Indie Artisan Trunk Show

in the
Wishstudio Creativity Co-op

21 middle street
newburyport, ma 01950

saturday, december 3rd from 10-3

featuring: Brittany Soucy, Jess Greene, Kat Pevsner & Jules Means

join us for the festivities including
free holiday gift tag making!

we are in celebration mode!  it’s our first open studio in our newburyport location, not to mention it is supposed to hit 60 degrees today! if you are local, it’s a great day to come downtown and check out our fun new space brimming with art and cozy spaces to connect and create!

if you are celebrating with us online, like our new co-op facabook page and check in to to see the day unfold.  also i will be announcing a new online workshop i am adding for the new year, FREE to members, with a fabulous and inspiring teacher we all know and love!  lots of goodness to come…

thank you all for being a part of this exciting adventure!

*special thanks to mindi poston gay for the gorgeous pink and gray vintage mash-up she is loaning the studio (swoon!)… to heidi wallingford for the delicious and sweet mini treats… and to brittany soucy for filling our walls with art love.

color
twinkle lights
feeling heartbreakingly alive
little boys
the mess
growing up until forever
warmth
sweetness
purpose
breath
connectedness
memory
power
words
imagination
the certainty of sunrise
faith
resilliance
LOVE

…and You

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want to art journal through the rainbow colored healing chakras?

want to create and immerse yourself in a new and authentic 30 writing practice?

andrea schroeder brings her gorgeous online Rainbow-licious Creative Healing Circle back to the wishstudio (those of you who were at ecamp last spring will remember what fun this was)!  this is a deeply wise and joy-filled exploration of the soul and your creative power through art journaling and meditation. in just 2 hours you will feel your juicy creative energy inspired and rejuvenated!  join andrea on december 6th, self-paced and available all day.

beginning on january 16th, michelle ensminger will be here in our virtual studios with her brand new class, Ordinary Magic.  this ecourse will be a rich, 30 day, self paced writing practice with daily prompts guided by deep support, inspiration and heart.  start the new year off with a re-dedication to your writing process, and come weave some words with michelle!

both of these online classes are FREE to co-op members!  all you need to do is RSVP for the class.  if you would like to register as a guest, you can.  come on by our workshops page for more information and to grab your spot.

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by leah piken kolidas

I knew that managing my art life with a young baby at home would be challenging, but what I didn’t count on was how much the lack of sleep, with a baby who likes to be up at all hours, would take a toll. But here I am, in the middle of Art Every Day Month, and I am creating every day. At first I felt stressed about keeping up with the art, with the challenge, and wondered if I was over-doing it. But the truth is, that making time to make some art every day is a much needed moment of peace and beauty in my day.

What else have I learned this month? I learned that it’s helpful to start a piece during the morning nap and then finish it after dinner. I learned that having a pair of latex gloves is enormously helpful when painting, so I can have clean hands at a moment’s notice when I’m painting during nap time. I’ve learned that making inkblots is still enormously satisfying and quick on those days when I have little energy left. And I’ve learned that staying up late to catch up on things, in most cases is just not worth it!

My husband was curious to see if my art would be impacted by having Annabelle. And it has, but again, not quite in the ways I’ve expected. He thought I might be making more art about babies, but instead I’m creating more art about being up in the middle of the night and the moon, that pours through the windows during late night feedings.

What I’d like to say to other creative moms of young babies, is that carving out time for your creative self is still important. I think it’s one of those things that can easily slide as we focus on simply surviving and getting a shower in most days. But still, I think having a means of self-expression is an important way to stay in touch with the you that is not just a mother.

That said, I’m also love creating just for Annabelle, a little board book of things she loves, a fleece jacket, and someday soon, some homemade finger paint we can play with together! I can’t wait for the years of creative play we have ahead of us. In the meantime, I’ll keep on carving out those moments (and longer chunks) of time to be creative, just for me. I think in doing so, I’ll be even more alive and available for her.

Leah Piken Kolidas is a mixed-media artist living near Boston with her husband, their daughter and their four cats. She blogs and runs creative challenges at her blog, CreativeEveryDay.com and sells her art at BlueTreeArtGallery.com. She is a fan of silly socks, laughing loudly, her daughter’s smile, fresh paper, and sleeping.

thank you all for all of your support and excitement over the new Co-op.  i am thrilled with the direction things are going for our creative community!  i wanted to let you know about some new features at wishstudio.com as well as tell you about some upcoming events.

under our Features section on the right sidebar you can now find our event calender here on our site!  for detailed information and registration (for non-members) you can still head over to our Workshops & Events page.  over the next few months i will be adding new classes, both online and in the local studio so check back often as things begin to take shape.  i have been in touch with some super talented creative folks and will be sharing gatherings and workshops you won’t want to miss!  seriously.

