 In 2014, I broke both ankles six weeks apart. I took it as a sign that I was on unstable ground and needed to look for a change. Sitting on the sofa with laptop in hand I came across CreativeLIVE an online learning platform. Some of the online courses I took taught me about; lifestyle and product photography, price my artwork, improve social media skills, and creating my own online course. Who knew that breaking bones would lead me on the path that I only dreamed about? The journey wasn't easy but it was fun, educationally, and eventually profitable. I'd been teaching art classes in person since 1998. CreativeLIVE courses taught me how to teach online. These skills catapulted part of my career in March 2020 when the world shut down due to the pandemic. Much of my in person art classes couldn't convert online, however the ones that could were in demand and kept my career afloat during a tough time. CreativeLIVE introduced me to Skillshare a platform where I started teaching and making prerecorded courses. I highly recommend both CreativeLIVE and Skillshare for life-long learners. Online teaching and learning isn't going anywhere. It's such a valuable tool on many levels.
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 In 2010 I stumbled across CreativeLive, an online teaching platform for creatives. Their model is offering free LIVE online classes and workshops and sell the recordings afterwards. Subjects range from photography, to entrepreneurship, to arts, design, and makers. It was awesome! During the free live classes I participated in the chat room and made new creative friends that I'm still in touch with.
As I took one class after another, I thought, 'Online classes are the future, I need to join this magical industry.' In 1998 I started teaching fitness classes. During a workshop for fitness instructors, my boss mentioned that she had to find a fitness instructor to teach children's classes. My daughter, Emily, was 4.5 years old and starting kindergarten September 1998. By her December 5th birthday that year, I was teaching children's fitness classes during Emily's school hours. This lead to teaching children's art classes. Teaching fitness to adults a couple of evenings a week and teaching children's art and kindergym classes while Emily was in school worked out perfectly. By 2010 when I found CreativeLive I was ready to move some of my adult in-person classes ONLINE! During a CreativeLive class an instructor mentioned that she taught on Skillshare and she sent everyone a link to a free Skillshare trial. I joined Skillshare as a student and learned how to turn a few of my art classes to online art classes. I re-branded a couple of times as my teaching evolved from teaching art to teaching art business and social media marketing. I spent several years on Skillshare, but it wasn't generating the full-time income that I wanted. So I started looking for other ways to earn income doing things that I liked doing. Around that time I read that China's middle class was growing quickly. I said to my husband, "What I need to do is figure out what Chinese middle class families want to buy and sell them that!" I was also looking to continue working from home so that I could continue being available for my kids. My research took me to teaching online English classes to students in China. I had the credentials, experience, and enthusiasm to teach online ESL classes. In retrospect I realized that I was able to recognize earning trends. I also got into new venture trends at the perfect times, long before industry saturation. My job or career criteria remained the same; flexible hours, excellent pay, and above all -- it had to be joyful. Building online classes generated passive income -- courses I made in 2014 still pay monthly royalties -- not a huge amount, but enough to buy two beehives, eleven chickens, and four bunnies for my homestead this year. My ESL work was more structured with defined schedules, but I set the hours that I wanted to work. When the pandemic hit all of my in-person classes were cancelled, postponed, or adjusted to online courses. The art business courses that I created were busier than ever before leading to new contracts with art councils, galleries, and colleges. As the pandemic appeared to have reached it's climax, people started to see the other side of lockdown. They are prioritizing post-pandemic life to include fulfilling their Bucket List. Right around the time I looked into my crystal ball of what will trend post-pandemic. The Chinese government stopped foreign teachers from teaching online to young students in China. I wanted to replace my lost ESL time and income with a post-pandemic Bucket List item. TRAVEL. Although we are early in post-pandemic vacation planning, I decided to dust off my TICO certificate (to sell travel in Ontario, Canada one must be TICO certified -- which I am -- saving that information for another blog.) I enrolled in several courses to update my travel industry knowledge and joined a well respected travel company. The next trend is travel. Not any travel -- unique travel that blends personal interests with scenic and beautiful destinations. Bucket List travel like hiking around Machu Picchu, knitting on Scotland's Fair Isle, or making a Faroese shawl on Faroe Island, visiting places from favourite novels, learning to weave in Peru, yurt building in Mongolia, painting on the Left Bank, taking a sculpting lesson in Florence, Italy, the birth place of Michelangelo. That is the next trend. So tell me -- what is your Bucket List dream vacation and activity?  