To learn more about my personal pilgrimage and the founding of Soul Stitch Studio: Click -->
To learn more about my adventures in the art world, my educational & work background and projects I have participated in or spearheaded: Click-->
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MY STORY
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Hi. My name is Aruna.
I am a Humanitarian Collage Artist
living in Vancouver, Canada.
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I am so happy you are here.
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Three years ago, I turned 50.
I suddenly felt empty, lost and with no direction.
I could hardly recognize myself.
I turned to art
&
I observed nature.
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I found myself melding
paper,
textiles,
botanicals,
stitch
and
found objects.
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My 'stitch collages' opened a doorway allowing me to
peel back deeply entrenched layers & reveal latent narratives.
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Simultaneously, I also started to intuitively incorporate
small, gentle but powerful self care rituals
by
rooting my recovery to synchronize with
Mother Nature's natural rhythms and wisdom.
These techniques were revealed to me while I journaled, while I prayed, while I meditated.
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By combining my
art practise
spiritual upliftment
and these
specific self care rituals,
I was astounded to witness how constricting mindsets that were inhibiting my growth
were starting to evaporate.
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A personal transformation started to take root within myself.
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Today, I am a vibrant, new version of myself,
with all the parts I liked before but
with new wings for the parts I never thought I could be!
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Today, I cannot wait to start each day living my life
vibrantly & authentically with passion & purpose.
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Creative Self Care helped me re-DISCOVER myself.
Creative Self Care helped me re-ALIGN myself.
Creative Self Care helped me re-SPARKLERIZE.
Now I live a magically FULLFILLING life.
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I decided from that moment to commit my life to using my art work
to help other women undergo their own metamorphosis
using the
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Moon Bloom Flourish Framework
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which I had to discover on my own.
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I call the tools and prompts I create that fit into the Flourish Framework
CREATIVE SELF-CARE PRESCRIPTIONS
because I take out the guess work.
I create the tools, recommend how often to practise them and even tell you how long each exercise should take.
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I am a busy mother, entrepreneur, artist & board activist.
I do not have a lot of time.
The tools I created had to fit into my busy schedule...and they did...so they can for you too.
Transformation is hard work, so my aim is to help other women incorporate the same techniques I used on myself to transform from
gloom to BLOOM.
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I am excited for you to
re-discover
re-align
&
re-'sparklerize'
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while having fun!
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My first Creative Self Care 'Prescription' kit, SHEmail, is available now!
Check it out and start your journey towards
stepping into your potential!
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Together hART to hART,
Aruna
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Sign up for my newsletter
to be the first to know when new 'prescriptions' are released, get your FREE Seasonal Wisdom exercises, discount codes & more!
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MY ART ADVENTURES
Media
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Newspapers: Weekly DIY decorative arts column : The Trinidad Guardian
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Magazines: DIY articles: Island Life Magazine, MACO magazine, Calgary VOICE community publication.
Knitwear design: Debbie Bliss Magazine, England
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Television: Allyson Hennessy Show Community Dateline
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Book Illustrations
Workshops
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Vancouver Continuing Education
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Vogue New York Knitting LIVE
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KnitCity, Vancouver
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Private Workshops throughout Vancouver and Trinidad & Tobago
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Facilitated custom workshops for various organizations including non-profits, senior centres etc.
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Education
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Bachelor or Commerce, University of British Columbia
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Diploma in Fashion Design, Blanche MacDonald Institute
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Instructor Training Certificate, Vancouver Community & Continuing Education
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Real Estate Trading Services, Sauder School of Business
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Certificate in Cultivating Capabilities for Transformative Leadership, Wilmette Institute
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Self Taught Knitwear Designer
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Positions
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Director of Marketing & Fund Development, The Villa Recovery Centre or Women​
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Director of Marketing & Fund Development, The Third Academy School for Children with Learning Disabilities
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Artist, Writer, Educator, Speaker promoting creativity and the arts
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Therapeutic Arts Facilitator, working with all age groups from children to seniors
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Co-Owner of The Blue Monkey Baby Emporium, overseeing design and production of our baby sleepsacks
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Knitwear Designer and owner of Haberdash Couture Co & Haberdash Couture Kids
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Textile/Sewing Instructor, High School
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Art Teacher, Elementary School
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Co-Educator, Personal Development and Character Building, Elementary School
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Real Estate Agent
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Board Member, Co-President of the Cariboo Heights Forest Preservation Society
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Volunteer, Canadian Craft Museum
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Assistant to Textile Artist, Joanna Staniszkis
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Galleries & Stores
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Artwork exhibited and sold at various venues in
Canada and the United States
including:
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Destinos Gallery, West Vancouver
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La Raffinage Boutique, Vancouver
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Inspired Arts Exhibition, North Vancouver
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Green Acres, Crossing the Threshold Exhibition, Maine, USA
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Participated in collaborative community projects including:
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Operation Christmas Child
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Clocking in for Unpaid Labour
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Community Outreach
Long history inspiring community members to be EVERYDAY SUPERHEROES.
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Spearheaded and/or co-organized an array of community outreach programs by working with and bringing together schools, businesses and public organizations for HOSPITALS, FOOD BANKS, FOREST PRESERVATION & MORE!
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Co-President of the Cariboo Heights Forest Preservation Society
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Accolades
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First Place: Debbie Bliss International Knitwear Design Competition
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