creating the idea

After the birth of my first child I was determined to maintain my sense of purpose and identity as a creative woman and painter. The renewal I felt after spending time in my studio and giving birth to my internal voice was always reflected in my daily life. I was in a good place, yet something was still sadly missing and this was at the heart of my frustration. I felt a deep disconnection with my fellow peers who were mothers and at the same time my peers who were not mothers didn't share my new sense of priorities. It was as though I was a foreigner in a familiar country, yet I wasn't ready to give up my citizenship to my old world, but something inside of me had outgrown what was formerly familiar. I yearned for friendships that would share my values and choices as a creative woman, where our passions and sense of well-being were as significant as our children's.

The original idea behind sister i was sparked by a play-date with a group of women and our kids. We met at an art museum as a way to stay in touch with our creative side while introducing our children to the magic of art. In the midst of changing diapers and breast feeding we actually managed to have an intelligent discussion on life, creativity and life passions. I would later find myself reflecting on that "play-date" and it's impact on my vision for my life. Wow, these were women who had uniquely different creative backgrounds and passions, but shared the need and want to discover and grow their creative pursuits. I need more of this! Six months later I founded the first mother i® circle (which continues today!) and the original structure and format for the seasons.

That was 1998 and today sister i is a spirited community of women reaching all corners of the world. While the original focus was on mother's with creative goals, I soon understood that a woman's creative journey needs to be supported and encouraged at all stages of her life — whether she's a mother or not. The sister i community is my attempt to help women at all stages of their life realize their creative potential in a way that enriches their daily lives.

sister i would not exist if not for the many talented people who have contributed their time and creativity. I am forever grateful for the feedback and patient ears of the five other women in my circle — their support and encouragemnt is deeply reflected in these pages. My husband and best friend, Stefan Hartung, is reponsible for the design and layout of the website and logo — his love and support is expressed throughout the beauty of these pages! And finally, all the women who contribute in one way or another to this growing sisterhood of women keep me inspired and commited.

The real issue is not whether we are achieving our artistic goals, but whether we are nurturing that vital part of our existence — our creative spirit. When we are creatively empowered we understand and feel a sense of magic. We sparkle.

Kei

Kei (Colleen) Gratton is the founder, president and creative content director of sister i.)