Cassandra Russell Design

Creativity: My New Workshop For 2009

The Creativity Prescription

I will be holding a workshop to ignite your creative journey another step further. Through a set of art based activities, you will come closer to accessing your creative flow and excavating the artist within. We will be working hands on, in a non-judgmental environment designed to be fun instead of technical. While I will share my theory on the creative process, this workshop is about you and your expression!

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Interested In Corporate Retreats? Fund raising? Private Workshops?

Cassandra is an entertaining speaker with an extensive  creative  background. Her workshop The Creativity Prescription takes participants on am artistic fun-filled adventure. Inquire about custom speaking engagements such as retreats, fund raising events and private seminars for 2009. Call 905.778.9926 for details.

 

Inspire: Manifestation Board

Results Report

It has been two years since my 2006/09 Manifestation Board post appeared well before The Secret came out. I wanted to shared the positive notes and successes that have some about in relation to keeping my vision on track by keeping my board insight and on the brain!

2008.25.11 Edit:

in shape; in my body; I have now lost 40lbs since 2006. I go to the gym daily which has led to a significant increase in my self esteem and physical strength.

hip mom; After I lost weight I bought edgy clothes and lost the yoga pants! I am back in the land of the living.

sensuous being; optimistic/romantic; open hearted; Play Synchrohearts, the new love game with your love.

I’m an Artist; My artistic journey continues...it's been 10 years as an official visual artist!

motivational speaker ; This journey is now beginning and taking me to some interesting places...I saw Tony Robbins speak for four days this summer which was phenomenal. I have an upcoming creativity workshop in February 2009!

well spoken ; grace ; young at heart ; I have learned to silence my nerves by facing my fears of public speaking by joining Toastmasters. This was not easy! But once I overcame my fear I felt so empowered!

good energy; Maintaining the flow through yoga.

love ; Is showing its face through my children, nature and the kind support of many in my life!

generosity ; I am hosting a food bank drive this Christmas among the groups I belong to and nearby streets where I live.

intelligence ; I am reading Power VS. Force.

charismatic; superstar personality ; charm ; I have been banishing shyness in exchange for letting a more assured me shine through.

happy ;  the good stuff ;  I am incredibly grateful for the beautiful abundance in my life!

a fine lady ;  I have since improved my posture through strength training. I have also developed my professional polished business casual image.

power woman Facing my fears has given me power I never knew I had!

celebrated author; Many of my articles and artwork have been published since 2006. Including a front cover and guest artist interview from Stampington this year. My jar lid article came out this month.

graphic designer ; You can purchase my new scrapbook /collage papers on my etsy shop at www.CassandraRussell.etsy.com

my design blog; While my blog is in need of a new banner, like a garden it needs constant attention and editing up keep. I am picking up my sheers again!

success according to me; Reaching others with my message on creativity in my own way.

Inspire: Romantic Fun With Synchrohearts

The Love Game

I was lucky enough to hear Bobby O'Neal give a memorable talk about the love game he has created. Inspired through meditation O'Neal says the game is for engaging couples in their current relationships. It is meant to do what the name of the game implies, synchronize two hearts.

As I began to play the game with my skeptical husband two weeks later, his mood changed as I began scribbling down an activity plan in hot pink marker based on the suggestions on the cards. Some points were from the insight cards which really spoke to what we needed to reframe our relationship. Others points from the Hot Stuff deck definitely kept things moving. Before we knew it we were caught up in the mini massages, hugs and kisses that our trip around the heart shaped game board prescribed. (Yes, my husband enjoyed himself despite his previous hesitation!) Playing Snychrohearts brought us back to a more light hearted time in our marriage  -- before children. Best of all when we were finished playing we had a private list of romantic plans for the next week -- just for us. What could be more synchronizing than that?  

I was even luckier to have an E-Interview with Bobby O'Neal this week for my blog. I am now an avid fan of the game Synchrohearts and will be recommending it to any couple wishing to reconnect in a quick fun way minus the therapy.

1.Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.

My name is Bobby O'Neal and I live in beautiful Mission, BC which is about 1 hour from Vancouver. My wife, Nanci, and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and I feel that our "love game", Syncrohearts helped us make it this far!  We have a 17-year old son, Sean who also plays the game with his girlfriend.  It is cute to watch their relationship grow and even though we take some of the "Hot Stuff" cards out, they still have fun with the communication stuff and the playful cards. I am a typical "west coaster" as I meditate, practice yoga and I love being out in nature.  Note, I grew up in Welland, Ontario and Nanci grew up in London. We met while traveling in a small town in the mountains in northern BC.

2. Apart from creating the game Synchrohearts,  what do you do?

I also do Reiki healing and I love to speak and write about love.  I also feel that I am an intuitive counselor and I love helping others discover more love in their life.

