WHERE Women Create - Spring 2023

INSPIRING WORK SPACES OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN

Spring 2023 Display Until May 15, 2023

FOUNDED BY JO PACKHAM

JANE POLLAK, P. 78

INSPIRING WORK SPACES OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN®

From a woman’s soul, through a woman’s eyes, by a woman’s hands.®

Design & Editorial EDITOR IN CHIEF Jennifer Blot GRAPHIC DESIGN Wendy Dunning COPY EDITOR Toni Fitzgerald AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Sammi Thomas CURATOR Lori Siebert

NEWSTAND CIRCULATION Weekly Retail Service Thomas Smith | Smith@WeeklyRetailService.com Susan Harold | SH@WeeklyRetailService.com PUBLISHER Madavor Media, LLC 35 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 101 Braintree, MA 02184 Madavor.com

How To Contact Us CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES WHERE WOMEN CREATE—Fulco Inc. PO Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-3000 844-263-3472 WomenCreateCustService@FulcoInc.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES WomenCreateAdvertising@Madavor.com SUBMISSION INQUIRIES Submissions@WomenCreate.com WHERE WOMEN CREATE® SPRING ISSUE 22 PUBLISHED 4 TIMES PER YEAR BY: Madavor Media, LLC 35 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 101 Braintree, MA 02184 Madavor.com WomenCreate.com POSTMASTER Send address changes to: WHERE WOMEN CREATE—Fulco Inc. PO Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-3000 Changes of address must be submitted in writing.

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No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owner.

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CONTENTS

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FEATURES

44 24 Kalen Anderson Mehlman 44 Joy Mueller Blanchard 64 Victoria Findlay Wolfe 102 Lori Mitchell 116 Ashlie Blake 130 DeAnn Hebert 142 Alex Sulikowski

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116

IN EVERY ISSUE 142

6 WHERE It Begins

DEPARTMENTS 10 An Artist Lives Here: Inspiration Everywhere with Lori Siebert Anna Jacobs

78 Art of Business Jane Pollak

92 Pet Tales

Havana and HollyAnne Knight

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FRONT: DeAnn Hebert BACK: Joy Mueller Blanchard / Ben Shani

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ON THE COVER

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WHEREIt Begins

A SERENE, LIGHT-FILLED CHAPEL IN

Jennifer Blot / Editor in Chief

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the mountains. A group of bustling coffeehouses in San Diego. A once-drab Victorian flat in London.

These are just a few of the places where creativity reigns in this issue of WHERE Women Create.

Sometimes, the workspaces we feature on the pages of a singular issue turn out to be more different from one another than we ever imagined. And yet they merge into a beautiful mosaic that somehow, despite its very different “pieces,” makes perfect sense.

This issue, which is my first as editor in chief, is no exception. It is an issue that celebrates the generosity of WOMEN CREATE artists, who, through their candid stories and intimate photos, allow us to enter their studios vicariously and become privy to the reflections of their creative journeys. These journeys are filled not just with aha! moments and their milestones of success but also with those instances when they strayed from the path or needed to pause to deal with life’s inevitable challenges.

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WOMEN CREATE artists are overwhelmingly generous with their time, their knowledge, their craft — but they also make a point to thank those who have helped them along the way. And not just their creative mentors. Sometimes it’s the person who provided the physical space to thrive. For jewelry designer Alex Sulikowski, featured on page 142, it was the landlord who discounted her rent early on in her jewelry-making career to help make her dream of opening a storefront possible. For artist and interior designer Anna Jacobs, featured on page 10, it’s her current landlord, who gives her carte blanche to paint murals on her walls and bring bold bursts of color to every inch of her London home.

IT WAS ANNA’S MASTERY AND FEARLESS USE OF

color that caught the eye of WOMEN CREATE curator Lori Siebert, who asked Anna to share her living space with us in An Artist Lives Here: Inspiration Everywhere with Lori Siebert.

Lori came up with the idea for the WHERE Women Create feature series last year, noting: “I get carried away and giddy when I visit the home of an artist friend whose home is an extension of their creativity.

Whether it be the use of color and pattern, the way their treasures are artfully curated, or the unusual and unexpected ways they decorate … I find it so very inspiring.”

Additionally, Lori says, “I also LOVE to scour Instagram searching for artists who LIVE their art.

That’s how Anna Jacobs was found. WOW … her feed

Lori Siebert

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is full of GORGEOUS eye candy! She uses color and pattern masterfully. Her home is all about pure joy.

It just makes me smile!

“I can’t wait to share other great homes in upcoming issues. If you or someone you know has an overthe-top, delightful, quirky, inspiring, artful home, please reach out to me at lori@studiolika.com.”

A big thanks to Lori, who epitomizes the generous spirit of WOMEN CREATE artists.

And thanks to all of you! In my time as managing editor, and now editor in chief, I can honestly say that you inspire me every single day — and I can’t wait to get to know you better! Drop me a line at: jblot@womencreate.com.

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anna jacobs

AN

ARTIST LIVES HERE

INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE with Lori Siebert

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ANNA JACOBS is a 53-year-old artist and designer who lives in London, England, with her two children, Zachary, 15, and Coco Rose, 13. Anna’s home is an explosion of vivid colour and pattern, with hand-painted murals and original artworks on the walls, upcycled furniture, handmade cushions and lamps filling the rooms and multiple tables and nooks for painting. It’s been referred to as a modern-day Charleston.

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he boundaries between my home, art, designs and creative process are very blurred. The whole place is a multidimensional expression of the beginning, middle and end of the creative process — and that includes my children! I often say that I decorate in such a way that it gives the experience of living within a piece of art.

Before I moved here four years ago, I’d been in a small cream and beige rental flat where I’d landed in a daze eight years before, after unexpectedly becoming a single parent of a baby and a toddler. I’d been planning to start a new creative career after leaving the city law firm where I’d been head of marketing and business development. But now it was far more difficult. I’d lost the house I owned, all my money and all my joie de vivre.

However, the urge to create was still burning away, and out of the blue, I was suddenly offered a solo show of paintings at a local gallery. I had three weeks to paint the whole thing, so pragmatically, I chose to paint in ink on watercolour paper because I didn’t need an easel — I could just paint on the kitchen table; plus, ink dries fast and paper is thin, so it takes up very little storage room. I never looked back.

I also felt a great need for colour, a need to work with it. It lifted my spirits, gave me joy, even energy — which can be in short supply when you’re on your own with small children. I realised I also had a great sense of hope and freedom, even excitement, despite the disaster, because I had been left with the two things that I’d always wanted most in life — children and creativity.

So, for my first show, I painted big, beautiful, colourful flying birds. They represented flying free from the past, that moment of peace when you finally fall into the pocket of who you truly are, flying forwards with joy and hope.

I’m telling you this story because it helps to explain the home I’m in now, my big, bright, colourful one.

That first show was a great success, and a successful homewares design business also grew from it.

But despite painting and working with colour, every time I walked into my increasingly scruffy beige flat, I felt my heart sink and depression setting in. As luck would have it, we were then burgled five times in 15 months, and so we had no choice but to move.

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he first time I walked into this flat, I knew this was it. It was big and beautiful with lots of the original Victorian features.

And beige! But that didn’t put me off. I met with the landlord and said that I needed to be able to paint it with lots of colour — and he agreed! By sheer coincidence, he and his partner were already fans of my colourful design brand, so he said I could do whatever I liked.

I’d realised from the beige flat of doom (as my mum liked to call my previous home) that it was very important for my sense of well-being and creativity to be surrounded by colour. So, I intentionally created a home with colours and designs that made me — and the children — feel happy but also relaxed and calm where necessary.

It all started with a vision for the central staircase. It was a scruffy white unloved non-space. I wanted to switch that around to make it the most joyful space in the flat, as it is at the heart of our home. So, I painted a vivid blue mural up the wall, which completely transformed it. The success of that mural then encouraged me to paint the zigzag mural in the bathroom (which was hellish to paint, by the way!), and that’s when magazines and newspapers started calling.

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ore murals and more colour followed, and then location agencies started calling, too. I also use it as a location for my own shoots — photographing my new cushions and lamp collections, which I design from my original artworks. So now, the very act of decorating my home has become a part of my creative business.

My artwork is often very detailed, and the colour is very important, so I prefer painting in natural light. That means that while I’m working, I move from room to room during the day as I create the work. I often get up really early in the morning to get some painting in before the kids wake up for school — that’s when I paint in the kitchen on the kitchen table. It has a large east-facing window, and the table sits just in front of it, so it’s the perfect place to catch the early-morning light. I’ve decorated it in lush greens and aqua blues to reflect the garden and woodland outside the window, which are also very creatively stimulating.

“I think the way kids create is so inspiring.

They’re drawing a picture? They love the picture they drew; they’re not tortured about it.”

— Spike Jonze

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“You use a glass mirror to see your face. You use works of art to see your soul.” — George Bernard Shaw

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y two main inspirations are the natural world and art. Nature has so many incredible colour palettes and is always an exquisite balance of light and shade, different textures and beautiful forms. I think I also experience it in a slightly enhanced way, almost like technicolour, and that’s reflected in my interior decorating.

Art often distils those elements to create a moment

of wonder that you can keep coming back to. My decorating style builds on that so that the interior almost becomes a 3D piece of art that you can exist within.

As the sun rises, the light moves round to my bedroom, which is also east facing and catches the sun for the rest of the morning. So, I have my desk in my bedroom, as I get all my best work done in the mornings. The desk is pretty big and is actually the kitchen table from my old house 20 years ago.

When I paint, I reference both my own and other people’s photographs, as well as research sketches, so the desk — a big table right by the window — can accommodate my laptop as well as space to sketch and paint.

