I have a love affair with people and bringing them together. My passion lies amongst artists and their art, connecting community and service to others. It’s what gets me up every morning at 4:00 am and keeps me moving forward every single day. I relish those early hours; they take on an almost sacred role. The silence is breathtaking, and I am able to simply be still, until of course nature’s alarm clock of cockatoos, kookaburras and magpies start their early morning calls, and then, the day must begin. I’m always busy (except for those sacred hours) with lots of balls in the air, and I don’t think I could live any other way.
I was taught, and I try to teach my children, that our lives are meant to be shared, wholeheartedly. It is up to each of us to create a life that brings a sense of connectedness, a sense of purpose and meaning. Every day, I simply try to do more of what I love, to embrace what brings me joy and to live to my full potential—even if it is simply doing canteen duty at Max’s school.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved organising people. When everyone was studying at school, I was organising our school dance and when everyone went to university, I travelled to South Africa, lived with some amazing families (who I still connect with today) and then returned to make coffee in a video production house. By being curious and doing whatever job I was presented, I worked my way through video production, event staging, conference management, TV commercials and sporting shows.
“The world is best viewed through the lens of your own heart.” — Scott Stabile
Now with an event management career spanning 30 years, I have managed and produced major corporate events around the world. I have worked with politicians, scientists, financiers, engineers, car dealers, sportspeople and movie and music stars!
Photo by Sue Muldoon.
I found my truest calling, however, after my most tragic loss. My husband, Neil, and I had three stillborn babies—Daisy (’93), Grace (’99) and Frankie (’02). In 2003, eager to escape our reality and with an offer from Neil’s employer on the table, we left Australia for New York on a threeyear contract that lasted for ten years.
We landed in Westchester, New York— Eastchester to be exact; the town of fresh cannoli, generous Italians, and a wickedly good baseball league. Lonely and grieving my loss, I signed up to attend a cloth doll workshop, and it was here that I met artist Ellen Legare. Our friendship led to the creation of Art is You Mixed Media Art Retreats. We really were the first major mixed media art retreat on the East Coast and an awakening for so many artists. For six years, we created unique experiences together where artists were able to create, self-nourish and replenish their personal creative resources, nurturing not only individually but to the souls of those around them too. Ellen and I continued on this path together until she felt the call to teach art to children in the foster care system.
Staying ahead of the mixed media curve, I have now spent the last nine years producing and leading creative experiences in the USA, and more recently, in Australia. Initially under the Art is You banner and more recently as Eat Cake Create, it’s given me a sense of joy to now also support artists wishing to teach. I have hosted thousands of women and men at annual events across the USA and Australia.
I have witnessed real transformations unfolding and real soul-stirring moments every year at our retreats as artists discover we are so much more than what a regular art retreat offers. A participating artist once shared that she loved “getting down and dirty, wearing her favorite jeans and apron” and then went on to say, “you are so much more than back-to-back workshops and a tuna sandwich in saran wrap”!
My role as a connector is simple. I am the nurturer of the arts, a guardian of the artists and their stories, and I am known for creatively crafting a face-to-face movement of belonging.
Mornings at our retreats are a mix of powerful messages and motivating moments. I create and design luncheons that are delicious, inclusive and festive. Intimate and low-key art evenings round out each day. When there is not an official function, you will find artists grouped together over coffee, wine, dinner and art. It truly is an experience bursting with inspiration, friendship, art and charity.
Yes, charity. Growing up in the leafy suburb of Lindfield in Sydney, I was raised under the Rotary International motto of “service above self”—a motto founded in 1911 by Minneapolis Rotarian President, Ben Collins—and one that my father lived by. Putting others first has always been a part of my life.
We are hard-wired to protect what we fall in love with, and my biggest desire is to connect with people’s hearts.
One of the standout differences with my creative experiences is the way I have always incorporated philanthropy and charity. Over the years, I have galvanised artists who have created art and raised money for charities such as Fabulous Women of Petaluma, Enchanted Makeovers, Little Baby Face Foundation, breast cancer research, and St Jude Children’s research. When Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy impacted the lives of so many, I called on all artists and rallied them to donate art, cash and in-kind donations.
“The retreats are about so much more than art. They offer community, inclusivity, opportunity, charity and the ability to be one’s own authentic self.” – Seth Apter
So in 2015, when I was offered a position on the board of our local women’s shelter, I grabbed it with both hands. With domestic violence deaths at an all-time high, I created The Apron Project which has seen artists from around the world unite to paint and stitch aprons for auction with proceeds going back to the women in crisis. In the last four years, we have raised almost 50,000 (AU) and connected artists and buyers across three continents.
Combining my art experiences and the artists who attend them with the calling I have to support women and children in need is one of the best life decisions I have been fortunate enough to make. Designing a weekend retreat for artists to come together to create was very intentional. However, the formation of this worldwide art collective, the remarkable life that it has created and the heart-warming journey that it has taken me on was something I didn’t imagine and couldn’t have predicted.
