Each year more and more has been added to my plate in some really great ways, and some really hard ways too. Every rose has its thorn, right? My time for writing has been minimal and I have had to focus on so many other things.

So to update all of you wonderful humans that support me I thought I would share my roses and thorns from the past year in reflection.

Rose #3

One of the roses that grew this past year was being re-diagnosed with ADHD (combined-type) at the end of 2022. I know that might sound a little strange, but I now have access to medication that is actually working fairly well for me and I am really happy I took the risk of trying medication again.

… and a thorn.

The process of going back on medication was really hard and exhausting. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do originally when bringing up my ADHD to my doctor. All I knew was that I was riding the struggle bus more than I had in a really long time.

Because of my negative experience with medication in the past, I was reluctant to try medication again, and since my over 20-year-old diagnosis wasn’t in my records (how does that happen?!) I had to rehash everything over multiple months, with multiple doctors and counselors, and way too many appointments, all just to be able to see if the medication was something that even wanted to try.

Luckily as an adult, I have much more awareness and ability to advocate for myself, so ultimately dipping my toes back into trying medication is working out pretty well.

This whole experience is a story of its own that I may have time to sit down and write someday, but that day is not today… so, more on this one later.

Rose # 2

Another rose was the launching of my handmade shop, Atypically Artistic. Today, June 1st is Atypically Artistic’s 1 year anniversary – happy birthday Atypically Artistic! To celebrate I have moved my shop to my own website and will be adding a handful of new creations this month! Check out the new shop here.

Bonus rose! In opening my shop a year ago, I had the dream of supporting causes with my creations and today I am making that a reality – All profits from our LGBTQ+ themed products will be donated to the It Gets Better Project, a non-profit whose mission is to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe. Happy PRIDE y’all!!

…and a thorn.

As much as I love creating for my shop I wasn’t able to focus on making new creations as much as I would have liked this past year. Between my other multiple jobs (teaching, consulting, parenting, chauffering, costuming, etc.) and the abundance of hard personal situations our family and friends went through this past year, things were just hard… and creating for me (and you!) got put on the back burner in order to make it through.

Thanks to my family (and the awesome Mother’s Day gift they got me) I now have some dedicated portable crafting tables that make it way more likely for me to pull out my projects in my free time (what exactly is free time anyways?!?). My typical creations are portable while making them so I have done my best to make mini craft bags to carry with me wherever I go. That way if I find a moment to create I can do it right then and there. So, this thorn has already started to turn around a bit and I am prioritizing creating for my mental health a lot more!

Rose # 1

At the same time I launched my shop last year the #etsystrike was happening. That was what made me shift to listing my shop on Ko-fi instead of Etsy and I have stuck with my choice to stay off of Etsy ever since. Etsy is not what it used to be nearly a decade ago when I opened my first shop. It’s overrun with mass-produced products and centralizes profits over creativity which is just not my jam.

Out of this issue, however, came something truly beautiful. I am really excited to share with you all, Artisans Cooperative.

Back in July of last year a small group of artisans from across the globe came together to meet and discuss how we could solve the problems we are all facing in the handmade community. We shared our stories and ideas and began working to organize what would later become Artisans Cooperative.

Over the past year, this amazing team has worked tirelessly to take our plans and ideas and form them into something tangible. As of May, we have incorporated in Oregon state, elected our interim Board of Directors (Oh hey… I’m on the Board!), formed policy to support our mission, and brought together a community of hundreds of Artisans and Supporters that are now joining the Cooperative as members!

As of today (WOW, June 1st way to be such a momentous day!) Artisans Cooperative membership is now open to the public! There are multiple ways to become a member – through cash buy-in, monthly payment plans, and our points and tiers system – our goal in this work was to make membership equitable and an option for everyone in some form.

You can learn more and join us at https://artisans.coop/membership.

…and if you aren’t ready to join just yet, you can still support Artisans Cooperative by shopping from our cooperative fundraiser items that Artisans have made (find all of Atypically Artistic’s fundraiser items for the Coop here). You can also support our Artisans by shopping from our Artisans Shop Directory which will soon be replaced by our marketplace when it launches later this year.