I actually really love having a workspace in my bedroom. When I’m relaxing, drifting to sleep or dozing in the morning, my mind is often at its most creative, so it’s wonderful to be able to just jump out of bed and straight to my desk to start designing or writing up an idea. On the flip side, I actually also really enjoy working on my laptop in bed. I find that if I’m tired, it’s much easier to carry on sitting in a big comfy bed! My bedroom is painted in a beautiful soft green, called Deep Water Green by Paint & Paper Library. It’s a very calming colour but also has a little ripple of energy running through it, which is useful for working.

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“I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares.”

— Saul Bass

fter lunch, the sun moves round to the living room, so my work does, too.

I have two coffee tables; one slides under the other.

They were both battered old wooden tables left by our landlord, so I painted the top one, and my daughter, Coco, painted the smaller one, which she uses as a craft table. I use both to paint on in the afternoons. I painted the room itself in a cool duck-egg blue to keep it fresh and airy, even in the warm sunset light. As the evening approaches and the light fades, I stop work, and then it’s time for the kids.

Until very recently, my flat was only decorated with my own art, lamps and cushion designs. It’s incredibly useful to live with them like that because it means I can really get a feel for how they work in different light, in different rooms and with kids running around. However, I began to feel like I was living in an echo chamber creatively; so, for the first time, I splashed out and invested in a beautiful abstract diptych by a local artist friend. Then I bought a few small prints and even some cushions by other designers. It was actually very liberating and has given me a new spark creatively. Perhaps that’s why I also recently changed media for the first time in 10 years — my latest collection of paintings was in gouache on card instead of ink on watercolour paper, and I absolutely love it!

So in the end, my home becomes the birthplace of my creativity, as well as the art and the creative business itself.

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More on Anna

www.AnnaJacobsArt.com Instagram: AnnalyseJacobs

KALEN ANDERSON MEHLMAN Kalen’s Place Photography by Rachel Smak 25 WomenCreate.com

Just shy of the Piestewa Peak Mountain Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona — tucked away in a corner of her backyard — Kalen’s Place sits. It is a place filled with the sound of playful birds chirping, bright sunshine streaming through the studio windows, and surrounded by a lovely flowering cactus garden and a welcoming Buddha. It is in this place where KALEN ANDERSON MEHLMAN creates, paints, designs, collaborates and finds inspiration.

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MY STORY

I have spent my life in the act of creating.

The beauty and gift of being creative is that our world provides us with limitless opportunities in which to create and express ourselves. On life’s winding path, we find ourselves pivoting in varying directions. I have found this to be true of my relationship with being artistic.

As a young girl, any sandy beach, a backyard rock garden, or a drawer in one of my grandmas’ homes was always considered for a thorough investigation. I collected everything … from pretty shells and stones to floral hankies and vintage gems. I loved it all.

I spent days and hours participating in a myriad of magical art classes at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ceramics, clay, painting, batik, welding … I simply couldn’t get enough. I’ll forever be grateful to my mom, who has encouraged and supported my artistic soul since the beginning.

My grandparents were florists. Nothing can quite describe the feeling of walking into a giant misty floral cooler, layered with buckets of vibrantly colored flowers, and deeply inhaling the sumptuous fragrant scent. I can still conjure this memory and feeling. As kids, we would run up and down the aisles looking at the multitude of beds of flowers and plants. This explains my deep love for the movement and hues in flowers that are found in my paintings. And why I always have a vase of fresh flowers brimming on my kitchen island.

My young adult years were filled with painting, endless sketching, sewing clothes from old sheets and “found” fabrics, and tie-dyeing everything possible (my poor mom!). Many weekend afternoons were spent digging around in local vintage shops with my sister … our intentions always of turning something old into something cool.

JUMP AHEAD A FEW AND PIVOT.

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THEN A PIVOTAL “LIFE CHANGER” PRESENTED ITSELF TO ME …

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ith a master’s degree in elementary education, my work as a creative and artist filled the classroom. To share the gift of clever stories, the written word, illustrating thoughts and turning history into a story with children of all ages filled my soul.

Eventually, I became a mom to Ben and Lily and departed from teaching in the “formal” classroom.

Kalen’s Place started as an artistic “side gig” of sorts. With my littles, I was able to paint during naps and bedtime. I was primarily focused on custom artwork for children’s spaces, as the majority of my audience was like me … decorating nurseries and children’s spaces. The scope of my work included custom children’s name plaques, wall hangings, painted furniture, toy boxes, step stools, growth charts and wall murals … and as my business grew, my pieces could be found scattered throughout various local boutiques.

In 2005, at the age of 35, I became a single mom. Ben was 6, and Lily was 4.

Hard pivot. Nothing can quite prepare you for life as a single parent … especially when you’re far away from your family in the Midwest.

While I continued with Kalen’s Place and selling my custom artwork, a regular, consistent income became imperative. One of the local boutiques that sold my artwork was in need of a full-time designer for custom children’s spaces.

I’d always loved design and knew this career would pair well with my current work as an artist/entrepreneur. Though not formally trained as a designer, my inclination for designing fabulous spaces happily found its way into my life. I loved the challenge of learning this new trade in a hands-on, learn-as-you-go fashion. And I was able to continue providing my custom artwork to clients and local boutiques.

Throughout my life, particularly after having gone through my divorce, I have frequently given this advice to others (and deeply believe it myself): Send out your message and intentions to the universe. It will respond. It hears your voice and will guide you. Never be afraid to recreate yourself. Recreating yourself adds inner depth, deeper perspective and layers of experience, insight and knowledge. Oftentimes, I find that universal messages and recreating yourself go hand in hand, and it’s up to us to give a keen ear and understanding to that.

I have remained good friends with my ex-husband, Andrew. Outside of my creative work over the years, having been divorced so early, I have helped “counsel” many friends and acquaintances through divorce and encouraged all to work as hard as they can to maintain as healthy relationships with their ex-spouses as possible — for themselves and their children.

As orders began to stream in, my pieces of artwork began taking reign over our kitchen, as it was the only place large enough to spread out and work. Pieces were propped up on chairs, hanging from doors and draped over tables!

I

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had a carport that seemed like a perfect possibility.

I created a plan to convert this space into an art and design studio. It only required enclosing two sides of the space, filling in windows and adding pretty French doors. I kept the walls white, like a clean canvas. The floors were left concrete to capture the many colorful paint splatters that throughout the years gave it life and personality. Over time, I added unique finds from local vintage shops like industrial shelving, chippy stools, metal bins for supplies, old silver dishes and brassy pots to hold treasures like well-loved paint brushes, weathered keys and, of course, paint bottles.

One day, I received a serendipitous phone call from a dear friend whose daughter asked her, “Mom, could I have my birthday party in Ms. Mehlman’s art studio?”

Thus began Kalen’s Place, which created custom artwork, hosted children’s birthday parties/events on the weekends and provided after-school art classes. This space became a compilation of the various talents, careers and education I’d experienced up to this point. Kalen’s Place welcomed children of all ages with open arms to come in, sit down and express themselves through the myriad unique art lessons, summer camps and group events that I offered with encouragement and passion. Many of those students spent their young lives creating with me every week for years.

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“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.”

— CHINESE PROVERB

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y world was brimming with the things I loved most.

And I was home … what a blessing! I could work and be near my children. Additionally, I was able to continue my work as an interior designer at the boutique while the kids were at school.

In 2016, I married my best friend, John, and we merged families. At this point, we had become small local restaurant owners (The Beach House taco shop in Phoenix, Arizona), and I was able to strike out on my own as an independent entrepreneur practicing interior design, teaching art classes/ hosting creative events and continuing with my artwork.

Those first few years of us being independent business owners, starting and growing new businesses with four young children, all while trying to make ends meet, were some of the most trying and scary times for us and our family. The amount of work needed to build our restaurant following and to grow my design business was extraordinary. Many days (and years) were filled with utter exhaustion as we pushed forward to build our dreams.

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“Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.”

— MAX EHRMANN FROM DESIDERATA

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remember one particular morning quite vividly: As I was cleaning tables at the restaurant, bone tired, I found not one, not two, but three pennies scattered in various places. Again, the next day, more pennies. I started collecting them, popping them into my pockets and keeping them in a little vintage dish at home where I could see them every day. Surely, this is a universal sign to stay the course and have confidence that we will survive, we will find success.

More pennies … in different places, day after day after day. It was uncanny! But I kept collecting them, tucking them into my pockets and putting them in my special dish. I keep these pennies close by to remind myself to have faith and that if you listen, the universe will send you signs of hope.

For years, my days started with client design appointments in the mornings, working the lunch hour at our restaurant, then hustling home and wrapping up the afternoons with children’s art classes.

While I loved every minute of it, I was really worn down and something “had to give.” I found myself feeling less and less inclined to paint. My creative soul was struggling.

At one point, I remember confiding to my three best friends that I had lost my spirit to paint. I just didn’t have it in me nor felt like anything I created was worthy anymore. I will never forget their honest concern by this. For over 25 years, they had known me as an artist, and they knew how it filled my heart …

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SOMETHING IN MY WORLD HAD TO SHIFT.

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It was time to pivot again, but this one was going to be the most difficult of all — deciding what to let go of in my world. To make a choice was nearly impossible because I loved it all! The thought of not having my studio filled with giggling students joyfully creating, connecting with each other and the world of art — or not having the ability to challenge myself as an interior designer with exciting projects — was simply too much.

Well, the universe made this very difficult choice for me.

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Make your bed every day. No matter how unruly life can feel, a made bed starts your day with a sense of organization.

— ONE OF MY FAVORITE THOUGHTS THAT I OFTEN SHARE WITH OUR CHILDREN

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FAVORITE LOCAL TRADE, RETAIL AND VINTAGE SPOTS I LOVE TO SUPPORT:

■ Tierra Del Lagarto (amazing worldly & unique decor) ■ Everything Goes (endless vintage treasures) ■ Scottsdale Marketplace (vintage & new finds galore) ■ J Squared Studios (lovely fabric treatments) ■ Brandt’s Interiors (a showroom packed with my

favorite fabrics & wallpapers!)

