This week I attended the first Creating / Conversations at Matine's studio in Capitol Hill. There were about ten of us gathered along with Carolyn Misterek of Matine and Torie Partridge of Cherry Blossom Creative. We talked about being 'creatives', how to encourage creativity in all industries (even though it's hard), and multi-tasking...or rather why it's important to focus and be present. 

The space itself is inspiring -- Carolyn has a dream studio with exposed brick, a skylight, custom industrial sliding door, perfectly placed samples and a minimal palette of leather scraps and threads, all perfectly organized. It's easy to get intimidated by the sheer simplicity of the space and hard to imagine that any sort of mess or anxiety could ever manifest in it. Carolyn started these talks as a way to share the space, and, I think, to give a little behind-the-scenes look into the mess that is real and normal for any creative entrepreneur. 

"...personal liberation through work" -- Torie Partridge

Torie shared her own journey and inspired us all with her candor and personal motivation. She decided to do something and then did it. That's not to say the road wasn't windy and she didn't have doubts, but her commitment to living a creative life and making a living doing it propelled her to actually make it happen.  

We drank delicious iced coffee (supplied by From the Farmer), ate yogurt and fruit and shared our own struggles, successes, life hacks. It was nice to be around like-minded folk -- feel a little more normal and a little less crazy -- and also to talk about how we can't just stay around people like us, we have to go out and help others find their own path and passion. 

A lovely space with lovely people and lovely conversation. I can't wait until the next one!

xx, Stephanie