karen maezen miller will be coming back to this way to gather in the wishstudio next spring! 7 amazing teachers are teaching at our winter wishBIG ecamp and i can’t wait to share with you who’ll be there.  michelle ensminger has a brand new writing class starting online mid January, a great way to kick off 2012. and christine mason miller will be coming by the local studioto Inspire us and share a reading from her new book (hooray)!

of course we will also be hosting some super talented local ladies sharing in our studio as well – stay tuned!  come check out Brittany Soucy’s beautiful work in our first member show hanging in the Newburyport studio!  join us locally for our weds morning Mom & Me creative studio time, our friday open studios, and monthly RAW nights too!  check the calendar for dates and times, and members can simply RSVP to attend classes and events both online or in the studio.

there will be limited sponsorship opportunities available here on the blog starting next month, on a first come first serve basis.  please email me via our Connect page for rates and details.

in the new year, look for new navigation tabs on the Wishstudio home page as well as on the page headers.  there will also be new links and resources in the Inspiration Lounge featuring our co-op members, for a fun way to see who is in the studio and to connect our community!

i hope you will come join all the juicy fun!  see you at our first Open Studio at 21 Middle St, Newburyport, MA next week (11/26 @9am)*

Wishstudio Creativity Co-op

i am so excited to announce that as we head into 2012, Wishstudio, both online as well as our new local studio will be going entirely co-op!

What does this mean?… it means that throughout this next calender year i will be working hard, alongside an elected Creative Steering Committee, to re-create the Wishstudio business model to become a fully sustainable, member driven and member serving community.  our community will be created by you, to serve you!  it’s about embracing the collaborative spirit and connecting us through our creative work and passions by meeting all of our needs as a whole!

Why Co-op?

this is about smart and savvy business, sustainable community, and better accessibility to creative offerings for all!

it also happens to be at the heart of what i believe in personally, being in the trenches and elbow deep in sharing our lives and the desire for true-living and fulfilling experiences.

i have known for very a long time that community and collaboration are key elements to long term success for any business, for profit or not.  it is exactly how this community was born. as with the food movement shifting towards local growers and CSA’s, education models moving toward more a collaborative approach, and the greater business community enacting greener and more environmentally sustainable ways of doing business, we are all looking ahead to innovate new and dynamic ways of getting our needs met collectively.  Wishtudio wants to be a part of that movement.

Positive Change For Our Community

Becoming a co-op means that in general, classes and events will be free to it’s members. this is the goal for our transitional year in 2012, to fill our calendar and classrooms (both locally and online) with fabulous events and workshops for you to dive into!  it also means that your investment in the co-op is very important, as is your individual passion and voice.

As a community, we need you! we need your enthusiasm and help to spread the word.  we need your help to think outside of the box and bring your passion to the table.  we need you to give feedback and suggestions and be an overall cheerleader for our community because you believe in it’s intrinsic value and benefit.  as a member you will be eligible to participate in biannual electorals to help steer the Wishstudio in a direction that is most beneficial for all, from organizational aspects, to our creative content and offerings, as well as overall member access and benefits. the first electoral will be in january of 2012.  the more people who are excited and invested in the Wishstudio C0-op, the richer all of our experiences will be.

This shift will also change the pay structure (and hopefully the mindset) in which we do business here in our studio. of course all of our teachers will be fairly compensated for their valued time, expertise, and expenses, which will come from member investments and contributions.  the emphasis of selling individual products and mass marketing will become less of the focus, and more energy can be directed toward the community itself.

the ripple effect of our collaborative efforts and dollars will create something with a unique heart and soul, and something that we all will be excited to be a part of!  whatever you are wishing for, we can do it together… join me!

Exciting stuff to come… Join today!

find out more more about becoming and member and shareholder, read the FAQ’s, and join the Co-op here!  also, check out our calendar of events with new offerings being added all the time, all of which will be FREE to members!  don’t forget to grab your new Co-op button to proudly wear and share (image an link below)!

(button link code): http://wishstudio.com/join-our-co-op-2/

see you all round the co-op!

by Stacy de la Rosa

Last month we explored where our starting points were on our maps, and we will be spending some time there in my next article before we head down the road. However, this month we are going to determine where it is we are going, our destination.

When defining what our dreams are for ourselves it isn’t always as clearly defined as it may seem. I used to be envious of those who I imagined had that one specific goal that was, in my mind, all encompassing for them. That thing they said they knew they were destined to do or become – an Olympic figure skater, a singer/songwriter, a musician, a surfer, a teacher, an actor.  All I ever knew for sure about myself was that I was creative and doing anything creative was the water for my garden, without it I shrivel. But being creative didn’t seem specific enough, especially when pursuing a specific dream – no one says “my dream is to be creative”. Each of us are already creative, that’s a given.

