Today is a day to acknowledge all of the amazing female identified individuals in your life, take pause to recognize the distance we have traveled towards gender equity, and reflect on the change & action that still needs to happen as we move towards a gender equitable world.  It is also important to educate ourselves on how intersectionality plays a role along this journey.  
The South Shore Community of Nova Scotia has come together through art to show our pledge as a community to #BreakTheBias.  There are over 130 canvases on display at the Lunenburg School of the Arts all contributions are from community members across gender, background, age, and ability.  The exhibit will be on display March 8th to 17th, 2022.  If you are able to stop by be sure to give yourself time, there is a lot to take in.  
I'd like to give a big thank you to the Lunenburg Library, the Chester Art Centre, Whimsy and Wild Things, Holly Sweet, Melissa Morrisson Jewellery, teachers, students, and community members for their engagement and support.  Also, a huge thank you to the Lunenburg School of the Arts who encouraged the project from the beginning.  

Wow!  In many ways 2021 was a difficult year for myself, as it was for many.  I have taken time to reflect on the past year there were also a lot of good things that happened too...My son raised over $3,000 for United Way by biking 56km over two days, I had two wonderful weekends with two good friends, I became a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner, and our family was accepted to foster dogs with Save A Life Canada.  These are just a few of the highlights from my year.  All of this said, I am VERY ready for a fresh start with a new year!  Today,  with a few magazines, scissors, and glue I created a visual on what I envision for myself in 2022.  Every time I look at this I can't help but smile.  To share a few highlights - the clock represents using my time with intention, the eye of the lion is a reminder to keep my eye on what is important to me, and the piece of a page from a book is included because I want to explore used bookstores to see what treasures I find for creative expression as well as reading enjoyment.  I like to do this activity at the beginning of every year because it brings me joy and focus.  
What do you hope to get out of your 2022?  

I’m very excited to share that Paper Lili is changing directions and will be doing therapeutic and expressive art activities to support emotional health and well-being.  Expressive arts help reach places within us that we don’t have words to express.  It can feel like an emotional massage and/or offers personal insight and exploration.  We make marks on paper using a variety of mediums including chalk, pastels, markers, paint, collaging, and more.  It is really about the process not the end result therefore no art experience is needed.  In fact, it is often easier if you don’t think of yourself as a creative person.  Once you have experienced a session first hand you will defiantly understand why this opportunity is so exciting!
Paper Lili will be offering one-on-one sessions and workshops in 2022!  We will offer services virtually as well as in person in Chester, Lunenburg, and Bridgewater.  Be sure to reach out to book your session or workshop!   
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up for our email list, you don't want to miss out on any upcoming opportunities...There may be an exclusive email list offer coming up soon - wink wink.

If you have been following me on Instagram you have probably started to wonder what I am up to as things have been changing in my feed...plus, I have dropped a couple of hints!  Well the time is almost here to spread the word and I want you to be the first to know.  Be sure to sign up for our email list (by scrolling to the bottom of this page) and don't miss out on the big news!!! Chat soon.  

This flower is part of a bouquet from Tulipwood in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The bouquet sat on our dinner table and I looked at it everyday. Each flower was beautiful and I wanted to paint them all! When I painted this one I was thrilled with the end result. When looking for inspiration in the things around us we often look at photographs, landscapes, items that mean something to us, or from something that we read or heard. We often look beyond the things that are part of our everyday lives. What if you paid attention to what you see everyday and if you looked at smaller parts of the ‘thing’ you found inspiration in. Does it look different to you? Does it bring forward a new idea? Inspiration can be found all around us, even in places that may seem too familiar to be inspired. Keep you eyes and heart open. Look at things from a different perspective. Look at each individual piece of something rather than taking in the whole, as I did with this bouquet of flowers...I found inspiration in each individual flower rather then all of the flowers together.

 This time of year seems to be filled with birthdays.  My cousins, godmother, friends, partner, goddaughter, and nephew.  It seems to be never ending.  I am not kidding...in the span of 1 month there are over 10 birthdays for family members and close friends (and also my own).  Good Thing I like to make cards!  Making a card doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming.  You don't have to have fancy supplies either.  Some of my favorite cards are ones my partner made for me with white paper, coloured pencils, and a pencil.  He would not describe himself as creative.  What I like most about these cards is that he took the time to make them and he thought about what he said in them.  They always make me smile. 
If you are in the middle of a busy birthday time of year like me I want to offer a quick and easy birthday card - 2 ways.  It can defiantly be done with things you have at home.  Take a piece of white paper and fold it in half, cut it to the size card you would like.  Get out your crayons, paint, coloured pencils, whatever you have on hand and draw a balloon in a colour the birthday person will like.  Everyone can draw a balloon right...this is a perfect card for kids to do for their friends too.  You can either stop here or take it to the next level.  Rip or cut a small part off of the card straight across the bottom front.  After you do that, pick a colour that will look good with the balloon, put the colour across the bottom of the inside of the card so when it is closed the colour shows below the portion you ripped or cut off.  Done. 
I hope you give it a try and have fun with it! 

I am Super Excited about this... 
It has been a difficult few months for all of us and I am especially worried about our youth and the impact social distancing and other safety measures are having on them.  When I started to think about why I create cards and do workshops with others it became clear to me, one of the biggest reasons I do this is because it is a great self care tool in my own life and in the lives of others.  This started me thinking about developing an Art Journaling Workshop for teen girls.  This workshop will be very different when I'm able to safely run it in person.  Until then, we are going to make it a great time online!  As long as everyone is enjoying the process of being creative it will be a success!  Workshop details below.  
A Teen Art Journaling Workshop!  Starts June 11th for 6-weeks, Thursday evenings 6:30pm-7:30pm, online via Zoom.  A few materials will be provided along wtih a supply list of materials you'd have in your home (if you don't already have the materials I will get you what you need).  Participants will make their own journals and will have fun exploring different ways to exercise their creative spirit!  COVID Speical - $70/person dure to changes in regular workshop as a result of COVID.  (regular price $100/person, all materials included).  If you have someone you'd like to register or if you have questions send me an email paperlilidesigns@gmail.com

I spent some time tonight getting creative with my 7 year old.  Some of my happiest moments are when we are creating together.  We made paper beads, an activity from the book Paper Play by Lydia Crook.  We have no idea what we will do with the finished string of beads and that doesn't matter, it was the process that was most important, not the end result. 
I often hear from people, 'I love to paint/knit/draw/stamp/etc but I don't have time'.   Why don't we make time for the creative activities that bring us joy and improve our mental health.  Is it truly because we don't have time - I don't think so - we have the time we just don't make the time.  Is it because we don't know where to start, we are anxious about it not looking nice when it is finished, or is there another reason holding us back?  The answer is different for everyone.  The activity we did tonight took us 30 minutes and it did not turn out to be the most beautiful beads you have ever seen.  However, we both had fun making them together.  Being creative isn't about the end result, it is about the process.  I challenge you to create something tomorrow just because you can.  Post it on IG and tag me, I'm excited to see what you create! 

Fun Fact: I am thinking about hosting a 6-8 week workshop where we will get busy being creative with a great group of people if you are interested let me know and watch for details.