We were lucky to catch up with Mishalene Wasmer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mishalene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Ever since I was a child, I have helped my mom deliver for Meals-On-Wheels and have watched her chair events to raise money for local non-profits. I was very involved with my children’s elementary schools fundraisers in California during our short stent there (7yrs), but felt moved to help children that were much less fortunate than my own. Through a school fundraiser, I learned about an organization in California called The 180, a non-profit for at-risk-youth. I started helping by gathering donations for their gala’s auction and soon became their event chair for the summer Rose Garden Gala fundraiser for a few years until we moved.
We moved to Ohio in May of 2020 and life looked different for our entire world. I missed being a part of the community, so I reached out to our local Senior Center in Medina County. They had a shopping program for seniors who needed people to shop for them. That’s where I met Joan, my 94yr old I have now shopped with for over 2 years. I was invited to tour the Office for Older Adults and was told they were looking for art instructors. I have never considered myself an “artist”, but after adjusting to an entirely new life during a shutdown, my creative side took over. I took private art classes learning alcohol inks and then resin work. From there, I tapped into my creativity to bring art classes to our local senior centers. Let me tell you, they love their gnomes! So much so that after two years of painting them, we hosted a Gnome Art Show competition inside the centers dining hall. It was a hit!
During this time, I was invited to join the Medina Co Senior & Adult Foundation. My heart went out to the seniors in our community. Their need for simple things, like meals to companionship was ever present and moved something inside me to do more to help. My annual “Giving In Style” Fashion Show was born in 2022 and we will be hosting our 3rd annual event on April 19th, 2024 at Blue Heron Event Center in Medina, OH! My event planning has now blossomed within our foundation and in a few weeks, we have local couples and teams hitting the dance floor for our next major fundraiser that I am chairing, Dancing with the Medina Stars on November 3rd! Our foundation inherited this annual event, so we are excited to update it and make it our own.
My own personal art journey has grown as well. Isabelle’s Ink was born in honor of my daughter where I have mastered the art of alcohol inks and resin pours on boards, specializing in the ocean wave technique. For 2 years, I have now participated in vendor fairs, makers markets and now sell my products in a few local boutiques. From this, I realized everyone deserves their time to shine and with my heart wanting to give back, this was the perfect opportunity for me to create The Marketplace at Heartland Community Church in Medina, welcoming local makers, bakers, artisans, food trucks and even live music! Our third event this year is November 11th, Veterans Day, giving back to Save22, a national non-profit supporting servicemen/women and veterans against suicide. In April I donated back $700+ to Habitat for Humanity and over $900 to Cups Cafe in Medina, serving anyone and everyone who is in need of a meal with the cafe transforming for Teens Only after 2PM on weekdays.
Mishalene, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
A native of New Orleans, LA…I have lived coast to coast and now reside in Medina, OH. Coming from a background of creatives, my mother painted when she was younger and my dad is magic in the kitchen. My first art was culinary, creating anything I could think of, especially for relatives with allergies, customizing everything so they would never miss out on the foods they loved! Isabelle’s Ink was developed when I started to explore more than my kitchen & event planning, my artistic side.
Our daughter, Isabelle Lois, went to heaven the night she was born on Aug 8, 2008. Wanting to honor her memory by doing something only God could have led me to, the proceeds made all go back to our community through involvement in the senior community and at-risk youth. This is all done for the love of my sweet Isabelle. So, if you buy one of my pieces or order something custom, know that it has been prayed over in memory of her.
Isabelle’s Ink can be found at Bella Moxie Company in Medina and at Danielly Designs in Berea where I also host various art workshops. I collaborate with Angela Nicholson from KNA designs for unique, locally sourced handmade charcuterie boards and projects for our art workshops! We offer Art Retreats and classes at my home including yoga around the pool, a gourmet coursed meal with wine, followed by an art class. We offer private workshops as well and will customize to your budget and workshop desires. This has developed into our brand “L’Atelier For You” which is french for workshop.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
We were all affected by covid & the horrible shutdown! Ours was compounded by moving across the country with an 8th and 3rd grader in May of 2020! Many of us turned to things we had to do alone, such as art and redecorating, etc, but what I have learned is I wouldn’t be where I am now without community. That started alone, taking one-on-one classes with Christal Kaple Art. She welcomed me with open arms and helped me realize something artistic was really deep down in me.
After sharing my art with friends and family, orders started rolling in! It was after my “library” turned into an art studio and my shelves were filling up with creations that in the summer of 2022, I started participating in makers markets with a friend who had started dabbling in wood working. Angela Nicholson with KNA Designs & I clicked! Our partnership, the relationships built around meeting other makers, and learning everything from how to set up a booth to how to take sales, was all done with a community. Lean into them, find groups of makers and creators. If they are loving on you and you love them back, your art will reflect that!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I love working on my art, trying new things, thinking outside the box. With my own growth outside of art, I have learned that I have to continue to create and make space for myself. If I don’t, my creativity shuts down and I’m exhausted by the thought of thinking up workshops and classes. That’s something I am always struggling with. Creativity vs. my desire to volunteer to knowing when to not take on anything else. It’s all about time management. Oh!, and balancing raising teens and supporting my husband and his demanding career. Make time for yourself, pivot back to your own personal joy, your creative side. If you don’t do that, it will get lost and pushed aside. As women, we put everyone else first, but to do all those things well, we have to hold onto self care. My art is my self care! When I do it just for the joy of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iiartisabellesink.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ii_art_isabelles_ink/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IIArtIsabellesInk