Our dreams also grow, change and evolve as we do. My dream many years ago was to work for the Walt Disney Co. as an artist, which became a reality. Years later it was to become a mama, which happily has now become my most treasured reality. Now, my dream is discovering how I can use my creativity to consciously connect with and serve others in a way that is authentic to my values. A big part of what I am exploring and creating is to help others awaken and connect to the beauty already present in their own lives. So, I am here holding hands with you, building my road map too.

But my dreams don’t end with my creative career pursuits, I also dream of living in Paris for a year, opening a bed and breakfast with my husband somewhere along the central coast, cultivating a beautiful and edible garden on my own property, dreadlocking my hair, teaching a workshop in Hawaii, leading 100-step photowalks around the world, writing a book, or five… the dream list goes on.

Late bloomer that I am, it took me a while to understand that we are allowed to pursue more than one creative dream. Hurrah! You mean, I DON’T have to choose just one passion to follow, because between you and me, a huge road block of mine for years was being told by many that I needed to choose just one path in order to be successful.  That falsehood kept me good and stuck for years. Do I choose photography? Do I choose writing? Do I choose designing? Do I try and get a loan to open up a boutique? Do I go to culinary school? I couldn’t choose just one so I chose nothing for a very long time.

Thank goddess that I finally embraced the truth that our dreams change, evolve and are plentiful for each of us and we don’t have to choose just one to follow. Instead, we are free to choose the ones which speak to us the loudest and find ways to bridge them and build roadmaps for them as a way to honor their calling. The beauty of this is recognizing that many of our dreams can work together. I know there are ways I can combine my dreams of photography, writing and food for instance.

So, how do we know which of our dreams speak to us the loudest?  Well, when we pay attention I think we already intuit the ones that light us up from within when we think or talk about them. But, if you are having some trouble defining which are calling out to you the loudest, I have a couple of suggestions.

1) Write them down: There is great power in writing something down. It gets it out of your head so you can see it with your eyes and release it from within you. Give yourself the gift of say twenty minutes to get quiet, clear out any and all distractions and just start writing them down. It doesn’t matter if the dream seems silly – one of my silly (to me) dreams is to be on television one day – just write them down and then notice which ones you keep coming back to afterward. Use your intuition for this part – that feeling inside you that excites you and speaks to you without words but emotion. Highlight or draw hearts or stars around the ones you keep staring at that are calling to you, even if you don’t know why you are drawn to it, even if you think you somehow shouldn’t be drawn to it. In a few days come back to the list and see if these same ones speak to you. If they do, these are the ones vying for your attention.

* A quick note about dreams vs. goals: Dreams are that which stir your soul and awaken your spirit. Goals are that which we create to turn our dreams into our reality. Try and pay attention to this difference as you define your dreams making sure you are not listing goals rather than dreams.

If you find yourself writing things such as “Making a million dollars before I am thirty” or “Winning the lottery” or “Getting out of debt”, you are on the goal road and will most likely hit a dead end soon if this is your sole motivation. Abundance is something we all want to achieve and is a valid and important goal to create, but dreams are never about money. Dreams are that thing within us that we would do even if we never made one penny given the opportunity. Dreams light us up because they are birthed within us to help or solve something the world needs. The beauty of awakening our truest dreams, those aligned with our highest values, is abundance always seems to hold hands with those that find and follow what calls out to them.

2) Try some of your dreams on to see how they fit and adjust where necessary: My first photography class was in junior high school. I fell in love with the fragileness of film, the smell of developer and the red-tinted sexiness of the darkroom. I even won an award for one of my photos. However, the technical aspect of the camera never made sense to me, I don’t grasp numbers well. Therefore, I never took pursuing photography very seriously. I never allowed myself to just have fun with it until a few years ago when I started my blog and wanted images to go along with my posts. I decided to just shoot photos for me and just play, without the pressure of needing to know the technical aspects or call myself a “professional”. In doing so I am finally starting to find my own voice and intuit my way around photography in a way that feels right for me and serves others.

I love cooking and all things food. For years I held a limiting belief that this meant that I should become a chef and work in a restaurant. I enrolled in culinary school and found nothing joyful about it. A few months after that I started my own catering company and found that while I enjoyed the planning aspect of putting an event together, the execution left me feeling depleted and uninspired – it would take me days to recover from an event. After trying this dream of a career in food on I found that cooking for the masses is not energizing to me and I am now in the process of discovering and creating other ways to share my love of food.

If there is something you are wonderfully and wildly curious about, whatever it is, try it before you decide you aren’t it.

