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Is it possible to know who you are at 22 months old? It seems my daughter does. She's already an expressive and creative being. She knows what she likes and what she doesn't like :) Most importantly, she styles with confidence. I learn from her every day.
She's my little inspiration :) 2 Comments Our Stick Of The Week! is Samirah Steinmeyer. Samirah is in the NOW as owner of Seedling Clayworks, an etsy shop focusing on handmade and unique children's ceramic dishes. After finding the selection of children's ceramics surprisingly limited, Samirah decided to Take On The Creative and develop her own series. These days, Samirah can be found running the show at Seedling Clayworks. From marketing and customer service, to design and production, Samirah is doing it all. Born and raised in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, Samirah is the mother of two amazing preschool characters and married to a "pretty awesome man." Samirah has a bachelors in fine arts and masters in landscape architecture and has worked in both fields. 
Samirah Steinmeyer
I believe people deserve dishes that are as delightful and appealing as the ingredients being served on them. I am inspired to make ceramic dinnerware for children as an alternative to the commercial plastic ware options. I like offering parents a unique product. My children's first meals were served in ceramic bowls and as they grow, I continue to make new favorites, based on their interests. I like to imagine my son taking his tornado plate with him when he moves away for college, or my daughter using her bee bowl to feed her own child. 
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall). Seedling Clayworks is a ceramics business I started last October. I have an etsy shop by the same name that features child-sized ceramic dinnerware, although I've been expanding into more adult ceramics as well. 
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why? Slowly simmering. I'm incrementally adding heat to the pot as I carve out more time for work. So far this simmer works well with my schedule. I have tons of ideas for new series and items and exploring different ceramic techniques, but a limited amount of time to work. So, al dente and fully cooked are on the horizon for now. What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative? Just begin somewhere. There are a ton of tiny steps to reach a larger goal--start where you can and get that momentum going. As a brand new stay at home mom, I was having truncated daydreams while in the midst of the day to day demands of raising a baby. I needed some time to myself to just reflect and actually follow the narrative of those creative urges. I began with a yoga class--seemingly unrelated to art, but the quiet down time actually helped me be able to listen to myself and reflect upon my life and where I wanted to be. Next I took a printmaking class (the influence of which I'm sure has crept into my ceramic work). I kept having ideas for ceramics, but had no experience working with clay. It wasn't until one year after the birth of my second child that I actually took my first ceramics class. My mom is an amazing ceramist and I had the priviledge of learning the basics from her. I haven't been able to stop making ceramics since I began one year ago, and I still have so much to learn. 
What motivated you to throw your noodle? As a creative type, I find that if I'm not designing or making something, I'm not fully myself. After becoming a mom, I forgot to make time to do anything but care for my kids. I needed to be doing something creative in order to become grounded and feel like me again. Making ceramics has been perfect. After all, you can't center a piece on the potter's wheel unless you are centered. So I have to be able to get to that calm, focused mental space in order to make anything. It has become like Calgon for my hectic days. I was also motivated by daydreams about making all sorts of ceramic pieces: toys, lamps, shelves, dinnerware, mosaics, etc...much of which was child-themed because my kids are the main focus and inspiration in my life. I found that ceramics for children were pretty scarce so I began with plates, cups and bowls for kids. Not to sound trite, but my etsy shop actually began as a way to offload some of my extra ceramics--pieces accrue quite quickly. I was liking what I was making and I figured the proceeds could pay for more ceramics classes and supplies. It was also kind of a fun challenge for me to play business woman and to try to figure out how esty works. I had a hunch that there may be a tiny market for children's ceramics and it's turning out to be true. Not that I'm reeling in tons of business just yet, but I'm receiving enough enthusiastic, positive feedback to think there are a few moms out there who want what I'm making. I'm realizing that I really enjoy the business aspect and love that people are enjoying my work. 
