Arts and Wellness Cafe - Tending to Your Dreams

Welcome to the Arts and Wellness Cafe!

In this episode we look at the importance of tending to your dreams and how the arts and your creative activities can have a positive effect on your health and wellbeing.

Come and be Creative and see in the New Year!

 

Come and join us again to see this year out and the New Year in with Artsy Meet-up Marathon.  

20+ hours of creativity, it is a fantastic way to bring in the New Year!

This is the fourth year that Kiala has invited us to have fun together creating and just hanging out, and this is my 4th year as one of the teachers and creating art. This is one of the best ways that I know to celebrate 2026.

It starts at 10AM Central Time Dec. 31st. We will create Live until 9:30am Central on January 1, 2026. Every hour or so we will have a new lesson, tutorial, or demo. Everything is recorded and will be available to you for the first 6 months of 2026. There will also be replays, a private group on Mighty Network, plus select replays from previous Marathons, not to forget a number of bookbinding tutorials already there to get your creative juices flowing.

You don’t have to be there for the entire time, you can just show up when you can & create. The schedule is live - so you can check out who is teaching when. The line up is below.

For schedules and more information, click HERE

Courageous in your Creativity - Get Messy Art Interview

 

I recently did an interview with Claudette from Get Messy Art about my work, creativity, showing up and the messy middle.  Come and join us and join in the conversation!

Before you go - Check out my Free Digital Art papers for December:

Join Us for the Season of Splendor on -16th November

 

I am excited to tell you about the Sharing Season for 2025 - over at the Ugly Art Club!

For several years, they have brought the art community together for a bit of holiday sharing, a celebration centered on handmade gifts and the spirit of generosity during this Season of Splendor and the hosts are going to continue the tradition once again!

Learn More Here

This year’s festivities begin with a four-hour live workshop featuring Tiffany, Kristin, and DeeDee on November 16th, 2025, from 1 PM to 5 PM CST. During the session, you can look forward to lively conversation, creative making, and plenty of sharing it will be a fantastic time for all.

Once the live event has finished the inspiration will continue and the classroom will remain open and be filled with even more creative ideas and tutorials. 

I will be one of the guest artists, and there will be other familiar faces from The Ugly Art Club, and we will also contribute a pre-recorded lessons to keep the creative spark alive.

Do you want to join us?  Get ready to dive in, create, and absolutely shine this holiday season with beautiful handmade gifts!

Check it out TODAY!

Stitched Folk, Side Kicks and Solar Dyeing - Material Musings

   

This month in Material Musings, creativity thrived in unexpected ways. I have really been inspired by the students take of my lesson on Fodder School.  Some experimented with turning their 'make fodder' into brooches, journals, and coasters - it was inspiring to see ideas all the ideas take shape. 

I managed to create a fabric cover for my 'Side Kick' journal shared by Wendy from Fodder School - you can check out the projects HERE 

Join us on Material Musings below

As I played around with the solar dyed fabric, I used some of my handmade stamps to enhance the designs.  I had to stay flexible with my unexpected results.

Solar dyeing with flowers produced surprising colors, turning “mistakes” into unique textures. Fabric scraps found new life in stitched clusters, pockets, and homemade stamps featuring birds, abstract shapes, and dandelions. 

I also launched Stitched Folk, exploring stitched figures on canvas, the course is fun and you get to create your own stitched canvas piece. 

 Looking forward to seeing you!

Exciting News: Gratitude Junk Journal 2025 + A Free Spot Giveaway!

I am so excited to share some wonderful news with you, I will be teaching in Gratitude Junk Journal 2025, a beautiful online workshop hosted by the Tiare Smith! This year promises to be better than ever, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of it.

Alongside 12 other inspiring artist instructors, we’ll be guiding you through 30 days of joy, creativity, and gratitude. Together, we’ll open our hearts, celebrate our creative spirits.

But that’s not all…

I’m giving away a FREE spot in Gratitude Junk Journal 2025! 

How to Enter the Giveaway:

Giveaway runs until 30th September!

• Make sure you are a member of my Patreon (You can join here on the FREE tier or higher). 
• Leave a comment on the giveaway post sharing two things you’re grateful for in your creative journey.

You can also grab two additional chances to win [HERE].

What You Can Expect from the Workshop:

Every day, you’ll receive a new creative challenge designed to help you reflect, play, and practice gratitude. Some days it will be a question to ponder, other days a fun activity or art prompt. Each little step will guide you toward discovering more joy and creative flow.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with: 

• A beautiful altered book transformed into your personal gratitude journal.
• Gorgeous art journal pages filled with meaning.
• A daily practice of gratitude that sparks creativity and helps reduce stress.
• New ways to use what you already have to make amazing art.
• Techniques for backgrounds, layers, and textures you’ll use again and again.
• A JOY-filled heart, more love, and a smile that comes from deep within.

