Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli
June 10 - UPDATE
We have a winner.... @KirstyWrites !
Congrats and the test will be mailed to you as soon as I get
an address:)
Thank you everyone who participated.
How was the winner chosen?
with random.org
This giveaway is for Twitter users only!Twitterers - this is your chance to win a FREE Career Test! ($70 value)The test I utilize is based on interests not skills or abilities. Thus, giving you some clarity on a career/life purpose which will be more satisfying. The theory states that there are six personality types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. The test will reveal which combination of these you are and produce a code. For instance, an ASE code indicates artistic, social, and enterprising and there are certain jobs and hobbies that fit the ASE code.You'll receive a 9-page report based on your code full of information about career possibilities and work style preferences. You'll also receive a 15-minute telephone session with me to review the report and I'll share more info I have based on your personal code.More info about the test here.What do you have to do?Just comment below with your Twitter name.Want to increase your odds by adding two more comments?1. RT and add in the comments below "RT Today"2. Blog about this post and add in the comments a link to blog post.Entries accepted until June 9 and the winner will be posted on Wednesday June 10.The winner will have to provide their mailing address so I can send the test to them to complete. The test will then be mailed to the scoring center in California and the report will take approximately two weeks.Folks with multiple Twitter accounts, pls use only one.
Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli
My Creative Life is a weekly interview, with the same five questions, with folks who are living authentically, creatively, and making a living out of their passions.
This week I am honored to have Jenna Park, a creative gal who wears a few different hats. The hat that I am familiar with is the one as co-owner of Whimsy and Spice, an incredible, dare I say...decadent, confectioner in Brooklyn. My personal fave is the cardamom marshmallows. Simple, yet seems like an extravagant treat!
Visit their Etsy store here!
1. What do you do? (career wise - whatever you want to share) I’m a freelance graphic designer and art director and together with my pastry chef husband, own and operate an online confectionary, Whimsy & Spice, which just celebrated its 1 year anniversary.
2. How did you prepare for this career? (formal and informal education, books, workshops?) I’ve always studied art since I was young and eventually went to art school for college. I started off as a fine art major, but also studied music comp
osition for 3 years, so I didn’t think I would end up as a designer, but this is what I’ve been doing for the last 13 years. Mark has been cooking since he was left to prepare his own meals at age 12 when his mother couldn’t accommodate his picky food preferences anymore. So she told him that he could cook his meals from now on...and he did! His career started off a bit unconventionally since he didn’t go to culinary school (he also was a music major). He held restaurant jobs since his first year in college and then trained with other pastry chefs in NYC restaurants before becoming a chef himself. He’s been in the industry for over 13 years and that experience has definitely prepared him for owning his own business.
3. Besides living according to the values of creativity and independence, what other values are you honoring by following this path? We took a a big risk in starting this business last year (we
live in expensive NYC and have 2 young kids to support), but we decided to take that leap so we can be foster a more flexible schedule so that we can spend more time with our 2 girls. Our life and business is definitely family-oriented and we feel fortunate to be able to have careers and businesses that allow for an independent lifestyle not dependent on 9-5 jobs.
4. What struggles or challenges do you face, if any? Well, along with the many advantages of a flexible, self employed lifestyle, we also deal with the downsides – an unstable income and funding our own health insurance, which in NYC is shockingly expensive. Owning your own business also can mean working long hours without rare days off which make the work/family balance often difficult, but we manage and do the best we can. Despite this, we wouldn’t trade it in for day j
obs – I think we’ve come to value the flexibility and independence too much.
5. Can you give some advice to folks who would like to do what you do? Going out on your own can be quite intimidating, but it’s important to stay focused, not underestimate yourself, and not get discouraged at the first sign of failure. Don’t be afraid to falter and take risks... and reach out to people! Working independently can often be lonely, so if not for advice or to bounce ideas with, then at least for comraderie and and good conversation - it’s so important not to be isolated.
Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."-GoetheYou've heard this before - this is not a dress rehearsal. What are your recurring dreams and fantasies?
Need help figuring them out and making sense of them? I may be able to help you clarify things and get the momentum started.
Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli
My Creative Life is a weekly interview, with the same five questions, with folks who are living authentically, creatively, and making a living out of their passions.
This week I am honored to have Thomas Cleary of Retied Rope Rugs where retired rock climbing ropes are recycled into rugs, dog leashes, and key chains. Truly unique items! Great gifts for the outdoorsy type:)
1. What do you do? (career wise - whatever you want to share) In addition to being head weaver and webmaster for Retied Rope Rugs, www.roperugs.com, my primary job is science and outdoor education teacher at a small public charter school in south central Colorado. I also help my wife with her web-based info-business, www.whole-body-detox-diet.com.
2. How did you prepare for this career? (formal and informal education, books, workshops?)
I started using my old rock climbing ropes to make doormats over 12 years ago. It took many attempts to find a workable rug pattern, and then I had to find a source of retired ropes. Over the years I have added other rug patterns, dog leashes and horse leads, dog and cat toys and even Christmas wreaths, all made from recycled rope. Many of the rug patterns come from the mariner’s tradition and can be found in collections such as Ashley’s Book of Knots.
3. Besides living according to the values of creativity and independence, what other values are you honoring by following this path?
I love the creative process and am always looking for new ideas. My biggest failure was a hammock that ended up weighing 25 pounds and was so lumpy that lying on it was worse than a bed of nails! This past-time of working with ropes has helped me with practicing patience and humility, the website design reminds me that I am not in charge or in control! Working with others ropes to create a functional keepsake reminds me of impermanence. These are indispensable values in my role as a teacher!
4. What struggles or challenges do you face, if any?
Many of the rugs I make are from ropes that people send to me for weaving. In this economy climbers are re
tiring fewer ropes and are less willing to send them to me to immortalize their climbing memories into a rug. I created a do-it-yourself kit for folks wanting to explore the creative rug making process themselves, and these have been very popular. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKWdf3YSsKI.
5. Can you give some advice to folks who would like to do what you do?
I encourage recycling based art and reused products. In this economic and environmental 
climate finding ways to turn ‘waste’ into something beautiful and useful is of paramount importance. I challenge others to create something new from something old, it is an inspiring process!
June 10 - UPDATE
