Transformative Creative
Wellness, Healing and Growth
Studio News
October 2026
Thematic Collection 2027
Bohemian Nature Collection 2027
The Studio has taken the step of promoting the spirit and empowerment of transformative creativity aesthetic by having its first reel launched for the 2027 Bohemian Nature Project Collection.
Each month a new project for the collection will be created and added together for display at an end of year gallery exhibition and sale.
Updates will be made to our social media channels as well as the subscription blogs and the portfolio gallery.
The beauty of nature in regional South East of South Australia - the landscape, the lifestyle and the celestial skies - makes for an inspirational backdrop of nature.
Studio 2027
Future Steps Forward: Our Internal Evaluation Is Now Complete!
Its been such a big year for the studio, we are looking at the future pathways forward in alignment to our growing community connections.
The Studio services will now be centred in the township of Naracoorte and immersed in the functional values, spirit and connectivity of the district whilst retaining and continuing its nurturing presence in Mount Gambier.
Naracoorte fosters kindness and a supportive network of connection that provides an open mindset which promotes a safe and stable platform for transformative creativity that is not governed by entitlement and bias but rather celebrates diversity and thriving partnerships.
Further training and specialised areas of service delivery is slated for 2027, which is something we are looking forward to. With new staff and volunteers coming on board in 2027 and 2028, it is an exciting trajectory when it comes to creative service delivery!
Community Training
Living, Working and Walking Together
In committment to being self aware and a leader of active healthy community values, the studio attended a cultural sensitivity training day as part of it's quality assurance benchmarks.
Acknowledging the need for mutual respect and kindness of all in Australian society, the studio is committed to seriously delivering these principles in all interactions engaged within the community and the clients it delivers services to.
Where 'indigenous' is now recognised as native born communities of all heritage and backgrounds, and 'First People' represents the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of Australia's Indigenous Community, the studio recognises that all of these diverse communities have their own unique beauty and cultures that contribute to a rich tapestry that is contemporary multicultural Australia.
'Reconciliation' is now replaced with 'Connection', where 'Equality' is now co-joined with 'Opportunity', and is engaged in a listening kindness mindset that serves and achieves more for healing in all people and not just some, through healthy and functional conscious bias, behaviour and acts of mutual dignity and respect.
Fellowship Guild Philanthropy
Only weeks to go!
For just over a year, with being a volunteer with ac.care and The Linker Network Program, the culmination of our client's empowerment goal is now close at hand.
The template is now complete and all 3 rounds of draftings now filed away to archive, we have something tangible to show for all the efforts invested across these past 12 months.
The Studio is at its final stage of involvement with the publishing preparation of our client's story book, with the book launch imminent.
It has been a meaningful experience and we wish the author all deserved success as a writer.
Wanderlust Retreat
Halls Gap Escape
This month it was The Grampians turn.
We took the kids (well youthful young adults!) up to the magnificent peaks of The Grampians mid spring as part of a family getaway.
The weather put on a show, as did the local wildlife, making it a true nature experience. The wildflowers were in bloom, the misty rain was creating an evening canopy, and all the native animals were openly pairing off in their couplings.
We stayed in a 1980's themed cabin, and took some scenic drives of the lakes, lookouts (The Balconies) and horizon panaramas of the mountain range (Horsham to Halls Gap Drive).
September 2026
Community Event
Community Cooking Class at Naracoorte Library, Naracoorte
In a part two of the cooking class, the follow up to the Post & Rail practical class, we had Em the nutritionist introduce us to the wonderment of what I will term as 'Food Chemistry'.
Facilitated by Skylight Naracoorte and Community Connections ac.care Mount Gambier, a group of people came together at the library to be educated on things nutrition and it was not an experience to miss.
Because the seminar was one where we could ask questions, it quickly became apparent to all that nutrition is a biorhythm science, and so also is becoming more relevant as a science, as more is discovered.
Those old traditional things we were taught 50 years ago and are handing down to our coming generations are now so outdated that it explains why the baby boomer and generation X demographics are now suffering many of the health problems they are.
Certain chemical makeup of certain foods, can enhance or block the nutrition of other foods during the digestive process, so when you are thinking you are eating healthy by having 'right food groups' covered, if you get the food combinations wrong, you are not nourishing your body, but rather depriving it on cellular levels.
A passionate nutritionist is definitely a person to have on your creative wellbeing support self-care team.
Community Event
Community Cooking Class at Post & Rail, Penola
I was lucky to be invited to a community cooking class event in Penola where the theme was nutritional health and wellbeing for people from an mental health approach.
Facilitated by Skylight Naracoorte and Community Connections ac.care Mount Gambier, a group of people came together to explore ways to improve eating habits on a budget by looking at the practical convenience and viability of innovative food preparation habits as well as exploring more mindful choices when it comes to nutritional eating.
Hosted by Cindy Bunt, she demonstrated the magic that is simple food made delicious, and many of us walked away bewildered and amazed about how ingrained traditional approaches to food preparation that we each learned from our elders, were complicating our modern needs when it comes to food resourcing and preparation; making many of us ready for the upskilling efficiency of Cindy's teachings.
One of the things that can be a barrier to good eating habits is the drudgery of food preparation, and once some new and improved skills are implemented, the preparation becomes easier, time managed more conveniently, the clean-up impact is reduced, and reworking of traditional labour intensive processes gives way to a more enjoyable experience that inspires for further enjoyable culinary instances.
A great day for all involved.
Community Event
Naracoorte & Districts Suicide Prevention Network Seminar
Held at the Naracoorte Regional Art Gallery and Wild Game Wine Bar, 50 guests attended an annual women's wellbeing seminar which featured workshops and a guest panel following the guest speaker of the night, naturopath Ameeta Gangaram.
