While coping and recovering from Kidney stones I ended up having the laydown time to read. I inhaled these books and am so glad that with the return of the Halifax Public Libraries I am back to my normal reading routine.

You, Me, and the Sea | Meg Donohue

A beautiful take on what it means to come from a damaged home and find one’s own identity outside of it to return to make space better. I enjoyed the relational realism that was depicted in this story.

Where the Sidewalk Ends | Shel Silverstein

A fun read with our daughters. A few of Shel’s poems before bed often gave us a good laugh or a thoughtful pause.

Landline | Rainbow Rowell

Inhaled this read in 24 hours. Rainbow Rowell writes her stories in a way that allows the reader to relax, get curious and enjoy the ride. A story about what qualities are in a long-lasting relationship and what makes them survive.

Becoming | Michelle Obama

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Michelle’s account of her life thus far. Written beautifully and easy to follow her everyday woman’s journey from girlhood to becoming FLOTUS.

Little Fires Everywhere | Celeste Ng

A stunning read on motherhood written by Celeste Ng set in the 1990s in a traditional planned community of “Shake Heights” in Ohio. Character development is a steller, you can picture the community and the people who live there. A beautiful story.

my desk this summer it seems….

I am starting to see a pattern.

In life there are seasons of action, seasons of growth and seasons of waiting.

There are also seasons of constant inturruptions.

I would say that for me, 2020 thus far has been all of that and more.

Most recently, a season of waiting and constant interruptions.

A laptop needing up to two weeks of service, a trip to the E.R., recovering from Kidney stones, scheduling major life changes and appointments (all good changes), and least of all, a cat who most certainly wants to sleep on ones work chair at all hours of the day while one tries to make a borrowed laptop fill the void. (if you do creative work, you know that software, subscription services are all part of ones daily routine. Trying to make do without those programs is a bit of a slog. )

It can feel infuriating when you realize time is being wasted while you wait for things to resolve. A kidney stone to pass, pain to recede, paperwork to go through, a laptop to be fixed and yes, even a house tiger to admit defeat in who gets the chair as she ‘slomps’ away with a chirp of dissapointment.

It can also be an opportunity.

To enjoy life, to think more, and connect with both colleagues and friends alike in a new way.

Things I have enjoyed in the waiting:

Reading. Having the library open again has given me new reading enjoyment and movtivation.

Routine Skype calls | A colleague / good friend of mine started a bi weekly Monday chat routine and it has been huge in helping us suss out our creative energy, thoughts and plans for our projects.

Reordering my thoughts | Forced time away, even if scattered has a way of expanding the mind outside the box. Re-imagining what is, to what could be.

So while I am impatiently waiting for my own laptop, for our life changes to occur and in a time when so much seems to be ‘up in the air’, I will be working on my ability to enjoy the process of the waiting and find growth here. Be it in a hospital bed, at the beach, or simply… admitting defeat and letting the house tiger sleep peacefully while I drag the old borrowed laptop to the floor by the rotating fan.

Summer is a time of road trips, driving to the beach, and parties.

Although drives in our province can happen, we find ourselves in a season of planning and preparing. A huge part of that is having our child enter primary school. A huge stepping stone for her and us.

While creating a playlist I found joy in adding a few tracks that reflected summer like films while also adding tracks that felt reflective of a summer full of shifts, pandemic restrictions and hopes for the future.

Summer 2020 Playlist <——

*Standouts

In the Waiting | Kina Grannis

This track has given me a lot of hope, peace and reminder to stay present in the moment and day I am in.

Revival Anthem | Rend Collective

It’s no secret that I ADORE music from the British Isles. Rend Collective has a tone similar to Mumford and Sons while also highlighting their faith in creative ways. Seeing them play live last year was a highlight. Their energy is terrific. (It didn’t hurt that they said Nova Scotia of all the provinces in Canada reminded them of the same music energy / atmosphere they see in Ireland.)

La Vie En Rose | Lady Gaga

A Star is Born tore my heart in two. I found it beautifully done to the point of feeling the ache of it’s echo months later. Always loving this song, I found Lady Gaga (Stefanie) rendition of it reaches new heights.

Water | Kanye West

As polorizing as Kayne can be, I find his creativity fascinating. Over the years I have resonated with his work that highlights the desire to connect with a higher power.
I initially found peace in this song when this couple captured the physicality of the song.

Seasons | NEEDTOBREATHE

This song hit me in the gut and was an instant purchase. I think music connects us as humans and ultimately I would argue that it’s a way that we connect deeper with that which made us.