In my personal life 2021 started with overwhelming sadness from the death of my 27-year old daughter Emily. Visible mending has been EXTREMELY visible with this part of my life. In my professional life 2021 started with an unbelievably, wonderful creative contract. In late December 2020, my daughter, Emily, was in hospital due to complications from her May 2019 heart transplant. I received an email from a friend + art director about a program coordinator 3-month contract coming in January. As I read the position description I knew this was a great opportunity. The Arts Council of Highlands Highlands (Ontario) received funding from the Haliburton County Development Corporation to create a 3-month program teaching Haliburton area artists + makers how to build, or rebuild, their online digital presence. Covid hastened the need for online presence. I applied for the Program Coordinator position at the arts council’s The Digital Comfort Studio. Emily died on January 1st, 2021. My interview was scheduled a few days later. I emailed the committee to let them know about Emily + I would withdraw my application if necessary. I didn’t know how I would react from moment to moment dealing with the raw emotions of losing a child. Would I burst into tears during the interview? If I was offered the opportunity, would I be able to finish it? For 27-years everything I did was contingent on Emily's heart health. Every job, event + commitment was prefaced with, “If my daughter needs me I need a leave of absence.” I was offered the program coordinator job. For the first time in 27-years I was making a commitment without the need to preface. Saying that, if my husband or son need me in any way I would also need a leave of absence, but likely to a lesser degree than with Emily -- unless an emergency of course. The Digital Comfort Studio was a great success. So much so that we are looking for ways to build onto the program + offer it to a wider audience. (let me know if you are interested -- email: [email protected]) I am grateful for the opportunity given to me from Pat Jones, Chris Lynd, Tammy Rea of The Arts Council of Haliburton Highlands + The Digital Comfort Studio. Tammy is creating an online magazine about The Digital Comfort Studio pilot program for new participants to view + learn from. (again, let me know if you are interested -- email: [email protected]) I find the 1st of the month to be painful as it marks the monthly anniversary of Emily’s death. It’s a process. Everything is fine -- until it’s not. I find myself applying for more art grants + creative contracts with 100% confidence in my commitment to complete them using the best of my abilities. I am excited about the future. I am giving my craftivism + vending mending projects the time + energy that they deserve. I am calling this part of my life Chapter 3. Thanks for reading + thanks for being a part of my Chapter 3. P.S. I am a Chicken Mom now. 11 Columbian Rock X hens, they are just over a week home now. Stay tuned for chicken update. xoxo  2021 ... didn't begin the way I imagined.
Let me start by giving those who don't know me personally the back story. My name is Sandra Clarke. I'm an artist, educator, maker + craftist. My creative career began in 1998 when my daughter, Emily, started kindergarten. Emily was born with complex heart defects that could not be repaired. As a result, she had 3 major heart operations before her 4th birthday with the knowledge that she would need a heart transplant -- probably in her mid-twenties. Before Emily was born I worked for the engineering department of a Japanese automotive company. I liked the job and loved the people. Gary, my husband, and I planned to be a two income family. However, once Emily was born and we learned about her heart health we both decided that one income would be manageable and I would stay home full-time. And then the weirdest thing happened. Gary was given a wage increase that equaled my lost income. This is important because "and then the weirdest thing happened" is a common thread in our story. Staying home was awesome after I got over postpartum depression and sleepless nights. I completely understand how sleep deprivation is a form of torture. I was an unhealthy 210 lbs when Emily was born. After bouncing around the scale for four years I noticed that weight started coming off naturally. It was January 1998. The same month that Emily’s cardiologist announced that they have done everything they can do for her medically. “Go home and live a great life!” Dr. Christine Boutin happily declared. Her addendum was -- until Emily needs a heart transplant. January 1998. I set up our treadmill in the middle of the living room. I was 192 lbs. I learned what foods fueled my body and mind and avoided unhealthy foods -- mostly, I do like the occasional treat. June 1998. Emily was granted her wish to visit Disney World and have dinner with Minnie Mouse. She was 4.5 years old. She taught herself how to swim in the Give Kids The World Kids Village swimming pool. It was truly a magical experience. On the plane home both Emily and I cried. I promised her that we would return. We decided then and there that January 2000 would be our next trip to Disney World. Without a job or extra income I would have to rely on “and then the weirdest thing happened” to keep my promise. I had 18-months to make it