This isn’t just about making art, it’s about connecting with gratitude, finding inspiration in the everyday, and reminding ourselves of the light and joy that lives inside us.  Are you ready to Join Us?

If this sounds like something that speaks to you, don’t miss your chance to enter the giveaway today! Sign up for FREE and Leave your comment on Patreon and you and will be entered into the prize draw.

👉 ENTER TO WIN TODAY!

I am looking forward to seeing you inside Gratitude Junk Journal 2025 and share this creative journey with you.

With many blessings,
Amanda 💖

Digital Art Papers September - Patrons

 

Here are the papers for September's Digital Download on Patreon for the $3 Tier.   If you join us on the $3 Tier you will have access to all the previously posted content which spans 3 years and includes digital and video resources for your creative project.

We have a Free Tier and a set of papers for you to access for the month and a series of exclusive posts and videos on the tier so that you can wet your feet and see how you like it.   

Free Tier Papers 

The aim for the papers are to encourage you to do something creative with what you have and provide you with beautiful imagery that you can play around with.

 

It is very important to find ways in which you can motivate and encourage yourself, especially in those times where you are feeling off or if you want a low energy project or even only have a short time.

The digital downloads are available on Patreon for you to enjoy, why not come and check it out and have a play with the papers.

Find out more HERE

Digital Art Papers - July - Patreon

 

Here are the selection of papers for July's Digital Download on Patreon for the $3 Tier.   If you join us on the $3 Tier you will have access to all the previously posted content which spans 3 years and includes digital and video resources for your creative project.

  

We have a Free Tier and a set of papers for you to access for the month and a series of exclusive posts and videos on the tier so that you can wet your feet and see how you like it.   

Free Tier Papers 

 

$10 Tier Papers

The aim for the papers are to encourage you to do something creative with what you have and provide you with beautiful imagery that you can play around with.

$15 Tier Papers  

It is very important to find ways in which you can motivate and encourage yourself, especially in those times where you are feeling off or if you want a low energy project or even only have a short time.

The digital downloads are available on Patreon for you to enjoy, why not come and check it out and have a play with the papers.

Find out more HERE

Art Journals - Filling Your Creative Well - Blog Series

 

Art Journaling Adventures

Welcome to Day 1 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge that will be taking place for the month of July.  Over the next 31 days I am going to be sharing different ways to encourage yourself to be more creative and I will share the different ways being creative has encouraged and inspired me.  If you give them a try they may encourage and inspire you too!

Today we look at Art Journaling - which can come in a variety of forms and everyone has their own style.  Essentially art journaling is a great way to express your creative thoughts and emotions or just have a play with your art supplies. In your art journal you can add color, layers and find ways to represent how you feel on paper.

I love creating my own Art Journals and work in a variety of ways in them.  Sometimes I might not be able to articulate what is on my mind, so I start with color on the page and create a series of backgrounds.  I might also do some mark-making adding shapes and patterns, and will also use stamps and stencils.  Spending time on the activity helps relax me and enables me to process my thoughts.

In this video I share an example of art journals I created using recycled materials

Where do you start?

You are going to start from where you are.  Look at your supplies, and start there, and of course if you have a wide selection of supplies don’t try and use everything.  An example of some of the things you can use are paints, paper ephemera, magazines, markers, glue, or fabric scraps - whatever you feel like playing with. There are no rules. It is not about creating “beautiful” pages, but about making space for expression and experimentation.

Start by creating a background. You can use washes of color, collage pieces, or even scribbles. From there, follow your instinct. Perhaps a word or phrase comes to you. Maybe you draw a shape that reflects how you feel. You might choose to layer materials or textures that tell a silent story. You can also write a sentence on the page: “Today I feel…” Then start to build color, shape, or texture around that feeling. Layer over it if you want.

Art Journal Variety

Art journaling offers a daily creative check-in. Even ten minutes can help you reconnect. Your journal is a creative playground that you can tap into whenever the mood takes you.  Over time you might even get the urge to create your own journals.  Allow yourself to go with the flow and see what your needs are at the time.

Remember: your art journal is your well. You can use it to refill, restore and reflect 

Takeaway Nuggets:

1. Art journaling invites you to blend emotion, imagery, and reflection into your creative practice. 
2. There are no rules - go at your own pace!

Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey

Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.

FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here

YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here

Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .

Why Do you Create? Reflections - Arts and Wellness Cafe

 

Have you ever paused to ask yourself, “Why do I create?”  Not what you create or how, but why?  We explore this in the Arts and Wellness Café - take some time to ponder for yourself.

For me, creating has always been a path to healing, expression, and connection. Over the years, art has helped me process emotion, reconnect with nature, and feel grounded.

Staying Inspired

To keep inspiration flowing, I’ve developed small but meaningful habits:  

• I keep a grab-and-go kit nearby - just a mini journal, a water brush, and a few colors - so I can create anywhere. 
• I make playlists that match different moods, some calm, some energizing - to move my creative state. 
• And I step outside regularly. Even just five minutes with the trees, the wind, or birdsong resets everything. 

These simple strategies help me return to creativity even when it feels like I am in the valley.

The Heart 

What keeps me going is not pressure to sell or perform, but the deeper things such as joy and personal growth.  I believe in continuous learning, experimenting freely, and asking the question 'what if'. Every time I teach a new technique or post a behind-the-scenes peek at my process, I hope it encourages someone else to show up for their own creativity. 

Coming Back to Purpose

When I stay connected to why I create, everything else feels clearer. I feel grounded. Inspired. Capable of growing - not just in skill, but in presence and connection.  So - think about why you create, why you do what you do and boldly step out giving yourself the permission to enjoy the adventure!  

Check out the video, leave a comment, share and have fun, but most of all stay blessed and be a blessing!

Abandoned Fabric Projects? - Material Musings

 Abandoned Fabric Projects? - Material Musings

Do you have any abandoned creative projects that need to be given a new lease of life?  Join us on Material Musings today!

Here are some of the projects 

Sometimes all it takes is for you to go through them, see what supplies you are using now, and you may get that spark to revisit and maybe even finish the project.  It works with any type of creative project!

100 Days of Leaf Art - Week 14 - Completing the Project!

Week 14: Completing the 100-Day Project & What’s Next?

Made it to the end!!

Reaching the end of this journey has reinforced my belief in daily creativity, persistence, and the magic of working with nature.  As I pushed through, I did some branch weaving and made some jewelry from the leaves.

But this isn’t the end—just a stepping stone. Now, I’m thinking of ways to take what I’ve learned and apply it to future projects.

Creative Tip: Start planning your next creative endeavor! Could you turn this into a larger series? A collection of framed works? A book? Reflect on how this your project has shaped your artistic direction.

Weaving with the branches

Encouragement: The end is just the beginning. Keep creating, keep exploring, and keep sharing your uniquely creative gifts with the world.

Making Jewelry from the leaves

Branch Weaving

Want to learn more?

Join me in my Leaf Arts - Transforming Nature into Art course for guided lessons on leaf art techniques! 

Come and join us on the course and learn to create your own beautifully designed leaves!

100 Days of Leaf Art - Week 13

Week 13: Observing the Finish Line

With only a couple of weeks left, I focus on refining techniques, looking at additional designs to see which designs speak to me the most and reviewing my creative experience.   This week I have worked on leaves that are just starting to turn brown, they still have a greenish tinge to them.

Rather than rushing to the finish line, I take time to appreciate each step. The process has been just as valuable as the final result.

Creative Tip: Document your journey by photographing your leaves, writing about your experience, or sharing insights on social media. Reflect on what you’ve learned.

Encouragement: Every piece is a milestone. Whether you made 100 leaves or 10, you’ve achieved something remarkable.

Keep the momentum going: Join my Leaf Arts course to continue exploring mixed media techniques.

100 Days of Leaf Art - Week 13

Want to learn more?

Join me in my Leaf Arts - Transforming Nature into Art course for guided lessons on leaf art techniques! 

Come and join us on the course and learn to create your own beautifully designed leaves!

100 Days of Leaf Art - Week 12

Week 12: Bringing It All Together - a couple of weeks to go!!

At this stage, my collection of leaf art feels like a cohesive body of work. Each piece tells a story, and together, they showcase my artistic growth.

This is the time to refine my favorite techniques and bring all elements together. Some leaves remain stand-alone pieces, while others are arranged in clusters for more complex compositions.

 

Creative Tip: Consider how your pieces work as a series. Could they be framed together? Used in a handmade book? Think about presentation and how to showcase your work.

  

Encouragement: Your art is a reflection of your journey. Celebrate everything you’ve created so far!

Want ideas for presenting your work? The Leaf Arts course includes suggestions for framing, displaying, and preserving your pieces.

Want to learn more?

Join me in my Leaf Arts - Transforming Nature into Art course for guided lessons on leaf art techniques! 

Come and join us on the course and learn to create your own beautifully designed leaves!