A Creative Approach Podcast

If you're a creative person with a desire to give something back to your community, you will really enjoy today's show, with Karen's bubbly and inspiring guest and long time friend, Elena Lai Etcheverry. Elena is the founder and Executive Director of Charity Wings.org, a Non-Profit Organization and DIY Make-A-Space in Southern California. Listen in today to find out about this wonderful, charitable non-profit, where you can really get creatively involved and also make a difference.

Charity Wings is a huge, open studio, where you can come along and bring your imagination and a desire to create pretty much anything. All the supplies are there for you- the space, the tools, the assistance and the inspiration. Elena and her team want to make sure that everyone has a place to use their creative expression and to have a creative outlet. They have programs for other Non-Profits as well, where they offer either free or very low-cost classes for people with mental disabilities, wounded warriors, cancer support groups and various children's and adult groups. Everyone has a place at the centre.

There is a small fee of $20 per month for you to become a member of Charity Wings. This fee supports the programs and allows Charity Wings Art Center to keep running, so even if you aren't able to go there and use the space as often as you would like to, or if you live elsewhere, your contribution will still be making it possible for other, often less fortunate individuals to do so. If you are a member and you'd like to use the space, you can do it for only $5 per day. Listen in to find out more about Charity Wings and to find out how you can get involved.

Today, Elena talks to Karen about:

• Some of the special events which are done at Charity Wings Art Center.
• How it really supports and helps keep them going when prominent individuals show up at their events.
• Their once a year interactive collaboration with the Association for Creative Industries and various manufacturers and designers, which they did as a Facebook Live Event this year.
• The Crafty Flash Mob Video that they did a couple of years ago.
• The numerous opportunities for people to gather, give back and create, through Charity Wings, who give people the place to do voluntary work to help their organization.
• The High School Internship Programs that they offer.
• The need to fully commit, when doing voluntary work for any organization.
• Their Charity Wings Mini Hat Dye Cuts that they are selling to raise money for the organization.
• How Elena first got started with charity work.
• The vast amount of money that she has raised with Scrapbook Royalty for about eighty-two organizations, over the last eleven years.
• The huge blessing of moving from the scrapbooking world to Charity Wings.
• The vast number of different crafts that you can do at Charity Wings Art Centre.
• The different groups that are on offer at the Art Centre, including the new Open Mic Night.
• How to know if this type of charity work really is for you- Elena is willing to have you shadow her for a day if you'd like to find out.
• Her goal to expand her organization.
• That NOBODY is turned away from the Art Center- it's a very lively place!
• What creativity really means to Elena.
• Creativity as a healing tool for Elena.
• That you can become a HEART Supporter for Charity Wings for only $10 per month.

Links:

Charity Wings Website: www.charitywings.org – follow the link to 'shop' for the mini hats

Facebook: Charity Wings Art Center

Youtube: Charity Wings

Instagram: Charity Wings

Creativity comes in many forms, and even though many choose a career that isn't particularly creative, you can find ways to leverage your creativity in that career. Other times, the creative soul isn't being fed and that mandates a change in career. That's exactly what happened to today's guest. Keiko Elizabeth went through a mid-career transformation and she's here to share her journey with us!

Keiko Elizabeth grew up having career aspirations to be a Doctor and eventually studied Biology. Later she became a middle school teacher and was able to change the lives of children. Then, later in life, Keiko did the unexpected and became an actress.

Listen as Keiko shares the following with Karen:

• How Keiko was introduced to the theater
• Why she ended up transitioning out of teaching to acting
• Hear the story of a student's play that changed the course of her career
• Learn what it took for Keiko to acting
• It's a tough road to landing acting gigs. Keiko shares how she landed her first ones.
• How acting really meets Keiko's need for collaboration
• Learn some of the differences between doing theater productions and acting behind the camera.
• Keiko shares how she tries to keep her work life and home life balanced.
• Keiko's son finally saw her on TV and it was an interesting experience.
• Ways creativity plays a role in every acting gig that Keiko undertakes.

Connect with Keiko:

www.keikoelizabeth.com

twitter.com/imkeiko

Do you know how many people are out there, who are really talented, yet just don't realize it at all? The guest on today's show, Lynn Evans, used to be that way, until someone pointed it out to her. Listen in today to find out what happened and how that motivated her to really tap in to her creativity.

