors to the navigation headers. I removed textures, added photos and dismantled my online portfolio; when I was finished, my backgrounds were white, my writing was a new feature, and my portfolio was reduced to a single page catalog of work I had created over the previous four years. Visitors were only given a small taste of what each series inspired, all mixed together with no real structure.

These revisions were made soon after Ordinary Sparkling Moments was released, when I decided to spend more time and energy on my writing. It wasn’t as if I was going to stop being an artist, but it seemed like a good idea to downplay my artistic endeavors so greater attention could be given to my writing projects. The smaller, uncategorized portfolio made it look like I was a dabbler – a few pieces here, a few pieces there, all of which would probably not look like a cohesive body of work if lined up side by side.

It was during this time that I also began to wonder what I should say when people asked me what I do for a living. It had been an easy answer for years: “I am an artist.” But now that writing was taking up more of my time, energy, and interest, what was I supposed to say? I didn’t really feel like a bona fide writer - “real writers” had bylines in magazines and literary agents and I had never even taken a writing class. To say I was a writer felt slightly phony. I hadn’t proved myself; I wasn’t there yet.

A year after making all of these changes to my website as well as my personal job description – I still say “I am an artist”, but can sneak in “I’m also a writer” when someone asks what type of artwork I do - I decided to do another series of updates, and the very first revision I tackled was to bring back my multi-tiered portfolio. Every once in a while I make a wise, prescient decision, and last year was one of those moments, because I saved all of the individual icons and images of the original portfolios. I retrieved all the files and put them back on my site, with new headers and layouts but the same series sections: Mixed Media, Havana, Tokyo, Girl, and Wings. Although I had spent most of the previous year on writing projects – which rewarded me with bylines in magazines and the completion of my first writing class – I realized it wasn’t necessary to downplay my artistic work in order to highlight my writing. I decided there was room for both, especially since this year has taught me that having each gives me a tremendous sense of creative balance. Writing and painting are two disparate types of personal expression that call forth wildly different energies and temperaments, creating a unique creative harmony that pushes me further in both directions. My website now reflects that, and lets visitors know that they are both an integral part of my creative life.

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” ~Thomas Merton

the artistic mother :: what kind of artistic mother are you?

by shona cole

This is not a question I am going to answer for you! But I want to open a discussion of what it means to live with the titles of ‘artistic’ and ‘mother’. I want to see how, through 2010 in this column, the relationship between these concepts can be fleshed out, explored and tried on for size.

The title ‘Artistic Mother’ is potentially huge. As big really as the number of moms there are in the world. But sometimes in order to see where it is that you fit into the world, in order to see where you want to be, it is good to break things down into smaller, manageable, parts.

So let me introduce you to the beautiful faces of the artistic mother:

Meet Amy. She has young kids who all crave her body and time. They constantly want to do something with Mom. They need to learn about the world and how it works, they are by her side drinking from her cup of mamma wisdom. She has purchased many ‘crafts to do with kids’ books and saves up to by all the right supplies. She can be found any time of the day sitting with her kids covered in glue or paint, cutting with kid size scissors. As her kids grow the crafts grow too, they make jewelry, collages, record family events with shared cameras, make dresses, dance to music. She is a life giver, a teacher and free spirited nurturer.



Meet Ena. She has kids who are grown or are simply more interested in being outdoors kicking a ball around than engaging in artistic pursuits. She has a little time on her hands now that the physically intense early child rearing days are over, now that the parental issues are more on an intellectual and emotional level. She has time when the kids are at school, soccer practice or gymnastics. She dreams her art visions in this alone time or when browsing online art blog, she pours over art magazines, attends art retreats and creates art* that expresses her soul and gives her identity a place to really ‘be’. In her art studio she is light and she is creativity.


Meet Zoe. She has taken the time to teach and encourage her kids to love to do something arty. In the evenings when she takes out her art supplies or sits down at the computer to process some photos, her kids will follow her lead. Each of them work on something creative and they do so alongside each other. At the weekends she can be found in the garden surrounded by her family working side by side on a family sculpture, cooking lavish meals or writing on her laptop as her son plays the piano and her daughter paints. They are equals on their creative journeys. She is stable, she is skilled, she freely enjoys her maturity and insight.

