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A single tick bite in July 2023 changed everything. What began as a hopeful retirement transition into full-time artistry and business ownership has evolved into an unexpected battle with chronic pain and debilitating joint inflammation.

When I woke up one morning unable to move my neck, then months later found myself completely immobilized with swollen hands and wrists, my world turned upside down. The diagnosis finally came: stage four long-term Lyme disease. For someone whose livelihood and passion depend on the ability to hold a pen, paintbrush, or knitting yarns, this revelation was devastating. How do you continue creating when your hands—your primary tools—betray you?

The journey has been humbling. From the initial misdiagnosis (just need a new pillow!) to the parade of specialists, treatments, and testing, I've learned that our bodies can change our plans in an instant. Yet through it all, I've discovered the power of persistence, the importance of community, and the absolute necessity of transparency. Behind every smile in my store lies a story of morning medication rituals, compression gloves, and the constant negotiation between creative ambition and physical limitation.

My experience offers a crucial lesson: if you're ever bitten by a tick, don't wait for the bullseye rash. Push for immediate testing and treatment—it could save you years of suffering. As I navigate this unexpected chapter while preparing for my daughter's wedding and my husband's art exhibition, I'm learning to redefine success and embrace a new normal. Have you ever faced an unexpected health crisis that threatened your dreams? How did you adapt when life threw you its cruelest curveball?

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Ever wondered how artists can honor each other's work while still sharing techniques with new audiences? Dive deep into the transformative power of ethical collaboration as we explore what happens when creators support each other with integrity and purpose.

Through my recent partnerships with artists like Natasha Smart and Ali Kay, I've witnessed firsthand how respectful collaboration creates ripple effects throughout the creative community. When Natasha graciously allowed me to teach her wet felting techniques in my U.S. studio, every student received her book and joined her private Facebook group—ensuring her work reached new admirers while maintaining her connection to the process. Similarly, Ali’s Fresh Paint approach has empowered countless beginners to discover their artistic voice, inspiring me to develop simplified techniques that make painting accessible to younger students without expensive materials.

These partnerships reveal an often-overlooked truth: ethical collaboration strengthens the entire creative ecosystem. By recommending original artists' preferred suppliers, maintaining memberships in their groups, and properly crediting their influence, we support multiple small businesses while honoring creative origins. The real magic happens when someone learns something they never thought possible—watching that transformation is why I'm planning a multi-day creative retreat next year in Ohio, bringing together diverse artists to share their unique perspectives in person. Whether you're into wet felting, fiber arts, painting, or sculpture, there's something incredibly powerful about learning directly from passionate creators who want to see you succeed.

Ready to explore collaboration in your own creative practice? Reach out to artists you admire, maintain transparency about your intentions, and find ways to ensure they're properly compensated for their knowledge. Follow along on social media or visit Brewtifully.com to see our upcoming classes, including more wet felting in October and our new after-school programs. Whatever your creative journey, remember that meaningful partnerships can open doors you never imagined possible!

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Stepping outside your comfort zone might be the best business decision you'll ever make.

Have you ever felt the pressure to find your perfect niche and stick with it? That nagging voice telling you to specialize, specialize, specialize? In this refreshingly honest episode, we challenge that conventional wisdom and make a compelling case for embracing an eclectic approach to your creative business.

From the celebration room that hosts birthday parties to after-school programs and homeschooling activities, Brewtifully has deliberately diversified its offerings to serve different segments of the community. This episode unpacks why this approach works and how it creates multiple touchpoints for people to connect with your business.

The fear of branching out often paralyzes us—what if it doesn't work? What if we seem unfocused? We tackle these concerns head-on and offer practical advice for testing new ideas without significant financial investment. Start small, gauge interest through signups or polls, and give yourself permission to explore.

At the heart of any successful business is genuine care for the people you serve. Whether you're teaching an art class or selling a product, customers want to feel seen, heard, and valued. This customer-centric approach, combined with a willingness to diversify and admit you're still learning, creates an authentic business that continues to evolve.

Ready to break free from the constraints of a single niche? This episode is your permission slip to explore new avenues and embrace the beauty of an eclectic business model. Subscribe now and join us on this journey of creative entrepreneurship!

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What happens when you trade a corporate career for a paintbrush and an empty storefront? In this heartfelt episode, I'm recording from inside my art studio, surrounded by the floor-to-ceiling mural I painted when opening Brewtifully nearly a year ago.

The transition to full-time artist and studio owner has been a beautiful whirlwind. Morning kids' camps filled with young artists exploring without boundaries. Podcast appearances sharing my journey and techniques, from traditional mediums to augmented reality art using the Artivive app. A collaboration with Goodwill at the Pro Football Hall of Fame fashion show, helping people personalize jean jackets and discover their creative voices. These experiences have reinforced why I created this space – to help others express their individuality through art.