3. What advice would you give to those with a creative product idea in the beginning stages?

My professional background is in community forestry, so if a "forestry guy" can create a successful love relationship game, you can do anything! I was inspired during meditation to create this game and I admit it was a bit self-serving, because we needed this game in our busy lives! I feel that we all have creative talents and our life's purpose is just waiting to get released. If you find yourself drawn to an idea, or career choice that just won't go away; go for it! Follow your heart and watch for those synchronistic signs that help keep you on track. During the development of Syncrohearts, it always seemed that the "right people" would show up at the "right time". I was nervous at first, because it was a total change for me, but I kept holding a vision for success with an open heart and lots of gratitude. If it is meant to be, it is going to happen, so just let go and enjoy the process.  I feel that the timing is amazing for people to find their purpose. The current economic concerns and career upheavals are also providing opportunities for people to "do what they are supposed to do". 

4. How can this game can help couples improve their relationships?

I feel in my heart that this game helps couples reconnect through lots of love, laughter, better communication and intimacy.  The timing for Syncrohearts is very important because it helps couples reduce the stress in their lives and enjoy some much needed play time! I am very grateful to be a part of this "love game" and I love receiving the "heart-warming" testimonials!  

5. In ten years I'd like to be...

My vision and goal is to spread the message of love world wide with Syncrohearts, related books and workshops & talks. I am going to establish the Syncrohearts Foundation so that I can share the wealth with others. We currently donate partial proceeds to the Zajac Ranch for kids with special needs and it melts my heart to watch these amazing kids smile and laugh when they get on a horse or in to a kayak for the first time. Thank you Cassandra for allowing me to share my thoughts in your blog!  (www.syncrohearts.com)

 

Inspire: Change Has Arrived

Hope For Our World

A person could feel the energy shift on the day after Barack Obama won the U.S. presidency. There was a feeling of hope for our world in the air. I believe it was due to waking up to a new day where an African American man was president. Change on all levels seemed somehow now possible. The people who have always said that things will never change had to eat their words because change had clearly arrived. I could feel the goodwill flowing between people as I drove home that evening. Before the sun went down I snapped this picture to remind me of the rosy feeling that was echoed on the horizon that night. It was the way it ought to be everyday. Perhaps one day it might.

2008.11.27 My Comment:

I received a disturbing comment attacking this post and asking "Who cares what color the president is?" ETC. I will respond by saying the reason I find this to be a monumental event is because I grew in the early seventies being the only "brown" child in my school and town. People frequently referred and did think of me as "black" even though I am a mix of Indian and Scottish. It was a time when my brother and I wondered why there were no African American or Indian people in commercials (never mind running for the U.S. presidency). I have experienced the quiet subtle racism that can be just as sickening as the brash kind. For me and many others, this event is a victory for all races and an opportunity for the world to open it's mind to even more significant changes that it desperately needs to progress.

Creativity: Original Ideas Are Possible

My Jar Lid Article

Before my guest artist article was published in the for the Stamper's Sampler June 2008, the editor contacted me to ask if I could create some more of my jar lid art for a separate article for October 2008. It is always great when an editor says "What a great idea! Can you make us more?" Artists do not get to hear that very often. It also gave me the chance to go a little deeper into one of my ideas. So many times we jump from project to project, with out taking the time to expand on what might be a gateway to a whole new style or genre of work. In my case it was jar lid art. I used a jar lid as a frame in one of my collages. The result of the call for more of this type of work, was a series using various lids in innovative ways. To me this defines creativity!

Your Turn: Go back to a project where you had a really great idea manifest. Make four variations or expansions of that piece. You will have a series that is born of your own innovation.

Jar Lid Art

Beautifully packaged jams, cordials and preserves bottled in sumptuous jars lined our cupboards like shiny jewels. For as long as I can remember my father has worked for a fine food which imports gourmet food  products from Europe. As the sweet treats began to appear from my father’s briefcase, my love affair with package design began. After I took the time to admire the creativity that went into the bottles, I upcycled them into storage for my dolls shoes and ribbons. I even used them as picture frames for catalogue cut outs for the next dolls I was saving up for.

I have always been inspired by the perfect roundness of the black, metallic and sometimes patterned jar lids. I have always wanted to think of a project to use these lids for. To the point that I kept a couple in my studio to play with in my collage work. When I was creating my work for my guest artist article for Stampington, I found a large shiny black jam jar lid in my stash. I decided to use it as a mini frame to highlight a cut out from my collage papers that feature tiny reproductions of my digital photography. I wondered what the editors would think about using a lid within a piece. Then one day I received an email from one of the editors asking if I could write an article about my jar lid art and make some more art too. “Yes!” I thought as began to collect lids of varying sizes and colors for the article. It is always great fun to have one of your “inventions” be well received and even better encouraged.

I set about to create some more art with jar lids using stamping elements. When I think of the bottle cap craze I wonder if jar lid art could be as popular? I for one am happy to have discovered a way of recycling a small found object as close as the kitchen cupboard.

TECHNIQUE

 My formula for jar lid art: Collect interesting jar lids of varying sizes, colours and shapes. Boil the metal lids or put them through the dishwasher to fully clean them. Dry right away with a paper towel to avoid rust.  Cover up rough spots or stained centers with paper mache and or paint. Create a small collage within the lid’s center with images and text of your choice. Attach you circular art piece of a stamped card stock backing strong enough to hold it. Next decorate, embellish and add ribbon to give life to your work.

{c} Cassandra Russell Design