heart-warming stories

I’ve been reflecting lately, how much we need to hear and share more heartwarming stories and positivity in the world, for our own wellbeing. So much of the world, and especially the internet, is filled with fear, clickbait and our own mind’s negative bias it can feel so fast-paced, uncertain and overwhelming.

So I have been motivated to share some of my joys and those that have been shared with me, to try and balance the algorithms and make us all feel a little better about the world- even if it’s just a tiny part of it.

So here are some of the things that have made my heart melt, swell and fill, I hope you can share the joy and feel better reading my heartwarming stories from my Calming Art Workshops.

A Tale of Two Sisters

My first workshop for the year had two adult sisters. One organised the workshop to spend some time with the other, they were so lovely, even though we’d just met we all shared hugs goodbye afterwards.

When I read on their feedback form: “A lovely calming end to the weekend and special time spent with my sister” I quickly learned I was going to have to read these in the car afterwards so no one would see me crying. I too had just spent some time with my own sister who lives interstate, so it really plucked at my heart strings.

Me, Mum and Grandma

The beautiful Sarah is also an ex-teacher and works at my Elwood venue. I invited Sarah to the first Elwood workshop and she brought her Mum along, which was … just… oh my heart again!

As if that wasn’t enough, they bought a calming art kit at the end of the workshop and did some of the activities at home with Sarah’s 94 year old Grandmother and sent me a photo of her with art work and one of the bookmarks they’d made in the workshop.

Stop it, where are the tissues!

Hello Grandma

Isn’t she just the most gorgeous! I can’t even explain my delight in watching the video message they sent me.

It’s almost too much!

The connection, the gratitude, so important for our wellbeing, and across three generations- it’s these moments in life to be treasured.

Baby Sprinkle

I met Priyanka at a business networking event and we talked about my concept of creating keepsake framed artworks through collaborative workshops. When she contacted me, I thought it was going to be for a team building event, but I ended up customising a workshop for her, a Baby Shower! This was for second baby, which I’m now told is called a Baby Sprinkle.

So one morning in Priyanka’s backyard, we created an artwork together for the nursery using watercolours and lots of love.

Bubbles of Joy

We created an art work called “Bubbles of Joy” for the nursery.

We used watercolour on circle paper to create bubbles and collaborated to include words of love and support for the Mum-to-be, from this beautiful friendship group along with handmade cards with heartfelt messages.

Now she has a visual reminder of all that love on the nursery wall, as she’ll no doubt need it for those middle of the night feeds.

You can find out more about these Special Occasion workshops here

Oh the joy…

This gorgeous girl is going to be the best big sister ever!

Memories of joy

I’ve been told that since our workshop, whenever Mum is feeling emotional about the new baby on the way, she looks at the photo’s from this special workshop…and I tell you it works on me too.

Such a beautiful friendship group and beautiful event.

Creativity and Connection

Sharon was in my first Box Hill workshop. She later sent me a message she’d been “inspired to make more cards for family and friends...”

Making things for others is not just about the recipient, it makes us feel better too!

She and I had chatted about a friend of hers she thought would love my workshops.

She let me know:

“I thought of you and your workshop when the quote I used [on her gift] caught my eye...”

Sharon’s Gift

And then she really got me:

“the world has become so chaotic people can't see beyond what's right in front of them... 

So, in essence what you are doing is what people need...” 

Wow!

The same week I got Sharon’s email I was at an International Women’s Day event where one of the speakers quoted Michelle Obama:

“Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives” Michelle Obama

So true.

It’s been a beautiful start to my little creative business this year, hopefully it flourishes as the year continues.

I can see the impact it’s having, that what genuinely helps me is resonating with others. It gets me straight in the ‘feels’. To be honest I didn’t know if I’d ever find it again after needing to leave my art teaching career behind in search of a calmer life.

I am following the joy and spreading the calm! Hopefully with enough small business momentum to sustain itself.

I hope you enjoyed my heartwarming stories and they’ve made you feel a little better. Focus on the warmth, the joy, the good, to try to balance out the rest.

There were more stories to tell, you know who you are! And thank you to every one for allowing me to share your stories. I continue to be struck by the generosity of the beautiful humans who are finding me.

Hope to see you at a workshop or online soon.

Hope to see you at a workshop or online soon.

With kindness and creativity,

Em