Growing up with a common name I could never find on personalized souvenirs taught me the importance of self-expression. Being reprimanded in school for holding scissors "incorrectly" (the way my mother taught me) showed me how creativity can be stifled by arbitrary rules. These experiences shaped my studio's core philosophy: there's no wrong way to create if it works for you. Mistakes aren't failures – they're essential discoveries on the path to finding your artistic voice.

As I approach my studio's one-year anniversary on September 12th, I'm filled with gratitude, seeing people already booking holiday events months in advance, eager to create meaningful memories in this judgment-free environment. What started as retirement has become a renaissance, a space where creative exploration is celebrated and individuality is cherished. 

Have you been wanting to explore your creative side? 

Whether you're local or listening from afar, I hope this episode inspires you to embrace your unique artistic voice, however it chooses to express itself.

The Foundry - Tantau Studios

Viviva Color Podcast Episode 

Wishes Can Happen

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Taking a leap of faith and diving into full-time creative entrepreneurship marks the beginning of this raw, honest conversation about pursuing your passions. After leaving a steady paycheck behind, I've jumped headfirst into running my art studio full-time and launching my very first children's art camps.

The joy of watching toddlers discover art materials for the first time has been nothing short of magical. These little ones arrive each morning bursting with excitement, ready to sculpt self-portraits in air-dry clay, adding new elements daily from facial features to personal touches reflecting their interests. Though smaller than anticipated, this intimate group has created the perfect environment for genuine creative exploration. The ripple effects extend beyond our studio sessions, with parents reporting hours of continued artistic play at home.

What's truly surprised me is how far people will travel for authentic creative experiences. Students drive from counties away to participate in workshops, families plan special trips centered around visiting the studio, and social media connections bring in new creatives seeking community. This widespread interest has validated my decision in unexpected ways, as has being selected as an animator for Toronto's Winter Wonderland exhibit and being invited to speak about establishing yourself as an artist. These opportunities simply weren't possible when my energy was divided.

The transition hasn't been without challenges - it's simultaneously "scary and exhilarating and demanding and stressful" - but the fulfillment outweighs the fear. If you've been hesitating to pursue your own creative calling, consider this your sign to take that first step. Even dedicating just a few minutes daily to what you love can nurture that passion and potentially transform your life. Life truly is too short to postpone joy. Follow along on social media to see our studio adventures and perhaps find the inspiration for your own creative journey.

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When Christine Lindebak was just five years old, she begged her mother to let her use the sewing machine. That early passion blossomed into a lifelong creative journey that now helps others rediscover the joy of making their own clothes through her pattern design business, Sewing and the City.

Christine's approach to pattern-making stands out for its exceptional attention to detail. Each design undergoes multiple rounds of fittings across different sizes over two to three months—a meticulous process that ensures perfect fit and function. The results speak for themselves in patterns like the Manhattan, with its distinctive puff sleeves and versatile silhouette that works beautifully as both a blouse and dress.

What makes Christine's work particularly valuable is her commitment to making sewing approachable. Beyond creating patterns with clear instructions and clever construction techniques, she offers a Fit Clinic program that helps sewists adjust patterns to their unique bodies. This supportive community space addresses common fitting challenges that often discourage people from sewing for themselves.

Christine's creative vision extends beyond pattern-making to her slow fashion brand, Lindy Lindy (named for her grandfather). Using vintage linens and reclaimed textiles, she creates one-of-a-kind garments that might otherwise end up in landfills. Her upcoming pattern featuring beginner-friendly embroidery designs further demonstrates her dedication to preserving and sharing traditional textile arts.

The resurgence of interest in handcrafts, particularly among younger generations discovering upcycling, represents a meaningful pushback against disposable fashion. Through her patterns, tutorials, and teaching, Christine is helping ensure these skills continue to flourish while empowering people to express their individuality through what they wear. Sign up for her newsletter to receive her free Manhattan pattern and join a community of makers reconnecting with the clothes they wear.

Sewing and the City

Instagram- Sewing and the City

Sign up for Fit Clinic

Sewing slow Fashion Facebook Group

Sewing and the City on YouTube

Lindy, Lindy- Slow Fashion Shop

Liberty of London Cotton Fabrics

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What happens when you finally decide to chase your decades-old dream with just 17 days left at your steady job? The exhilaration, fear, and unexpected joy of embracing imperfection.

Perfection is the enemy of progress. If we wait for flawless conditions before pursuing our passions, we'll remain forever stuck in place. My transition to full-time art hasn't followed a perfect roadmap—I'm admittedly "winging it" with the resources available. This messy middle, where plans meet reality, is where the real magic happens.

Watching my father pass away at 65 without experiencing his passions fundamentally changed my approach to life. I refuse to spend another day doing something that doesn't bring me joy. This mindset has pushed me to work two full-time jobs simultaneously to build a creative space where both I and others can flourish. Your unique artistic style emerges not from perfectly following someone else's formula, but through your personal approach, "mistakes," and specific way of seeing the world.