■ Lisa Moore Beauty (incredible makeup artist)

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“Know your audience. It will serve you well.”

— KALEN TO HER CHILDREN

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ust as we were going into full construction mode building a new, lovely studio in our backyard for Kalen’s Place interior design/ art classes — and building an addition onto our house using the old studio — along came the pandemic. And with it came a very sudden end to my children’s art classes and events.

As things began to open up and the world came back to life, so did people’s desire to change nearly everything about the homes they’d been cooped up in for so long! It was “ON” for interior design, and it hasn’t slowed down much since … and I love it that way. I am challenged by design’s diversity. No person’s home is the same. Each has its own individuality and style. It is my inspiration to honor their lifestyles by offering unique insight into the various ways we can update, refresh and add character to their homes — no matter the budget or aesthetic.

My clients become my friends, and I am blessed with the ability to work closely with them and their families for years. Design is a thoughtful and intentional process that takes mindful time.

I did start painting again. Whittled down, painting is my true love and spiritual outlet. But at times when we walk away from the things we enjoy and have done for so long, we lose confidence in ourselves. It was with lots of inner coaxing that I allowed myself the freedom to just go for it and paint from my soul — not for anyone, not to sell any pieces, not for the approval of others — just for me. And those who’ve seen my artwork have said it feels like it came from within, somewhere deep — but colorful!

The added “bonus” to my world of creativity is the ongoing invitation to participate in local television segments where I highlight ways for viewers to incorporate trending and clever design ideas into their homes on their own — on any kind of budget — from a variety of local shops and online resources.

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wo of the most important people in my life passed away this past year. My grandma, Lorraine, died one day after her 103rd birthday. She is very much the reason I am who I have become as a person and a creative. She walked this earth with grace and kindness. She loved flowers (she wore one pinned to her dress every single day) and sunshine, dainty handkerchiefs, pretty teacups and lifelong friends. There was never a day that she didn’t say, “I am so blessed.” She surrounded people with endless love. She adored the color pink. Everything she wore and sat on was a lovely shade of pink!

My creative and deeply talented 15-year-old niece, Liesel, fought like a champ against cancer. She was my “mini me.” My brother, Steve, told me that her entire life. She turned their basement into an art studio, always inviting her friends over to create. She painted and collaged and glittered just about everything. Mason jars filled with gems, and canvases and brushes lined her shelves and art tables.

She shared my deep love for all things vintage and love of true friends. I am sure if she were still with us, she would have grown up to be the most fabulously stylish and creative girl boss.

They are with me in this studio and everywhere I go. I feel their presence when I am painting or vintage shopping or designing. And to honor them and this gift of creativity, I will continue on this universal path with gratitude for the rest of my life.

NO MATTER IN WHICH DIRECTION I CHOOSE TO PIVOT.

41 More on Kalen

www.KalensPlace.com Instagram: KalensPlace

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More on Rachel

Instagram: RachelSmak Blog: www.RachelSmak.com Behance: www.Behance.net/RachelSmak

Through the LENS

RACHEL SMAK is a commercial photographer and owner of Sunday Stills — a boutique content curation agency that specializes in scroll-stopping, double-tapping photography, stop-motion and videography for brands that give a damn. With an emphasis on surreal and playful concepts, Rachel curates editorial and high fashion content for beauty and lifestyle brands, the cannabis industry, and food and beverage brands for both web and social media. In addition to photography, Rachel also has a well-rounded background in advertising, graphic design, art direction, copywriting and media, which helps her approach each project with a unique perspective.

When Rachel isn’t working, you can find her honing her yogi skills as an E-RYT500 teacher and student, foraging her local farmers market on Saturday mornings, and spending time with her rescue dog, Arley.

Rachel and her studio, Sunday Stills, are located in Phoenix, Arizona, but thanks to the wonder of the internet, she works with clients and brands from all over the globe.

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JOY MUELLER

BLAPhotography NCHARD

by Ben Shani

FULL DISCLOSURE: MY STUDIO HARDLY

ever looks this clean and put together. It is, however, ALWAYS a beautiful mess with no less than a dozen projects going on at the same time. Opening the door to my studio space is deeply personal, and I’m not usually inclined to share sneak peeks, so this process has pushed me into a new area (which is what art is all about, anyway), and for that, I am deeply grateful.

For as long as I can recall, I have been blessed with having my own creative space. As a young child, my parents gave me complete access to the narrow side yard and allowed me to grow or build whatever I wanted. Over several years, I ended up with a complete flower and vegetable patch and built myself a cardboard fort under the house, where I would hide away. To this day, I still have the journal of pressed flowers and poems detailing my love for this special space. Memories of this time are very vivid, and I often find myself replicating them in my yard today.

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Joy Mueller Blanchard, also known as the Joyful Artist, lives tucked away behind Malibu in a historic community in the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California.

It is here, between the secluded meadows and jagged peaks, that she has created her own slice of heaven. In her barn atelier and chapel, she finds sanctuary to creatively communicate her many expressions of joy through her intuitive and natural artistry.

And that I did. After high school, I worked as a photo model and traveled abroad for years.

Immersing myself in different cultures, languages and environments taught me the importance of observation and the power of presentation, both foundational qualities that inform my approach as an artist.

After many years of that adventurous yet detached lifestyle, I felt the need to embrace reality a bit deeper, so I studied to become a registered nurse and began working with oncology patients.

Witnessing so many threshold moments pushed me to further explore the other side of life’s pendulum and inspired me to transfer to labor and delivery. Here, I was able to balance out my appreciation for the circle of life. While I continued to work with moms and babies, I also invited them into my studio, where I was able to capture this precious time for them by casting their beautiful bellies in plaster. From here, my passion and enthusiasm for sculpting the human body grew.

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Observation, participation and resourcefulness were key to how I grew up. My Ukrainian mother, a wholehearted impressionist painter and designer, was, and still is, the source of our entire generation leaning into the arts. Her intuitive and creative nature bled into every one of her offspring in divergent ways. She, along with my German father, were self-starters and always promoted a strong work ethic and fortitude.

My siblings and I worked long hours in the family cutting business, where we always had access to lots of fabric and imaginative items to play with.

These were the days when we would make all of our own clothes and always had something new to wear. I realize now how important having endless supplies and storage is to my creative process, learning early on that anything is possible when you dream big.

FINALLY, IT WAS TIME TO SETTLE DOWN AND

start my own family — my biggest creative joy of all. My husband and I were immediately blessed with three wonderful girls, and we never skipped a beat. We all worked together as a modeling family for many years, shooting lifestyle campaigns here in California. Spending most of our time as a unit was a blessing, and we took the opportunity to homeschool and foster deep roots in faith, family and nature.

Living an artistic lifestyle can be complex and is never contained to an art studio. Rather, we usually found ourselves conducting lessons and adventuring outdoors as we embraced and learned about the natural world with a hands-on approach. We raised horses, chickens and cats — and now bees — here at our BlanchRanch homestead. I made sure that each girl had her own garden, remembering the impact that it had on me. Our home had become a sacred space where creativity was always embraced.

When the girls and horses moved on, I discovered yet another fabulous shelter to call my own. The mare motel that once was home to our small herd of Arabians became the perfect She Shed! What joy I find within these walls, over and over again. She feels like a womb — sacred and life-giving. One of our rooftop beehives sits directly over the spot where a foal was born, creating a constant reciprocal vortex where one can feel grounded and divinely aligned at the same time. My artwork is mostly inspired by this environment. Receiving, then giving, a connectedness with spirit.

My studio is also filled with a collection of paintings done by my mother, Valentina.

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“can we speak in flowers. it will be easier for me to understand.”

— Nayyirah Waheed

OVER TIME, MY PROJECTS HAVE

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become more meaningful. In the earlier days, I was more of a maker and a generator, exploring every media possible. It all started with painting in oils, acrylics and watercolors. Then came inks, charcoal and plant dyes. That led to more botanical discoveries, with a deeper appreciation and understanding of plant life and insects.

I sculpt, pour plaster, weave vines, press flowers and build large-scale installations. ... Every turn leads me further and deeper into another fascination. It took a while, but I am finally focusing on being more intuitive and learning to listen better. Finding passion and joy in so many things allows me to see them all as one without boundary.

It also helps me to be more accepting and patient and to slow down (occasionally).

I am a collector (some may say hoarder) of many memorable items. I mean, they are called keepsakes for a reason! People close to me know I value them, so they keep showing up, sometimes in truckloads! I usually stack and store them in a display sort of way, waiting for the moment they call to me to create. I think I may have missed my calling to be a set designer — I love it so much.

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DURING THE PANDEMIC,

my daughter got married here at home in our old chapel, surrounded by golden poppies and vintage props. It is in these sorts of moments that I am especially grateful for all the stacked and saved belongings of yesteryear. You never know when you may need 52 silver teapots or a life-size horse on wheels!

The chapel, which we built 20 years ago, has always been a strong anchoring point for me as well as a place for growth and joy. I recently moved my custom sandbox inside to use as a raw canvas for prayerful expression. It is here where I create prayer altars out of natural and sacred artifacts, and I consider it an extension of my studio space.

The practice of nourishing spirit through nature, art and ritual seems to be a new direction that my creativity is heading in. I like to think of myself as a “prayer artisan,” and this new practice has deepened my appreciation for impermanent art and has also shaped my current work.

“All the way to heaven is heaven ...”

— St. Catherine of Siena

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“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”

— John Muir

I AM NOT SUPER SAVVY

Botanical artist Tricia Paoluccio leads a workshop.

