joy rebel interview:: in the wish studio

I discovered Mindy's personal blog sometime ago after she left a very kind comment on a post I'd written. More exploration unearthed the amazing wish studio. That studio has been revamped and is a warm and welcoming creative haven in the blogsphere. I am honored to be a monthly columnist there and you can find my first column here.




1. Hi Mindy! Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

where to begin…well in a former life I was a graphic designer and also spent many years as a children’s clothing designer before “retiring” to become a mother. now I’d say in addition to primarily being a mom (with another baby on the way very soon) I am still a designer of sorts; a creative curator, collecting and sharing inspiration and creativity that i find anywhere and everywhere.

2. What prompted you to start the wishstudio?

I have always been inspired by the stories, inspiration, and the creativity of others, and believe wholeheartedly in the power of community. on my own creative journey I have always tried to seek out like minded souls and in the process have uncovered so many deep wells of inspiration. I wanted a place to bring together and share all these creative findings, as well as create a vibrant space where the creative energy was alive bursting. I hope, with the help of all the amazing voices and readers in the wishstudio that we will help others to move forward in their creative lives and dreams.

(ed. I can honestly say that Mindy has definitely created a wonderful and authentic COMMUNITY at wish studio. I truly feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.)

3. Can you talk a little about your own creative journey and how you express it?

my creative journey has always been a winding road. often I have thought my creativity needed to be expressed in a concrete way… as piece of art, or as a published book, or a creative work. I am learning that for me, my creativity is most authentically found in the process of creating and not so much in what it is i create. I feel my creative spark shine most brightly from the inspiration behind a certain project. the finished result is simply icing on the cake!

4. With everything going on in your life, how do you find a way to still fulfill yourself creatively?

with so much on my plate, life is a constant juggling and balancing act. some days I am more successful at it than others. I crave lots of alone time (I always have) and this is how I refuel myself soulfully and creatively…I read, I window shop, I make things, I write, I nap. I have learned that caring for myself is an integral part of being a good mother, wife, friend, etc, and I have also learned not to feel guilty about giving myself this time. I read somewhere that a positive outlook and a joyful disposition is one of the greatest gifts we can give to the world which comes from a great deal of self nurturing.

5a. How do you stay connected to joy? 5b. How do you express joy?

I try to always find joy in the little things… staying connected to the moment, listening to what I feel, and to see the world for what it offers at every turn. I find that with my eyes and heart open to what is right in front of me, I often find the most unexpected and joyful treasures waiting. for me, expressing joy is sharing all these beautiful things with the world and seeing them get passed along. joy is certainly contagious!

6. If you had one piece of wisdom to share with your kid(s), what would it be?

I always hope that my children will live a life of happiness and fulfillment. I wish that my son and child-to-be will learn to always do what it is they love, even if this means following a different direction or creating a new path. I know how easy it is to get stuck in the “shoulds” of life, but really there is no right or wrong way. as long as they are connected in some way to their true happiness, the rest I know will follow. I hope they learn to trust in that.

(ed. what a wonderful and priceless gift to give to your children-the ability and confidence to trust themselves and listen to their hearts)

7. Anything coming up at the wishstudio that you'd like to share with everyone?

there is so much in store for my little creative space… lots of exciting guest contributors, great creative features, yummy giveaways, and more. always something new! so stay tuned.

Thank you so much, Mindy, for sharing a little bit of your wish magic here!!