I have a love affair with people and bringing them together. My passion lies amongst artists and their art, connecting community and service to others. It’s what gets me up every morning at 4:00 am and keeps me moving forward every single day. I relish those early hours; they take on an almost sacred role. The silence is breathtaking, and I am able to simply be still, until of course nature’s alarm clock of cockatoos, kookaburras and magpies start their early morning calls, and then, the day must begin. I’m always busy (except for those sacred hours) with lots of balls in the air, and I don’t think I could live any other way.
I was taught, and I try to teach my children, that our lives are meant to be shared, wholeheartedly. It is up to each of us to create a life that brings a sense of connectedness, a sense of purpose and meaning. Every day, I simply try to do more of what I love, to embrace what brings me joy and to live to my full potential—even if it is simply doing canteen duty at Max’s school.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved organising people. When everyone was studying at school, I was organising our school dance and when everyone went to university, I travelled to South Africa, lived with some amazing families (who I still connect with today) and then returned to make coffee in a video production house. By being curious and doing whatever job I was presented, I worked my way through video production, event staging, conference management, TV commercials and sporting shows.
“The world is best viewed through the lens of your own heart.” — Scott Stabile
Now with an event management career spanning 30 years, I have managed and produced major corporate events around the world. I have worked with politicians, scientists, financiers, engineers, car dealers, sportspeople and movie and music stars!
Photo by Sue Muldoon.
I found my truest calling, however, after my most tragic loss. My husband, Neil, and I had three stillborn babies—Daisy (’93), Grace (’99) and Frankie (’02). In 2003, eager to escape our reality and with an offer from Neil’s employer on the table, we left Australia for New York on a threeyear contract that lasted for ten years.
We landed in Westchester, New York— Eastchester to be exact; the town of fresh cannoli, generous Italians, and a wickedly good baseball league. Lonely and grieving my loss, I signed up to attend a cloth doll workshop, and it was here that I met artist Ellen Legare. Our friendship led to the creation of Art is You Mixed Media Art Retreats. We really were the first major mixed media art retreat on the East Coast and an awakening for so many artists. For six years, we created unique experiences together where artists were able to create, self-nourish and replenish their personal creative resources, nurturing not only individually but to the souls of those around them too. Ellen and I continued on this path together until she felt the call to teach art to children in the foster care system.
Staying ahead of the mixed media curve, I have now spent the last nine years producing and leading creative experiences in the USA, and more recently, in Australia. Initially under the Art is You banner and more recently as Eat Cake Create, it’s given me a sense of joy to now also support artists wishing to teach. I have hosted thousands of women and men at annual events across the USA and Australia.
I have witnessed real transformations unfolding and real soul-stirring moments every year at our retreats as artists discover we are so much more than what a regular art retreat offers. A participating artist once shared that she loved “getting down and dirty, wearing her favorite jeans and apron” and then went on to say, “you are so much more than back-to-back workshops and a tuna sandwich in saran wrap”!
My role as a connector is simple. I am the nurturer of the arts, a guardian of the artists and their stories, and I am known for creatively crafting a face-to-face movement of belonging.
Mornings at our retreats are a mix of powerful messages and motivating moments. I create and design luncheons that are delicious, inclusive and festive. Intimate and low-key art evenings round out each day. When there is not an official function, you will find artists grouped together over coffee, wine, dinner and art. It truly is an experience bursting with inspiration, friendship, art and charity.
Yes, charity. Growing up in the leafy suburb of Lindfield in Sydney, I was raised under the Rotary International motto of “service above self”—a motto founded in 1911 by Minneapolis Rotarian President, Ben Collins—and one that my father lived by. Putting others first has always been a part of my life.
We are hard-wired to protect what we fall in love with, and my biggest desire is to connect with people’s hearts.
One of the standout differences with my creative experiences is the way I have always incorporated philanthropy and charity. Over the years, I have galvanised artists who have created art and raised money for charities such as Fabulous Women of Petaluma, Enchanted Makeovers, Little Baby Face Foundation, breast cancer research, and St Jude Children’s research. When Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy impacted the lives of so many, I called on all artists and rallied them to donate art, cash and in-kind donations.
“The retreats are about so much more than art. They offer community, inclusivity, opportunity, charity and the ability to be one’s own authentic self.” – Seth Apter
So in 2015, when I was offered a position on the board of our local women’s shelter, I grabbed it with both hands. With domestic violence deaths at an all-time high, I created The Apron Project which has seen artists from around the world unite to paint and stitch aprons for auction with proceeds going back to the women in crisis. In the last four years, we have raised almost 50,000 (AU) and connected artists and buyers across three continents.
Combining my art experiences and the artists who attend them with the calling I have to support women and children in need is one of the best life decisions I have been fortunate enough to make. Designing a weekend retreat for artists to come together to create was very intentional. However, the formation of this worldwide art collective, the remarkable life that it has created and the heart-warming journey that it has taken me on was something I didn’t imagine and couldn’t have predicted.