Lynn, who is a natural storyteller and a teacher, is an author, a podcaster, she's involved with television and she's a CPA. She's written a book called "Power of the Purse", as well as having written columns for newspapers and blogs for many years. When she first began writing, she wrote a personal finance column for a regional business journal. With that, she realized that she had found a specific rhythm in the process of writing, which allowed her to express herself without having to put much mind to the task, until it was completed. Later, when she was asked to write a book, she found yet another, new level of creativity coming to the fore. Join Karen and Lynn today to find out more about Lynn's creative approach to life.

Today, Lynn talks to Karen about:

• How her book came about.
• How she ties being a CPA to her creativity.
• What got her hooked on writing her book.
• How she became someone who manages money, having grown up in a family which believed that women shouldn't be involved with finances.
• Her interview with an insurance company and what happened as a result.
• How she learned about personal finance.
• How she studied on her own at a college in Denver, Colorado, and passed the tests.
• How, with the help of her mother, she started her first financial business.
• How providing services is a great way in for sales.
• That she's the only company in North Eastern Pennsylvania that is what is called fee only.
• What it means to be fee only.
• Why she's out there on the fringes of the people offering financial planning.
• The type of presence she chooses to demonstrate, within financial planning, as a Media Brand.
• How she loves starting new businesses, even though she's sixty five years of age.
• How she kept her head in 2007, 2008 and 2009, when the market tanked and her company lost half of it's revenue.
• How she decides which opportunities are for her.
• How many women feel overwhelmed by personal finance.
• How she's perceived as an expert in her field, yet she feels like a ditz with her own finances.
• Why she thinks it a good idea for women to work with women, when it comes to financial planning.
• Why it makes sense to do your financial planning sooner, rather than later.
• Lynn's idea of money circles.

Links:

Lynn's websites: www.lynnsevans.com

and www.powerofthepursepodcast.com

Lynn's Podcast: The Power of the Purse Podcast

Welcome to another episode of A Creative Approach Podcast! My special guest for today is Dr. Kathryn Ko. Kathryn grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and went to medical school at the University of Hawaii. She absolutely fell in love with the brain and central nervous system and wanted to pursue it. She moved to New York and did a residency and a neurosurgery. Kathryn got into art also and has combined her two loves by getting a degree in representational painting with a medical emphasis.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Where Kathryn's inspiration comes from
• Why Kathryn uses mostly acrylic paints
• Why there are so many great speakers in the medical field
• How and why you should pursue your passion now before it is too late to really pursue it
• What led Kathryn to purse art
• What is Kathryn's interest in music
• When Kathryn got into science
• How Kathryn's race and gender affected her as a young girl and an adult
• What Kathryn's approach is to creativity

If you're inspired by wacky people who live multi- faceted, creative lives, listen in to today's show, as Karen interviews her guest, Tiffany Price and explores her creative approach, to the world of 'craft-lebrities' and acting.

Tiffany, who lives in the Los Angeles area, is a comedic actress turned girl boss, having recently started out as a business woman and owner of The Perky Nerd- a Comic Book Shop that sells cold brew coffee and hosts lots of events. Tiffany also pursues her career endeavors as an actress, writer, and producer of web series, like Craft Ladies and recently found herself in the role of new mom, to little Jack. Listen in to the show today, as Tiffany shares her creative approach to acting, business... and being a nerd.

Today, Tiffany talks to Karen about:

• Who she is and what she does.
• How she started out in her career.
• The ongoing animal theme in her life.
• How she almost opened a Cat Cafe.
• Her comic book shop, a place where people feel comfortable being nerdy.
• Her web series, "The Craft Ladies."
• What 'a creative approach' means to Tiffany.
• Why she wouldn't want her son to be a child actor.
• How she sees herself as a perfect combination of crafts and comedy.
• Tiffany's approach to crafts.
• Where the concept for her shop came from.
• Tiffany's advice to people starting out with a career in the arts.
• How acting forces you to become open to rejection.
• The importance of staying mentally strong and grounded in the acting industry.
• Treating yourself as a business, in the acting world.
• How she almost opened a Chick-Fil-A outlet...
• How her business is a hub of creativity in Tiffany's life, feeding her soul and attracting the right people.
• How people's support really inspires and validates her.
• Her plans to start an online store and to formulate an outlet for women to create- writing blogs and to generally share their 'nerdery'.

