Why I Started Shifting States
There are times in life when the ground shifts beneath us. Moments when the familiar becomes fragile, and we’re left searching for something steady to hold onto.
For me, that anchor has always been art. Not the polished, finished kind, but the quiet act of making — stitching, shaping, casting, dyeing — transforming the small fragments of daily life into something that helps me make sense of change.
I created Shifting States as a way to share that process. It grew from my own periods of upheaval — loss, divorce, redundancy, and the disorienting in-between spaces that follow. Through those experiences, I discovered that creativity isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. It helps us find meaning when words fail and rebuild a sense of self when the old version of us no longer fits.
Alchemy — the art of becoming something new
One of the core values behind Shifting States is alchemy — the art of transformation. Alchemy is often imagined as turning base metal into gold, but for me, it’s about turning pain into purpose, fear into curiosity, and uncertainty into possibility.
In my studio, I work with materials that carry their own stories: thread for connection, pewter for grounding, sand for memory, cloth for protection. Each piece becomes part of a personal ritual — a way to process and release what has changed.
Building stability through creativity
Stability doesn’t mean staying the same. It means finding ground while we grow — creating a rhythm, a focus, and a sense of self-sufficiency that helps us move through change with more grace. Through Shifting States, I want to offer others that same foundation — a place where making becomes a mindful practice, and creativity becomes a tool for emotional balance and renewal.
Creative Rituals for Life Transitions
My first online course, Creative Rituals for Life Transitions, is the starting point for this journey. It’s a gentle, four-part guide with a downloadable PDF, a short video introduction, and a simple pattern to make your own drawstring pouch — a small container for memory, hope, or intention.
The course is designed to help you create personal rituals that support you through times of change — whether you’re moving house, navigating loss, starting over, or simply feeling ready for something new.
A new beginning
Shifting States is as much a personal transformation as it is a creative one. It’s about choosing authenticity over perfection, intuition over expectation, and purpose over fear. It’s my way of bringing together everything I’ve learned through art, research, and life itself — to help others find stability, meaning, and renewal through making.
If you’re moving through a transition and would like to explore how creativity can support you, I’d love to invite you to join my priority list for early access to Creative Rituals for Life Transitions. This first limited release will be offered at a reduced rate in exchange for your feedback — a chance to shape something that’s still becoming, just like us.