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I have a love affair with people and bringing them together. My passion lies amongst artists and their art, connecting community and service to others. It’s what gets me up every morning at 4:00 am and keeps me moving forward every single day. I relish those early hours; they take on an almost sacred role. The silence is breathtaking, and I am able to simply be still, until of course nature’s alarm clock of cockatoos, kookaburras and magpies start their early morning calls, and then, the day must begin. I’m always busy (except for those sacred hours) with lots of balls in the air, and I don’t think I could live any other way.
I was taught, and I try to teach my children, that our lives are meant to be shared, wholeheartedly. It is up to each of us to create a life that brings a sense of connectedness, a sense of purpose and meaning. Every day, I simply try to do more of what I love, to embrace what brings me joy and to live to my full potential—even if it is simply doing canteen duty at Max’s school.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved organising people. When everyone was studying at school, I was organising our school dance and when everyone went to university, I travelled to South Africa, lived with some amazing families (who I still connect with today) and then returned to make coffee in a video production house. By being curious and doing whatever job I was presented, I worked my way through video production, event staging, conference management, TV commercials and sporting shows.
“The world is best viewed through the lens of your own heart.” — Scott Stabile
Now with an event management career spanning 30 years, I have managed and produced major corporate events around the world. I have worked with politicians, scientists, financiers, engineers, car dealers, sportspeople and movie and music stars!
Photo by Sue Muldoon.
I found my truest calling, however, after my most tragic loss. My husband, Neil, and I had three stillborn babies—Daisy (’93), Grace (’99) and Frankie (’02). In 2003, eager to escape our reality and with an offer from Neil’s employer on the table, we left Australia for New York on a threeyear contract that lasted for ten years.
We landed in Westchester, New York— Eastchester to be exact; the town of fresh cannoli, generous Italians, and a wickedly good baseball league. Lonely and grieving my loss, I signed up to attend a cloth doll workshop, and it was here that I met artist Ellen Legare. Our friendship led to the creation of Art is You Mixed Media Art Retreats. We really were the first major mixed media art retreat on the East Coast and an awakening for so many artists. For six years, we created unique experiences together where artists were able to create, self-nourish and replenish their personal creative resources, nurturing not only individually but to the souls of those around them too. Ellen and I continued on this path together until she felt the call to teach art to children in the foster care system.
Staying ahead of the mixed media curve, I have now spent the last nine years producing and leading creative experiences in the USA, and more recently, in Australia. Initially under the Art is You banner and more recently as Eat Cake Create, it’s given me a sense of joy to now also support artists wishing to teach. I have hosted thousands of women and men at annual events across the USA and Australia.
I have witnessed real transformations unfolding and real soul-stirring moments every year at our retreats as artists discover we are so much more than what a regular art retreat offers. A participating artist once shared that she loved “getting down and dirty, wearing her favorite jeans and apron” and then went on to say, “you are so much more than back-to-back workshops and a tuna sandwich in saran wrap”!
My role as a connector is simple. I am the nurturer of the arts, a guardian of the artists and their stories, and I am known for creatively crafting a face-to-face movement of belonging.
Mornings at our retreats are a mix of powerful messages and motivating moments. I create and design luncheons that are delicious, inclusive and festive. Intimate and low-key art evenings round out each day. When there is not an official function, you will find artists grouped together over coffee, wine, dinner and art. It truly is an experience bursting with inspiration, friendship, art and charity.
Yes, charity. Growing up in the leafy suburb of Lindfield in Sydney, I was raised under the Rotary International motto of “service above self”—a motto founded in 1911 by Minneapolis Rotarian President, Ben Collins—and one that my father lived by. Putting others first has always been a part of my life.
We are hard-wired to protect what we fall in love with, and my biggest desire is to connect with people’s hearts.
One of the standout differences with my creative experiences is the way I have always incorporated philanthropy and charity. Over the years, I have galvanised artists who have created art and raised money for charities such as Fabulous Women of Petaluma, Enchanted Makeovers, Little Baby Face Foundation, breast cancer research, and St Jude Children’s research. When Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy impacted the lives of so many, I called on all artists and rallied them to donate art, cash and in-kind donations.
“The retreats are about so much more than art. They offer community, inclusivity, opportunity, charity and the ability to be one’s own authentic self.” – Seth Apter
So in 2015, when I was offered a position on the board of our local women’s shelter, I grabbed it with both hands. With domestic violence deaths at an all-time high, I created The Apron Project which has seen artists from around the world unite to paint and stitch aprons for auction with proceeds going back to the women in crisis. In the last four years, we have raised almost 50,000 (AU) and connected artists and buyers across three continents.
Combining my art experiences and the artists who attend them with the calling I have to support women and children in need is one of the best life decisions I have been fortunate enough to make. Designing a weekend retreat for artists to come together to create was very intentional. However, the formation of this worldwide art collective, the remarkable life that it has created and the heart-warming journey that it has taken me on was something I didn’t imagine and couldn’t have predicted.
The Women Create Foundation is a catalyst for small but significant strides to empower women creators through grants that help bring projects to life and foster innovation.