Well, that’s it for today! I definitely have many more roses and thorns, but I think we will end it on a positive note.

As always I hope to find some more time for writing and sharing my creative journey with you all soon – but if I take another year to write another post you can stay connected with me and follow what’s going on in my creative world through Instagram & Facebook.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a fantastically creative day!

Of course, my ADHD brain is like, “Well duh… nobody has superpowers but there is definitely something magical in this little brain of mine so why not call it a superpower?! That’s literally what it feels like!!” But, then I get the other point that is being made.

Calling ADHD a superpower is seen as toxic positivity and I want to take a moment to address this part of the conversation because I get it! There is a lot of good, bad and ugly that comes with everything, and ADHD is not an exception to that rule.

The reality is that ADHD can be extremely debilitating.

There are some people with ADHD who don’t experience the highs along with the very low, lows. It can feel like an incredible burden. To see people with ADHD celebrating it, or people without ADHD not even believing it is a real issue… That can feel like a punch in the face and minimize the very real struggle that ADHD can cause.

I am incredibly lucky to be 20+ years from my initial diagnosis.

ADHD FACT: Girls are half as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as boys. (5.6% compared to 12.9%)

The knowledge alone that there was a real explanation for my struggles growing up (and now) has been extremely helpful in getting me through those hard times and seeing the brighter side of my ADHD! I also had so many people in my corner, fostering my strengths which definitely shaped where I am today.

There is a lot of good in my life, but I also struggled through a massive amount of hardships– many of which were avoidable had I received the help I needed to deal with my ADHD.

Sooo… this week, some semi-coherent thoughts finally came to me that I want to share. My hope is to help those who have ADHD and those that don’t have ADHD, to understand the very real issues that come with ADHD and what my “superpower” feeling is like when it happens.

This is all from my personal experience and 100% does not reflect everyone’s experience with ADHD.

Are you ready? It’s STORYTIME!!

With my ADHD, I feel a constant urge to be productive. My brain is either thinking of new creative ideas, problem-solving for whatever issues I am dealing with in life, problem-solving my friends’ and families’ issues, coming up with new things I want to learn about, and so on, and soo on, AND SOOO ON! My brain is constantly going from one millisecond to the next, and never really takes a break. This happens each and every day without fail!

At the same time, my brain likes to avoid all stop signs and bounce from one idea to the next without warning. Completing a thought before moving on to the next rarely happens. A lot of the time it feels like I never actually accomplish anything, though I am almost always being “productive” in one way or another. Very rarely is my brain engaged in the way it’s “supposed” to be at any given time. The list of ideas, thoughts and tasks I’ve started grows and grows, but the “accomplished” list barely budges.

This right here is just one small part of the negative side of ADHD that I feel on a daily basis. It’s exhausting to have so many fleeting thoughts. It’s distracting and intrusive when they come up during times when I am supposed to be focused on something else. It’s paralyzing to have so much noise in your head and never enough energy or time to deal with it all!

But every so often… like a force of magic… something shifts… What I am actually doing at the moment aligns with my brain’s hyperdrive to be productive and sparks start flying!

At that moment, it feels like I could do anything! I get so much done in those short bursts of hyperfocus and it feels incredible!!

The moment where everything clicks and the friction is gone feels so supercharged– it’s like a real-life superpower! Since the rest of the time ADHD can make me feel so low, I always try to hang onto and celebrate the bright and colorful moments while they last.

So, does sharing that positivity, when it happens, make it toxic?! Should we stop sharing the positive sides of ADHD? Absolutely not!

BUT I do see how the greater conversation unfolds and how it may harm some when just the positivity is taken out of context. Balance is definitely important — says the lady that has very little of it in her life. ;P

Word choices are also very important when it comes to discussing and advocating for people with disabilities. Language can be weaponized (intentional or not) against those who need protection and assistance. So it would be nice if we all agreed to share the full picture, instead of just the positive sides of things that have just as many if not more negative sides.

