A while back, a good friend and creative entrepreun-essa of mine, Chris Kay Fraser formed a "Creative Women in Business" (CWIB) group.
Luckily, I was invited to be part of it.
We are a group of 6 women who meet bi-weekly at a local coffee shop. We are artists, dancers, writers, workshop facilitators, retreat organizers, life coaches and health care/sexuality workers who meet to share business ideas.
We talk about how liberating it is to follow our creative entrepreneurial dreams. And we brainstorm about how we can build on our passions. We cry about how tough it can be, and, best of all, we make art together.
Yes, we have business art picnics.
Alongside lattes, herbal teas, pastries and much laughter are scads of magazines, stickers, markers, ink pads, stamps, scissors & glue sticks.
While we celebrate our business successes, present our problems, ask for advice, learn to grow from business ideas gone sour, we create!
The outcome?
Pretty cool creations documenting my process. My picnic partners offer ingredients for my business recipes and those ideas find their way mysteriously into my art. Or is it the other way around?
Either way and get to carry those powerful doses of inspiration with me until the next time.
We had an article about us published in McClung's magazine this week. Read it here!
Here are a few of my favourite creations:
Isn't this woman gorgeously outside the box?
Does she not inspire greatness?
This one reminds me to eat, live well and be BOLD.
Pretty good business practice I'd say!
Could describe me and my role as a Nia Instructor... spicy, joy, being, guide, DIVA, shape
What my business offers ME:
thrill factor, a l'heure de la sieste (naps when I want them!), s'inspirer
Tonight I went to my local eatery to listen to jazz on the patio.
Actually, I recommend that you check this place out.
It's called Whistler's and they are offering free patio jazz on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. It's lovely (and right across from the Dairy Queen at Broadview and Mortimer where you can appreciate our city's beauty apres diner).
Back to masturbation. How this fits into a prelude about jazz on the patio at Whistler's is something I'll bet you're really curious about.
So tonight I'm enjoying my jazz and my mushroom/swiss omelette on the aforementioned patio when I need to visit the washroom. I walk down the stairs and find a stall.
As I go about my business, I overhear the following conversation:
FRIEND A: "Go in that stall....there's a commercial from Durex for a vibrator in there!!!!!"
FRIEND B: (walking into the mentioned stall, laughing) "What do you mean?"
FRIEND A: "A vibrator!!!! Isn't that disgusting?"
Momentary pause. Silence.
FRIEND B: "What's that?"
FRIEND A: "You know, a vibrator."
FRIEND B: "I don't get it"
FRIEND A: (laughing) "It goes where a penis goes."
FRIEND B: (emphatically) "OH MY GOD. I'M HAVING A DISTURBING MOMENT!!!"
FRIEND A: (joining in consolation) "I'm sharing your disturbing moment, don't worry."
I leave my stall and wait for FRIEND A or FRIEND B to join me at the sink.
One does. I don't know which one.
I desperately want to say something, but don't know how to normalize this so remain silent.
I'm left feeling sad. Sad that we women aren't encouraged and/or taught to understand our bodies and their sexual needs.
I didn't have the privilege of understanding myself at their age, but I had been hoping things had changed some 20 years later.
Which is why I'm THRILLED to tell you that I'm part of a creative women's network in Riverdale (my pocket of Toronto) which includes Kim Sedgwick and Amy Sedgwick.
These are 2 AMAZ-i-CREDIBLE women who co-founded Red Tent Sisters, an independent, pro-woman, pro-sex Toronto-based boutique and wellness centre run by two sisters.
You need to know about their products and services.
Through a retail store, individual consultation and workshops, their products and services empower women to learn about *fertility *sexuality *contraception *child-rearing *peri-menopause *feminist films *pregnancy
Their upcoming offerings include:
May 21 Natural contraception – healthy, drug-free alternative to oral contraceptives Love your body and the earth while you’re lovin’ your partner Thinking about going off The Pill? Looking for healthier birth control? Join like-minded gals – and bring your guy, if you like - for a 2-hour introductory workshop on Justisse, a fertility awareness method that provides the knowledge and support to manage your own birth control naturally, without drugs, surgery or devices. Justisse Method is 99.6% effective and is a meaningful way to deepen your connection to your own body, while improving your health and reducing the flow of synthetic hormones into our ecosystem.
May 24 Let your inner sex goddess out to play Natural make-up, hair and beautiful photography Need a fresh Facebook profile picture? Or maybe you want a record of your pregnant figure? Or how about photography as a gift for someone special – you in a ball gown? You in lingerie? You daring to be bare? This is your chance to see yourself through the eyes of a gifted photographer.
May 25-Jul.13 Fertility yoga: Preparing your body for conception This 8-week class is designed for women trying to conceive, with poses and meditations to relax the body and mind and enhance reproductive health. Join other women in a nurturing atmosphere of support and sisterhood.
May 28 Rock his world: A workshop for women on pleasuring men Join other women in a fun, relaxed environment to learn the anatomy, tools and techniques to broaden your partner’s o-o-o-orgasmic experience and your own! This two-hour workshop will enhance your knowledge and confidence, whether you’re a novice or pro. And you’ll enjoy the homework!
May 30-Jun. 20 WeeHands™: Teaching sign language to babies Teaching sign language to babies can improve vocabulary, reduce frustration between children and their caregivers, and facilitate cognitive development. Learn to better communicate with your baby alongside other families in this 4-week course.
Jun. 4 Rock HER world: An ecstasy workshop for men who love women This 2-hour workshop, led by trusted sex educator Tara McKee, will take you through the exquisite landscape of the female body, give you tips and tricks for adding to your sexual repertoire, and will send you home with creative ideas for curling her toes. All men who love women welcome!
Jun. 25 How to eat a peach: pleasuring her A workshop for women who enjoy sex with women Our favourite globe-trotting sex educator and author is coming to Red Tent Sisters to share her secrets, tips and tricks for giving your partner the most happy, loving, awe-inspiring oral pleasure. It’ll be juicy! Includes fun practice on fruits and candy. (No embarrassment, lots of fun.)
ongoing Honour your reproductive health Maya abdominal massage Maya Abdominal Massage is a relaxing, non-invasive, external, massage that guides internal abdominal organs into their proper position for optimum health and well-being. Maya massage supports the healing of painful or irregular periods, lower back ache, infertility, endometriosis, painful intercourse, ovarian cysts, vaginitus, and hormonal imbalances, among others. Be good to your body.
I'm a Nia teacher and Speech-Language Pathologist. I'm a writer and a creative soul. I love living life outside the box. It doesn't have to be complicated if I let it be me.
I'm now active online at www.jennhicks.ca
Come visit me there!