happen. Still on the treadmill six nights a week, I found myself at 128 lbs in September 1998 -- Emily started kindergarten that same month. My little voice said -- you can truly call yourself fit and healthy if you could teach aerobics. October 1998. I enrolled in a program that earned me credentials to teach fitness classes. I began teaching fitness classes for the City of Mississauga community centres, and a few small women’s gyms. I was earning Disney World money when Emily was in school and in the evenings when Gary was home. It was a happy time in our lives. We were also planning to make Emily a big sister. And then the weirdest thing happened -- Emily’s brother, Evan, was born in January 2000. Our Disney World vacation was happily postponed until April 2001. That was an excellent time for our family. We wanted to create an enchanted life for our children. Our April 2001 Disney World vacation was magically followed by another Disney World vacation in April 2002. And then more, and more. Before Facebook there were chat rooms and forums. I joined a Disney fan forum -- and then the weirdest thing happened. I got noticed by Sandra Halket, owner of clickTHEMOUSE.ca Canada’s #1 Disney travel agency. I was Sandra’s first hire -- now clickTHEMOUSE.ca has over 30 cast members. We enjoyed many enchanted family vacations in Florida. I began to notice that things balanced themselves out. One fitness club closed owing me $400, a month later I was overpaid by another fitness club by $400, and when I tried paying them back they said, “keep it.” When Evan was 5-months old I called a yoga studio to register us for mommy and me classes. Twenty minutes into the call the studio offered me free yoga training and a job. That happened as we were planning a Disney World vacation and needed the extra enchantment. Emily was enjoying school, ballet, jazz classes -- while still attending cardiac appointments at the Hospital For Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto. I was her Dr. Mom and learned everything I could about her complex heart defects. Before the internet Dr. Boutin granted me special permission to ask the hospital’s medical library for books about Emily’s heart conditions and surgeries. Standing in the photocopier line with new young doctors, with my sticky-noted textbooks, in my pyjamas, was a typical sight when Emily and I lived in hospital. The Mississauga Library ordered $1500 worth of medical books -- titles I requested from the University of Toronto’s medical library. We balanced two lives -- enchanted at home -- intense in hospital. When Emily was 11-years old, I noticed that her ankles were swollen. We were playing on the jungle gym at the park -- I was chasing her up the slide’s ladder when I saw her ankles. I made an appointment with her cardiologist in Mississauga, Dr. Gian Egger. He told us to go to the Sick Kids ER. Emily was diagnosed with a disease called Protein Losing Enteropathy (PLE). People who have a Fontan heart operation have a 10% chance of developing PLE. Emily had her Fontan in October 1997. The internet was available so I learned the hard truth about PLE pdq. PLE’s mortality rate was 50% after 5 years and 90% after 10 years. We always knew that Emily would likely have a shorter life expectancy than her peers, but she was 11 years old. Do I tell her about PLE’s mortality? I waited for the “and then the weirdest thing happened.” But it never came. It was time to make her bucket list. In 2009 Emily was granted a second wish because PLE was considered a whole new life threatening event. We went to California. Emily was a very talented writer and set her intentions to write for the television show CSI New York. Rich Thigpen was Emily’s wish granter and we all spent an incredible day on the set of CSI New York. Producer, Erin Walsh brought us everywhere. We are still friends with Erin. Sadly we lost Rich in 2020. The cast was generous with their time, and yes, Gary Sinise is as kind as you’d think. The wish trip included visits to several themed parks and studios. We got to visit Disneyland, which was more for me than Emily. We had our final Disney World vacation as a foursome in 2010. I left clickTHEMOUSE.ca and stopped teaching fitness classes due to my 100 lbs stress weight gain. My focus was on art and teaching art -- my active meditation and life saver. Emily was about to start attending the University of Toronto. She was 17 years old. Her hospitalizations were more frequent. I was grateful to be in a career (or careers) that afforded me the ability to drop everything when my family needed me. I started teaching art in 1998. It was an excellent opportunity to bring my kids to the classes as I taught. I had many creative and fitness job interviews with toddler Evan on my lap and Emily drawing at a nearby table. It was natural for us. After 18-months Emily left university. She was in hospital constantly. When she was in her early 20’s she was accepted in a Creative Writing and Publishing honours degree program at Sheridan College. She excelled. Emily has a great social life, college, a volunteer job at the Mississauga Animal Shelter, and the occasional paying job. But it always ended and she would be hospital again. When she wasn’t in hospital life was amazing -- enchanted. In 2018 Emily started the process of being placed on the heart transplant list. It’s a long process and many times we were told that she might not qualify. It became very stressed when her liver