Six Years Ago Today
Sometimes dreams become reality. Six years ago today I opened the doors to Unfold Your Creative Spirit Studio! For years I had always found multiple ways to bring art and creativity into my life. I had studied art in college. I had learned a million crafts. But the most meaningful creative expression I'd stumbled upon was art journaling, a no rules expressive practice that combined imagery and color and words on the page and was not only creatively satisfying but also cathartic and addicting! I was passionate about art journaling in my own life and also about bringing it to people who needed that kind of creative outlet.
In 2013 I was so fortunate to have landed at Congregation Ner Shalom (the former Cotati Cabaret) as my spiritual home and then to find that they had a bright and spacious room available to rent. In February of of 2014 I began renting it one day a week, in June I opened full-time for multiple classes a week. I finally could introduce expressive art journaling to the wonderful people who walked into my bright and cheerful creative playground. I finally had a place for all the art supplies I'd collected over the years! The creative candyshop that is Unfold Studio was born!
For the past six years I have been on my own journey of discovery inside that beautiful, inspiring space. I have discovered that all the paths of my life had led me to that place, and to my life's work, facilitating the expressive arts. I also had the good fortune to be led to an expressive arts training program in 2015 where I became certified, found my professional creative community, and became more experienced in the holding of deep, transformative, creative space.
Lives have been changed at Unfold Studio. So many insights found and experiences had that have moved my students to new places in their lives. So many tears shed. (So many boxes of kleenex!) If you've been there with me, you know what I mean. In fact, you may be one of the many people who've been touched by the power of self-expression through art making. You may know personally how giving your wordless heart a voice has opened you up to new awarenesses and new possibilities in your life. How you've been healing and growing through art journaling.
And now, with the pandemic, Unfold Studio is all online, of course. My experience and foundation online put me in good shape to transition seamlessly to the internet. So, for now, the doors to the studio are closed and all my work takes place on Zoom.
Even though I love teaching online, it's still strange to be celebrating the anniversary of my amazing, gorgeous, inviting, and inspiring studio without being able to be there. Without knowing when I'll be able to teach there again. Without YOU!
The future of Unfold Studio is unknown at this point. Everything is still there. The rubber stamps and stencils. The cans of paintbrushes and colored pencils. I know they all miss you.
I hope that in person classes will be possible within the next year. I hope that one day in the not-too-distant future we will be able to have a reopening party and celebrate the feeling of being in each others' company and energy while we create. With or without masks!
I invite you to help me keep Unfold going while we wait out this terrible pandemic. In honor of Unfold's 6th anniversary, might you make a supporting donation? I would be ever so grateful for that helping hand. Thank you for your support through the years and going forward!
