She Can Create: Creativity Classes for Women

“As a workshop leader, Lisa brings a sense of excitement and passion few can match. Her enthusiasm rubs off on the participants, now co-creators, in a world of movement and creativity carefully explored and unleashed in a safe, fun-filled experience. Lisa is both a masterful facilitator and a catalyst for stepping into the unknown. With such warmth and humour, she truly creates a joyous atmosphere in her classes and workshops.” - Beth Mairs, Director ofWild Woman Expedition

She Can Create: Creativity Classes for Women

Join us for an experiential woman's creative group that meets once a week to play and create using a variety of different inspirations. Focusing on self-expression and the desire to bring more art to our lives we will use Collage, Storytelling, Movement, Doll making, Beadwork and Journaling to jumpstart our creativity and help create unique pieces of art and find ways how to continue creating after the classes are finished. Lisa will also talk about the overcoming creative blocks, taking steps to complete projects and letting the world know about your work. A sure fire inspiring workshop, register early to avoid disappointment as there is a limited amount of participants.

Wednesday Nights from 6:30 to 9:30

June 3, 10, 17 and 24

Location: Labspace Studio's at Queen and Pape

Price: $175

To register and place a deposit to hold your spot  please email Lisa atlisa@girlcancreate.com or call 416-516-4925

 

The Book of Judith

Michael Rubenfeld is a Toronto artist who has created a show about  Judith Snow: pioneer and leading advocate for disability.  Judith has changed Michael's life.   

I have been following Michael's blog from the beginning of this show, to today which is his fifth show. I really appreciate his honesty and how he shares his thoughts about this process both personally and artistically. It's pretty inspiring. You should check it out for yourself here. 

I am going on Wednesday to see this important piece of theatre. Anyone care to join me?

Letter Update!

June 3rd Update! 

We have close to 90 letters and some coming from away.  I am amazed at the hearts and kindness of others.  We have decided to create a fabric folder for the letters.  We have a special addition to the letters, but i can't talk about that quite yet.  I am getting it together for July 5, my dad's birthday! Can't wait!

On April 16, I posted here about The Kindness of Strangers Letter Writing Campaign. 

After letting people know about my dad's dealings with bone cancer, i asked people to write letters of hope and encouragement.  And i asked them to send them to their friends, and so on and so on so that we could reach as large a radius as possible.  Well, so far, we have received 42 letters from as close as the next street over and as far away as China and Ireland.  It has been an amazing time receiving these letters.  I can't wait to give them to my parents.  

But before i do that, i want to send out a reminder about this one last time.  I have decided that i am going to create some sort of book to hold the letters with random quotes, photos and comments from me.  I am planning to present this to my parents on June 5 which will be the last day of my father's thalidomide treatments.  We don't know what will happen after that, so i think that the letters will be a much need boost of love, light and inspiration.  

I also am wondering if there are any school teachers or people with children who might be interested in contributing to this.  I know my dad's face lights up when he sees work from children and it really gives him more hope in the world.  That would be very special!

If you are inspired, please take a moment to read the original post here and sit down for 15 minutes to write a letter from your heart.  And if you can't think of anything to write, a nice quote, a stunning image, or just a "thinking of you during this difficult time" will work as well.  It really is the thought that counts.   

You have all given me such hope everyday as i see the letters coming in from far and wide.  

I learnt something very special with this project.  If you ever need anything, please do ask.  Many people, even strangers are willing and happy to help.  It truly is amazing.  You might just be surprised at the Kindness of Strangers.  

Thank you all so very much, i have such gratitude and love to you all.  I will remember this for  the rest of my life.  Brilliant really.  Brilliant. 

Necessary Rain

Magnolia closeups, originally uploaded by girlcancreate.

Although i don't love the rain, i know that it's important to get things growing! We did our front garden, and will do the backyard this weekend! What fun!

Enjoy the rain and feed yourself some food for thought!

Markets

A few weeks ago we went to the Elora Antique Market where we found some good stuff.  Good, not great.  There was a lot of glass and china and big furniture which just isn't our thing.  

When Dave and i do the markets, we look for quirky little things, ephemera and old books for my collages, and of course vinyl for our record collection.  Nothing fancy really, just cool stuff that strikes our fancy.

So we were quite pleased when a lovely lady  mentioned the Southworks Market in Cambridge. We drove there and were so happy with our findings.  

And now, it's the season that every Sunday we go on a road trip in search of something marketish.  Along the way we always meet cats, have good food, and laugh a lot.  Perfect really.  

Collage Love

Last week, before becoming super duper sick, i spent some time in the studio and came up with a bunch of collages on birch board.

When i work with ephemera, i tend to let it tell me what to do, the colours to choose, and where to place it.
A lot of people get very upset when i use old books in my art. The way i see it is that they are books that would probably go in the garbage and I am giving them new life. I also love reading about the fashions, and proper etiquette of the times. So fun.

I am not sure if i should put these on my etsy shop, or if i should wait until i have a few shows. Thoughts?

Beautiful Beatrice

Beautiful Beatrice, originally uploaded by girlcancreate.

I've been sick for the past two days and this is the little face that is taking care of me. Now only if she could make chicken noodle soup and ginger tea..;-)

Inspiration Plus

I haven't written in a while, it's been a challenging time. Today i decided to take a day to just have fun and went to see Theatre Replacement's performance of BioBoxes. What a beautiful piece of art. 

It was a reminder of why people's life stories fascinate me most. 

Each story is told to an audience of one. All based on true stories they are initmate, clever, touching and beautiful. 

The two stories that touched me most were that of Anna told by Marco Soriano and a Japanese story by Cindy Mochizuki. 

Although this video is only a little sample of the magic that i experienced this afternoon, enjoy and take time to listen to the short snippets of life. 

Take a moment to reflect stories of those that inspire you and those that you don't know yet!