The daily routine requires the careful balance of being true to ourselves and meeting the expectations of others. What happens, then, when we are in a time of transition, growth, or monumental self-acceptance? We may need to take a step back and ask ourselves what we really want.
Spending a day near the ocean or another body of water makes for a lovely, resonant backdrop when we’re assessing our energy. The water reflects our purpose and symbolizes the ebb and flow of our lives. When called upon to do so, water rises higher. When no longer needed, water recedes from the sand.
Taking a day away—to yourself—without an agenda or demands on our time—allows us to renew (or set new) intentions, to reconnect with our core desires, and to reevaluate our motivations. If, upon reflection, our core desires have changed, we must be brave enough to change directions.
the perpetual you
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
In September 2017, I was invited on my first self-organized press trip ever to the Catskills Mountain region. I stayed at the Emerson Resort and Spa, a multi-functional resort in Mount Tremper, Ny featuring luxurious rooms, a full spa, and a 6-million dollar restaurant (after a 2007 renovation). The property also features retail, events, and activities/experiences for the family to enjoy.
The resort was named after the American essayist and poet, Emerson, who was devoted to human-kind’s connection to the natural world. The publication of “Nature”, Emerson’s essay inspired by the serene beauty of the Catskills, prompted the Conservation Movement, which led to the establishment of the 600-square-mile Catskill Forest Preserve that surrounds the Emerson Resort & Spa.
One of the main features of the property is a silo, on which two interactive artists from New York City were commissioned to create a kaleidoscope display of light, sound, and form; thus, the property’s claim to the “World’s Largest Kaleidoscope”. Before they leave, guests can play with kaleidoscopes of their own in the gift shop.
A feast for the eyes and the imagination, this Kaleidoscope must be witnessed by lying down on the silo’s floor and staring through the long tubular structure into the fast-paced display. The experience has a meditative quality that I haven’t felt with other interactive art. Though I think of interactive art as a bit kitschy, this particular display offered an elegant adventure that I would willingly participate in again.
the perpetual you
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
We all have, at one time or another, faced a difficult transition: a major project ending, changing life circumstances, or other things that just make it hard for us to balance our lives. Transitions are hard but what helps is working with other people on something new, different and exciting. The act of just creating eases life’s transitions especially when the collaboration is a labor of love, something that isn’t paid, and is outside our comfort zone. These collaborations help us get to know others and build connections.
I most recently worked on a textile collaboration with artist, Meghan Widger owner of Hills and Thread who I had been following on Instagram. Our conversation about her work and about our project details how two artist can get to know each other, create together, and move through our ever changing lives.
what made you start the work you do today?
As far as I can remember, I’ve always loved creating. But my sewing journey started at age 14. I got really hooked on the show Project Runway and just felt like I wanted to do what the designers did. I felt a spark, like this was something I could be good at. I wanted to learn, so my awesome parents gifted me with a sewing machine. I taught myself to use it and designed my own garments. However my interested shifted from fashion design to quilting, and has been evolving and expanding ever since.
do you have a vision, goal, or destination in the work you do?
My main destination is to some day teach my own workshops. I want to teach people not only the skills and knowledge to sew or paint, but how to enjoy the process and how therapeutic it can be. I’d also like to travel around to display and sell my work at different festivals and shows. Basically I just want to learn, share, and teach.
what did you enjoy about working with me/us?
I enjoyed getting to know a new artist and learning about your Electrography project. Collaborating two completely different skills and talents is such a fun experience. Not only did I learn a lot from you but I also gained a lot of inspiration from this project!
what do you do outside of when you’re not designing/creating?
I spend most of my time creating. If I’m not sewing then I’m painting or making something else. But If I’m not making something then I’m taking care of my plants, practicing yoga, or listening to music/podcasts. I love being outside, reading/writing, and thrift store shopping.
what made you start hills and thread?
Starting Hills and Thread was actually a huge step for me. As an introverted person who used to be painfully shy, I never liked to draw attention to myself and was never one to show off my work. I realized that starting my own business would be constantly challenging me to go outside my comfort zone and, in turn, help me evolve and grow. It took a lot for me to just start posting things I made on social media for exposure, then I was terrified of starting an Etsy shop. But every time you do something that scares you, you take control and the fear loses its power little by little. I decided I wanted to overcome as many fears as possible not only for myself, but to inspire others to do the same.
Just as starting Hills and Thread caused Meghan to leave her comfort zone, working with her and interviewing her helped me do the same. Through our collaboration, I was able to expand my brand and create something new.
What collaborations have you been a part of? How have they fueled your creativity?
“Kristi Beisecker is an artist and freelance designer in Massachusetts. In her spare time she creates photograms using electricity and organic materials with analog darkroom processing. She also reads and writes about science and spirituality, composes and performs music and gives spiritual guidance.”
The Perpetual You
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
I highly recommend taking the time to slow travel. By spending a month in one location, I was able to learn about the culture, make connections and friends, and establish a relationship to the countryside. If everyone could have the opportunity to travel and spend time within a culture, the world would be a wealthier place.