Links:

Tiffany's website: www.theperkynerd.com

Tiffany on Twitter: @tiffanyaprice

Tiffany on Instagram: @tiffanyaprice

Do people with passion inspire you? And do you enjoy learning from the creative ideas of interesting artists? If this is so for you, listen in to today's show and find out more about Ken Oliver and what he does. You will also enjoy hearing about the quaint historic, riverside town that he is truly fortunate to call his home.

Ken is an artist, marketer and a traveler from the picturesque town of Newburgh, in Indiana. He helps companies to develop craft products, which are then brought to the crafts and arts industry. Join Ken today, as he talks to Karen about his work and travels and also about his town, one of the oldest River Ports in the USA. Newburgh is recognized as an important historical site- the town was settled in 1803, even before Indiana became a state!

Today, Ken talks to Karen about:

• The products that he currently works with.

• Colorburst- what it is and the amazing effects you can create, using it.

• The fun he has, decorating the front of his 19th-century building with seasonal décor.

• The people he meets from all over the world- at his front door!

• Interesting historical facts about his town.

• The architecture of Newburgh, much of which predates the civil war.

• The river cruisers and replicas of 19th-century steamboats on the Ohio River.

• Calliope- the unique music of steamboats.

• The wonderful places he's worked and traveled in his career.

• His Hometown Papers line, inspired by the charm and architecture of Newburgh.

• The things that inspire him, creatively.

• Ken's advice to push you past limits you may think you have, artistically.

• What makes his cards unique and different?

• What you can gain from doodling.

• Ken's creative approach to his business... and cooking.

Links:

Ken on Facebook: Ken Oliver or Ken Oliver Crafts

Ken on Instagram: Ken Oliver Crafts (or Creative Team)

Ken's blog: Ken's World In Progress

Are you looking to start a career in knitting design? Would you like to take a peek behind the curtain in the working life of an editor of a knitting magazine? Then join Karen Poirier-Brode on this week's episode of "A Creative Approach Podcast" as she explores the working world of dynamic and versatile Kara Gott Warner.

Kara, a native New Yorker, who grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, is the editor of Creative Knitting magazine and the host of Power Purls Podcast. She started designing knitting patterns in 2002. After training as a technical illustrator, she worked for numerous craft book publishers, such as Random House, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing and F&W.

In 2008, she joined Annie's Publishing as a knitting book editor and then in 2010, she began with Creative Knitting Magazine and Annie's Knitting Publications. Her designs have been published widely in many magazines, including Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle, Easy Knitting and Interweave. Listen to Kara talking passionately about her creative approach to her work. You won't want to miss this exciting episode about making creativity your career!

Join Karen and Kara as they discuss:

• How Kara started her career in the fashion world.
• How Kara made her own way, mostly making accessories, till she rediscovered knitting.
• How a sweet little yarn shop awakened her passion for knitting in the early '90's.
• How a mentor gave her the idea to make a career of knitting and designing.
• A ball of yarn can hold exciting possibilities!
• Her background in technical drawing and schematics came full circle and linked into her knitting career.
• The fantastic power of networking!
• How Kara became editor of Creative Knitting Magazine.
• How cultivating relationships is crucial to getting ahead!
• What the does editor of a knitting magazine do?
• The many months of preparation that go into producing her magazine.

Links:

Power Purls website: www.powerpurlspodcast.com

Kara's website: www.karagottwarner.com

Kara on Twitter: karaknits

Kara on instagram: karaknits

Are you willing to be of service to others? Would you love to make a difference to the lives of less fortunate individuals, but aren't sure how? Let Dr. Padmini Murthy activate your conscience and inspire you, as she talks to Karen Poirier-Brode about her experiences while working with the poorest of the poor, on this week's episode of "A Creative Approach Podcast".

Dr. Murthy (Mini) is a professor and the Global Health Director of New York Medical College. She has been practicing medicine and public health for the past 28 years in various countries, dealing with issues such as little, or no access to clean water or sanitary pads. She's an author, lecturer, and teacher, who serves as the Medical Woman's International Association's NGO representative to the United Nations. She has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Blackwell Medal, from the American Medical Women's Association. Listen to her talk passionately about her creative approach to world health, women's health and how we can all "do a little that can amount to a lot."