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with tech, numbers or business planning, but I accept that, since for me, art is not a business. It’s my life. It’s who I am. It’s about growing into the best person I can become while sharing that with others. One way I have done that is by being an art docent for children’s classes, both for my own and now for my grandchildren.

Once in a rare while, I will host adult workshops, too. (Being a curator for the local Arts in the Park program was another highlight for me. I would love to do more large-scale public installations and sculptures when the time presents itself.)

I do feel a strong call to share this fabulous space with other artisans, and it is a dream to one day perhaps open the space for an artist-in-residence type of program. With private lodging and space available, I could see what a gift it would be for someone to come spend a few weeks creating here, where earth touches heaven, and anything is possible.

I LOVE COLLABORATIONS!

I also long to connect with more people outside my local faith community for special threshold moments, as I call them, by maybe offering photographs or memorial cards of intentional prayer pieces I create in my chapel. I do find myself spending more and more time there, and it just feels right. Not sure what any of that looks like yet, but time will tell, so I’ll just keep praying and listening.

I love this WHERE Women Create space and would be excited to hear from you and share this journey together.

Sending joy your way!

“Joy is the best makeup …”

— Anne Lamott

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More on Joy

Instagram: TheJoyfulArtist Email: TheJoyfulArtist@yahoo.com

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Through the LENS

Ben Shani is a Los Angeles–based photographer, videographer and content producer. As a gifted pianist, his visual language is informed by the way music flows through him.

He loves creating feelings, moments and stories in a cinematic way to evoke memories and emotions.

Artists (including his aunt Joy Mueller Blanchard), brands and communities around the nation work with Ben to bring their stories to life in a crisp, captivating and connecting way. Giving tangible form to feeling, Ben’s specialty is bringing his client’s vision to fruition, through eye-catching conviction and visual depiction.

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More on Ben

www.BenShaniCreative.com Instagram: BenShaniCreative

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Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Quilter VICTORIA FINDLAY WOLFE is an international award-winning artist, teacher and lecturer on the creative process who lives in New York. Victoria’s work balances between art quilts, traditional and modern quilting styles, and reflects her passion for bringing the fine art of quilting to the modern age.

I’M A QUILT AND TEXTILE ARTIST, A FABRIC AND PATTERN DESIGNER, AUTHOR AND TEACHER OF MY ARTFORM. I am constantly inspired by color, shape, line and everything else possible. Hundreds of ideas a day come to mind, so I must focus hard on what I want to produce or put my time into. I need my spaces somewhat organized — slightly messy to keep the pressure of keeping it tidy off my shoulders yet clean enough to think straight.

I grew up on a farm in Minnesota among a family of creators in their own rights. Besides farming and making and growing and fixing everything in sight, my father had an upholstery business on the farm, and for a time, my mother worked for Fingerhut sewing garments and made

most of our clothing. I was a creative child, obsessed with learning every creative form there was. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, and as a textile artist, I work on my design walls with swatches of color the same way I push paint around on a canvas.

I have a fondness for time spent with my maternal grandparents, growing up in a small southern Minnesota Mississippi River town. It was a safe and joyful space for me to soak in the beauty of the area and be influenced by my grandmother, who made gorgeous double-knit polyester quilts that we slept under at the farm. The colors of those fabrics influence my work to this day.

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I’M ALL OVER THE PLACE, LITERALLY.

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I work that way on my designs, working on multiple pieces at once, and in my different workspaces in my home now. During COVID, I closed my NYC quilt shop, my large separate NYC design studio AND my apartment, and moved everything out to our house on Long Island, where I’m secluded in the trees away from others. Working from home was normal for many of us, and it was the same for myself at that point. But I struggled to make it all fit in my home.

For the first 2.5 years, several rooms and a guest room were used to store everything I needed. The disarray was overwhelming. But now, my workspaces (along with one off-site storage unit to help ease the sorting of items I don’t necessarily use each day) help give me breathing room to find the right fit for all I needed.

I took one half of the basement to make my “store” for filling online orders. On the other side, a small 10-by-15 room became my workspace. It was packed, messy and I had one design wall to work with. I’m used to working on 10 to 12 projects at a time, and that was just not possible. Slowing down to produce less was extremely difficult for me. I think it still is, but I am getting closer to finally feeling settled in my new layout, with the addition of converting an outdoor shed into a sewing studio — with three large design walls!

So now that I have finally found a way to make three separate spaces work, I’d like to share the things that have worked well for me, making my home both a work and creative space.

First off, my “store space” for filling online orders: This space holds all the inventory of my own product — from fabric collections to patterns, templates and thread — and my books. Most of my store fixtures came here, and I made do for the first two years, until I finally broke down and ordered IVAR shelves from Ikea to really maximize the usable space. This changed my life so much! From making do to having the exact shelving I needed was a life-changing switch, and as a result, such a relief of stress from constantly making it work (making note that often the IVAR shelf pieces themselves are out of stock, so I used 9-inch-long boards to make my shelves, which also makes them incredibly stable).

I USE EVERY INCH OF MY SPACE HERE. Under my cutting table, which is raised on bed risers to make it the right height for me to be standing at, I have the space I need to store shipping materials. I have a comfortable mat to stand on for long periods of time, as I fill orders daily. I keep items that inspire me hanging in front of this table — some made by myself, some by friends. I think it’s very important to always keep beautiful things in your line of vision to help enjoy the things you are doing throughout the day. And finding the one thing that will fit correctly to make your working space just perfect is so worth it. I wish I had made the change to proper shelving earlier!

Stacks of quilts are all around me, as are gorgeous fabrics, which, I admit, can sidetrack my focus in a heartbeat. Filling other people’s orders can inspire ideas, as their fabric choices are not mine. I learn something by looking at the orders every day!

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I HAVE THREE FURRY COMPANIONS

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with me daily. Agatha and Edith are my mini goldendoodles, and the puppy, Cleo, a Cardigan Welsh corgi, is my daughter’s dog. Having them with me keeps me entertained and on my toes … and often on their toes — as they are always under my feet! They follow me like shadows, and I’d not have it any other way. I love their company, and yes, I talk to them like coworkers throughout the day.

THE NEXT SPACE, MY GARDEN SHED, is my new working studio. Here, I design and sew on projects that are the most important at the moment or have a fast-approaching deadline. I try to not “store” extra fabric or items here, as this is purely a working design space. I have one vintage cabinet to store the next projects on the list.

Otherwise, it’s all about my wall space.

My working tables are my sewing table, cutting table and my ironing station; and, of course, there are three dog beds, which get me my 10,000 steps in each day as they are always in the way. Keeping this space clean is the most important, and I tend to make my real messes in my OLD small space on the other side of the house.

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“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life — and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.”

— GEORGIA O’KEEFFE

THIS OLD SMALL SPACE IS NOW MY OFFICE and the room that holds a bolt of each of the fabric collections I’ve created over the years. I do most of my cutting for projects here. My extra sewing machine and sewing items that I may need also stay here. I work from my high desk for fabric designing and writing. I have several small cubbies that hold all the not-so-pretty items I need daily, tucked away out of sight. My supplies for other crafts I enjoy doing — like my twined rug loom and yarn for tufting rugs — also have a space here, so when I want to cheat on my quilt obsession, I can make some rugs.

This room feels more like the “possibilities room” for me. … Not that I’m creating here but preparing here. I find this to be a relaxed, exciting headspace to be in. A room that doesn’t feel like “work,” but a space to be curious and wonder about all the possibilities that could be! I wrote a book, 15 Minutes of Play, and this space is often used to just sit for 15 minutes and wonder and dream up fun new ideas!

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More on Victoria

www.VFWQuilts.com Instagram: VictoriaFindlayWolfe Facebook: VictoriaFindlayWolfeQuilts

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Besides storing future projects that need to be finished here, I also have dog beds and toys strewn about. Having the sliding door and windows makes this a great room to work and bring the outside in. This room gets the messiest, and it’s the room I wish I had constant cleaning fairies for. Keeping the fabric from multiple projects clean and tidy can take a lot of time. But I have found that now giving each of these spaces a specific purpose to be the most helpful in my daily creativity.

At a time when the anxiety of the unknown was debilitating, I found being hidden in the trees with the things that bring me the most joy — my family, my dogs, my quilts and textiles — allowed me to build a balance between the outdoors and my work and family life.

Taking the time to make each space purposeful was key for me to get my creative juices flowing, like they were before the pandemic. Change has been a huge challenge to my process and well-being, and I’m happy to say I think I’ve now settled in with just the smallest of changes to keep me focused going forward.

You can tell when things are as they should be in my life: My design walls are packed with textiles on top of textiles, color is everywhere, and projects and dogs are in motion!

ART OF BUSINESS

Jane Pollak Photography by Shirin Tinati

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JANE POLLAK, a New York City resident for the past decade and once famous for her pysanky work, says that her Inner Artist was doing push-ups during the two decades when Jane the Coach pursued a successful career helping other women entrepreneurs.

To her surprise and utter delight, she is again thriving as an artist, creating custom heirloom textiles for the luxury interior design world.

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I started my new enterprise, JANE POLLAK, in late 2020, when the pandemic and quarantine completely shifted my focus. I’d been coaching creative women and leading retreats for nearly 20 years.

But! THE WEEKEND BEFORE EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, I attended a textile design workshop — Penny Rug Pillows — given by a former client and colleague. I left that class with enough material to complete the project I’d started, plus a bit extra to make a second pillow top.

As I Zoomed with loved ones over the following months, the overwhelming response to my work — which, of course, I held up to display on every video call — was: “You should sell these!”

Having had an art business, An Egg by Jane, for 30 years (1973-2003), I was not inclined to start a new one at this stage of my life. However, friends started commissioning designs, and I found myself pulling out my Sales and Use license.

I was simply looking to pass the weeks, then months, during isolation and add some color to my living room. As the pandemic endured, I had the luxury of time to set up an Etsy shop, find places to purchase materials and begin to create a new website.