*always tacked on the playlist is a few tracks from the Outlander season / book I am re-reading / rewatching. Summer 2020 is Book 1 & Season 1.

What a refreshing and positive conversation with Halley Davies.

Halley is a camera assistant, videographer and creative. Through our conversation Halley shares how extended time off Brough on by COVID 19 has allowed her to explore her creativity through water colour, gardening and sharing her gardening tips through her new instagram account. While she awaits to see how things will be different going back to working on film sets next month.

INSTA LIVE LINK <—-

*due to an unfortunate Instagram glitch, part of the audio from the live chat was lost.

A bit of a vlog on the month of June.

Last month was the last week in John Yorke's Storytelling for Screenwriters Workshop through Media Xchange (and for me, also through Screen Nova Scotia). The week focused on characters and their development.

Takeaways

The most relatable and memorable characters are three-dimensional and, therefore, a true reflection of humanity's complexities.

Characters are innately as simple as they are complex.

Understanding the background and fundamentals of psychology can help us better understand why characters do what they do and what their next action may naturally be due to their coping mechanisms in both healthy and unhealthy ways.

Characters deserve to have us as writers, take the time to understand them better to deliver a holistic view of humanity.

Characters are and should be in constant movement towards a change, whatever that change may be.

What I am Revved Up About

A sincere desire to take the characters I develop, be them fictional or based on someone, (e.g. a current project on my paternal grandmother.) and give them the time and depth of understanding they deserve.

Often I focus on making sure I have the wholeness of a story down, but the gaps in the story or the parts that do not flow are resolved once the character themself are brought into the place they are going and need to be. It would seem that both character and story structure are equally as essential and feed each other.

A recognition that discussing characters with other writers and storytellers gives the insight and springboard I need to press on with the work.

At the end of this two-week journey, I feel more comfortable in story creation, inspired and left feeling connected to storytellers on a global scale. One does not have to live in the same country or time zone to share ideas, gain insight and find the gold in a character or the story itself.

creativity is a sacred ground.

it is where the fires of change and new ways begin.
creativity has rocked my world again and again.
Pulled me apart and then reordered me stronger.
Creativity is a burning ember.
A small light at the pit of who you are.

Light it up.
Fan the flame
Let it become a roaring furnace and see what comes of it.
We were made to burn.

To create is to be made new with everything you make.
cooking, decorating, writing, building, painting, gardening, singing, composing…
to make something out of seemingly nothing.

That is a value that you can’t put a price tag on.

Amy Grace sits down with Rebecca Thomas to discuss how she’s been doing during the pandemic, processing the world’s events and communicates her exhaustion with the historical and systemic oppression that First Nations people have faced for centuries and continue to face in Canada.

Link to Live <——-

May didn’t allow for much creativity and exploration in using the camera or documenting.

That being said, for the sake of the 1 year monthly project, May is here.
Albeit a bit late.

Conrads Beach, Nova Scotia. 2020

How is it that we are already at the midway point of 2020?

It's safe to say this year was not a year any of us would have expected.

Globally, a pandemic and call to action to address racism, specifically in regards to Black communities.

Nationally, the effects of a pandemic and wake up call to how we work and play.

Provincially, a mass shooting concluded to be our countries largest to date and the very strict lockdown and social distancing measures our government took. Their leadership leading us to have zero cases the past two and a half weeks and to open up to the Atlantic provinces after Canada Day to connect with our maritime families.

Personally, the loss of a grandfather, a delay and unknown time for a memorial service, work being shifted to pre-production and development instead of production and being on sets. Working from home, teaching preschool from home…

I could go on…

I started 2020, embracing the word "Bold'. I wanted to embrace the next right bold moves.

Shockingly despite the blows, this remains true. I may not be hopping on a plane like I thought I would be, or seeing Jeremy off to Israel for a work trip, but we have found that the bold moves can also be the quiet and unseen ones.

Applying for a learning opportunity, saying yes to new initiatives, developing new concepts and working on new collaborations with ongoing projects.

Recognizing a need for our family and stepping out in faith to ask for it. Unknowns all around but feeling strongly that it's the Bold right next step we need to take and patiently see where it takes us.

So far, 2020 has taught me that Boldness and making Bold moves are often not as loud as you think it would be.

It's not the roar the lioness makes, but the way she looks before she does it. Her roar is simply a signal of what is to come. A minor thing in comparison to the action she is about to take.