The community forming in my studio proves how desperately people need spaces where they feel seen and heard. From the gentleman proudly sharing his crochet creations to first-timers hesitantly admitting their creative curiosities, there's profound connection in authentically sharing what we love to do.

The future remains beautifully unclear—I can't predict what opportunities or challenges await. But that uncertainty is precisely what makes this journey worth embracing wholeheartedly. If your heart is pulling you toward something, don't wait for the perfect plan. Start now. The rest will follow. You'll figure it out along the way. After all, we're not promised anything beyond today.

Ready to stop waiting and start creating? What dream has been waiting in your heart that deserves attention today?

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I'm counting down my final month before retiring from my full-time job to pursue art full-time, with exciting collaborations highlighting my lifelong passion for fashion. My childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer has come full circle through partnerships with sustainable fashion brands, designers, and local businesses.

• Working with Christine from Sewing and the City on sustainable pattern designs
• Selected as a fashion influencer for a local clothing resale company
• Creating custom clothing modifications at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Fashion Show
• Offering resources at my studio for customizing sustainable fashion finds
• Planning fall clothing swaps where people can exchange items and revamp them on-site
• Northeast Ohio has abundant thrift and consignment shopping opportunities
• Sustainability in fashion requires creativity but creates unique personalized wardrobe pieces
• Finding designer brands at thrift prices creates accessibility and reduces consumption
• The social environment of creating together inspires new ideas and community connections
• Altering and customizing clothes on-demand has become an unexpected part of my business

Share your sustainable fashion projects with me so I can showcase them, and stay tuned for updates on my shopping adventure tomorrow and upcoming collaborations!

Sewing and the City

Pro Football Hall of Fame Fashion Show

Mega-Thrift's old blog page

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Authenticity is your superpower in a world of cookie-cutter content. This episode dives into how giving ourselves permission to simply be who we are transforms not only our creative work but every relationship and community we build.

Drawing from my experience at the ColoriFlori Art Summit with Este MacLeod, I explore what happens when we adapt instructions rather than feeling constrained by them. It's not just about art supplies – it's about the liberation that comes when we stop trying to do things "perfectly" according to someone else's standard. Those moments when we hear "it's okay to do it your way" often trigger a sigh of relief that reveals how much we've been holding back.

The connections we form when we show up as ourselves are profound. I share how my casual clothing choices in-store videos unexpectedly resonated with viewers who tune in specifically to see what I'm wearing – reminiscent of watching Dolly Parton's shows as a child and guessing what colors she'd wear. These authentic expressions create bridges between people in ways we can never anticipate. Even my embarrassing story about avoiding gouache paint because I didn't know how to pronounce it demonstrates how our vulnerabilities connect us more than our perfections ever could.

As AI increasingly produces flawless but soulless content, your authentic human expression becomes more valuable, not less. Your weird, imperfect creative voice is exactly what the world needs. So paint your plants looking ridiculous, wear what makes you smile, share your unpolished work, and embrace your authentic self – we're all desperate to see it.

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Ever wonder what happens when creative women find genuine community? This special episode takes you inside the transformative Rebloom Live Courageously retreat through conversations with five remarkable artists who discovered much more than new techniques—they found their tribe.
While visiting my mom (excuse the different audio quality!), I couldn't wait to share these meaningful connections with you. Each artist reveals not just where to find their work online, but what made this gathering so profoundly different from other creative conferences they've attended. From Amy Keever's innovative "vision book" concept (not vision boards!) to Brenda Olson's glittery, Pom-pom headband creations, these women embody the playful yet purposeful spirit that defined our week together.
What emerges through these conversations is a powerful theme of safety, authenticity, and mutual support. As Jane Bell Lassiter puts it, the retreat created space "to be authentic and be ourselves," while Carol Krone Philpott describes feeling "lifted by everyone" during her journey toward whatever her "next bloom" might become. Perhaps most touching is Barb Dragony's reminder that resonates with creatives everywhere: "You're not alone in what you're feeling and what you want to do. You are not alone and you just need to show up."
Stay tuned for a more comprehensive episode about the retreat once additional media arrives! In the meantime, check the show notes for all the artists' websites and social media handles—I encourage you to follow their inspiring work and perhaps discover your own creative community that helps you bloom.

Amy Keever https://www.amykeever.com

https://www.facebook.com/amykeevergallery

https://www.instagram.com/amykeevergallery

Brenda Olson https://www.brendaolsonart.com

https://www.facebook.com/brendaolsonartstudio

https://www.instagram.com/brendaolsonart

Jane Bell Lassiter https://www.janebelldesigns.com

https://www.facebook.com/janebelllassiterArtist

https://www.instagram.com/janebelllassiter

Carol Krone Philpott https://www.facebook.com/CAKiHappyArt

https://www.instagram.com/cakihappyart

Barb Dragony https://www.barbdragony.com

https://www.instagram.com/dragonydoodle

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