Magically, resources flowed towards me from Facebook followers, an antiques store owner, recommended experts and a friend who is a professional organizer. They all encouraged and supported my efforts. Social media friends shipped me their button collections. The proprietor of an Upper West Side antiques shop gave me sage advice about invisible zippers and “tick-proofing” (how to avoid sharp feather ends migrating out of the pillow’s insert).

A pillow professional explained about “puppy ears” (floppy corners that are easily avoided). On a FaceTime call, an organized friend viewed my current setup and directed me on how to rearrange my office to accommodate my new passion.

“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” attributed to Teddy Roosevelt and Bill Widener

I

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can thank my NYC-born parents for helping me become the artist that I am. I grew up in a suburb of New York City — White Plains. My mother labeled us early on: the “writer” (my older sister who became a literary agent), the “funny one” (my brother who wrote comedy for years), the “pretty one” (my younger sister who modeled briefly) and me: the “artist” — the luckiest of all.

Early advice from my dad around the dinner table was, “Whatever you choose to do, become the best at it you can be.”

I was shy. But I noticed that when I drew a picture or created a piece of art, people paid attention.

My mother had a painting I made in fourth grade professionally framed. It hung in the upstairs hallway for decades.

My parents believed in giving us the best education possible, but taking art classes in high school, where it was an elective, was discouraged. When I got to Mount Holyoke College, not only could I study art — classes in the arts were required to fulfill general education requirements — I could also major in it, which I did.

This was the era when women were encouraged to have a career to “fall back on,” so I got my master’s in art education. I answered a classified ad in the New York Times for an art teacher and got the job, where I learned the art form that would become my career for 30 years.

Although I was hired to teach art, no syllabus was given to me. Instead, I leaned on other teachers in the department to get an idea of what they taught the students. One colleague said, “I teach how to make Ukrainian Easter eggs.” As soon as she opened a dozen of her designs, I was captivated.

One afternoon, she gave me a demonstration and handed me the unique tool required to make them. I picked up the other materials on my way home and made my first one that night. It was bliss. I sat writing with melted wax on the white

eggshell canvas. There was the scent of beeswax, the light of a candle flame and jars of dyes on my dining room table. Time evaporated. It was simply me, color and flow.

I exhibited my work at a craft fair that summer, which was a great success. I sold several of my eggs and was also invited to conduct a workshop at Bloomingdale’s. The biggest obstacle I faced as an early maker (this was 1973) was being taken seriously. Imagine telling someone that you wanted to make a career out of decorating eggs. It was not easy. Until I learned to show images of my museum-quality work, the response was often a condescending “that’s nice,” as they pictured little chicks in cut-out eggs.

However, I gradually educated a significant part of the population about my work. My eggs started at $8 each in 1973 and soared to nearly $500 apiece by 2000.

COURTESY JANE POLLAK

“That the moment one commits oneself, then Providence moves, too.” adapted from Goethe

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COURTESY JANE POLLAK

I often start my new creation with an inspirational artwork, like Monet’s Water Lilies. I then design the pieces on PowerPoint, use scanned fabric pieces to lay out the color arrangements and cut, position and stitch every piece by hand. I’ve learned how to acid-dye wool so I can have more artistic control over the details of the color. I do hire a seamstress to turn the tops into pillowcases.

I no longer own a sewing machine!

What I brought to my egg decorating and what I bring to the art of wool appliqué is the desire and tenacity to become the expert at it, as my father advised all those years ago. I’m also known for breaking the rules of the medium, working outside the grid with my palettes and compositions.

Additionally, I’m committed to valuing myself and my work.

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had once regarded being an artist as a freelance gig but soon realized that when you sell your work to the public, you’re in business.

I took classes to educate myself in all aspects of entrepreneurship. I listened to motivational tapes to clear out the saboteurs in my head that repeatedly nagged at me: “Who do you think you are?”

Starting JANE POLLAK in 2020 came easily after having had a successful art career previously.

Not only had I run a profitable and sustainable business for 30 years, but I had also been coaching other women in entrepreneurship since 2002.

I got to walk my talk all over again.

I knew that I wanted to touch every piece of the work — not outsource it — and make each pillow or wall hanging one of a kind. I now form relationships with my customers and work collaboratively to provide exquisite attention to every detail. That means that my work has limited availability and is accordingly more precious and scarce — i.e., expensive.

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COURTESY JANE POLLAK

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COURTESY JANE POLLAK

art piece comes easily. Keeping up with technology and self-promotion, which are essential, can be strenuous. What I have come to appreciate is that no one is concerned with my difficulties.

I’m not ready to retire. In many ways, I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been artistically and professionally. This is a message to EVERYONE that you’re never too old, and it’s never too late.

That’s a story we tell ourselves with no evidence.

My current vision is to see my work featured on the covers of major home decor magazines and to work with a handful of top interior designers creating three to five original pieces each month.

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tarting a new business in one’s 70s is not for the faint of heart. Everything has changed since I closed my first art business. The biggest challenge for me is becoming friends with social media. I was accomplished at putting together a promotional kit to mail to prospects, but figuring out hashtags and handles has been a growth experience.

As a Boomer, I learned well in a lecture-hall environment. YouTube is today’s primary classroom, and I struggle with having to figure it out on my own. If I want to succeed, I must be the opportunistic learner. I would venture to say that this is the most challenging part of my story. The

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hat I find remarkable about this stage of my business journey is how magical it becomes when you’re on the right path. This in no way implies that it is easy. I have the feeling that Divine Timing is out there nodding and grinning at my progress.

One example happened this summer. A friend from 30 years ago got in touch after seeing my new work on Facebook. We had a catch-up Zoom conversation in the spring, and she invited me to her home on Whidbey Island, off the coast of Seattle, for a visit.

“By the way,” she mentioned, “my across-the-street neighbor is an expert in dyeing fabric.” In addition to renewing this friendship, I spent a day and a half in her neighbor’s studio learning a skill that would expand my palette and enthusiasm.

When you’re aligned with your right work, this happens a lot.

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“God is seldom early but never late.”

Unknown (multiple sources)

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More on Jane

www.JanePollak.com Instagram: JanePollak Etsy: etsy.com/shop/JANEPOLLAK Facebook: JanePollak

Through the LENS SHIRIN TINATI has been a professional photogra-

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www.ShirinTinati.com Instagram: ShirinTinatiPhotography

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pher in New York City, New Jersey and Los Angeles for over 15 years. No matter what genre she is shooting, she focuses on connecting to the people who are in front of her lens.

She is also an accomplished makeup and hair stylist who designs the look for each one of her shoots. Her clients have been photographed in urban settings, studios, homes and some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in both the U.S. and abroad. She also has extensive experience directing stage, music and promotional videos.

Shirin received her undergraduate degree at Texas Wesleyan University and her Master of Fine Arts from The New School. She is also a member of The Actors Studio in New York City.

She resides with her husband in North Jersey.

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HAVANA AND HOLLYANNE KNIGHT

PET TALES

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A Day in the Life of Havana Knight,

DEAR DIARY String & Story Mascot & Shop Dog

Thursday, 7:30 a.m.: I can hear Mom and Dad stirring in the next room — any minute now, Mom is going to come get me for our morning walk. It’s a shop day, so after our walk, we’ll go hang out at String & Story on Main. That’s my favorite!

8:30 a.m.: Walk — check. Breakfast — check.

Mom’s putting that weird stuff on her face now … oh! She’s putting on her outdoor feet! Shop time!!

Mom started String & Story online six years ago, focusing on digital education, especially free motion quilting. Last spring, she opened String & Story on Main — the quilt shop companion to the online classes — in our little town of Duluth, Georgia. String & Story on Main hosts classes and events plus has modern fabrics like Paintbrush Studio solids, Aurifil threads, modern patterns and other notions.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KLARA CU

9 a.m.: I know I’m here every week, but it feels so special every time Mom unlocks the door to the shop. She always unclips my leash right before she opens the door, and I love running in and sniffing around to make sure everything is just the way we left it. She turns on the lights, and it’s like our very own little quilty stage is lit for the weekend.

We get to create a fun, welcoming place for the Quilting Rockstars to come in and shop, chat, learn and unwind. It’s almost show time!

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9:30 a.m.: Darcy’s here! Darcy is Mom’s righthand woman. She’s an amazing sewist, quilter and encouraging human. Mom and Darcy are buzzing around getting machines ready — there must be a class today.

Mom teaches something she calls free motion quilting. By the sound of it, it’s something that makes a lot of quilters nervous because they think it’s really hard. Mom loves classes because she loves to see her students learn something new and grow in confidence. I love classes because I get more attention!

11 a.m.: Class has been going for about an hour now — five amazing ROCKSTARS here to love me … I mean, learn FMQ! I’m bored of laying on my bed, though; I think I’ll just jump into Mom’s lap and onto her table to spice things up!

Noon: OK, I have to admit, these students are pretty dang good at this free motion quilting thing. It’s fun listening to Mom teach them and listening to them encourage each other during class.

1 p.m.: As much as I love all the pets I’ve been getting, now that class is over, it’s WALKIE TIME! We’re going to walk up the town green to Maple Street so Mom can get a coffee. I get to wait outside and greet people coming in for lunch. I know that Mom will only be gone for a minute, but I love to look as pitiful as possible to get pets! Once we get back to the shop, Mom and Darcy will buzz around cleaning up from class and filling online orders. I’m going to take a nap in that great afternoon sunbeam by the door … unless another dog comes by — then I’m going to bark my head off!

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3:30 p.m.: The BEST Rockstar just came in. We were already spreading quilt blocks and tops on the floor for me to test (obviously). Then, Rockstar Alicia brought a quilt top for me, too! What a treat.

She always gives me great pets, too!