I often wonder if what feels like a superpower to me is probably just how neurotypical people function on a daily basis. I guess I’ll never know though considering I am stuck with the brain I was dealt.

Well, that’s my thought for the day… I hope you got something out of it! It definitely helped my brain to get it out of my head since I have been fixating on this idea for a few months now (thanks ADHD!!).

If you struggle with these same feelings, just know that you are not alone! There is a very big community that knows exactly how you feel and support is out there. Look up #ADHDlife or something similar on social and you will find others that get you.

Thanks for reading! Do you have any superpower experiences? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Have a creative & charming day people!!

—

SHOP UPDATE (COME ON… switch topics quickly with me now!)

I am still working on opening my shop Atypically Artistic. It is coming soon, I promise! I am just not putting the pressure of an open date on myself right now.

The past 2 months have been filled with super draining ADHD brain moments, silly avoidable injuries, as well as a lot of other crazy life things. Until this week my “superpowers” haven’t kicked in recently, but the past few days have been feeling a bit brighter so I am going to ride this wave while it lasts!

I am working out the nitty-gritty, not-so-fun, business side details of opening the shop and it feels like it is taking absolutely forever! It is definitely not my favorite part of the process, but it is getting done piece by piece. Not as fast as I would like, of course…. But it is getting done!

More updates coming soon!

Like what you read today?! You can show your support with a tip on my Kofi page: ko-fi.com/misstheraart

Also, a big thank you to those who have supported my shop launch on Kofi already! We are at 83% of the launch goal!!

It has been a long time since I have had time to sit down and write but… I am working hard to get my creative rhythm back.

When I started this blog a year and a half ago I had big plans to document my artistic creations and life right here and in true ADHD fashion (mixed with a smothering of stress and chaos from a pandemic) none of that came to fruition.

I spent the better part of the last two years overworking myself into some severe burnout. Working 4 jobs, parenting a pre-teen and kindergartener, grasping at straws to create for myself, and everything in between… It became way too much!!

If you saw my calendar you would cry (I did a couple of times)! Everyone around me witnessed the chaos that was me and my life and in the past few months, I have had to do some serious work to start digging myself out of that hole.

Of course, I’m not 100% there yet, but with stepping back from two of my jobs (that I truly loved, so that was very hard to do), and addressing the ridiculousness that was my schedule, I am finally seeing some hope on the horizon. Just in time for me to start another trip around the sun… Happy freakin’ birthday to me (yes, today is my birthday!!!)!

With all that said, I have done a lot of thinking and planning with this transition that I’ve found myself in and here I am to share my intentions for my next year of life and so on with you all!

To start I am rebranding this blog by changing its name to “Atypically Artistic by Miss Thera” to celebrate my birthday and to claim my creative brain back. I still plan to have this be the same home for my creations and artistic adventures that it would have been before but this name change just feels a bit more me!

My goal for myself is to truly stop fighting who I am. I want to stop striving to follow the path that is expected of me because in reality my path has so many forks in the road that I travel every which way on and any time I try to stick with one course there is so much internal friction! I am done with that!

I want to follow my passions. I want to live life without the limits of a niche or title. The reality is I am a multi-passionate, multi-skilled, multi-talented creator and I want to do ALL OF THE THINGS (hello ADHD)!

To be completely honest, I have been doing “all of the things” forever, but there has always been an internal voice telling me to find that “one thing” and stick with it. WELL, little voice… I’m done with you! You served your purpose in my life to help me find my creative self and now you can leave me be!

I made a very cryptic post on Instagram a few weeks back on this same topic and this is all part of that idea (find that post here).

Not only am I rebranding my blog, but I am also planning to re-open a handmade shop in the coming months (YAY!). That may be next week or it might be NEVER (haha) but it is a goal of mine that I really want to put out into the world. Keeping it to myself means I might not ever follow through with it, so thank you for reading this and helping me keep accountable to my goals.