So, although I thought 2020 would be about me making a big noise in work and life, what I realize is that it's the intent behind the next bold right move that is what get's you places and sometimes the next bold right thing is not what you expected until you are right on top of it.

And then you pull back, look around and prepare to roar before leaping forward and digging into what comes next.

It’s been hard to fit in reading the past few months, but with the hopes of our public library re-opening eventually (a slow and very methodical opening) I am more motivated than ever to read through what has been lent to me or I have had on the book shelf.

Hunger | Roxane Gay

Roxane has a beautiful way of capturing the heart of things. In this book of essays, she articulates her struggle with weight and the psychological beginnings and affects it has had on her. She puts to words the ‘pandemic’ of obesity, is in actual fact, rarely ever about the ‘weight’ itself. For her, it is a deep-rooted trauma that is a thread in the tapestry of her life. Although I do not have her story nor relate to it, I appreciate her perspective and insight.

Lord John and the Hand of Devils | Diana Gabaldon

An extension of the Outlander character Lord John Grey and his adventures not included in the main series. The first two novellas in this book are less as enjoyable as the last. In essence, I am more interested to see what Lord John was up to, as it relates to his feelings and perspective in regards to anyone in the Fraser clan.

Spring | Melissa Harrison

Another beautiful collection of essays, poems and thoughts in regards to Spring.

2020 has been a continual shifting and adjusting to the changes type of year. We at Brilliansea have been doing our best to ride these waves and changes.

As we enter into the Summer, we have committed to continue our socially distanced 'insta live' interviews on a bi-weekly basis and continue to share the content of the variety of women that make up the Atlantic provinces and beyond.

Brilliansea continues to seek to be a platform that creates a community of celebration and insight into the inner workings of creative and entrepreneurial women. We are always looking to find new ways to highlight your voices and are continually reassessing how we can do that better and push ourselves to think outside the box.

For Claire and I, Brilliansea is where we find solidarity and connection to something deeper than 'the hustle'.

Less of a business, more of a community.

Although many of our 'communing' and in-person work has had to be on the back burner for the last past few months, the passion for bringing people together remains our true north.

We can’t wait to be in person again and are aiming to reconvene that portion of our work after the summer and as safety measures in our studio/situations allow.

Top Centre - Clockwise: Coffee Mug | Jaw Pottery, Rain Jacket | London Fog, Pre School work books | Amazon, Rainboots | Hunter, Quote squares | Birthday gift from Jasmine, Blue-light glasses | Amazon, Spring Anthology | Amazon, Rhythms of Renewal | Amazon, Bye Bye Under Eye | Sephora, Soy Candle - Rain | Saje, Pillow Cover | Indigo, Iridescent Wine goblet | Winners

Indigo Pillow Covers

I adore having seasonal decor but in a minimal sense. Getting my hands on these pillow covers allows me to change up the look without investing in more pillows.

Pre School Workbooks

These workbooks along with the Kiwi Crate Co. were a blessed addition to our lives during the worst of the pandemic. Learning helped tire our preschool/grade primary ready kid out and helped her feel more confident daily.

Quote Squares

Knowing I like slipping words in the corners of my home, Jasmine smartly sent me these for my 31st. Any words from Maya Angelou are sure to shake you a little.

Rain Gear

In Nova Scotia, not having rain gear is absolutely ridiculous. I finally got rain boots (my old ones had bit the dust almost two years ago & invested in a high quality rain jacket.

Rhythms of Renewal

Listening to the author of this book in a podcast interview by happenstance as the pandemic restrictions hit made me order the book. Couldn’t be more perfectly timed.

What a great conversation with Meghan MacPherson, Massage Therapist and Owner of Aura Massage. Claire Fraser and Meghan talk about reopening after Covid 19 closures and how Aura Massage Therapy and other businesses, particularly those in the Health Industry are adjusting and adapting to the new regulations.