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person? As a mother, I am inspired by my children to be a better person, to live up to my potential so that I can set a good example. I'm still working on that. Children live and play so honestly, so fully in the moment--they are such amazing people. Other parents also inspire me just by the way they live and interact with their kids. Watching fellow moms and dads struggle with similar challenges or achieve a certain mastery over things I'm still working on inspires me to try different approaches or to perceive my children and situations from a different perspective. As an artist, so many things inspire me. I was just on etsy and found a ceramic artist whose work left me speechless, it was so breathtaking. It stirred my creative little heart and made me want to work harder, to learn more. My most ridiculous jolt of inspiration came while in college. A roommate of mine had left a clump of her hair on the tile in the shower and it looked like a figure made out of hair. This led to a whole series of paintings with figures composed out of a mess of strings. So, I suppose there is beauty and inspiration to be found almost anywhere if you're open to it. Inspiration is such a curious experience for me--the charge of energy associated with it is unmistakable. It's like a call to action that I can't ignore (although I have tried many times). It puts me fully in the moment and entices me to follow a very personal path of exploration and evolution. Following this call has always been the right thing to do. 
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW? I'm probably not sleeping enough. And I have moments where I should be paying more attention to my kids instead of making treasuries for etsy, preparing a package for shipping, or taking product photos. I enjoy mentally juxtaposing my presentable profile picture on etsy with my hurriedly put together (sometimes still in jammies), immersed in all things child-related, everyday self. My husband and my mom watch the kids for maybe ten hours a week so I can have some studio time. I also work at night after the kids go to bed, which can make for long days. I basically carve out as much time as I need. I think moms become excellent with time management out of sheer necessity. I do more with my time now than I ever have. I also find that being a stay at home mom while my husband works, offers a unique opportunity. We are managing on one income for now, and I don't plan on going back to my previous profession just yet, so why not put some time and effort into something my heart loves to do in the meantime. 
What is you ultimate pasta dish? I love to make pasta with whatever ingredients I'm craving at the time--or what's on hand. So, with this business I'll try to take a similar attitude: to just go with it and work with what presents itself along the way. I would be thrilled to continue to make beautiful ceramics for as many people as possible. I enjoy knowing that someone is using a piece I made and appreciating it. I'm currently drawn to making ceramic lamps and other functional ceramic pieces, my interests are constantly refreshing themselves, so we'll see. 
Seedling Clayworks can be found on ETSY Our family has a craft box for any go to supplies needed for art projects. I keep it absolutely accessible for the kids so they can be creative whenever they feel the spark. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing my kids quietly creating out of nowhere. It's a beautiful thing! So today, I want to take the time to highlight one supply that you and your kids cannot and should not do without. In fact it's so great that it's our only STICK today. What is it? 
I have to say there is nothing better than this stuff. It's fun, easy to use and you can create some really amazing stuff. If your kids are into glueing and getting themselves sticky, then Mod Podge is your answer. 
photo from media cache
I recently found this photo of this amazing chair and my noodles started bubbling! If you have an old chair around the house, have your kids cut out their favorite photos or pictures from a magazine. Then Mod Podge it up and sit in it! It's a perfect way to include them in the decor process of their playroom or bedroom. And seriously, make sure you are fully stacked with this stuff because Mod Podge will certainly provide endless opportunities of creativity. "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." -Walt Disney 
Have you ever had the itch to see what something is all about? Or the urge to discover what's behind the door? Essentially, the question is.......have you ever been curious? Curiosity: A desire to know or learn. I'm sure everyone has had the desire to know and learn at one point or another. Learn about a profession, a food, a dance, a religion, a language.....a noodle. And how many times has that desire or curiosity brought you towards a whole new adventure? Curious George is one famous Monkey that we can all learn from. Sure, his gift for curiosity always seems to get him into trouble, but he also always seems to discover something new. At the end of his adventures, he absorbs his lessons and most importantly, he grows. Curiosity is the secret to a full life. It expands the mind and sends you traveling