Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Vermillion.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a full time professional working for a non-profit and also a wife and mother of two kids under six. I enjoy the work I do and LOVE spending time with my family. However, I started feeling there was a piece missing from my life. I have always enjoyed doing art and other creative things. As a working mom, I was finding that the only time I had to do things that filled me up was after the kids were in bed (if I wasn’t too exhausted from the day). I was trying to steal time so I didn’t feel that all too common “mommy guilt” for doing things I loved while I was with my children. Then, there was, of course, the issue of paying for childcare to go and do something that felt like self-care. An entrepreneur friend of mine once told me that you need to fall in love with the problem. The problem, as I see it, is that as women (especially moms) we are so busy taking care of other people that we often forget to take care of ourselves. All of those things that help us to restore ourselves and our time with others are the first things to go when life gets busy. This was the problem I fell in love with and this is what was the catalyst for the Art of Restoration. The Art of Restoration (AoR) is a monthly gathering for women to create and commune. We have some type of craft or art project for everyone, food and drinks, childcare and some conversation starter questions meant to get everyone talking and engaged in deep conversation. The response has been so encouraging. One AoR participant sent a message saying, “Thanks for putting this together and including me. The number one thing I need more of in my life is more creative time so I’m so excited to come and connect with all of you ladies.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have definitely hit a few snags here and there. The Art of Restoration has gone through a few iterations including figuring out childcare, cost, location, and my AoR partner. However, at this point, it feels like we have it about figured out. Despite some of the snags it has really felt like everything has happened for reason. Initially, this project started between myself and another friend. When she felt that she didn’t have the capacity to continue with it, I started trying to figure out how to continue with it. I mentioned the issue to my friend, Justine Darling, who had gone to another Art of Restoration event and had such a positive experience with it. She offered her home and to partner with me to make sure we could continue bringing the Art of Restoration to other women. If I were to offer any advice I’d say first that there is value in speaking aloud what you want. I think often we keep quiet about our ideas because we are afraid others won’t understand the vision or will see us as a failure if it doesn’t come to fruition. The second piece of advice would be to fall in love with the problem because when you fall in love with the problem, you keep looking for the solution. And finally, when things seem like they aren’t working out or going as planned, look for the opportunities because sometimes it’s just your idea taking a new shape.
What do you do? What do you specialize in?
My full-time professional role is as a restorative justice practitioner with the National Conflict Resolution Center. In this role, I support young people who have made a mistake whether in school or in their community and would otherwise be pushed out of their community and experience a suspension, expulsion or the juvenile justice system. I am also an Adjunct Professor for Point Loma Nazarene University. I am also the curator of Until I Had Kids, an Instagram account about the unsaid truths of parenthood. I have also newly developed a podcast featuring other creatives who have taken the plunge to do some type of creative venture. I am also developing my own art line of household crafts and decor. People can find my art and podcast on Instagram @Iammadetocreate and podcast episodes can be listened to at http://madetocreate.buzzsprout.com
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I love the work of Brene Brown. Listening to her (or reading her work) pushes me to really look at myself. I also love her take on creativity. One premise of the Art of Restoration is that everyone is creative, which is a message Brene Brown shares as well. I am also inspired by the number of people in my life who have done some type of creative venture. It seems that more and more these days we are hearing about young people making art, writing books and music and overall making a living being creative. I think there has been a shift from the competing dichotomies that state you either work to live or live to work. I think we are coming into an era where we are wanting something in between that and I’m seeing more people do meaningful work that also brings them life.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7606841785
- Email: vermillionj@sandiego.edu
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iammadetocreate
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/artofrestoration/
- Other: https://instagram.com/untilihadkids
Image Credit:
Cody Vermillion
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