Our latest Stick Of The Week! is Carrie Venezia. Carrie is in the NOW as artist and owner of Venezia Art For Kids, an online art gallery that focuses on personalized art for children's rooms with a mission of creating custom artwork that is exceptionally unique, superior in quality, and personal in design.
I live in Millstone Twp. NJ and I am a wife and mother of three Boys to Men, ages 15, 20 and 25. I work from my home studio which is great because getting to work is a very short commute. Along with enjoying time with my family, my other interests include running, hiking, skiing and since I'm a Jersey girl from Asbury Park, I love beaching it!
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall)
My NOW is Venezia Art and Venezia Art for kids. Venezia Art is a shop on Etsy featuring my original oil paintings and prints.
My NOW is Venezia Art and Venezia Art for kids. Venezia Art is a shop on Etsy featuring my original oil paintings and prints.
The Venezia Art For Kids shop, also on Etsy, focuses on my custom nursery and room decor for children.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
My NOW is always at a slow simmer. It's the best way for me to cook my noodles. Slow and steady with lots of bubbles. The bubbles represent all my ideas for growing my NOW and the slow simmer represents the creative journey that will carry my NOW to fruition or to al dente. Al dente is as far as I would want to go because fully cooked seems so final. Al dente can always go back in the pot for additional stirring!
My NOW is always at a slow simmer. It's the best way for me to cook my noodles. Slow and steady with lots of bubbles. The bubbles represent all my ideas for growing my NOW and the slow simmer represents the creative journey that will carry my NOW to fruition or to al dente. Al dente is as far as I would want to go because fully cooked seems so final. Al dente can always go back in the pot for additional stirring!
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
1. Be really passionate about what you are doing. Don't just go with an idea because you think it will sell. Do something that you have to do because the desire to do it is so strong, you can't see yourself doing anything else.
2. Add some goal setting. Have a clear picture of where you want to go and how you are going to get there. You don't have to carve it in stone. A pencil and big eraser is perfect!
3. The third ingredient is the secret ingredient that makes everything you want to happen, happen. It's called work. Work really hard and then work a little more. When you put in the time you will be amazed at how sticky your noodles gets!
4. The fourth ingredient is not a very tasty one but I think it's an important one. Criticism. Ask for it, take it well and learn from it. Have elephant ears, listen. Step out of your own head and listen to what other people have to say. Don't forget the relatives. Their great for this. You know they can't wait to tell you what they really think!
I believe with passion, a plan, hard work, the ability to listen to others, along with your own tasty ingredients, your noodle can't help but stick.
1. Be really passionate about what you are doing. Don't just go with an idea because you think it will sell. Do something that you have to do because the desire to do it is so strong, you can't see yourself doing anything else.
2. Add some goal setting. Have a clear picture of where you want to go and how you are going to get there. You don't have to carve it in stone. A pencil and big eraser is perfect!
3. The third ingredient is the secret ingredient that makes everything you want to happen, happen. It's called work. Work really hard and then work a little more. When you put in the time you will be amazed at how sticky your noodles gets!
4. The fourth ingredient is not a very tasty one but I think it's an important one. Criticism. Ask for it, take it well and learn from it. Have elephant ears, listen. Step out of your own head and listen to what other people have to say. Don't forget the relatives. Their great for this. You know they can't wait to tell you what they really think!
I believe with passion, a plan, hard work, the ability to listen to others, along with your own tasty ingredients, your noodle can't help but stick.
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
My motivation for throwing my noodle came from being unhappy with what I was doing in regard to work. I was creative with my children, home and work, but my work left me uninspired. I felt incomplete and unsettled. So much so, that my husband, David noticed. I remember the day. About 15 years ago David asked me, "What is it you want to do? You can do whatever you want." So I thought, yes I can! I can do whatever I want, and I want to paint. So I did. I painted everything and painted on everything! All that passion for my craft along with being creative and having an entrepreneural spirit made noodle throwing easy. And of course the thought of ever having to go back to work doing something I didn't love, that was motivation enough!
My motivation for throwing my noodle came from being unhappy with what I was doing in regard to work. I was creative with my children, home and work, but my work left me uninspired. I felt incomplete and unsettled. So much so, that my husband, David noticed. I remember the day. About 15 years ago David asked me, "What is it you want to do? You can do whatever you want." So I thought, yes I can! I can do whatever I want, and I want to paint. So I did. I painted everything and painted on everything! All that passion for my craft along with being creative and having an entrepreneural spirit made noodle throwing easy. And of course the thought of ever having to go back to work doing something I didn't love, that was motivation enough!
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
As a Mom, my inspiration comes from the idea that my children can do whatever they want. No matter what their dreams and aspirations may be. I was inspired to raise them to be open minded independent thinkers. For me, being a mother means I need to supply my kids with the support and guidance they need so they can be free to create their own futures and be responsible for their own happiness.
As a Mom, my inspiration comes from the idea that my children can do whatever they want. No matter what their dreams and aspirations may be. I was inspired to raise them to be open minded independent thinkers. For me, being a mother means I need to supply my kids with the support and guidance they need so they can be free to create their own futures and be responsible for their own happiness.
As a creative person my inspiration comes from all around me. Conversations, light, color, music, a scent, anything that can ignite the spark that creates a thought, that creates an idea.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I believe treating your NOW as a job really helps. When the kids were preschool age, I used daycare and family just like other working moms. I feel I was a better mom because of my NOW. I think it was wonderful and set a great example for my kids to grow up with a mom who is so passionate about what she does separate from them. In addition, the flexability is priceless. When my son asks, "Mom can we go to the beach?" Unlike the mom who works at the bank, I can say, "Last one in the car carries my umbrella!"
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My ultimate pasta dish is living a creative life with a whole lot of silliness and a generous sprinkling of grace.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I believe treating your NOW as a job really helps. When the kids were preschool age, I used daycare and family just like other working moms. I feel I was a better mom because of my NOW. I think it was wonderful and set a great example for my kids to grow up with a mom who is so passionate about what she does separate from them. In addition, the flexability is priceless. When my son asks, "Mom can we go to the beach?" Unlike the mom who works at the bank, I can say, "Last one in the car carries my umbrella!"
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My ultimate pasta dish is living a creative life with a whole lot of silliness and a generous sprinkling of grace.