5 p.m.: Closing time! What a fun day: a class, quilt testing and now a quick run to the post office, then home for dinner and snuggles! Tomorrow, we do it all again — I have the best job!

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More on HollyAnne www.StringAndStory.com Instagram: StringAndStory Facebook: StringAndStory Pinterest: StringAndStory

Through the LENS More on Klara

www.ConquerTheDigitalEmpire.com Email: hello@conquerthedigitalempire.com Instagram: ConquerTheDigitalEmpire YouTube: @ConquerTheDigitalEmpire

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KLARA CU is the CEO of Conquer the Digital Empire, a creative agency that helps bold, mission-driven female entrepreneurs launch courses and programs that expand the income and impact of their online business. She loves working with educators on all creative aspects of their business — from branding and design to digital marketing, and especially photography.

Klara has been a photographer for over 15 years, since high school, when she realized that everywhere she went, she wanted to take photos to create art from memories.

After college, she fell in love with brand photography because she enjoyed working with fellow entrepreneurs.

Her favorite part of being a brand photographer is empowering clients to feel comfortable and confident on camera so they can share their natural personality. She believes in the power of entrepreneurs embracing their role as the face of their small business. Their stories and personas are what make a business unique and relatable to their audience.

She’s proud to have met HollyAnne Knight of String & Story and so many inspiring educators along the way! It’s been a pleasure visualizing their stories for the world to see, Klara says.

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Photography by Armando Silva

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Lori Mitchell

LORI MITCHELL lives in

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San Diego, California, with her husband and two mischievous cats. An illustrator and author, she is best known for her children’s book, Different Just Like Me, which garnered her an appearance on 0prah. But after creating and teaching art professionally for more than 30 years, Lori wanted to feel the joy again of just doing art for art’s sake.

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ave you ever tried to plan joy? It doesn’t usually work. But I can plan ways where I know I will find it. First, I had to figure out what brought me joy, so I made a list.

1

Spending time with my husband, Dan.

2

Being outdoors.

3

Drinking a great cup of chai.

4

Sketching.

5

Seeing dogs. (We got married at a local dog beach.)

People-watching.

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Seeing new things.

I could think of only one type of place that would potentially have everything on my list: coffee shops.

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here are seemingly endless assortments of visually stimulating coffee shops all over San Diego. So once a week, my husband and I head off to a different coffee shop. Dan loves to read, so he’s not just watching me as I sketch.

I don’t have a studio like in the issues of WHERE Women Create. However, if I go to coffee shops, I can switch up my environment every week, and I will always have something new that inspires me. Plus, there’s a cup of hot chai and baked goods.

Dan and I started going to coffee shops once a week just before COVID lockdowns. Once things started to open up again, we were even more determined to go and support our local businesses — even if it meant taking our coffee to go and sitting in our car. I would just draw whatever I saw out the window.

I always post my drawing on Instagram, and I like to leave a little review about the place in hopes that it may help get a few more people in the door.

I am not sponsored by any of the coffee shops, but I have sold sketches to several of them after they saw the post. I am happy to say I have been paid in part with chocolate-peanut butter banana cake and ravioli.

I am glad my whole family understands my sketching habits. My daughter and I took a weekend trip to Santa Barbara, and we found the most beautiful coffee garden called Dart Coffee. I could have sketched there for hours. It helps that my daughter likes to sketch, too. There was live music, orange trees, blue sky, plenty of dogs and little kids all over. The fence was a glorious lime-green color, and there were white lanterns in the trees.

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

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When I am in the mood to draw a lot of stuff, I go to Cafe Bassam in Hillcrest. They have the best antiques and unique paraphernalia everywhere.

And there are always dogs.

If I want a backdrop of gorgeous desserts, I go to Extraordinary Desserts in Hillcrest. The cakes have actual flowers on them, and they are always arranged so beautifully.

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“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”

Henri J.M. Nouwen

At the former Pannikin in La Jolla, I would draw under the most majestic tree — and they had the best baked goods. They also had an antique red motorcycle on the wall. And, of course, dogs. The owners now run the Flower Pot Cafe and Bakery nearby, and they have my artwork on display.

When I want a crepe, I go to Café Madeleine in South Park. I know there will always be dogs, and the chairs are those cool French-looking woven chairs against a bright red wall.

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ost of all, I love to draw people. I sketch from life and try to sketch without anyone noticing.

I very rarely sketch from a photo. It’s much more interesting and challenging to draw when people are active and not “frozen.” I like to catch those unstaged moments, and I try to catch what people really look like. I want to capture that extra chin, that furrowed brow, or the weekend “bedhead.” That’s what gives character and makes them relatable and oh-so interesting to draw.

When schools were shut down, I posted my sketches on Instagram for use as coloring-book pages for kids bored at home.

Nancy Warwick from Warwick’s, the oldest family-owned bookstore in America, saw my sketches and commissioned me to do a threepanel installation of the timeline of their 125year history. Additionally, I created an outdoor mural, wrapping around two walls, depicting 20 famous authors who had done book signings at the store.

I have been doing illustration since I graduated from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, over 30 years ago. When I take on a client’s project, it takes weeks of planning. The commissioned subject matter is sometimes not what I would choose to draw.

Where’s the joy in drawing toilet parts? Some jobs can take many weeks of approvals, and it sometimes takes months to complete a job.

One of the ways to work with something that doesn’t thrill me is to simultaneously be working on something that inspires me. While I had the toilet-parts account, I also worked on my children’s book, Different Just Like Me. I was inspired to do the book because my daughter developed vitiligo, a loss of pigment, when she was a baby. It started to spread like wildfire when she was 4 years old. We were at a baseball game, and April was asking about everyone around us. She asked: “Why is that man so tall? Why doesn’t that man have hair?

Why does that chair have wheels? How come that person can bring their dog here?” … and so on.

At the same time, people were asking about her vitiligo. I tried to explain to her that we all may look different, but we are all so much more alike. I couldn’t find one book with everyone all together, explaining how we are all different but so much more alike, so I wrote and illustrated Different Just Like Me. The book has sold all over the world, and I was even invited on Oprah. The subject for the show I was on was gratitude, and I had sent her a thank-you note for the idea she had shared about keeping a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, I would write five things I was grateful for that day, and it honestly changed my life.

I started a habit of looking for the positive each day, and I was guaranteed to find it, even if it was as simple as being grateful for my car starting or seeing a butterfly on a flower.

Well, the producer liked my note and called, and we got to talking, and I mentioned my book, and they asked if I could be on a plane the very next day. Of course, I said yes. I got to meet Oprah and her sweet dogs —and I even stayed at the world-famous Omni hotel.

“Follow your passion. It will lead you to your purpose.”

Oprah Winfrey

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I continued to follow Oprah, and she inspired me to do a series of drawings where I focused on a variety of women, one or two women per drawing. That became “10 Women.” The idea to put them together as a group of 10 began after hearing an interview with a presidential candidate.

A reporter had asked what type of woman constituted a perfect 10 in the candidate’s mind. The candidate answered with a salacious description of breast size and other physical attributes. It infuriated me on so many levels. First, why would a reporter even ask that question? Second, a man running for the nation’s highest office reduced the value of women to the size of their body parts. And third, no one has the right to “rate” anyone.

The only reason women should be associated with the number 10 is if there are 10 of them. It made me think about all the sketches I had done of women in my series. To me, all of these women had so much more value than the sum of their body parts.

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hen I sketch in the coffee shops just for myself, nothing is planned, and I use a pen, so I don’t even think about erasing anything. I take it as it comes. I don’t think about whether I am composing perfectly. I don’t worry about who might approve of it. I just do it, and I know it will be done in maybe an hour at the most. Every time I start the drawing, I am sure that I have put my pen down in the wrong spot, but I keep drawing. As I draw, I sometimes hear that little voice that says it’s not looking “right,” but I keep drawing. I have to remind myself that it’s not about the finished product; it’s about the process and finding the joy in that moment.

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I do my commissioned pieces in my cozy little studio space at home. I also create artwork for fabric and wallpaper that is available on Spoonflower, and I have prints on Etsy. My cats, Phoebe and Dash, love it when I let them into my cozy little studio. They either sit on any piece of paper available, or they plop down on my palette. I will never get all the fur out of my paint, so I just leave it. I figure it will be the way they determine if my art is truly mine someday. There are times I need to keep them out, but they stick their paws under the door — and Phoebe has figured out how to open the door handle by jumping up and grabbing it.

I like my little studio, but I am also grateful to be able to have a change of scenery once a week when I go to the coffee shops and take life and art as it comes.

That brings me joy.

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More on Lori

www.LoriMitchellArt.com; www.Spoonflower.com/Profiles/LorisStory www.DifferentJustLikeMe.com Instagram: LoriMitchellArt; Loris_Story Pinterest: LorisStory Etsy: etsy.com/shop/LoriMitchellArt

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Through the LENS MANDO is a lifestyle portrait photographer

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More on Armando

www.ArmandoSilvaPhoto.com Instagram: ArmandoSilvaPhoto

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based in Los Angeles. He has been doing photography for over a decade, starting in high school with his film camera. He is still very drawn to the colors and tones in film photos and recreates that in his digital work. Mando loves movies and cinematography as well; he likes to use his surroundings to showcase his subjects in unique ways, just like his favorite filmmakers. He also loves to take his camera on the road to get inspired by new scenery and unfamiliar places. He is motivated to leave behind a trajectory of work that inspires others to pick up a camera.

Mando has photographed his clients all over Southern California. He is available for photoshoots locally, but he likes a good adventure, so he is happy to travel anywhere his work may take him to capture a new client.

