Live Art: The Atelier Collective Jilly Brunch 2019
A recap of my afternoon of rose, wonderful women and live calligraphy with Jillian Harris at The Atelier Collective Jilly Brunch in Toronto.
The first time I hosted a calligraphy workshop, I felt it: I love to teach. But the more markets I hosted and events I got to perform live art at, I realized it was more than just teaching that I loved. It was getting to connect in-person. Share what I’m passionate about. Learn about everyone else’s experiences. Get feedback on my work and form partnerships and relationships.
So when I was planning my first events of 2019, I immediately thought of The Atelier Collective - a new and breakthrough women’s conference that started in Niagara on the Lake in 2018 and has successfully sold out every year since.
Crafting the idea
Within a few moments on my first conference call with founders Ang & Taryn, we just clicked. It was incredible. And the ideas started flowing.
They told me about the private brunch they were planning with special guest, Jillian Harris, the day after the conference and how it would be an intimate setting with 150 women. They were eager to work together and gave me full creative freedom to come up with a new live art plan for this event!
The Creative Process
Since I’m already a huge fan of Jillian Harris and Team Jilly, it was such a fun challenge to come up with an idea that suited this exclusive brunch.
Florals, pastels, whimsy, romantic, refined - those are the words that instantly come to mind and what ultimately led to the final loose watercolour florals I painted for the Jilly Brunch.
I also hand-lettered three inspirational saying that guests could choose from and get personalized on the event day:
Dream
Plan
Do
Make your own magic
She believed she could so she did
Personalizing live at the event
Going into Ricarda’s Toronto, I was most excited about three things: meeting Taryn & Ang, live lettering, meeting Jillian Harris and her team! And all were such incredible experiences. A true *pinch me* day!!
I spent nearly four hours personalizing prints and writing custom quotes for all the women at the brunch. It was a flurry of pretty pink rose glasses, gorgeous decor, delicious foods and incredible conversations. And to my delight, my floral print design and jumpsuit matched the event design perfectly! 😂
Among fabulous company
I was absolutely away by the connections I made at the brunch. I met the owners of Smash x Tess rompers, event planner extraordinaire Melissa Andre, incredible industry photographers, fashion designers, lifestyle influencers, PR professionals and was surrounded by SO. MANY. WOMEN making things happen. Taking risks. Pushing boundaries. Empowering and inspiring each other to be our best selves (like The Birds Papaya - go follow her if you don’t already!)
And my vendor neighbours, Elate Cosmetics, shared such incredible advice and inspiration about starting her small business and growing it to where’s it is today in Victoria, BC.
I was quite literally in awe to be among such fabulous company and kept nudging my sister to say “is this real life?!”
Hearing real and honest positive feedback about my artwork from people I respect so much was seriously amazing.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” - Wayne Gretzky
To end a perfect day, Taryn & Ang shared that they and their guests were singing my praises and gave my sister and I bottles of Two Sisters Vineyards’ rose (our favourite!).
After having just finished another amazing live event with The Fairmont Hotels in Jasper, that really solidified it for me: live art is 100% my passion and purpose.
I left walking on cloud 9. And I haven’t come down since ☁️
