Creative Reflecting - Arts and Wellness Cafe

 

Today’s Arts and Wellness Café we take a mindful pit stop to ground ourselves and reflect on our current progress especially around nurturing our creativity and well-being.

What have been your 'words for the year'? And how have you kept them in your focus for the things that you have on your schedule - all the things that we seem to find on our plate or 'to-do' lists.

Continuous learning is important to me and making sure that I keep up-to-date with the latest technology or mixed media technique is something that I include in my 'learning schedule' for the year.

What are the ways in which you reflect on how you have done for the past 10 months and what things are you going to put in place as we bring the year to a close? Join us in the Arts and Wellness Cafe where we can look at how to make the most of the time we have, enrich our lives and be an inspiration to others.

LEARN MORE HERE

Explore, Stamp and Play - Material Musings

 

Come and dive into the world of mixed media art, and stamping.


Material Musings: Exploring Stamps, Stories, and Surfaces

Welcome to October’s Material Musings! This month, we’re diving into the wonderful world of stamps, from foam and homemade to digital and store-bought. I’ve gathered a whole collection from my studio shelves, many I haven’t used in years, and it feels like rediscovering old creative friends.

I first started experimenting with foam stamps made from a roll of camping mat my son once used for outdoor adventures. That same foam became the base for countless shapes and textures which shows that creativity can come from the most unexpected places!

Throughout October on my channel, I’ll be exploring how to use these different kinds of stamps on fabric and paper, sharing techniques for layering, mark making, and breathing new life into forgotten materials. We’ll also play with office stamps, sentiment stamps, and those mysterious supplies tucked away in drawers — turning them into textured surfaces ready for slow stitching or mixed media projects.

By the end of the month, I’ll gather the fabrics and papers we’ve created and transform them into a final stitched project. So gather your scraps, pull out your stamps, and join me in making something beautifully imperfect — one impression at a time.

Before You go:

Join us on Making Zen - the VIP Pass is now available and will give you access to the courses and bonuses

Sign Up for FREE HERE

Making Zen Teachers

Learn about the Teachers

Making Zen - Get Your FREE Ticket 27th - 31st November 2025

 

 

What to Do with All Those Scraps? Join Me at Making Zen Online Retreat!

Do you have piles of scrap fabric, loose beads, and leftover threads that you just can’t bring yourself to throw away? You’re not alone! The good news is, I’ll be showing you a fun way to recycle them into something truly magical, a gorgeous stitched creature on canvas - An owl to be exact.

And here’s the best part: this project will be part of the Making Zen Online Retreat, happening 27th–31st October 2025.

LEARN MORE

If you’ve never joined before, Making Zen is a textile/arts focused retreat that brings together nearly 30 talented artists, each offering a unique workshop over five creative filled days. The workshops are free to watch for 24 hours, and is plenty of time to dive in, experiment, and connect with other creatives around the world.

If you don't have your ticket yet, don't worry, it is completely free to sign up on the Making Zen website!  My session will be live for 24 hours, and you’ll also have access to a whole lineup workshops. If you’d like extended access, there’s a VIP Pass available too.

While we’re on the topic, here are just a few reasons why textile activities are so beneficial: 

• Boosts mindfulness – Focusing on textures and stitches calms the mind and reduces stress.
• Enhances creativity – Textiles let you play with colors, patterns, and layers in new and exciting ways.
• Improves fine motor skills – Repetitive actions like stitching and weaving strengthen hand-eye coordination.

So gather up those scraps, save the date, and come stitch with me! I can’t wait to share this beautiful process with you at the retreat.

Sign up for you spot for FREE HERE

Digital Art Papers - October - Patreon

 

Here are the papers for October'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