to unknown places and possibilities. It energizes your day and inspires new beginnings. Curiosity is the start of your new adventure. Although it may not always be what you expect on the other side of the door, that door leads you towards another path, another journey, another possibility. Grow with curiosity and throw your noodle. Live your full life. Our newest Stick Of The Week! is Katie Rosa Marchese. Katie is in the NOW as director of Mario The Magician, a performer for the young and the young-at-heart. Part retro, part rock and roll, Mario is an artist and inventor who creates his own props. Mario's old world looks and physical comedy style are reminiscent of his heroes, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, but he puts a thoroughly modern spin on everything he does. Mario currently performs twice monthly at NYC's Metropolitan Room.  Gigi, Mario and Katie (photo by Dennis Kleiman) Of course behind every great Magician, is an incredibly magical woman. Katie Rosa Marchese is not only a wife and a mother but a mamapreneur that turns dreams into reality. "I left the Midwest just after turning 16 years old, but the Midwest has never left me. I dream big city dreams but love my small town community. I gave birth to my daughter at home, and it was the best experience of my life." Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall). Seven years ago, my husband and I quit our day jobs, (he was a teachers’ assistant and I was an administrative assistant in the city) to pursue a decidedly more bohemian life and to elevate his weekend gig as a magician to the main role it deserved. Mario’s talent was raw and undeniable, and I couldn’t imagine him not living that out in its fullest. He had been working with an agency to book those weekend parties, and I just knew I could do what they were doing (and not half to give away half of our earnings.) I took the reigns in marketing “Mario the Magician,” and built our public image through a solid web presence, good relationships with press outlets, collaborations with great organizations and other creative people, and by nurturing ideal opportunities to showcase Mario’s show. I didn’t want him to have to think about anything but his own creative process. The first few months were scary. We weren’t always sure if we’d make rent back then, but somehow we pulled through every month. And each month was a little easier than the last. 
Mario The Magician (photo by Rachel Hudgins)
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why? Right now, I’d say we’re at a rolling boil that will hopefully maintain itself for a long, long time. Mario is often booked solid a few months out these days, and we’ve been fortunate to have ongoing relationships with incredible creative organizations like Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Room. It feels good to have our hard work, and Mario’s amazing talent, appreciated. I am busier than ever juggling all of the marketing and PR, press opportunities, and a very busy performance schedule. Also, a year and a half ago, Mario and I had our first child, Gigi Antoinette. I realize now that I never truly knew “busy” until becoming a mom. But it’s a “busy” that I wouldn’t trade for anything. It’s not always easy, but whose life is? 
Katie and Gigi
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative? Be true to yourself; trust your instincts. Learn to say “no thanks” when a proposition doesn’t sound right. Be selective and mold your creative outlet in the way that it’s meant to be. What motivated you to throw your noodle? For me, all of those years ago, throwing the noodle was both an escape and a new beginning. It was an escape from a corporate life that never suited me well, and it was the start of a journey of building and togetherness with Mario that felt perfect and right. Mario and I were young, fearless, and full of a healthy dose of nonconformity. I hope that never fades. 
Mario The Magician (photo by Dennis Kleiman)
Mario with Mozzarella the Dove (Photo by Ken Goodman)
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person? I am constantly blown away by motherhood itself – what a journey! What a transformation! I look at my own parents, and I’m just so grateful that they gave me the freedom to have amazing experiences in life and to learn my own lessons when lessons needed to be learned. They are proud and supportive, and they give me the confidence to continue on our creative path. My daughter inspires me to be the best mom I can be and to never let creativity die. I want her to know that she doesn’t have to settle in life, and that with hard work, anything is possible.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW? I wish I could say I balance it all gracefully… my juggling act is still pretty wobbly at times! Our house is never spotless, and I often rock the bedhead look, but that’s okay with me. I’m fortunate to have amazing childcare for my daughter, including lots of grandparent love. I always make sure to have at least two full days each week to spend away from work with Gigi. As our business continues to grow, we’re considering hiring an assistant to help with some of my more time-consuming tasks. What is your ultimate pasta dish? A big family… traveling circus! Just kidding. Maybe. 
