Hola gorgeous Goddesses!

Today we are peeeeeeeking into the beautiful studio + life + loves of Nina Beana who I muchos adore…

Nina gilbert, aka “nina beana”, is a mama, a crafter, a self-taught artist, a massage therapist, and a doula. she loves to play with color, vintage ephemera, children’s books, and acrylics. she’s also mighty fond of poloroids and photobooth strips. nina loves to take pictures of bright, beautiful things that make her happy. you can find her waxing poetic on the power of positive thinking, entertaining the masses in her cozy home, or being climbed on by her three wild children.

Where do you create?

i create mostly in a shared space in the front porch of my home. i say “shared” because half of the space is where i keep my work table and sewing machine and supplies, and the other half is

kid-friendly- toys, paints, baskets of fun stuff placed at grabbing level. the line between “theirs” and “mine” if often blurred- and often the space on the edge of my desk has drawings and presents and playdough balls. my inspiration board (and inspiration dressform) hangs above my desk and is also a revolving space that is constantly being changed, added to, or reworked altogether. sometimes i like to unpin everything, put stuff into envelopes, and send my little inspiration pieces off to friends. and then i get to start being inspired all over again! i have a great affinity for vintage children’s book illustrations, paint chips, photobooth strips, love notes from my kids, recycled things, things from nature, and discarded bits.

What do you create?

i create quilts, notecards and postcards made out of recycled or salvaged papers, notebooks, most of the gifts we give as a family (and when you have three kids…that’s a lot of birthday parties!). most of the supplies i use are free, thrifted, or very low cost. plus, it helps to have friends in the antique business who always gift me with the best things to use in my work!

i’m pretty all over the map and like to change up my creative adventures so i don’t get bored. i also paint (mixed media) and take photographs. i’m sure there’s a million other random things (some epic failures, but sometimes those are my favorites!) that i’ve created over the years, but the ones mentioned here are the things i love working on the most.

When do you create?

i usually create during lulu’s (my youngest) naptime, or in little spurts throughout the day. because of the way that my crafting space is designed, i can create alongside the kids and find ways in get them involved in the process. sometimes i’ll say “does anyone want to put my pins back in the pincushion?” and they’ll be lined up to help. cutting felt or fabric scraps is also a fun way to keep the ki

ds busy. i’d like to be one of those people that can stay up late and craft alone, but i’m usually burnt out by 7pm and heading for bed, so i rarely create anything after around 5pm.

Why do you create? {What informs & inspires your work?}

i’m inspired by other artists, by recycling, by sending off beautiful things into the world. i love color and texture and creating things with my hands. i love getting together with my friends and family because that’s what fuels my creativity the most. i love making lists of goals and then checking them off one by one, no matter how lofty or unachievable they might seem when i first write them down. kids inspire me with their creative abandon. sleeping inspires me. birth inspires me. the changing of seasons always sparks a big creative burst for me- and since spring just sprung here this past weekend, i’ve been a creating machine!

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Thank you so much beautiful Nina for being you… I adore how you mesh life + love + children + creating…

find out more about nina here: www.thewholeself.blogspot.com.

p.s.

5 days left to enrol in the Creative Goddess e-course :: six weeks of meditations, creative projects, joy, healing & transformation!

What other goddesses say about this course:

“Today I did project one from week one of the Creative Goddess e-course. I just wanted to let you know that I am in love with what I created, and I feel as if I have already gotten my money’s worth! You are an amazing teacher, and filled my heart with happiness and peace the second you started talking.”
– Goddess Katrina A