Each of these women are idealistic portraits, right? They are distinct portraits, but they also overlap, they can be three parts of the same woman, different versions of the Artistic Mother on different days or different times of life.


Do you see yourself in any of these women? Do you, like Amy, make art with your kids? or Zoe, alongside your kids? Do you, like Ena, take the time for yourself to make art? Do you do all of the above on different days?

Or do you feel you are on the outside of this grouping looking in wishing to be one that bears the title ‘The Artistic Mother’?

It is hard to stand quiet and see our own identity while raising our kids, especially when they are still small. They pull at us from the moment they are born and eventually we are called ‘Matthew’s Mom’ and not ‘Shona’.

Take a few minutes right now to reflect on your artistic identity in relationship to your status as a Mother. These three women are there as a guide to help formulate your thoughts, an ice breaker, a conversation starter. Try them on, does one fit? Are you there yet, or are these a dream of what you would like to be?

And wherever you are on the continuum, you are welcome to enter into this discussion of what it means to be an ‘Artistic Mother’. I would love to hear your thoughts. So please leave a comment.

Next month, I will draw the parallels between creativity and motherhood, so check back in. In fact, sign up to be a WishStudio follower, put it on your blog list, that way you will be reminded to check back!

* when I talk about ‘art’ in this column I will often refer to the visual arts, as that is closest to my heart, but it can also mean creating music, theatre, movie making, dance, all forms of writing and so on.

By the way Amy is my grandmother, Ena and Zoe her sisters.

Shona Cole is a homeschooling mother of 5 under the age of 10, collage artist who creates family focused art combining her own photographs, poetic words, paint and paper, author of ‘The Artistic Mother – a Practical Guide to Fitting Creativity into Your Busy Schedule’, and is perpetually searching for the balance between self and service. You can find her at An Artful Life or Flickr.

teach your workshop in the wishstudio!

my new necklace by stacy and swirly



this is it... your year to leap!

brand new in 2010, you have the opportunity to teach your online creativity workshop, art class, or ecourse right here in the wishstudio! so dream big, create away, and maybe even collaborate.

with the brand new wishstudio website that is being designed by the fabulous christine castro of darling design, we will have a beautiful, fun and dynamic new virtual studio space that will be unveiled during the spring wish*full virtual art retreat.

we are bringing to life a vibrant wishstudio world that you will be able to step right into simply with the click of your mouse... there will be tons of inspiration, resources for your creative life, places to hang out and chat with other artful friends, and most of all doors of possibility for you to open in a creative space unlike any other.

by teaching your class here in the wishstudio, you will have access to all of this...

• two virtual studios spaces for you to choose from, where you can build, teach, and share your class.
  
• the wishstudio inspiration lounge where you can post all of your class resources, supply lists, creativity links, and other fun things you want to share with your students.
  
• the wish*full cafe' (discussion boards) where everyone can hang out, pull up a cozy chair and talk about different creative topics... a great place to generate buzz and excitement, then dive deeper into what you are offering!
  
• an amazing creative community ready and waiting for you, right here! with access to all the busy traffic, creative connections, and promotional opportunities here in the wishstudio, getting the word out about your class will be a breeze.
  
• tremendous support just like having your own personal cheerleader! by offering your workshop here, every step of the way you will be supported by the wishstudio from building your class through to launch... your success is our success.
  
• technical assistance, so you have more time and energy to focus on creating your workshop. as the wishstudio will be hosting your class, we will be doing the bulk of the technical work of formatting and uploading your images, links, videos, and words into our inspiring website... no need to invest the huge amount of time and money it takes to build your own site from scratch.
  
• administrative assistance as well. you will be hired as an independant creative consultant, and all registrations will be handled through the wishstudio, another thing you won't have to worry about! you'll be free to dream, create, teach, and then simply collect your fee :)

are you excited yet?

this is the perfect space and community to launch Your creative dream! i know you have been thinking about taking the next step, now you have no reason not to. it will all be here, ready and waiting for you!

i am now accepting workshop proposals for spring, summer and fall 2010. for more information, pricing, policies and procedures, and for a wishstudio workshop proposal form please email me.

i can't wait to work with you to bring your vision to life!

happy 2010!

a new year, a new decade...

may all your wishes come true!