Mario The Magician (Photo by Dennis Kleiman)
Mario The Magician can be found on FACEBOOK • TWITTER • YOUTUBE Check out Mario live at Metropolitan Room: marioandhissuitcasemachine.com As I search for great projects to Take On The Creative with my kids, I always come across great ways to reuse what I have around the house or recycling bin. Those are my most favorite projects because they're usually simple and don't require a trip to the craft store for supplies. So for those days when you need a quick creativity fix, use a tissue box!  From designbyawilks.com MONSTER BOX Make some scary monsters with an old tissue box or have the tissues actually come out of the mouth. Sure to make anyone giggle!  From garceandgritforlivinglife.com GARDEN BOX When you can't plant flowers outside, make a garden out of paper, buttons and of course a tissue box.  From handsonaswegrow.com ART BOX Create art on your very own tissue box canvas. Every time you sneeze, you can see your kid's masterpieces.  From papercraftsforchildren.com DINO BOX FEET Have your kids make some new feet....that are scary. Yikes! They won't get too far, but it will be oh so fun! When my husband and I asked our son what he wanted to do on our "Family Adventure Day," he squealed, "I want to ride my scooter in New York City!" He didn't hesitate. He knew what he wanted. So we went ahead and squealed back, "Let's do it!" We decided Washington Square Park was the perfect destination because the scootering is ideal. What we didn't realize though was that on this day, my son would actually go on an amazing scootering adventure!  The helmet was on. The scooter was ready to go. He was going to conquer Washington Square Park!  He didn't have to go far before resting on beautiful sand art.  And then a balancing juggler.  Two amazing tap dancers.  A bird eating bird food from his hand.  And a Jazz concert.  Who knew scootering could bring on so much creativity! Our newest Stick Of The Week! is Laura Clauson. Laura is in the NOW as owner and designer of Mama Bleu Designs, personalized bridesmaids gifts, clutches and decor that have a bit of whimsy, a touch of vintage and loads of inspiration from the garden.  Laura Clauson Laura Clauson is an artist, wife, mom and grandmother. She is also the face behind Mama Bleu Designs and has an unquenchable thirst for creating with her hands. Laura grew up and still resides in Sierra Madre, a small town in Southern California at the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. She was a stay-at-home mom while her children were growing up and created handmade goods to sell for some extra income. Now that her children are grown, she's watching her grandchildren several times a week and learning how to keep a work schedule with young ones around again. Creativity has always been a part of my life, so it was only natural for me to turn it into a business. I love the colors, shapes and sounds of nature so the idea of Mama Bleu was actually born from times when birds would visit me while working in my vegetable garden. My stitched illustrations are a combination of my love for painting, drawing and stitching. Turning them into functional art on personalized clutches is one of the favorite parts of my business! 
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall). My current NOW is a growing and evolving business that focuses mostly on creating personalized gifts and home decor. My primary market is to brides who are looking for a unique gift for their bridesmaids, but the whimsical details of my clutches and stitches illustrations are created to inspire and uplift everyone! 
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why? Mama Bleu Designs is still cooking and will probably always be a work in progress. Last year, I was working my growing hobby as a business and realized in January that it was time to make it official. I can’t tell you exactly when I crossed that line, but I know that getting published in several magazines and being featured on Huffington Post as one of etsy’s best wedding vendors had a lot to do with the branding of my business and launching it to the next level. 
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative A valuable lesson I’m learning this time around is how to delegate. I have hired someone to help me clean my house and I’ve found a great accountant to help me with my business. Gathering a community of people around you is so important. Even if they aren’t doing physical work for you they can be a source of encouragement and support when you need it.  What motivated you to throw your noodle? I think what motivates me the most is seeing how the handmade movement is being embraced and is growing and thriving. I love that I can stay at home and be creative and make a good living. I also love that my grandkids can be a part of that with me. My studio is set up in a room that we added onto our home about 25 years ago. I often invite my 2-year-old granddaughter and 4-year-old grandson into my workspace so we can create together. While I’m painting they can paint too. While I’m sewing they are playing with my fabrics and building patchwork designs on the floor or sitting on my lap to watch. What inspires you as a Mom as a creative person? My grandkids keep me balanced. They see things so much differently than I do. They are constantly discovering with color and art materials which is teaching me to explore more in my art. They are often my inspiration!
