La Vie Creative

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Melinda has been a performer since elementary school, when she played Nancy in Oliver Twist and all the parents in the audience laughed during her tragic death scene.

Since that time, her credits have expanded to include Libby Tucker, the leading role in Neil Simon’s I Ought to Be in Pictures (The Studio Players, Calgary); Connie Dayton in Come Blow Your Horn (Metro Theatre, Vancouver); and both the vampy chanteuse Celeste Romano and the shy, quiet bridesmaid Marina Galino in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Hoarse Raven Theatre, Vancouver).

Melinda has written and performed a number of her own works, including Jew! (A Musical) (for the Vancouver Fringe Festival in Canada and Lost Theatre’s One Act Festival in London, UK). After moving from Vancouver to London to Paris, she created All That Matters (A Modern Mini-Musical about Motherhood), which premiered at the Montmartre Dionysia.

As a comic, Melinda has appeared at The Comedy MIX in Vancouver and was a guest comedienne with celebrated comedy troupe 30 Helens. In Paris, she has enjoyed appearances at Girls Gone Funny, French Fried Comedy Night, and Melting Pot Comedy Night.

Melinda also works as an emcee and performer for cabaret and burlesque shows, and she has performed in festivals and shows throughout Paris as well as in New York and St Louis. She served as co-producer and featured performer in Burlesque Moulin’s burlesque brunch series, Croissants & Corsets, and incorporated comedy and burlesque in her role as emcee for the very successful Cabaret et Vin, produced by Holly Bordeaux Productions.

Melinda’s cabaret work has led her to offering a successful series of classes in burlesque performance, confidence building, and public speaking. (Feel free to get in touch via the Contact page to learn more.) As for the stage, her most recent roles include Lady (formerly Lord) Capulet in Cygnet Theatre’s nearly-all-female production of Romeo and Juliet, and as one of the harrowed-but-hilarious mothers in the upcoming premiere of Koël Purie Rinchet’s original work, Mummy’s Dead, Long Live Mummy!

https://www.melindamayor.com/

https://www.billetweb.fr/ticket-mummys-dead

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The Rev. Michelle Wahila was born and raised in Endicott, NY. She graduated with honors from Grove City College and received her Master's of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in May 2005, and was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament at her home church, Union Presbyterian Church in Endicott, NY. Since then, she's pursued her calling working in the US and France. 

Michelle has worked in churches in Pennsylvania and NY and served as Associate Pastor of The American Church in Paris where she helped organize and implement events that reached the expatriate community and welcomed hundreds of visitors into the church as a part of her commitment to welcome and hospitality. Her call is now serving as the Creative Director and main pastor at Ruffled by Grace. She welcomes and officiates weddings for couples from around the globe in the romantic backdrops of both Paris and La Fauvelière in the countryside of France.

Michelle is married to Kevin, who works in business development. They are the proud parents of two boys, Connor and Marcello, and two cats, Aksah and Rocky. Michelle’s family recently moved to a 19th century farmhouse in the French countryside where they are enjoying a radical change from city life in Paris. Together they are spending time gardening, constructing forts, barbecuing, and playing their favorite French yard game – petanque.
www.ruffledbygrace.com

www.instagram.com/ruffledbygrace

www.twitter.com/ruffledbygrace

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Jill Dowell is an international artist living and working in Paris, France. Working primarily with abstraction, her career has been heavily influenced by her involvement in and interest in music. This bridging of fine art modalities serves to help her create inspiring and uplifting artwork, deeply saturated with color, expression, and meaning. 

website:  www.jilldowellart.com

Instagram:  @jilldowellart

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Veronica Charnley is the Canadian singer/songwriter for Plumes, an avant pop project that blends classical and pop music styles, with instrumentation ranging from electric guitar and drums to full orchestra. Originally from Ottawa, she studied music and creative writing in Montreal and has been based in Paris since 2014. A new album in collaboration with Toronto rapper/producer More or Les is set to be released in 2023.

Website: plumes-music.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6dFjgcBM9JNWlBqWlwPHXB?si=AjsJPQQdRouhwsfTJeUhQw

Bandcamp (to purchase albums): plumesensemble.bandcamp.com/album/oh-orwell

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbtNr2qGUVw

Instagram: instagram.com/plumes_music
Facebook: facebook.com/plumesensemble

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'I'm number 12 of 13 siblings in my family, and yes I know all their names.  I grew up on a small farm in Farmersville, Ohio....yes that is the real name of the town.  Food has been a focus in my life since I was very young, and I mean good, fresh homegrown and homemade food.  I loved helping my mom in the garden, making jams and jellies, canning tomatoes from the garden and baking bread, pies and many delicious recipes (often passed down from my Grandmothers.) Not surprisingly, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

I tried for many years to follow several different career paths.  I originally planned to study Biology in College, then I worked as a photographer for my community college newspaper, I was a seamstress for the costume shop for the theater department, I worked for a daycare for a few months, worked at a radio station, bookstores, and of course had my stints in restaurants hosting/waiting tables and made donuts at a local bakery.  All the time I was hosting dinner parties for friends and trying out new recipes.  

In 2004 I left small town Ohio for the big city of Boston.  I worked for Bose Audio, and then for a publishing company, but I was never happy.  I longed for a job that would allow me to be more creative.  In 2008 I started taking some Wilton cake decorating classes, and baking courses at Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Just as I was starting realize what I really wanted to do, I was serendipitously was layed off from my job.  I took it as a sign to make the change and go to Culinary school.  It was the best decision I've ever made. 

I now live in Paris (the World Capitol of Pastry) with my wonderful husband.  I keep myself busy by teaching pastry classes, making pastries for a small cafe and constantly exploring my new city! 

Pastry chef and owner of Atelier L Paris.  It’s been more than 10 years since I decided to follow my dreams of becoming a professional pastry chef, and I’ve loved every moment.

I received my formal training at The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, MA under the guidance French pastry chef Delphin Gomes.  I completed the Professional Pastry Program and graduated at the top of my class.

I spent two consecutive summers in Paris, France completing pastry stages. The first was at The Cafe du Commerce in the 15th arrondisment, and the following year at the iconic pastry establishment Laduree.  My love of French pastry (and a certain French man) lead me to moving permanently to Paris in 2010.

Since moving to France, I have had the opportunity to work in a verity of establishments that have helped me hone my skills and led me to where I am today. After a decade of living in France, I have been able to adapt classic American recipes to French palates, and also adapt both styles of pastry to Gluten Free.  

Previous work experience also includes:
Rose Bakery, KB cafe shop, La Cuisine Paris (cooking school where I helped develop classes along with teaching), Noglu and Farfelu Paris'

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