3) Talk to a trusted friend: A while ago I was really struggling with defining some of my goals. I was having a hard time connecting what it was that I could offer based on what I already knew. A dear and trusted friend of mine asked me to just start talking about my passions and vision and so I did. And she simply listened. After I talked her most patient ear off, she shared with me that I used the same word about twenty-five times in my monologue and my whole being lit up and became animated when doing so. I couldn’t see what she saw in that moment. She gave me a mirror and a huge gift that day which I am grateful for.

Find someone you trust that will just listen to you and watch your body language without giving you advice about what you should or shouldn’t be doing. Talk to them without editing yourself for as long as it takes and then have them share their observations. Allow them to give you this gift and be open to receiving something you may have overlooked as part of your dream.

To create the beginnings of our road map we must first define where we are starting from and where we are going which we are exploring. Next up: Thoughts on unpacking our old baggage before packing for the road ahead.

by mindy tsonas

despite these (very) blurry pictures, it was an amazing night in the wishstudio.  yes, in the wishstudio!!!  and even though the studio was far from ready, there was such beautiful creative energy that swirled around in that little space.  the notion of “tribe” and “journey” and “process”, all those words we throw around so liberally round these parts were deeply, silently, yet vibrantly woven threads connecting us for a few sweet hours around a messy table.

for me, it was realizing the necessity of THIS, of just being together will my fellow creatives, and it also reaffirmed the notion that if this is my life, it is more than enough!  i just want to be elbow deep in paint, laughing out loud over silly things, sharing ideas and dreams, and finding ways to do it together, and light up each other’s lives!

this is markedly the beginning of something… something deeply personal and soul-shifting for me… and this is also the end of something else, the way i used to envision Wishstudio.  thank you dear friends for being a part of it all.  for making my life what it is, blissfully immersed in the raw… kat, brittany, nina, miranda, heidi, jill, and ellen… and all of YOU in our creative community!

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“A healthy social Life is found only when in the mirror of each soul in the whole community finds its reflection.”

~rudolf steiner

by Michelle Cohen

Inhale.

Exhale.

It’s something we all do nearly 21,600 times a day*.   And for most of us, it’s something we take for granted, as it happens so automatically, so easily, and well, clearly, we’ve been doing it for our entire lives.  But the beauty of the breath is that it’s a function of our body that operates without our assistance, but also the only one that we can consciously control and manipulate.  (We can’t tell our heart to beat or our liver to stop filtering toxins).  Conscious breathing is also called mindful breathing, where we bring our attention to each in-breath and each out-breath that we take.  Focusing on our breath allows us to anchor our mind to our body and to actually step into the present moment. (Instead of the pretend moment that most of us live in, which is usually thoughts of the past or the future—anything but the NOW that lies in front of us).

And all it takes is just noticing: As Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Vietnamese Buddhist Monk teaches, breathing in, I know I am breathing in, breathing out I know I am breathing out.  It’s that simple (but not so easy, I know). By engaging in specific breathing practices we can unlock and release stagnant emotions, create healthful practices for the body, and embrace the wondrous life we were gifted.

In this space, I hope to offer (and explore along with you!) a variety of breathing methods, some yogic wisdom and inspiration, and discuss how these ancient practices can help fuel our desire and passion for living our most creative life.  But although I am a yoga teacher, I am first and foremost still a student.

In any given day, 21,593 breaths that I enjoy are taken for survival—in the midst of caring for two small, exuberant children, navigating crazy Washington, D.C. traffic, and juggling a million responsibilities.  But the few times when I remember to slow down, bring my awareness to my breath and PAUSE, my perspective shifts and changes the entire quality of the experience I find myself in.   Breathing in and breathing out, I reground myself.  Breathing in and breathing out, I am happy to be alive.

Becoming aware of our breath is the very first step.  From that place of awareness, we can then learn to deepen the breath, manipulate it to alter our nervous system in positive ways and learn that with the breath all things are possible.  Only with the breath, of course, is anything really possible.  So I encourage you to just breathe.  And notice.  And, please, let me know how it goes.

*Based on the average of 15 breaths per minute, found here.

A practice for mindful breathing as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh:

As you inhale and exhale, recite this poem to yourself.

Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment
I know this is a wonderful moment.

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far it is possible to go.

~ t.s. eliot

under a mighty and wise old oak, in the place where i call home, something special is
taking root where

…dreams will be made

…lessons will be learned

…friendships will take hold

…ideas will blossom

…creativity will be discovered

…truth will be found

…stories will be told

…brave hearts will crack open

…support will be shared

…laughter will prevail

…joyful messes will be made

…community will connect

…adventures await

…resources will be gathered

…girls will grow strong

…You, will be seen and celebrated

…lives will be inspired

…all of our wishes will be given wings!

*our first Open Studio is November 26th, 2011.  hope you will stop by and say hello.

Wishstudio
21 Middle Street
Newburyport, MA 01950

come by and join our new facebook page

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