Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
"Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards your dreams. Walk your talk. Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering.”
– Steve Mariboli
Welcome and thank you for finding your way to this JOURNAL. I’m Alison (that sound’s so formal)…many people simply know me as Ali. I have been creating and making…my entire life.
I’m now, in what I refer to, as ‘the old age of my youth.’ A lifetime ago, I entered art school in the United Kingdom (with little in the way of drawing skills, but lots of ideas and enthusiasm), and gained my qualifications in Fashion Design & Illustration. This is where I actually worked with Swarovski Crystal for the first time and started to explore the world of jewellery design. I spent time in France, Germany and Austria during these years, then due to a depressed economy and with little prospect of work, moved to Sweden after I graduated.
I eventually returned to the United Kingdom, landing in the beautiful city of Edinburgh where I had the amazing opportunity to be immersed in the world of a successful fashion house…an experience that I will be forever grateful for. It was at this time I discovered that to be true to myself, this was not the world that resonated with my soul.
Fast forward a few decades and to make a very long story significantly shorter, I now make my life ‘north of the city’. Which city, I hear you ask…Toronto! Today, I’m the shop manager at That Bead Lady, a published designer and instructor that leaves little heaps of creativeness all over the place (some might just call me easily distracted). As a former Swarovski Ambassador, I’m thrilled to have been invited to join an elite collective of global professionals as a Swarovski Authorized Instructor for Swarovski Create Your Style.
Nairn, Scotland
You will come across Stonescapes Studio too. It has always been around, albeit in my head until a few years ago. It is my creative space on Instagram and will continue. It is a place that somehow keeps me grounded and connected to my beloved Scotland. It was named for the beach stones I spend hours among when I’m home by the sea in Nairn.
This adventure is very much in its infancy…it is a massive learning curve for me, but my confidence and ability will grow over time with the incredible support I’m surrounded by. I will nurture it and help it develop into whatever it is supposed to be. We cannot wait for what others believe to be the perfect time because honestly; there isn’t one! We have to dare to jump when the time is perfect for us. I envision this space as an opportunity to share experiences on my creative path…I hope to encourage and nurture creative aspirations in our everyday lives. I will share jewellery, photography, quotes, artists, music, colour…the garden gate is wide open! In the meantime, if you would like to reach out to me, please do so via my CONTACT page.
I’m excited to start this JOURNAL with no expectation of how often I’ll post or a definitive plan as to what I’ll post about. I’m beyond grateful to my amazing firstborn, who has created this place for me to curate my passions…Josh Layton at www.weareloop.ca you are a selfless, creative soul with infinite patience and professionalism and in case you didn’t know it…you totally ROCK!
‘The Avenue’ that leads down to the sea one way or into the village, the other.
Phew, well you made it all of the way through...thank you for taking the time to read this very first entry.
Let our journey begin.
Live, Love & Create!
Ali x