Stephanie's Studio

J is for Jewels Even if you don’t think you own any jewels, you still probably have ideas about them. Jewels are precious. Jewels are beautiful. They shimmer and shine. Jewels are multifaceted. Jewels are valuable. They are very special. Jewels are timeless and can be passed from one owner to the next. Even then, the jewel still holds precision, promise and power. Jewels come in many forms. They vary in shape, size, color, weight, beauty and value. You typically need to hunt, quite a while to find just the right jewel for your needs. This can be dangerous, physically taxing or even exhausting work. Then once you discover your jewel, it needs to be polished and finally displayed, worn or otherwise utilized. In terms of being Creative Block Hacks, jewels are nonpareil.  Even the tiniest jewel can be strung together with, perhaps less valuable materials, and still create an outstanding and statement. I like the idea of hunting through your rep...

A is for Artful Living I start teaching preschool soon at a school that practices the Reggio Emilio philosophy, and I can hardly wait. This mode of teaching began in Northern Italy in a town called Reggio Emilio. Rather than teaching so much, we are adult facilitators of a child-lead program. I ‘m eager to delve in because I’m certain children have much to teach and at whatever age, there is much to learn. Mother's Day Bouquet c. 2015, Stephanie Rose Bird One of the hallmarks of Reggio Emilio is that the children’s environment needs to be beautiful. A beautiful environment is my suggestion today for cracking creative blocks.  Here are some suggestions: 1.        Put Himalayan salt in the corners of your room. Himalayan salt is especially purifying and will draw bad energy from your space. 2.        Put white vinegar in a bowl in the center of your space to draw away bad odors. 3.  ...

Friday, the day of Goddess Venus, is a day of love.  I find that my creativity flows best on Fridays. It seems to be a day of getting in the zone and a day of process flow. I know a lot of people seem to blow off Fridays but I think its informality in the workplace adds to its tendency to aid productivity. Realizing you have done just about all you can do before calling an end to the week releases pressure and inhibitions allowing true creativity to take root.  I have long been an admirer and worshipper of Venus.  I seek her in the mindset of the days of old when she was a revered as a symbol of the divinely feminine. Within the femininity of Venus lies fertility of all sorts and with that there is power. This ATC I made last year embodies the mystery, symbolism and power of Venus.