Link to Live <——

Top Centre - Clockwise: Peach Skipping rope | Amazon, Denim Dress | Joe Fresh, Hair Bows | Gift from Auntie Nicole, Bracelet | Etsy, Pink T Shirt | Joe Fresh, Sweater Dress | H&M, Blue Jumper & Red/White T-Shirt | H&M, Polly Pockets & Tiny Toys | My 90’s childhood collection, Where the Sidewalk Ends | Birthday gift from Mimi & Yeye, Animal Upon Animal | Amazon, Readers | Gifts from Auntie Susan, Jean Shorts | Carters, Jeans | Old Navy, Pre School Math & Literacy | Amazon, Necklace & Bracelet | Birthday Gift from Auntie Nicole & Uncle Jude, Pink Shoes | Winners, Mermaid Pyjamas | Old Navy, Wild Flower Pyjamas | Old Navy, Sunglasses | H&M, Sneakers | Zara, Rainboots | H&M, Dress Shop | my 90’s childhood collection, Hedhghog Family | Chapters, Rain jacket | Old Navy, Socks | H&M

Having Zoë’s last semester of preschool cancelled, we had to shift gears at home and in our daughter’s overall daily life. This capsule is very indicative of the direction that the COVID 19 pandemic took us and her.

New to Her

Denim Dress

A birthday dress. She loves wearing dresses these days.

Rain Jacket

What kid wouldn’t want a see-through rain jacket? These were the thoughts I had running through my mind pre COVID world when I was in Old Navy late February. I am very glad I picked it up. It was a hit. She adores it

Pink Dress Shoes

On our last outing before the pandemic, Zoë strolled through winners and picked up this pair of shoes. Already more of a shopper than her mama and with a keen eye, I couldn’t deny her this pair. We said we would put them aside for her easter outfit. (little did we know easter events would all be in the house this year, either way, we brought them out for easter and she adores them.)

Still Going Strong

Pyjamas

Although a couple of sets of pyjamas wore out in the knee (inevitable) she still has plenty of pairs to keep her going and will probably fit still this coming autumn. I love the patterns Old Navy produces for kids.

H&M Rainboots

Ordered over a year ago these rainboots I purchased was a size too big for her at the time but has proven to be a smart choice as they fit perfectly and I assume they will for at least the duration of this year.

Readers

A gift from a great aunt awhile ago, these readers are becoming the method in which Zoë is gaining her reading skills. Seeing her understand the process of reading is such a thrill.

Time to Go

*not pictured here

Worn out socks & Pyjama Pants

This season plenty of worn-out socks and pyjama pants were tossed. Thankfully we still have plenty on hand and are in no great need to replace any.

Amy Grace sits down with Elana Camille from Elana Camille Creates to discuss how she has managed her business and life through a pandemic and global tragedy in regards to systemic racism.

A brilliant conversation with a brilliant and deep woman.

INSTA LIVE LINK <——

Thanks to Screen Nova Scotia, I was able to attend Media Xchanges Storytelling for Screenwriters workshop series with John Yorke.

An honour to be allowed to learn and dig deeper into my storytelling skillset. Something I have been seeking the next right opportunity to grow professionally. This turned out to be exactly what I needed.

What I’ve learned so far…

I learned to think more in-depth into the structural dynamics of the typical story/screenplay. Many screenwriters and writers, in general, have structures they apply to their work or writing. Three acts, five acts, beat sheets. All commonly used methods of mapping out a story. In this course, we explored not just a five-act structure but the deeper meanings and intentions behind why a structure can boost a story.

We saw this practically through examples and by applying it ourselves to commonly known work and creating our interpretation of a plot in group work. I was amazed by the joy and camaraderie I felt in the group work.

It was apparent everyone was happy to use their creative skill sets, bounce off ideas and work together. Seeing that collaboration is something I need to find and seek out more often. It's easy as a writer/creator to stay insular, but these moments of collaboration remind you why you do what you do.

To connect, share and find meaning. It's what drives storytellers.

How I am processing it & what I hope to work on in the next month…

John Yorke's Roadmap to Change structure technique was a mind-shift for me. You can know things intuitively, but having the words for them is also essential. That is something that I hope to hone in on and practice more in my craft over the next month and beyond. I believe I have a knack and skill set for a story, but I have lacked the vernacular to discuss the weak points, the strong points and the overall elements of a story.

Gaining this skill set is a massive part of what I have needed and am excited to be growing in.

Until our next session in two weeks, I’ll be putting this knowledge to use.

Top centre - Clockwise: Facemasks | Mothers Day Gift, Bye Bye Undereye - It Cosmetics | Sephora, Rythmns of Renewal - Rebekah Lyons | Amazon, White/Gray Knit Sweater | Winners, Femme T-Shirt | Dynamite, The Fiery Cross - Diana Gaboldon, Brown pleather Purse | Modcloth.com, Hunter Rain Boots | Softmoc (birthday gift from my parents), Yellow Rain jacket | London Fog, White/Grey Pants | RW & Co, Blue Crop Pants with White Ribbon | Aritzia, Tan Turtle Neck | RW&CO, Girlfriend Jeans | The Gap, SOJO Bluelight Glasses | Amazon, White Linen Shirt | Old Navy, Spring Anthologies | Amazon, Brown Pleather Keds | Soft Moc

Entering Spring during a Pandemic introduced some challenges. It changed my goals for the spring Capsule and it quickly showed me that my lack of waterproof (non-winter) footwear was an issue. Along with more lightweight pants and sweaters that were still warm but not suffocating.