Ashlie Blake is a watercolor artist residing in the Hudson Valley, New York. There, she lives with her husband, three sons and many fur babies. Ashlie’s studio is a sunlit room in her old farmhouse home, where she creates her works of art. Ashlie is inspired by nature, especially that of her own backyard, which she has carefully and lovingly curated to inspire throughout the seasons. Her work is a reflection of where she lives and the inspiration she receives from the joy of living there.

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What is a journey? and continue to live, a happy creative life. Plus,

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The dictionary states that a journey is an act of traveling from one place to another. In my years, I have learned that to be true, but let’s face it: Our personal journeys aren’t about going from one physical location to another. Though we may indeed change homes, states or move across the world, a journey is more personal than that. It’s a story — a metaphorical, nonlinear, two-steps-forward-and-a-good-jump-back expedition — with not a single road map or instructional booklet.

The life of an artist is not typically a fairy-tale experience, though I’m sure for some it is.

I was born able to draw. Of course, I had to develop that pincer grip first … but I was always able to put pencil to paper and make it look like something. For as long as I can remember, it was my superpower and still is. It was something people always noticed about me, and I was really lucky to have family and friends in my life who believed that my talent was worth pursuing. I was also lucky enough to believe in myself, which, come on, folks, is half the battle … am I right?

My story isn’t one of fame or fortune. I’ve never had a gallery showing with a hundred attendees.

I’ve never worked for a big-time company in a high-rise or designed a storefront window. I’ve never published a book; I haven’t ever sent a painting off to a famous person. But I have lived,

my journey is still unfolding; maybe some of those accomplishments I just mentioned are indeed on my path … I just don’t know it yet!

I didn’t go to college. I did attempt a singular year but found myself to be miserable; it just wasn’t my bag, and not everyone fits that mold.

During that time, I met a wonderful man, fell in love and saw my escape plan. When my first year was through, I packed my things and moved back home and in with him, and two-and-a-half years later was married. A year after that, I became pregnant, and so the story goes. During that time, I worked a conventional job, which also made me miserable. I always knew I wanted to create full time, and while working my conventional at-thetime job, I filled the rest of it with painting.

Sometimes passions are part-time gigs, but they fuel us in a way that our full-time gigs cannot. It is in living for a passion that we find our way, and I knew my way had to be out of a 9-to-5.

It made me wilt. So, in the meantime, as we found ground to stand on as a newly married couple, I did street fairs and sold my work online. A few years later, with a little money put away and two more sons added to the family, we decided there was the opportunity for me to stay home and raise our boys but also the opportunity to create my art full time.

“ALL that we see or seem is but a DREAM within a DREAM.” — EDGAR ALL AN POE

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As artists, we not only journey through our careers, but we also typically, but not always … journey through mediums.

When I was a teenager/early adult, I worked in oils, but then I moved on to acrylics because the time it took for them to dry was much less than that of oils. From there, my interests and curiosities found me working in mixed media and collage; and for a time, that is where I stayed.

I can’t pinpoint where or when I started working with watercolors because it’s been so long now, but it truly was an aha! moment for me. I found in watercolor a medium that I felt completely comfortable with. I especially loved the look of it, and over the years, I have never felt the pull to work with anything else. Occasionally, I use acrylics when working on ornaments or something like that, but watercolor is my bread and butter.

My studio wasn’t always a charming place filled with all my favorite things, nor was it even a specific room.

For years, I created at our dining room table; it was the one place I could be the most creative while also raising kids. Since then, things have changed quite a bit. Time is funny like that. Almost 10 years ago, we said goodbye to our first home and that dining room table and moved into our beloved old farmhouse. Now we have a few acres and a barn, and I have planted more than a few flower gardens that all directly inspire my work. Home for me is inspiration. It’s my haven, my every little thing.

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My studio, the space where I spend so much of my time, is my happy place.

No longer am I working at the dining room table but at a large desk in my own studio space.

But early on, it was not an attractive space. Farmhouses, after all, are a labor of love, and we knew ours would need some renovations for sure.

Fast-forward a few years and several renovations later, and my studio is now a workspace that completely reflects who I am. Down came the bad Sheetrock, up went the shiplap. Out went a set of double doors, in came a giant window. Out went the carpet, in came the hardwood. It was quite the lengthy project, but my room is now a cozy and inspiring place to be and work. Every day, I feel gratitude for my studio and the fact that I can paint in a room that provides space for all my supplies, collections and even a soft place for our pets to land.

My studio would be a somewhat lonely place without my fur babies. Floppa, my rabbit, resides in my studio full time. He freeranges most of the day, nudging my feet for pets and trying to play with the cats, who slip in and out for naps and bird-watching from my windows. My “studio assistants” are the literal best. They love the energy of my artistic space, and I love having them for company throughout the day when the family has gone to the office and school.

“It can’t rain all the time.”

— ERIC DR AVEN, THE CROW (FROM THE SONG

BY JANE SIBERRY)

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A self-led path is a little harder than one that has been laid out before you, but it is an extremely fulfilling one. Most of the time, I have believed in

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myself and my work, but I won’t lie: So much of being an artist is working through self-doubt. With social media, it gets harder and harder to be discovered. At times, I have really allowed that to bring me down, but I’ve also reminded myself in those times that it isn’t about how many people you reach, it’s about that genuine connection with those that you do. It’s about those folks who actively engage with your work and journey.

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Every commission I have created, every piece I have sent into the world, has always ended up in the right hands.

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I love that. I love knowing my work is finding its forever home. It’s the last chapter of each piece that I paint, and what’s better than a happy ending? Besides sharing my work online, I have also hung my work in public spaces, donated work to charity (usually charities dedicated to the welfare of animals) and worked on projects such as illustrating espalier trees for a friend’s debut gardening book.

If you peered down into my day, like opening a box and looking in from above … you would find me opening all my watercolor tins, pouring myself clean rinsing water and setting brush to paper.

Maybe I would light a candle first or maybe sit with my pets for a while. But sooner or later, at my desk, you would see my work bloom from palette to paper. Flowers, moths, woodland animals and other things that I have carried within me from the landscape that is our home spill forth when I am lost in the moment of creating. For artists create what they love, do they not? What they are fascinated with and what ignites their innermost creative fire.

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Often, dear reader, I feel like my artwork is a love note from nature to you, the onlooker.

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I am simply a talented conduit that connects one point to another in a visually pleasing way. I paint what I love, and in turn hope you will love it as well. I invite you to walk alongside me and my creative process via social media. Through Instagram’s windows, pull the curtains aside and peer into my creative process and what I share.

You can also visit my website, www.AshlieBlakeArt.com, or, if you prefer to contact me directly, you may do so by emailing me at paintingbliss@gmail.com.

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www.AshlieBlakeArt.com Instagram: AshlieBlakeArt

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DeAnn Hebert DEANN DESIGNS

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TRUSTING THE JOURNEY

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“I use art to speak when words fall short.”

DEANN HEBERT is known for her emotion-evoking artwork that helps others feel seen and understood within their own nonlinear journey of grief and healing.

Years before DeAnn, together with her husband, Lance, opened their gallery on Main Street in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, she found herself in a job of papers and proposals — far from her passion —and knew she needed a change.

Little did she know, the path she would take would help heal, courageously inspire and instill joy in others — through the avenue of art. From a small town of 3,000 people, DeAnn has created a career from her paintings, cultivated a following of over 110K on Instagram and landed collaborations with retailers Anthropologie, Wayfair and Amazon.

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It’s an incredible feeling to know that your work is helping, even in the smallest way, to soothe someone’s pain and inspire them into their dreams.

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s a young girl, I held a passion for painting but chose a slightly different path of graphic design as I was excelling in the business and marketing arena. However, at 24, I came to the realization that one’s natural strengths/abilities do, indeed, lead you to your true passion, and I learned the importance of listening to that small, still voice inside.

So, I gathered my childhood passion and began painting.

I packed up and headed to craft shows and art festivals on the weekends to sell my paintings. This ignited an inextinguishable fire inside of me. And, because timing always seems to be perfect (at least in hindsight), a little studio space inside a once-abandoned stove-and-mattress factory conveniently became available.

It was then that I made the jump to trade in my corporate high heels for brushes and boots — and a journey of self-discovery took off.

During those fall and spring weekend craft shows, there were many moments of peace and many moments of doubt. I would ask myself, “What have I done?” I had a completely sufficient and safe career. But I realized the doubt only became louder the closer I came to stepping into my purpose. So, I continued to forge ahead.

Many twists and turns later, I realized that while I may have hung up my business suits, I still held tightly to my business mindset. I knew I had a heart for painting and fine arts — I even studied painting in London — but the next obstacle was turning that into a career.

After a decade of working in an “open” studio space where passersby could stop in and talk to me about my work, I decided to take it a step further and go the e-commerce route.

Creating an Instagram and Facebook account was a game changer, as this allowed for further exposure and connection with others.

I soon began to receive emails with personal stories of how my art specifically touched someone’s life after a devastating loss.

Then another story of how one of my paintings helped them cherish their childhood memories. More and more stories were flooding into my inbox. I then knew I was fully aligned with my purpose.

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At one time a grocery store (in the early 1900s), the gallery space is thriving. Upon entering, customers are greeted by a 13-foot angel on the wall with the words, “Trust Your Journey.” It is a safe haven and inspiring space for all who enter.

Creating a physical space that is an extension of the meaning of the work — peaceful and inspiring — was one of my main goals. I never know who is going to walk in the door. The stories that people share are just so special.

Upstairs, the exposed brick walls and old wooden floors in the loft have been the setting for several beautiful events, including rehearsal dinners, weddings, proposals, and even an elopement!

Seeing the space become what it was meant to be has been the ultimate gift for me.

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have had many honors throughout my career.

Accepting an ongoing collaboration with the retail powerhouse Anthropologie for some of my bestselling pieces was a dream come true for a girl from a small town.

