When I look back over 2011, Miranda is someone who I think about incredibly fondly. I came across Studio Mothers last December while searching mom’s and creativity. I read through the site’s description and got so excited – I could be a Studio Mother! I think I am a Studio Mother! I ended up throwing caution to the wind and I emailed Miranda and gave her a bit of my ‘story’ and asked if I could contribute to her blog. She wrote back and said yes and I spent the holidays stressing out over what my first submission would be.

At my creative core, I am a photographer. I mean that in the sense of everything that I do and create, whether it’s an impromptu photo session for a friend, chasing my kids and snapping shots or making a piece of jewelry and then photographing it for my shop, revolves around my camera. It took me a while but I finally had a flash of what I wanted to submit as my first article.

Jodi: My 2011 Goals – in Polaroids became the first of a few articles that I’ve had published through Studio Mothers. Reading over it for this post, I realized, without a doubt, that I had a successful year. I managed to accomplish most of what I set out to-with a few tweaks and additions!

I  know that finding Miranda and having her creative support throughout the year has been a major catalyst to who I’ve become. I also, a few months back filled out her Life Assessment Tool. It took me almost an hour and a lot of soul searching to do this and it was worth every minute. She sent me back an assessment of where I was at and where I could go that is printed and tucked in my journal. It was honest and sweet and she pointed out things gently that needed to be pointed out…

I thank you so much Miranda for allowing me to be a part of your fantastic community. I thank you for giving me the chance to really spread my wings and I thank you for giving me the advice I needed exactly when I needed it.

I highly encourage you all to visit Studio Mothers (click the pic for the link) There are so many talented women that contribute-including my pals Robin and Bonita-from all walks of life and creative backgrounds. There’s always something inspiring and humorous and very worthwhile!

Whether you’re a professional painter, an unpublished novelist, or a hobbyist knitter, creative mothers are full of plans and creative dreams. But the challenges of everyday life with children, a home, and perhaps a paying job, are sometimes overwhelming. Creativity gets shoved to the bottom of the list, or lopped off altogether. Sometimes it feels like combining motherhood and creativity is an impossible proposition.

Of course it’s not impossible — just difficult, at times. For me and many others, turning dreams into reality is easier with a group of supportive friends watching your back. We benefit from a network of women who share similar challenges and success. Checking in regularly, and seeing the progress that others are making, is inspirational food for the creative soul.

Studio Mothers is a community where you can share your creative intentions and struggles — and receive support in making those goals happen.

Here’s a bit about Miranda from her site:

In 2010, I decided to add a more formal foundation to my research and group coaching. I enrolled with the Creativity Coaching Association (CCA), a national organization of creativity coaches. I am currently working toward my certification, which I will complete in 2011. Becoming a certified creativity coach is the natural next step in following my deepest passion: helping others to live their fullest, most creative lives.