Pook Designz has been hosting after school workshops for the last number of weeks every Tuesday after school from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.  I have been so surprised by the regular attendance of some children whose parents are so "gung-ho" about my workshops.  I have such a deep respect for these parents.  They really appreciate the arts and are determined that their children have access to opportunities where their child's "creative side" is allowed to be "unleashed".  I know that in the public vs private school experience, funding for the arts is lacking in the public system.  So parents are forced to nurture their children's art education outside school. I have hosted these workshops from my home - my husband thinks we're getting into daycare, and I have to remind him that is not "daycare" - we are offering "art lessons" namely, sculpture with polymer clay! I used to host daycare years ago when my children were younger - this is a completely different "kettle of fish!"

   I am impressed with the company of children who have attended my classes - I enjoy their energy and enthusiasm - I have to say, I am fortunate for the children who have come to my classes, they want to be there - how many teachers can boast about this? Teachers uaually have to fight to get their student's attention.  Not so with me - I have boys and girls attend my classes. People are surprised when I tell them boys like my classes too.  For eager parents, to have their child occupied with an activity that encourages creativity as well as develops fine motor skills, my classes have been received well.
    I have been working with polymer clay for over 25 years now, mostly as a hobby.  I make jewellery with this medium and for the last 3 years have attempted to make this hobby into a business.  So far, and as much as I enjoy making the jewellery, its been my workshops that have been bringing in the income for Pook Designz.  Sometimes you set out with an idea of what you would like to do but find that your endeavours turn you down another path. So far I am finding that the response to my business is that the workshops and the birthday parties are what people value more.  Although my jewellery is unique(I find  beaded work gets so much more attention - consumers can be like sheep and if the trend is beads, that's all they seem to look for), the response to my jewellery work is often enthusiastic but people are not willing to buy it with the exception of a few wonderful customers who are enamored with my work. But the workshops, they're of interest. At the craft shows when I mention to people that I host birthday parties, school and community workshops they seem to "pipe up" and always ask for a card.  I have on display characters and creatures that are colouful, bright and whimsical and they are intriguing to my young customers. When they know they can learn to make one of them, they want to know more. So as I pursue my work with polymer clay, I am wondering if I may need to re-focus on what my product will be like in the future.  I don't want to give up on my jewellery making passion but I do feel I need to re-direct my marketing tactics. Home parties instead of craft shows? I have customers who appreciate the artistry they find in every piece I make. They appreciate the artistic flare each of my pieces presents; just like the customers of my workshops. So far, for now Pook has two lines of focus: the clay workshops and the clay jewellery. Time will tell where the focus will lead to. Maybe I can hold on to both. Either way, I will keep creating as much as I can for now.  As for all the twists and turns in my creative business journey, I have no complaints, I am truly enjoying the ride.

I am a happy camper!  This week I held my first After School Workshop in my home - to my surprise, my class was full!  I have been teaching polymer clay workshops to school groups and community groups for over 3 years as well as hosting birthday parties, all the while trying to run my own residential cleaning business.  It's been a good journey, but my artist's muse is at it again and I feel I need to make some changes in my life that will allow me to utilise more of my creative side.

Being entrepreneurial and at the same time trying to balance your home life is no easy task, but you have to chose what it is you want most to do - for me, seven years of cleaning, and I am finding its time to let it go.  So,  how do I shift gears and find a way to make up for the lost income if I am to reduce my cleaning schedule?  The after school workshops, I believe willl help ease me out of some of my cleaning duties and offer up the missing income I need to keep up with my bills. But more important than redirecting income flow, I am realizng that the teaching offers something more, something deeper and for that reason, I am excited and really "jazzed" to be hosting these workshops.  The kid's have an incredible energy - they are so eager to make the stuff I have made and they are such willing participants - they want to be in this class - and for me, I find this heart warming. How many teachers in a classroom setting can lay claim to that?  This is a far leap from scrubbing toilets and wiping up spider poo! (Yes, they do that!).

    As much as the cleaning is a commendable service and it does help the people I serve, I find that the job doesn't allow for much growth, or change. Don't get me wrong, I love my cleaning clients - they have been wonderful and I will share with you about them another time - having a private cleaning business has its merit, but cleaning can be a routine and sometimes very mundane job and I am not lying when I say, I don't love it!  But this, teaching and sharing of my sculpting talents and creative ideas, is a real joy and a delight. 

    There is an element of challenge here for the kids, but they don't seem to reisist it - they know it's not easy to sculpt 3D figurines and sometimes they are a little hesitant to explore what more to do. So often, I get an explosion of statements like, "Is this how it's done, how's this Amanda? Is this big enough? or does this look right?", there's a constant stream of questions and yes, I find my answers get a little crossed as I try to attend each one's inquiry, but you know what? It's all good: their questions let me know they are interested and engaged.  What teacher could ask for more in a classroom setting?  And the kids, I think they actually surprise themselves with what they produce even for their first attempts at claying. This, in age of  mindless thumb pressing video gaming, zoned out TV watching and a reduced arts curriculum in ouur schools, is good.  Thanfully the parents see value in the workshops I offer and have their children participate. What's great too, is that their children want to attend my workshops. 