But my ultimate dream was realized four years ago, when one fateful morning while taking a coffee break, I saw a “for rent” sign on a retail building located on Main Street in beautiful historic downtown Franklin, which is brimming with adorable shops, restaurants and cafés. And in March 2020, I received the keys and opened the doors to my very own gallery. Navigating the roller coaster of ups and downs as lockdowns happened was scary, but together with my husband, and with my e-commerce store thriving, I was able to concentrate on creating even more meaningful works of art.

The gallery has allowed me to truly create an authentic, beautiful and inspiring space, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity that God has given me.

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The world needs your specific gift. For me, pairing my artwork with someone’s heart — mentally, spiritually and emotionally — and making a connection with another human on a deeper level is the greatest gift I can offer.

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www.DeAnnDesigns.com Instagram: DeannArt

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wife, busy mom to two beautiful girls, and living on a “mini” farm with my quarter horse, Jack, and a clucky henhouse, I have converted an old one-stall horse barn into my home studio and continue to paint with purpose to help inspire and encourage the viewer. I hope that my story is proof for other creatives that you can make a career out of your passion — you just have to trust your journey!

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Alex Sulikowski

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ALEX SULIKOWSKI is a passionate self-taught jewelry designer and metalsmith residing in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Her path as an artist has taken her to places she never imagined. From her original set of pliers to her now fully functional space, she is constantly evolving, thirsty for knowledge and the complex undertaking that is self-discovery. When she is not in her studio, you can find her gardening, walking in nature or cooking with her husband.

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used to get jealous when I saw artists with their studios, fully equipped with the latest tools and the most expensive matching furniture for storage, in a big and airy room dedicated exclusively to their art. Don’t get me wrong; I still feel tremendous admiration for them! But thinking back, it was exactly the lack of those perfect conditions that got me excited to step into the beautiful, creative path I am on today.

As an immigrant, I was faced with new unfamiliar cultures, new homes, new friends and multiple jobs. Having to start from ground zero several times has helped me become resourceful, grateful for what I have, and focused on where I’m heading. Many times, in the process of building my new life, I also learned who I am and what makes my heart beat with joy.

During a trip back to Argentina, my childhood best friend, Leti, introduced me to the art of jewelry making. Fascinated by the power of transforming a bunch of components into beautiful pieces of jewelry, I bought my first set of pliers, a few beads and supplies. For the next year, I used my free time to teach myself the art of beading and wire-wrapping.

“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.”

—William Arthur Ward

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In 2008, while still working my full-time job, I found a small vacant storefront. I talked to the landlord who, after seeing my passion and drive to have my own brick-and-mortar shop, believed in my dream and discounted the rent to what I could afford then. A few weeks later, I opened my first store, Terra Nostra Jewelry, and what started as “a trial” ended up being the focus of my creative energy for the next eight years. Every afternoon after my regular job, I couldn’t wait to get to my little boutique! I continued to advance my jewelry-making skills and treasured the rewarding results even as I was challenged holding my full-time job while owning a store.

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y studio then consisted of a 4-by-4 area at the back of the store. I was able to fit a small bench, a chair and a little storage cabinet for my supplies. With the vision of expanding my skills, and eventually my studio space, I kept my eyes open for second-hand tools. Occasionally, I would find retiring artists selling their tools as a package deal, and I would jump at the opportunity.

I had no idea at the time that I would end up pursuing a career as a metalsmith. Many times, I didn’t even know what some of the tools were used for! I just trusted my instincts, and opportunities manifested themselves, just like sunrises.

In 2017, my husband and I relocated to our present home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here, I finally took the plunge into a full-time career as a jewelry artist, transforming what used to be the piano room of our new home into my first “real” studio, shifting my focus from beading to the alchemy of metalsmithing. The journey has picked up pace but really stayed the same course, with a dream, determination and continued learning that has brought me to the opening of my new online store, Alex a Mano (Spanish for “Alex by Hand”).

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A PLACE OF PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS.

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“We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.”

— Louisa May Alcott Populated with repurposed furniture pieces, old tools and unique vintage finds, my studio is the physical embodiment of my journey thus far as an artist. My creative space reflects the wonderful world of design possibilities when I open my eyes to the beauty that exists all around me.

My workspace reminds me that it’s not just about the destination but about the process.

The joy I feel every time I step into my studio propels me forward, and I can appreciate the blessing of having a space in my home solely dedicated to imagination, creativity and inspiration.

I must admit, it took some time for me to build intimacy with each tool in my studio.

Soon after moving to Charlotte, I received a regional grant that provided me with the chance to take intensive metals training at the Penland School of Craft. This catalyzed my discovery of jewelry fabrication, adding fire, metal forming and stone-setting techniques. Utilizing my newfound knowledge, I could begin experiencing my old tools in a fresh way. This dialogue materialized as countless hours spent in my studio, building muscle memory and leaving room for innovation to appear.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS.

My studio is not just about the tools. It is about the things that inspire me, that make me happy, that allow me to be myself. I surround myself with things I love: plants, inspirational quotes, a collection of small vintage oil cans, good lighting, my favorite tea (yerba mate), candles and music. My creative space has allowed me to connect with a sense of deeper purpose, a place that has seen me at my best and also at my worst, stressed out over deadlines or messing something up in the very last

steps of fabrication. But it grounds me and lets me know that the path is more important than the destination.

When I enter my studio, I step into a world of history, inspiration and endless possibilities.

Just like my jewelry creations, every inch of my space has experienced a transformative journey.

From the paint on the walls to the smallest items of décor, everything has a function, an intentional place and a purpose.

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big mirror on the main wall makes the space look bigger and brighter over my main workbench.

White shelves, teal metal cubbies and tons of little drawers help me stay organized while adding texture and rhythm to my natural-lighted space. I find it both soothing and inspiring.

I have created areas where I can perform different processes in the making of my pieces. My jeweler’s bench sits in front of the main window. That’s where I do most of my sawing, filing and fabrication.

Next to it is my soldering station, equipped with a torch, a fireproof surface and a ventilation system.

This is where I do my soldering and fusing.

In the middle of the room, there is a small kitchen island I found in the marketplace. One of my many weekend projects was painting it and adding some stenciled accents for a touch of personality. I named her “La Isla Bonita” (Spanish for “the beautiful island”). It stores all my metal-shaping tools and provides an extra surface for my metal-forming station.

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ext to my island, there is an old wooden coffee table made out of a tree stump. Here, I do all my stamping and texturing. The wood helps absorb the hammer blows and makes it easier to work the metal. I added a leather strip around it that holds some of my most-used hammers. Next to it, there is an old magazine rack that I converted into a hammer rack, housing my collection of used chasing hammers.

One of my favorite finds is my beautiful hand-powered rolling mill. I found it neglected and rusty at a garage sale. For a tenth of its real cost, I brought it home, dismantled it, removed all of the rust, cleaned every piece and reassembled and recalibrated it. I get such satisfaction every time I turn the crank to roll a piece of metal. With it, I can make my own metal sheets or wire after fusing my silver scraps into ingots, allowing me to recycle every leftover piece of silver from previous projects. My latest addition is a beautiful farrier anvil that my husband gave me for Christmas. I absolutely love it!

Last but not least is my polishing station, an old but fabulous arbor motor that I use to buff and polish my pieces during the very last stages of fabrication.

My mind is constantly looking for ways of transforming tools that fit my needs, such as vintage railroad spikes used for forming stakes or old irons used as bench blocks for flattening metals.

Given the choice, I prefer an experienced tool over a new one. When a tool has history, it gives me inspiration and courage to push myself over boundaries. I draw from those who have used it before me, whose hands have polished the handles and whose ears have rung with thousands of hammer strikes. Each tool becomes part of my journey and part of the story of every piece I create.

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reativity stems from creativity — the more we use, the more we have! The creation of art in any capacity is always a sensual experience, one that involves all five senses and requires presence and gratitude for each step forward. I receive this sensory satisfaction from knowing where everything came from and appreciating how I was able to transform each item into something new. When I step into my studio, I am stepping into a renaissance of self, the ability to birth into reality a new source of joy through every piece of jewelry I create.

“Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.”

— Rabindranath Tagore 156 WHERE WOMEN CREATE |

I never had “formal” training in art, let alone training for running a business! As I look back, I realize that the real-life experiences are the best teachers, and taking (calculated) risks can bring tremendous growth and satisfaction to our lives. We don’t become artists by buying expensive tools and equipment. We become artists by holding pliers and daring to try, one day at a time. The beautiful part about it is that it doesn’t require a lot of money to get started. It takes passion, determination, practice and trust that what is for you will come to you.

ISSUE 22

WHAT’S NEXT?

My products can also be found in person at: The Indigo Pearl, Waxhaw, North Carolina.

North Carolina Crafts Gallery, Carrboro, North Carolina.

Visual Index, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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AlexAMano.com INSTAGRAM: AlexAManoArtisan FACEBOOK: AlexAManoArtisan EMAIL: alex@alexamano.com

157 WomenCreate.com

From the products to the packaging to the space of work, there are evident traces of handcrafted elements everywhere. I am currently collaborating with a fellow artisan, Lynn Aultman of Aultman Woodworks, to create my own jewelry displays that reflect the aesthetics of my brand. Each piece is mindfully created, like a piece of jewelry, and they will be offered to vendors that carry my products. I was also selected as the recipient of a grant in recognition of my artistic accomplishments. These funds will allow me to take more advanced metalsmithing classes that will take me to my next destination. I am thrilled and honored by this award, and I can’t wait to see what the future unfolds!

PAULA CAHILL

NATHIFA SLIGH

MARIKO KUSUMOTO

ALYSSA VAN GUILDER

LAURA MAGAHY

JENNIFER LANNE

THE

KARIN WINTER

CAZ NOVAK

O N E THING

CATHE HOLDEN

THAT WILL

INSPIRE

YOU EVERY DAY

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