My dream for this shop is to fill it with my mismatched small-batch creations of all kinds. Paintings, accessories, drawings, jewelry, clothing, stickers, props and performance pieces, crochet creations, skincare products, commissions and more! The possibilities are only limited by me, myself and I… whatever I end up making I hope to share it in one place where whoever wants to enjoy it can!

So if you are intrigued by this wacky idea follow this blog and my newsletter for semi-regular updates when I have my random bouts of inspiration, and if you feel so inclined to help me celebrate my birthday this year I have launched a Ko-Fi page where you can support creative projects of mine, like launching my shop! Anyone that supports this month will get a free cell phone wallpaper that I created just for you!

Also if you have stuck with this post from beginning to end – Thank you, sincerely! The ability to share with others keeps me going. As a little gift to you, I am sharing a sneak peek of the new logo I created for Atypically Artistic by yours truly.

Have a wonderfully artistic day and Happy TWO’sDAY!

With love and gratitude,

Miss Thera

As regular business opens back up the creative economy is still struggling to find ways to return safely. Our industry relies on gatherings of people while participating in high risk activities (have you seen the spit that happened in Hamilton?!).

So with no real return in sight how do we save these amazing things we enjoy so much? How do we keep the arts alive?

1. Enjoy in the arts

Is there a local musician that played at your favorite coffee shop? Do you go see the ballet annually? Was your kid taking drama classes before the shut down? When was the last time you purchased from a local artist? These artists are all still out there trying to find ways to keep the arts alive and there is no reason you can’t still enjoy in the arts from home.

So, purchase a ticket to the next virtual performance. Gift your nephew online dance lessons. Purchase from a local artisan’s online shop! There are lots of ways we can support the arts until we are able to return to in person events & activities. The scariest part is if we don’t support the arts now there might not be much left when we return.

2. Donate

If attending a virtual performance or taking classes isn’t for you, consider donating to a local arts organization. Even small amounts can help keep programs going. If you go out to purchase a coffee a few times a week consider brewing a few pots at home and send that money over to your favorite organization. Your donation can help provide scholarships for arts students and paychecks for arts workers.

When donating don’t forget about corporate matching programs if you have access to one. Don’t miss the chance to double up on a gift whenever possible. You can help ensure that the big corporations that are thriving in these times are helping others stay afloat.

Do you know any fantastic non-profit charitable giving programs? Drop them in the comments below!

3. Follow, engage & help spread the word

This one is simple & FREE. Artists and organizations thrive when we can connect with our communities. Right now (more than ever) it is a struggle to make those connections. Our emails are backed up, our social feeds are cluttered, everything is urgent, and connecting in person is on hold.

Take some time today to find an artist (or two… or five!) to follow on Facebook. Connect with your favorite arts organization on Instagram (or wherever it is online that you like to spend your time). Once you’ve made that connection don’t let it disappear. Follow what their doing, comment on their posts and share the beautiful things they are trying to share with the world.

4. Help with fundraising efforts

Maybe donating financially isn’t possible for you right now. Do you have a little free time to spare? Reach out to your local arts org and ask how you can help with fundraising efforts. We are entering gala season and it is all basically canceled this year. Many are trying to make the switch to online fundraising events. Non-profits and arts orgs are looking for any way to effectively raise funds and helping hands are never turned away.

Are you looking for a fun evening escape? You can have a blast while supporting the arts by attending Danylyon Drama’s Great Escape Rip-Roaring Virtual FUNdraiser on Saturday, November 7th at 7PM PST. This evening has been planned by creatives (trust me, we know how to throw a party!) and having a behind the scenes look at the nights festivities I can guarantee it is going to blow you away! I’m thrilled to be performing a role along with my teaching artist co-workers. Read all about it and purchase tickets here!

5. Support arts relief legislation

Throughout this year I have been grateful for the funding that has helped some arts organizations scrape by, but as the days drag on that funding is disappearing and it’s hard (if not impossible) for individual artists to gain access to those funds.