     Beautiful combination this is for me and for them.  I don't want to be a cleaning zombie for the rest of my life, it's time pass on the torch for that job (or start hiring out) but with this, the teaching of the clay, there will be an element of the "new" in every class, and an opportunity to fine tune my own skills and of course, teach new ones to the kids - I do this with out an Arts Degree, just pure life experience of over 25 years and a hobby that just wouldn't die.

     I have to say, I feel really blessed, really blessed to have the chance to enrich the lives of my neigbhours children and at the same time know that my life is being touched as well. So thankyou, Moms and Dads in Bradford for lending me your children and allowing us to "clay" together. Looking forward to making a ton of wonderful, whimiscal little "Pooks", a term coined by my friend, Jeanene, and to sharing a ton of great learning moments that I hope will last forever.  Happy Pooking everyone!

My Daughter's Room

I used to think I would never allow my
children’s room to ever get so messy that you fear losing one of your pets in
them but somehow my bar, my standard has lessened. My son is away at university, so his space for me doesn't pose a problem at all. Because of the distance, it's completely out of sight and out of mind. But my daughter's room, hmmm. So far the cat hasn’t gone missing, but we’re
definitely en route. I try to be a patient
and understanding Mom – good thing there’s a door that can be shut, so I don’t
even have to see the reality behind it, but my parenting instincts keep tugging
at my heart, inclining me to “do” or a “say” something to at least get some
kind of “Operation Clean-Up” or have a “Bring back the Order to my Room” Day
with a celebratory lunch or breakfast, or maybe ticket to Cineplex as an
incentive.. Sometimes I do a blitz with
the only goal being that some carpet can be seen, that I still remember we have
carpet in her room. Sometimes I am not so sure.
I realize that this is the norm
not the exception. One could have some concerns if the child wasn’t a “messy” – could the child have some kind
OCD issues if she happens to be anal and host an immaculate, spotless space,
are they hiding something, trying to gain brownie points with the parents for
good behaviour, is there some kind of emotional reward system for being clean
etc. Well, I don’t have that worry –
Emma’s room is definitely a classic case for sure! So far it’s liveable. Sometimes I jest about how in “style” her
room is and how great a job she’s done decorating without even trying.. It’s just, “drop and go, kick obstacles out of the way,
will find it in the morning” kind of deal, sort of like an episode of Art
Attack with no “theme”. Again, no
missing pets, no unaccounted for dishes, no need for 15 bottles of Febreeze to
cover up a peculiar unidentifiable odour, no need to have the room “ozoned”, no
strange strain of bacteria growing from inconspicuous places, no weird
vegetation or unknown plant life to be seen, no heavy layer of dust that you
think the furniture came with fur. Other
than the occasional missing sock or favourite sweater, due to the Mount Everest of clothes heaped in her closet, there are no
real issues, just a typical North American teenage girl’s room and a Mom who sort
of understands the mindset of a 14 year old girl. Let’s face it things could be worse, and I
know for some parents this would be true, but for me, I can live with it. My
daughter is healthy and happy and if her room is her only real fault, then
lucky me.

So far, its been a great start to the new year for Pook Designz. When I returned from Jamaica, the next day there were 4 calls for Pook Designz. Follow my Facebook fan page: Pook Designz for updates. I have 3 school workshops coming up in the month of February and 1 in March. The Bradford Library has been steadily promoting the Bradford Arts Guild's workshops being hosted by local artists in Bradford. I am loving the response Pook Designz is receiving from our community. I am proud to be living in the growing town of BWG!

I just hosted a birthday party for a sweet little girl who lives on the next street over from me. Her delightful Mom sought me out to provide the craft for her daughter's 8th birthday. I had a great time - the children all in attendance were excited to participate and they did very well at making my signature piece, the Pookee. I will ask the birthday girl's Mom for pictures. The children, ages 5 to 8, I have to say they did exceptionally well. The Sculpey Bakeshop clay is soft and easy to shape and mold. Sometimes the clay can be too soft, but we manage to make it work. I challenge anyone who participated in my workshops to submit some pictures of the creations they have made. Any of my amazing Pook customers who purchased "Pookee Part kits" and clay - I would love to see your work too! I want to see what is "poking" around in your imaginations. I challenge you to come up with "Pookeez" of your own. Keep Pook Designz in mind for your next birthday - who knows what you and your friends can make in our time of "Pooking" (a term made up by our town's Mayor) together. Look forward to claying with you!