In Her Studio In Her Studio Volume 3, Issue 1

“… resolutions have more to do with controlling our lives than enriching them… But life improvement is not just a matter of discipline, self-control. It’s a matter of expansion, the deliberate pursuit of happiness … We ought to walk through the rooms of our lives a second time, not looking for the flaws but for potential.”— Ellen Goodman Dear readers, It’s strange to think that you’re reading this in 2021, because I am writing it in December of 2020. Yep, I’m still stuck in this monstrosity of a year. At only one month or so into the new year, I don’t imagine very much has changed … but oh, I can hope. I can hope that the pandemic is improving, that the political climate is calming, and that people’s hearts…

The space where you spend most of your time should be as enjoyable as you can make it. My art studio is an extension of my artwork — a place of calm tranquility that inspires endless hours of painting and drawing. At the beginning of my art journey, I didn’t think having an art studio was that important; after all, I could create anywhere — on the dining room table, in my bedroom, you name it. However, over time I began to understand that having a dedicated creative space is integral to being inspired and staying motivated, allowing your creative mind to flow each and every day. As a child I was always the one drawing, painting, and creating, but never really thought anything of it. I became serious about…

I always strive to find a space where I can flow and move — a safe space where I can be free, a space where I’m allowed to be, a playroom for my inner child. My creative practice is deeply aligned with my spirituality. Every brushstroke, every photo is an opportunity for me to connect with my heart. For this, my studio has become my temple and playground. My work is a reflection of light, and I am a light seeker in all its forms. As an eternally creative soul, I believe that through the power of impassioned photography, design, and style, we can weave together stories that can capture the imagination and engage an inquisitive world. I’ve always been creative in some way. Ever since I was a child…

There I was on the floor of my dorm room in college about to do something that would inspire a decade-long journey of flowers that would take me all over the world. I was 20 years old and in deep concentration and creative work as I carefully put together my very first veil for my own wedding. The big day was a few short months away, and I had just walked back from the nearest craft store down the street, anticipating the details of how I would create my birdcage veil with flower attached. This was the start of an endeavor that eventually led to sending thousands of adornments to other brides in countries near and far — I just didn’t know it yet. Fast-forward 11 years and I’ve transitioned…

… I feel so privileged to have been able to create the space of my dreams. It is a space to make beautiful hats, a space to display my fascinating collection of vintage hat blocks and millinery and flower-making tools, a space to teach millinery classes, and a space to showcase the Embellish Atelier signature couture millinery collection. Located in a historic building in the quaint Sydney suburb of Rozelle, my studio has a decorative arrangement of vintage armoires and commodious cupboards to hold a vast and eyecatching display of beautiful brocades, ribbons, fabrics, beads, crystals, and laces, as well as travel mementoes, divine gifts, and special pieces just waiting to adorn the perfect hat. This atmospheric setting is revealed against a backdrop of crystal chandeliers, a pressed metal ceiling,…

Opening the door to my studio gives me a promise of my own peaceful time and space. I smell the familiar and divine mixture of coffee, oil paint, fresh flowers, and a hint of burnt sage. I don’t use turpentine or other harsh chemicals in my process, as I like to keep my ambiance natural and sensuous. What I smell and feel is just as important as what I see. I can feel my beautifully paint-spotted soft wool carpet underneath my bare feet. I only wear soft clothes like linen and knits in this little comforting creative bubble of mine. This feeling I create, the softness, and the comforting calm, all spread onto my canvas when I start to paint. I greet the magpie who watches me paint from the…