Arts workers were the first to lose their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic and we will be the last to be able to fully return to work. You can help by supporting legislation and relief efforts that support arts workers. Write, call and vote to make your voices heard!

Two great places to support arts legislation and learn more about relief efforts are www.artsactionfund.org and www.beanartshero.com.

You truly can make a difference in your community by being a supportive arts patron and advocate. If you want to enjoy in concerts, ballets, opera’s, artisan products, arts education and more when we return to daily life, please consider what you can do to help us keep the arts alive today!

What steps have you taken to help save the arts? What more can we do to support the arts in hard times? Share in the comments, and until next time – Keep being amazing artsy people!

I am a multi-media artist.

That’s really the best way I can describe it. I’m a dancer, actor, music-maker, digital, textile and visual artist; writer, face & body artist, hairstylist and likely some other kind of artist that I’m just not remembering right now.

I have a SUPERPOWER!

No jokes here – I really do! It’s called ADHD! I was told it was a bad thing growing up and for the longest time I believed it (how ridiculous is that?!). Once I stopped trying to cover up my powers and grew to love and accept them, I realized I could utilize my “diagnosis” for some serious good!

I adore arts education and teaching.

Due to my awesome powers, I struggled a lot in public school (seriously, I was a straight F student at times); but I always thrived in the arts. Now that I have become an arts educator, I find that my experiences inform the way I teach. I love connecting with kids that are “bored” or “distractible,” and delight in the challenge of transforming their education.

Autumn/Halloween is my favorite Season/Holiday!

Autumnal décor makes its first appearance in our home in early September and continues to bring our family joy through December! We have been watching Halloween movies for weeks, and now that October is finally here the kids get to open their Halloween Advent Calendar daily with fun treats and excitement hidden in each box! Crunching leaves, making costumes, beautiful colors and festive aromas… What’s not to love?!

I am a musical theatre nerd!

I spend my days singing show tunes at the top of my lungs. I also sing constantly about my day to day activities, essentially turning my life into a musical. I honestly can’t tell you what my favorite musical is… too many favorites!

I play ukulele.

Not a master at it by any means, but I was gifted a ukulele for Mother’s Day this year (2020) after wanting to learn for a very long time. This coincided perfectly with being stuck in the house for the foreseeable future, giving me lots to learn and practice.

I love Nature!

My love for nature started when I was a kid, camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains, summer plant walks, visiting hot springs, road trips to the Grand Canyon, and beachcombing on either coast. Now I take my kids and pup nature adventuring in the Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Peninsula.

I am a “Forever Student.”

After struggling through traditional public schooling, I re-discovered my love for learning as an adult. Thanks to the “hyper-focus” of ADHD, I spend my free time dreaming of things I’d like to learn about and then figuring out how they work. I’m currently brushing up on my web development skills and diving deep into music theory and songwriting.

My hair has been nearly every color in the rainbow.

Due to years as a cosmetologist, my hair has seen many colors both natural and supernatural, currently sitting at a lovely lavender hue with teal-dipped tips. Life gets boring when you don’t color your hair the colors of the rainbow and if you’ve never tried it, I highly suggest it!

Mythology and magical creatures fascinate me!

I despised reading as a kid but fondly remember spending hours flipping through Greek mythology and fantasy books, reading about minotaurs, mermaids and other mythical creatures. My favorite book from childhood was Voyage of the Basset and the artwork is absolutely stunning! There isn’t a time I can remember in life where I didn’t dream of being a fairy and I have a collection of fairy figurines from my childhood. I also have a hoard of fantasy trinkets and this year I have started diving into the world of Dungeons & Dragons (as any fantasy nerd is bound to do at some point!)

Okie dokie… enough about me. If you wish to join in this adventure through a Life in the Arts subscribe to my newsletter to get updates on new posts and artsy things from time to time. You can also follow me over on Facebook & Instagram for more regular Miss Thera updates!

Do you have a secret superpower? Are you a musical theatre nerd deep down inside?! Tell me a bit about yourself in the comments. I am sure we have something magical in common!