Two summers ago I was accepted into an artist-in-residence program in Greve in Chianti a town in Tuscany, Italy. I was ecstatic to pursue one of my projects to help build my portfolio and repertoire as a professional artist which is something I was not able to do while in college.
I never realized that I could still pursue my dream of working abroad outside a college environment. The residency helped me fulfill that dream.
The residency, La Macina di san Cresci, was a month long. During the month, I worked on my project which incorporated the native flora in the surrounding hills. I have fond memories of roaming the Tuscan hills foraging for edible and non-edible plants and herbs to be used in my project.
The building which housed the program was rebuilt by two artists, who are now the directors. The 900 AD building originally had a church and a parish house, which was converted into the artists’ residence. With support from the town, the artist-duo began the program and started accepting artists.
While in the program, a typical day included long sweltering afternoon walks through the Tuscan hills gathering plant specimens. I would bring them back to the studio which had a well-equipped darkroom – perfect for my artwork.
My evenings were filled with photo making, wine and cheese, and relaxation. I also spent time gaining inspiration from a book on scientific photography, which I’d gotten from the London Museum of Science while visiting a family member just prior to the program.
During the weekends, I made trips into Florence, which was only an hour away. Taking the public transit and riding through the Tuscan hills was quite an inspiring experience. The locals said that one of the best, most inexpensive things to do there was to ride the bus through the different towns.
In Florence, I stopped by the Orto Botanical to identify the plants I had been seeing in the hills. A part of my project was plant identification as my final portfolio pieces were named after the plant used. Through this project, I gained a deep connection to nature and to my surroundings.
Through this project, I gained a deep connection to nature and to my surroundings.
La Macina di san Cresci promoted the “Slow” culture by sponsoring the Slow Movie Contest where directors and filmmakers submit movies on the slow culture. “Slow” culture is a protest movement that contrasts the fast-paced lifestyle of many in the United States and other parts of the world.
From my extended time in Italy, I witnessed a culture that takes time out of its day to slow down, relax, and connect. If we just take time to enjoy our travels whether abroad or even to the nearby park or neighboring town, we may be surprised by the things we learn and the connections we make. Slowing down enriches our lives with experiences, which means our extra time spent is well worth it.
“Kristi Beisecker is an artist and freelance designer in Massachusetts. In her spare time she creates photograms using electricity and organic materials with analog darkroom processing. She also reads and writes about science and spirituality, composes and performs music and gives spiritual guidance.”
the perpetual you
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
GREVE IN CHIANTI, ITALY – Two summers ago I was accepted into an artist-in-residence program in Greve in Chianti, Italy. I was ecstatic to pursue one of my projects to help build my portfolio and repertoire as a professional artist. While in college, my design track made it harder to study abroad. I also didn’t quite like the idea of paying an extra semester just to catch up. While after college and I won a major international award and I was propelled into the art world. I learned about different ways to carry out your projects through programs, workshops and artist residencies. I never realized that I could still pursue my dream of working abroad outside of college; the residency in Italy helped me fulfill that dream and spent 6-9 months freelancing realizing that dream.
The residency was in Greve in Chianti called, La Macina di san Cresci. I stayed there for a month, carrying out my project, which was related to native flora in the Tuscan hills. I have fond memories of roaming the Tuscan hills foraging edible and non-edible plants and herbs to be used in my project. The building was a renovation project done by two artists themselves; who are now the directors of the residency. With support from the town to turn it into a public communal area the artist-duo began accepting artists to live there. The building was built in 900 AD and had a church and a parish’s house, which was converted into the artist’s residence house.
A typical day: my afternoons where filled with long hot, sweltering walks through the Tuscan hills looking at plant specimens that I could use in my project. I then brought them back to the studio, which had an equipped darkroom – perfect for my artwork. My evenings were filled with photo making, wine and cheese and relaxing. Previous to this trip I stopped in London to visit a family member who took me to a science exhibit at the museum of science where I picked up a book on scientific photography. My evenings were spent reading that book, gaining inspiration and ideas.
During the weekends, I made trips into Florence, which was only an hour away. Taking the public transit and riding through the Tuscan hills was quite an inspiring experience in of itself. The locals said, that one of the best, most, inexpensive things to do there was to ride the bus through the different towns. In Florence, I stopped by the Orto Botanical to identify the plants I had been seeing in the hills. A part of my project was plant identification as my final portfolio pieces were named after the plant used. Through this project, I gained a deep connection to nature and the environment of my surroundings. Those who travel to Tuscany probably encounter these plants through cooking classes.
While there, I learned about the Slow culture, which is a protest movement of the fast-paced world of the United States and other parts of the world. In Italy, the Italians enjoy taking time out of their day (siesta) to slow down, relax and converse. The artist-in-residence center promoted an activity, called the Slow Movie Contest where directors and filmmakers would submit movies on the slow culture. I highly recommend taking the time to slow travel – spending 3+ weeks in one location to learn about the culture, make connections and friends and to establish a relationship to the country. You also gain a deeper retrospection of a certain culture by spending time within it. I definitely feel, if everyone had the opportunity to travel and spend time within a culture, I feel the world would be a different place.
the perpetual you
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
