Marney, I'm so glad you posted this here! I found Artella through an ad in Mary Englebreit's Home Companion magazine. I wasn't sure it was for me because of the emphasis on art, while I'm a writer. (-- and you know what I discovered: that Artella IS words, as well as art & spirit!) But I responded to a note in The Artella Daily Muse (The Only DAILY Creativity Magazine in the Universe!) to 'guest edit' the Artella Daily Muse, and that's how I met Aunt Bobby... and Tony... and you.
I've learned a couple of things:
...first: to remember how I love color... that I've always loved splashing about paint and glue and sequins and buttons and fabric and glitter... that as a child I could lose myself coloring the embossed designs in paper napkins for hours.
...second: that I needed to give myself permission to affirm what I am. I've been 'writing' and 'editing' forever, winning awards and occasionally picking up a check. Only since working for Artella have I the confidence to say I'm Constance Bates, writer and editor.
... third: that sometimes employers mean what they say & life grants you what you want. I began working with Artella as a guest; applied and was accepted as a barterer; and was promoted from within.
If I forget to say so, it's a privilege to work for and with you, Marney. Yours are the only staff meetings I look forward to attending. I love that you love what you're doing. The underlying principles of Artella -- to 'pay it forward', giving artists a place for birth and nurture, and to 'give back' to the cosmos in gifts and charitable acts -- are principles of honor. Thank you for providing this home for me and for others of like spirit.
Constance Bates
Production Assistant
Artella ~ Words, Art & Spirit