doctor wanted Em to have a liver transplant as well. All Emily’s major organs were suffering. The heart transplant team was able to talk the liver transplant team into holding off on a liver transplant. Early 2019 Emily was admitted to hospital. She would remain there until her heart transplant. During this hospitalization Emily met a new girlfriend, Sarah. Although the relationship didn’t last more than a few months, I will always be grateful for Sarah’s presence in Emily’s life. Sarah would visit Emily and they had so many wonderful times together. Everyday Gary or I would spend the entire day with Emily in hospital. Sarah’s visits gave us respite which we greatly needed. Emily was on the heart transplant list for 34 days. On May 30th, 2019, Emily received her new heart. We will be eternally grateful to the donors family. Emily came home in August 2019 to recover. Within days she moved out of ours and in with her roommates. Em started taking distance learning classes with Sheridan College -- veterinary administration. Soon she adopted Rocco, a 7-year old shih tzu Jack Russell mix with anxiety issues. Rocco was a problem so they both moved back with us while Emily completed her vet admin courses. When Emily’s cardiac team said they were starting the transplant candidacy process I asked Emily for her bucket list. She thought long and hard and came to the conclusion that she did, indeed, do everything on her list. Em was a foodie, so we went on a short 4-day trip to Montreal for the food and visit with my family in Cornwall. Our last night was a stay in Kingston, Ontario. It was a great trip we wanted to repeat this summer. 2020 Pandemic. We weren’t going anywhere. Gary, Emily, Evan, and I were vigilant not to get Covid-19. It would be fatal for Emily. Emily’s recovery from her heart transplant was reasonably smooth. She twice developed a common post-transplant virus called CMV which landed her in hospital for two weeks each time. Due to coronavirus Emily couldn’t have visitors. She actually enjoyed her alone time in hospital. Summer 2020 Emily wanted nothing more than to go swimming. When it was safe to do so, our gracious friend Penny invited Emily and I to her oasis swimming pool and spa. Thank you Penny. Emily was a great gift-giver and she planned 2020 Christmas to be the best possible covid Christmas. She ordered our Christmas presents weeks in advance. They were wrapped and under our Christmas tree on December 17th, 2020 when Emily was admitted into hospital for one last time. CMV came back. This time it was drug resistant. I was able to visit Emily twice when she was in critical care. We had a great time chatting and being foodies. She was in great spirits and making plans for 2021. Emily missed Christmas at home. We promised that we wouldn’t have Christmas without her. She was too weak to talk much on the phone Christmas day. On December 31st, 2020 Emily’s doctor called saying that Emily wanted him to call us with updates. Emily was having breathing problems. They were sending her to ICU to be placed on a ventilator and dialysis for her failing kidneys. I asked if I could visit. Doctor said, yes, I could visit for an hour the next day. I arrived in the ICU around 11 am on January 1st, 2021. It’s a family tradition to say, Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits, on the first of every month. When I saw Emily I said, Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits. She smiled even though the ventilator tube was present. I was met by a doctor who told me that today was the last day of Emily’s life. I called Gary. He immediately came to hospital. We held Emily’s hand as she drifted off to sleep and then died at 1:16 pm. We are so grateful to have been there when she came into this world, and grateful to be with her when she left. Her pain is gone and it’s her family and friends who must carry it now. Like Emily’s life, our pain will be great at times -- but also like Emily’s life, filled joy and will be epic. It was always going to end this way for Emily. Perhaps a little shocking that she didn’t live longer, but she lived boldly and plentifully and was loved by so many people. So this is my blog … and my first blog post. I am calling this blog Visible Mending. The artist • educator • maker me has been playing with textiles for years -- I’ll chat more about that in another blog post. One of my favourite textile activities is mending clothing -- repair, re-wear -- and employing craftivism as a way to peacefully protest the flawed fashion industry. Mending -- clothes or life -- doesn’t have to be invisible. In fact I like it to be visible. Globally, 2020 was hard, 2016 - 2020 was hard. 2021 didn’t start the way I imagined … and then the weirdest thing happened. But I’ll save that for my next blog post. |
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2024 Mississauga Festival of Trees Submission From Sandra Clarke
Click on image to enlarge.
Click on image to enlarge.
Budget $2500
CARFAC Fee Schedule
Preparation Fee $400
Installation Fee $515
Materials Estimate Cost (Thrifted Fabric & Sewing Notions) $85
Most materials are donated by artist Sandra Clarke.
Artist Fees $1500
TOTAL: $2500
CARFAC Fee Schedule
Preparation Fee $400
Installation Fee $515
Materials Estimate Cost (Thrifted Fabric & Sewing Notions) $85
Most materials are donated by artist Sandra Clarke.
Artist Fees $1500
TOTAL: $2500
© COPYRIGHT Sandra Clarke.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.