New to Me

White/Grey Sweater | Before the pandemic hit Nova Scotia, I went to winners on a whim with my daughter and saw this hanging on the rack. Already a good eye and sharp shopper, she said “this would be nice for you mama”. I had to agree. Knowing that our damp spring days and my love for walks outside would make this sweater a great addition to an admittedly older and worn hoodie that I wear for those times. (I still have that old hoodie…campfire days are perfect for the old raggedy ones)

Femme T-Shirt | I am finding that I have a budding love for the simple white t with words that corroborate with my values and vision statements for work. This one is simple and to the point.

Rain Jacket | My old rain jacket (not seen here) was black, long and form-fitting. It was from a store called One Tooth (Canadian Yoga wear company) it has sense moved/shut down. That jacket was purchased over a decade ago and has seen me through college, theatre school and every outdoor adventure possible. Due to it’s broken zipper and permanently stained front I decided to retire it and invest in this lovely London Fog when it went on sale. I love it so much already. I hope it lasts longer than my last one.

Rain Boots | As with my rain jacket, my old pair of rain boots from winners I purchased during my first ever professional job in 2010 split open and were irreparable. I managed for a year without rainboots. For my birthday this year, my parents helped me purchase this pair of Hunter Boots. I like that they are mid-length. They do the job and hopefully, they last as long as everyone says they do.

Tan Turtle Neck | RW&Co has a variety of turtlenecks. Once I knew my size and the style I liked, I bought a few more when they went on sale for future work outfits in the winter and autumn. This tan one was a great addition to the colder days in early spring. (the rest I packed away for Autumn.)

Still Going Strong

Leather Brown Keds | I adore this pair of Keds. I will wear them to the ground before I let them go.

Girlfriend Jeans | This pair from the gap is a perfect fit for my body type. Again, will wear till they fall apart.

Yoga Clothes | Not seen here my 3 pairs of yoga tops and 3 pairs

Time to Go

*not seen here:

Rain Jacket from One Tooth. It lived a long life with me. Worth the investment in ‘07/08’

Claire sits down with local podcast creator and host Ruth McMullen from Optimistically Depressed to chat about being a creative and mother during a pandemic and what that means for productivity, work and the real-life expectations we hold over ourselves.

May was full of events and other such to-dos… reading was enjoyed as an escape but not as much time for it as I would have liked.

Still, these are hefty books to have finished this month:

The Fiery Cross | Diana Gabaldon

I completed this fifth installment of the Outlander series as the fifth season of Outlander on STARZ finished airing. Diana Gabaldon continues to deliver with every read. At 979 pages, this read was chock-full of the description on history, character development, everyday living and, of course, epic adventures and happenings that could only happen in a book that is all genres in one. The Fiery Cross covers the lead up to the American Revolution, how Jamie and Claire Fraser, along with their extended family, manage while also knowing what is to come. The Outlander Series continues to be an incredible example that it is possible to capture the growth of a relationship over the decades.

The Testaments | Margaret Atwood

Having read The Handmaids Tale, it seemed fitting to see how Margaret continued the story. Jumping ahead of time, we are given multiple characters' perspectives both in and outside of Gilead.

I have always found The Handmaids Tale an intriguing take on the patriarchy, especially after hearing Margaret Atwood explain in an interview that people’s distaste for this world is in, fact, a direct reaction to the true happenings in our world. It’s easy to think this writer fluffed up a story with horrific details against women, but in fact, she researched and has only ever created the world of Gilead based on true experiences women have experienced either in the past or currently in the world. To have to be met with those truths, even in a fictional world, is jarring and helps me remember why I stand up for myself when actions towards me have gotten out of hand. It is not about creating a scene, but about continuing to create a world in which it is safe to speak up, choose and make mistakes as well as successes as women and for the future women.

To summarize, I was expecting more of a diabolical ending to The Testaments, but either way, Margaret Atwood gave us another piece of fiction to ponder over the words and actions of others and even ourselves.