Show & Tell at our 10th Birthday Party was a wonderful display of creativity!

Here’s a recap of everyone who shared. Thank y'all for coming!

Alison Tugwell, Writer, Coach & Founder of Punspoken

Alison Tugwell is a writer, marketing coach, and the founder & producer of Punspoken, a puns + spoken word poetry event series in Austin, TX. She is the author of the Amazon #1 Best Selling book, Word Awakening: Stop Writer’s Block and Start Creating Impact Now and a Marketing Expert with the ASK Method® Company. Her work has been featured by the Austin Chronicle, Austin Monthly, CBS Austin, Huff Post, Thrive Global + more.

Follow on Instagram: @alisonperrie
Sites: https://www.alisonptugwell.com/
http://punspoken.com  

Allison Lash, Multimedia Visual Artist

Allison Lash is a multi-media visual artist who earned her MFA from Rutgers University in NJ.  A former NYC public school art educator, Allison created Awesome Art! in Austin where she designs and facilitates hands-on workshops for schools and community based public projects.  Allison continues to explore materials and techniques and is currently obsessed with working in clay, a medium she returned to after a few years away.  By scraping away, digging into, and further manipulating the material, Allison experiments with making clay sculptural pieces that are locally fired in a soda or gas kiln in Austin.  

Follow on Instagram: @AwesomeArtAustin

April Sullivan, Mixed Media Artist

April Sullivan has lived in Austin for over 30 years and works as an arts administrator and visual artist. Her focus is mixed media, specifically using pages from recycled books to create what is called blackout poetry or found poetry. The poems are a way to express her inner thoughts and feelings that she may not even realize she is experiencing. They are fun and freeing. April then embellishes these found poems with collage, gouache, marker, and inks. The mixed media pieces are then mounted as wall hanging works of art.

Follow on Instagram: @ArtworkByAprilS

Cecily Sailer, Writer and Creative Coach

Cecily Sailer is a creative coach and founder of Typewriter Tarot, which offers guidance and inspiration for Creative Spirits. Cecily’s mission in life is to help people claim their creativity fully and create with more passion, freedom, and pleasure. 

Prior to launching Typewriter Tarot, Cecily earned an MFA in fiction from the University of Houston, and worked for 10 years running community-based literary arts programs for people of all ages. Her writing and reporting on books, Texas history, and social care have appeared in Dallas Morning News, Texas Monthly, Austin Fit Magazine, The Texas Observer, and Resolve Magazine.

Follow on Instagram: @typewritertarot
Site: https://www.typewritertarot.com
Bonus points, watch her  CreativeMornings talk from August 2022 on the theme of KISMET.

Cody Travis Maher, Filmmaker & Photographer

Hi there, my name is Cody Travis Maher, I am a 32 year old freelance filmmaker and travel photographer based in the US. I have been producing videos for over 15 years and can handle all aspects of filmmaking including planning, directing, photography, and editing. I have extensive experience in creating content for social media, internal communications and brand identity. I am also a skilled photographer with experience in portrait, landscape, architectural, and astrophotography. My portfolio includes filming events, corporate, interviews, branding, music, documentary, weddings, and much more. I consider myself highly versatile and can be challenged to imagine a solution to most any marketing goal.

Follow on Instagram: @codytmaher
Site: https://codytravis.com/

Elena Lopez, Fiber Artist

My name is Elena Lopez and I am a fiber artist! I work at a gender justice non profit, but in my free time (or anytime I have to wait for more than three minutes) I am crocheting. I’m an Oregonian at heart, where indoor activities are essential to cope with the endless rainy season and where I learned to sew and crochet as a child. Crocheting allows my creativity and love of colors and texture to shine! From wearables to home decor to abstract pieces, I can weave yarn into something beloved.

Follow on Instagram: @laleona555

Elina Nikol J, Storyteller & Poet

Elina Nikol J. is a storyteller and poet. Her stories center around female protagonists trying to figure out this life thing while her poetry explores her thoughts and observations on the world. When she’s not writing fiction or poetry, she’s writing nonfiction under her real name (Erin Nicole Johnson). She’s not one of those writers who likes to write in silence and is always open to learning about new artists. Originally from Louisiana, followed by a ten-year stay in Florida, she currently resides in Del Valle, TX.

Follow on Instagram: @elinanikolj.writes
Site: https://elinanikolj.com/
Medium: @elinanikolj

Lucero Archuleta Valle, Photographer

In the sun-drenched landscapes of Northern Mexico, my journey began, fueled by an early passion for photography and business. Today, I call Austin, Texas, home, where I’ve harnessed that passion to establish a thriving photography business and a certified women and minority-owned creative studio. Picture my studio as a hub of resourcefulness, where passion and collaboration collide. It’s not just about my talents; it’s about fusing them with my clients’ expertise. Whether they’re aiming for business growth, increased sales, or to stand out in the crowd, together, we craft a visual masterpiece that unveils their brilliance.

Follow on Instagram: @lucero.studio
Site: https://www.lucerocreativebusiness.com/

Natalie Chapman, Artist, Photographer & Designer

Raised in Austin, Texas, my artistic journey began with ceramics and blossomed into mixed media and photography. My background in automotive repair led to my current role as an engineer tech in Applied Materials’ robot department. Beyond my job, I’m studying visual communication to blend design skills with my artistic pursuits. Ultimately, my ambition is to return to the automotive industry, but this time with a keen design focus, aspiring to create a positive impact in the future.

Follow on Instagram: @chapmanwerks
Site: https://nataliechapman.myportfolio.com/    

Rosanna Turner, Writer, Comedian & Storyteller

Rosanna Turner is a writer, comedian and storyteller. She performs standup regularly at local comedy spots around Austin. Her debut novel, a romantic comedy titled Romance vs. Reality, is set to be published early next year.

Follow on Instagram: @intellectualdonuts
Site: https://rosannaturner.com/

Upasna Kakroo, Brand Storyteller & Children’s Book Writer

Upasna has been a brand storyteller for over 20 years and currently leads a nonprofit, Peerbagh in Austin, Texas where she leads creative confidence and storytelling workshops for kids and adults. She is the winner of Writing Barn’s fellowship and also received the Elevate Grant from the City of Austin in 2023. Her first book of nonfiction (City Wi-Fi networks, Lap Publications) was published in 2012, and her first children’s book (Lil’ Danny Runs a Race) was published in 2018. In 2021, she wrote a children’s book, Shaliya Discovers Coronavirus Frumpfchi which was translated into 17 languages. She lives in Austin with her husband and toddler. 

Follow on Instagram: @peerbagh.stories
Site: https://peerbagh.com