Join Karen as she talks to Mini about:

• What motivated her to study medicine.
• How she discovered that it is possible to make a difference by making an effort and working as a team.
• How she introduced screening programs in Saudi Arabia.
• How she digressed from her medical path to go into advocacy and social justice.
• Mini's current projects in Malawi.
• How her projects promote safe motherhood from a grassroots level.
• The difficulties that many rural women face.
• Her practical advice to anyone looking to be of service.
• Little things we can do to have more money to donate to where it is really needed.
• How social media can be used to exchange ideas for service where it really matters.

Links:

Karen's website: www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com

Mini's email : [email protected]

Mini on Linkedin: Padmini Murthy

Mini's twitter handle: @minimurthy1234

Mini's Books: Women's Global Health and Human Rights (Published by Jones and

Bartlett Publishers) Available on Amazon

Mini's Musings (Poetry, published in 2012)

Do creative people inspire you? Would you like to enhance your own creativity, or nourish it in your children? If so, let this week's dynamic and versatile guest on "A Creative Approach Podcast", Erin Manning, encourage you to "color outside the lines" as she is interviewed by Karen Poirier-Brode.

Erin Manning is a warm-hearted, enthusiastic and talented photographer, author, teacher and media personality, acknowledged for her friendly and clear style of teaching. She is best known as the host of the award-winning TV series "The Whole Picture". Her methods encourage students to be bold and true to their innate nature. Let her innovative and entrepreneurial approach urge you towards living a more fulfilling and creative life as you "let your inner voice come out".

Listen to Erin talk to Karen about:

• How she became a trend setter while still in grade school.
• Her love of clothes and fashion, which prompted her to seek creative ways to make money.
• Her numerous bold and creative, youthful enterprises.
• Her "Twenty-year college plan" to obtain her B.A. and why it worked for her to get her degree at the age of forty-one.
• What shaped her attitude as a teacher.
• How her passion for photography began at the age of seven.
• How taking candid shots inspired her to write a book.
• Her modeling career and how it helped her to become a better, more empathetic photographer.
• The fun places that Erin teaches.
• How she began teaching photography while traveling.
• How her upbringing helped her creative development.
• How she juggles many activities at the same time, all with the theme of being creative and creating imagery.

Links:

Erin's website: www.erinmanning.com

Are you looking for new and exciting ways to add depth to your scrapbooking projects? Would you love to learn more about the art of digital scrapbooking? If so, join Karen Poirier-Brode this week, on A Creative Approach Podcast, as she interviews Cheryl Ashcraft, designer of digital scrapbook kits and templates, as they talk about Cheryl's creative approach to digital scrapbooking.

Cheryl, a hometown girl from Florida, creates richly layered, intricately designed digital scrapbook templates, to help scrapbookers tell their story without the fuss or mess. When she's not busy creating fabulous new template designs, Cheryl loves taking family photos, decorating her house, doing detailed pen and ink drawings and lately, dabbling with watercolors and mixed media. She is also an avid reader and an occasional cross stitcher. Let her explain how you can use digital kits and templates to become more creative with your scrapbooking.

Today, Cheryl talks to Karen about:

• Her creative influences while growing up.
• How she started out scrapbooking and how it developed with the use of digital media.
• How she converts her drawings to digital.
• The advantages of digital scrapbooking as compared to paper.
• How she used old files and layouts to create a slideshow in very little time.
• A good reason to save old PSD files.
• How she stared designing digital templates and her approach.
• Themed templates as compared to non-themed ones.
• How to add authenticity to a digital scrapbook page.
• How to add depth to your scrapbook design, using digital tools and templates.
• How to do art journaling, using a traditional digital scrapbook kit.
• How to create 'hybrid' projects, using her digital templates.
• Her advice for anyone wanting to pursue digital template or kit design as a career.
• Her advice to anybody wishing to become more creative.

Links:

Karen's website: www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com

Cheryl's website: www.fiddle-dee-deedesigns.com

Cheryl on Youtube: Watch Cheryl Scrap

Cheryl on Facebook: Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs

Cheryl on Twitter: @fiddledeedeedzn

Cheryl on Instagram: Fiddledeedeedesigns

Cheryl on Pinterest: Fiddle-Dee-Dee

Cheryl recommends: www.thedigichick.com