Happiness is a cup of CreaTEAvity
Callie Di Nello 
- sharing how our vision remains true, ten years on
Many, many moons ago (way back to October 2010), CreaTEAvity was born.
Alas, a few months after CreaTEAvity began, I became very poorly ... and during this quiet time, where my body needed to rest and heal, I discovered a few things to keep myself entertained while mostly sofa-bound.
Reading, my preferred form of escapism, provided difficult: heavily medicated, I really struggled to focus.
Sewing was definitely something I could do. So I made hundreds (literally!) of fabric yoyo's, turning them into brooches, necklaces and Christmas decorations.
Painting required a little bit too much effort, physically. But colouring-in, doodling and Zentangles were things I could manage with ease.
Writing suffered a similar fate as reading book.
And then one day, as I lay browsing apps in the app store, I discovered Animoto: a simple app that I could make videos with, just by using photos from my phone.
Over the years, I am delighted to say things have moved on considerably. I am in better health but mostly housebound (boooo!); although my physical world has shrunk, in many ways my emotional, spiritual and mental world has grown to encompass the universe.
I still loving sewing (see our #SlowSew gatherings!). I adore painting - messy mixed media thrills me, and I am loving playing with watercolours right now. Reading, writing, art journalling, journalling - they are all back firmly on my agenda. As part of my profession, and as part of my relaxing time.
But one thing occasionally niggled me. I couldn't find all my Animoto videos from way back then. Until I messaged Animoto this week, who very kindly helped me to access an old, old account. Yippee! I rediscovered some real treasures, including this:
[please click on the image to play the video; it will open up in another browser page]
... ... ...
Such a simple video, but it's message is still going strong. Ten years on, CreaTEAvity is still all about creating happiness with a cup of CreaTEAvity.
And I am super-excited to be thinking about organising and leading radical restorative creative retreats again over the next 18 months, when (hopefully) life settles down after the last two years of uncertainty, courtesy of the pandemic. I am already out and about, viewing prospective retreat places for creative yumminess!
So much has been added to CreaTEAvity Studio over the years: Creative Arts therapy, Hypno-psychotherapy, Mindscaping, Laughter Yoga training, Chakra Dancing & Creative Meditation sessions ... and I'm beavering away, dreaming up a Creative Arts Library that you can dip in and out of, at your leisure. Watch this space!
Rediscovering this video really tickled me - such a delight to view with fresh eyes. I am so happy to have rediscovered my old Animoto account and looking forward to playing again with the app soonest!
So tell me ... what have you recently rediscovered that made you smile?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
gift yourself permission to play, heal & show your true colours in the CreaTEAvity Studio: a space to nurture, reconnect to, and rejuvenate your creative spirit - wherever you are in the world