With three different interactive wellbeing workshops hosted by Soul Splatter, Lymphatic Flow Therapy and Salt and Sage Botanica, guests were able to choose an experience that was resonating with their current wellbeing interest (art therapy, lymphatic flow therapy or herbal therapy).
Mental health and wellbeing of women during pregnancy, perimenopause, menopoause and post menopause was the focus; offering supportive education and enlightenment for women who statistically in Australia, currently have a suicide rate of 1 in 5 in reflection to the enormous health and wellbeing changes that occur in the 45 - 60 year age bracket.
It was a truly special and uplifting experience to network with other professionals (nurses, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists) during this evening.
August 2026
Community Volunteer Work
Morning tea at St Mary's Nursing Home.
Time is always well spent with people who are confined to their environs and needing variations of social interaction.
On a lovely sunny winter's morning, it was a pleasure to be part of being able to meet some lovely residents.
Conversation covered all manner of topics, from hobbies to pets, farming and travel experiences.
And to see residents who are normally withdrawn, shy and apparently overly quiet, become talkative, smiling, happy and interactive while there, was truly a blessing.
The care givers and staff at the nursing home were so friendly and caring, it was reassuring to see the residents content and proudly show off their resources in the social area.
This is one part of lifestyle routine which I thoroughly enjoy engaging in and look forward to returning again soon to see them all again.
Conscious Creativity Project
Salvaging and recycling an old abandoned canvas into something new.
The cobalt blue was replaced with a navy and forest green.
Foliage tint highlighting layer blocked in.
Salvaging and recycling an old abandoned canvas into something new.
Studio canvas revamp.
Embarking on the journey of salvaging a discarded canvas painting is both an adventure and a chance for transformation.
First, I carefully examine the old artwork, noting its textures and colors, appreciating the story it tells. I then repair the canvas where needed, before lightly spraying it with water to bring the canvas back to tautness and making sure there was no debris to contaminate the paint.
With a fresh coat of primer, I prepare the canvas, creating a blank slate that honors its past while welcoming new possibilities.
Finally, with vibrant strokes and a incremental vision in mind, I paint it, breathing life into the canvas once more, turning what was forgotten and discarded, into something uniquely interesting.
Beechworth Honey Label Competition 2026
Simplicity and elegance with the humble honey bee!
The picture showcases a lively honey bee gently resting among a vivid collection of garden flowers.
Its detailed wings shimmer in the sunlight, highlighting the bee's crucial role in the ecosystem.
The surrounding blooms, radiating shades of pink, yellow, and purple, form a vibrant background that celebrates the beauty of pollination.
This captivating scene embodies the harmony of nature, making it an ideal entry for a honey label competition.
July 2026
Fellowship Guild Philanthropy
Mentorship reaching a milestone!
As part of the Fellowship Guild studio philanthropy program, the past year has been spent mentoring an emerging new author in her first published work.
Helping an elder reach her life long dream, the studio has been working with the Linker Network program in Mount Gambier, as a volunteer life experience mentor for this emerging South Australian author to turn her quality ideas into written concepts as children's stories with an innovative twist.
After much hard work, the drafting manuscripts are now complete and the next stage of final editing for desktop publishing design has begun.
Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival
Penola Coonawarra Arts Design Prize Submission Deadline.
This year, for the Penola Coonawarra Arts Design Prize, instead of one design like last year's submission, it was three that came to being.
There was room for a fourth in the committee's opportunity, but it didn't eventuate for the submission round from the studio.
Again, like last year, the submissions were for a fun challenge and a celebratory participation project by the studio to express support for its community.
June 2026
Wanderlust Retreat
Riverland Escape
This month it was Barmera's turn.
We must have radiated the 'blessing of ex-local' for all the welcoming omens and warm exciting experiences we had that helped us forget tech and screens for a few days.
We stayed in a cute lakeside cabin overlooking Lake Bonney. Stormy weather which was forecast, ended up giving way to a beautiful sunny weekend right from the very beginning!
A leisurely wander over to Renmark for a last minute visit to Mallee Estates for a wine taste at 10.30am ensured the discovery of a delicious Muscato and Muskat. We met the beautiful Eleni, and left with a swag of goodies for our home cellar.
Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival
2027 Poster Competition Submissions - The Brief
"The Festival embraces the visual and performing arts, music, literature, food and wine. The central focus is the arts and incorporates an eclectic mix of performances, exhibitions, and workshops run in conjunction with Coonawarra Vigneron’s showcasing their premier vintages and local cuisine.
The Penola and Coonawarra communities combine their resources to facilitate a weekend that attracts national, state and regional performers and artists.
Penola has a culturally rich atmosphere with historic buildings, parks, a variety of retail shops, cafes and restaurants, which adds to the diverse range of event venues for arts revellers to visit."
May 2026
Fellowship Guild Philanthropy
Volunteer Week Breakfast
2026 is the year for ac. care to celebrate 40 years of service to its community, and with it, several special events have been organised. This month a special breakfast to celebrate it's volunteers, was held at Nalou's Kitchen, Mount Gambier.
As part of the studio's Fellowship Guild philanthropic program, studio principal creative, Jody Arnold, attended in capacity of Linker Network volunteer, to have a conversation with volunteers about the Linker Project in terms of its innovative and invaluable contribution towards long terrm wellbeing of clients.
Creativity Resourcing
Oops! Who let me cook?
The latest creative sensation to arrive and go live, never has there been a better time to tempt your tastebuds with wholesome practical recipes that helps you escape all the chemicals and nasties of processed foods while giving your body the fuel it needs to heal, repair and grow.
Raise your vibration with clean healthy food and explore a range of options through experimentation or take it to the next level by including your friends in taste test challenges.