I’m a pretty serious person. I don’t believe my art conveys that, but it is absolutely the driving force beneath everything I invest my energy into.

I want my creations to spark meaningful conversations in unexpected places. A Desktop Party Pocket (pictured here) that kicks off an important chat at work, for example.

Or, our Volunteer made Med(icine) Snugglers donated and sold with personal messages of kindness.

People in the US are so split and extreme that we cannot even fathom understanding those with opposing views anymore. However, I still wholeheartedly believed that small drops can fill a bucket and bring people collectively toward a mutually beneficial end goal (that’s sometimes hard to see).

Art has always offered a myriad of ways to make uncomfortable topics more approachable… or at least more difficult to ignore.

Whether art pushes boundaries or merely implies an idea, there are ways to reach all people through many mediums.

A few days ago, after being very upset, my 11 year old daughter and I were listening to her new playlist on her MP3 player.

In that serene moment, after her emotional explosion (you know the kind), she looked up with wisdom beyond her years and calmly said, “Mom, there’s something about you. Like, you’re made of rainbows and sparkles.”

It wasn’t sarcasm (despite her age and sass). And I’m not putting a feather in my hat, as lots of caregivers hear these passionate and emotional statements from their kids.

It was the delivery and timing that made it so compelling.

I thought…”I’ve made it to my childhood dream! I’m Lisa Frank!”

Or, perhaps I’m a more grounded, “Grandma Frank” keeping my rainbows, unicorn and sparkles, but wrapping them around important social causes.

Whatever it is, I will use that interesting blend to scale up our partnerships this year in an effort to expand volunteer makers and thus art donations, as well as sales both online and wholesale to support it all.

I’m gonna need a lot of sparkles!

Janessa

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