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW? I would rather plan my work and then work my plan but when kids are involved it doesn’t always work that way. There are two days a week that I can schedule as full work days because the grandkids are not here. Since my business requires more time than that, I’ve had to prioritize my time and tasks wisely. Sifting out the things that are easier to do when the kids are around has made a huge difference in the productivity of my heavy work days. I also have learned the value of the nooks and crannies of time in my day. What is your ultimate pasta dish? One of the first dreams I had for my business was to grow to a point where I could hire women from our church who need financial help. I am started to see that dream unfold and I can’t wait to see what more will happen! I am constantly being inspired by those who have gone before me in establishing successful creative businesses. So many who are leading the way are also sharing the way they have done it. My hope is that my journey will also be an inspiration to others. 
I've been trying to find some exciting new ways to up-cycle egg cartons with my kids because we're a little tired of using them for paint and storing small objects. To me, egg cartons scream, "creativity!" I just haven't been able to think of something different. So, I went on my usual hunt and found some inventive ways to Take On The Creative with your kids. So start saving those egg cartons because creativity is taking over!  From redtedart.com EGG CARTON LIGHTS These blossom fairy lights are so adorable and definitely a nice way to brighten up the day with your kids!  From craftscollection.net EGG CARTON BUGGY MOBILE Get you string, colored paper, glue and googly eyes out because some egg carton bugs are buzzing your way! So easy to make and a whole lot of fun!  From papercrave.com EGG CARTON GIFT PACKAGING Save those egg cartons for the next gift wrapping session with your kids! Have your kids paint an egg carton. and give that gift a personal touch. "All my life I want to be a bride married to amazement." Mary Oliver I have a voice inside of me that until recently, I rarely listened to. It's been there since I was a child. You may be thinking at this point, "Ok. I'm done with this wackadoo. Now she's hearing voices!? I'm out!" Well, I ask you not to run out on me just yet because odds are, you have that voice too. 
It's faint and it's shy. It hides out deep inside your nooks waiting to jump out and be heard when something inspires you. It isn't rational and it doesn't play safe. It's risky, passionate, spontaneous, wild and for the brief moment it's there, it feels so good. Tama Kiev, author of Inspired & Unstoppable, says it's the voice of love. She also calls it "the inspired voice." So many of us have witnessed its spark only to have our rational sides take over and put out the fire. So what if we actually, for once, listened to that "inspired voice" that is in all of us? What if we locked up the fear that so often disguises itself as "good judgement" and listened to love? After all, maybe there is a reason why it's speaking to us. And can you imagine where you would be today if you listened to it? The practical side of us plans our life, schedules our futures, programs our GPS. All of it to avoid getting lost, misguided and possibly hurt. It's ingrained in all of us to make the safe choice even if it means being unfulfilled. After all, as Tama Kieve states in her book, "we can't plan an inspired life." What is most scary about that is the fact that there isn't an outline. All there is, is TRUST. How can we trust something we can't hold or touch? It's just a voice, an idea, a feeling......a noodle. What if we trust and then it comes back to haunt us? Or worse, what if we trust and it hurts? What if is a hard thing to swallow........but what if you listen to your "inspired voice" and you are happy, fulfilled, successful, in love? What if you never get the chance to know how inspired your life can truly be? Listen to the voice......throw the noodle :) | 
Hi, My name is Elena M. Schloss and I am the Founder and Chief Noodle of Noodles On The Wall, a blog about creativity, inspiring nuggets, mama moments and all things creative. I am especially inspired by Creative Moms Taking On The Creative. For me, life is full of noodles. It just takes a dash of inspiration and a pinch of creativity to throw them up on the wall to see if they stick! Stick around because the noodles are sticking all over the place over
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