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Paths and acorns are powerful symbols for me – you’ll find acorns sprinkled throughout the site, as well as in my brand/logo. And that dappled sunlit path above? It leads to one of my favourite places and is one I’ve walked many times. I’ve taken ‘path’ photos in all seasons, in many locations. To me, it represents the path I walk on my life journey: stepping into those pockets of light, listening for that inner voice to guide me, knowing and trusting that each step shapes my own becoming in the same way that the tiny acorn is encoded to grow into a mighty oak tree.
As a shy and quiet child, books and my imagination were my closest friends: reading, crayons and paper doll families provided hours of play and entertainment. Sketching became my creative pastime as a teen, with photos of favourite musicians, landscapes, or any neighbourhood children who’d sit still long enough as my subjects. I was happiest creating and making things, but art classes filled up year after year in school – and I was far too shy to ask (or beg) to be let in.
Adulthood brought grown-up responsibilities and little time for artistic pursuits. Even so, my creative voice found an outlet in home, garden, and stitching stories with needle and thread.
When painful memories surfaced and several life events cracked my heart open, art revealed itself as soul medicine and my creative companion once again – offering gifts of curiosity, play, wonder and meaning. I fully embraced this heART-led, healing path with a beginners mind and spirit, finding joy in my own creative process as well as nurturing it in others through small group workshops and retreats.
My studies led me to explore the places where spirituality, psychology, and art meet and overlap. The discovery and subsequent training in the field of Expressive Arts allowed me to weave and apply those interests to create a life and body of work that has meaning and purpose, feeds my creative spirit, and makes my heart sing.
As a self-taught artist and avid reader, my creative voice is often drawn to expression within the pages of a book or journal. I love making my own books, and using old papers, rusty bits, fabric and found objects: an inspiring poem or quote, nature, an image, my intuition and the creative process guides my hand.
My work as an Expressive Arts Educator is rooted in the belief that art taps into our own deep wellspring of wisdom and imagination, and becomes the catalyst that guides us towards transformation, growth and healing. I believe in the value of life-long learning – some of the classes I’ve taught, special events, and my professional development can be found here.
Though my home town is along Lake Erie’s sunshine coast, I’ve called Alberta *home* for many years. Winters are long, summers are glorious, and all of its seasons and landscapes delight my senses and inspire my creativity.
I love connecting with other creative souls, sharing the beauty of our natural surroundings, expressing our heART stories and in particular, “paying attention as we listen each other into being.”
I’m excited to connect with YOU through expressive creativity!
With heARTful gratitude,
My *home* is on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Metis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. I acknowledge their footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.
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