Sunshine in a Jar

Arts and Creativity

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  • Home
  • About
    • Books
      • Book Events
      • Earth Day: Call for Submissions 2021
      • From the Cottage Porch: An Anthology
      • The Writing Spiral
      • Sunshine in a Jar Press
      • Other Publications
    • Reiki
    • Schools
  • Arts
    • Morning Letters
    • Paintings
    • Photography
    • Stage
      • Playwright
        • Hunt Week
        • Once Upon a Rocking Chair
      • Theatre and Music
  • Blog
  • Creativity Coaching
    • Creativity Workshop
      • Eight Learning Spirals for Writing and Life
        • Creativity & Process Spiral
        • Honesty & Courage Spiral
        • Solitude & Self-Awareness Spiral
        • Community & Connection Spiral
        • Ambition & Audience Spiral
        • Perseverance & Diligence Spiral
        • Curiosity & Adventure Spiral
        • Love & Energy Spiral
  • Home & Family
    • Family History Stories
    • Georgian Bay Roots
    • Memoirs
    • Northumberland
  • Poet Laureate
    • Poetry Present
      • Archive of Poets
      • Submit a Poem
    • Poetry Invites
    • Poetry for Occasions
    • Poet Laureate Gallery
  • Poet Laureate of Cobourg

    Maple Tree Community

    July 1, 2019 /

    Happy Canada Day, Cobourg! It was an honour to share a new poem today at Cobourg’s Canada Day Festivities.

    Today I want to celebrate kindness, compassion, and generosity; to celebrate Canadian communities from coast to coast like this one that are filled with inspiring people like you; to celebrate you for coming together today; and, to celebrate the beauty and significance of the stunning natural landscape we all share.

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    You May Also Like

    Being Poetica

    June 24, 2019

    Poetry Walk Gallery

    June 20, 2020

    Poem for the 60th Anniversary of the Art Gallery of Northumberland

    October 27, 2020
  • Poet Laureate of Cobourg

    Being Poetica

    June 24, 2019 /

    To celebrate the occasion of becoming Cobourg’s 4th Poet Laureate I wrote a new poem on the weekend. For the last few days I kept seeing a vision of a sketch I made over 25 years ago. It was the word ‘Poetica’ in big colourful bubble letters. It had wings, a vision of living a fully creative life, the arts as a way of being in the world and in the self. 

    Read More

    You May Also Like

    Take Back the Night: And Still She Shines

    September 20, 2019

    Maple Tree Community

    July 1, 2019

    Inspired by Cobourg: Will You Join Us?

    October 13, 2019
  • Once Upon a Rocking Chair

    What I Loved Most About The Process of Staging My Play

    August 15, 2017 /

    What a whirlwind! I still wonder how it all went by so quickly. Directing “Once Upon a Rocking Chair” for Northumberland Players this year was definitely a lifetime highlight for me. We had a wonderful review in the local paper and 10/11 performances were SOLD OUT. When I started the process a year ago my wishes for the show were to have fun, to make a story people remembered, and to connect to people.

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    You May Also Like

    Two World Premieres

    September 3, 2007

    Once Upon a Rocking Chair Debuts in Northumberland

    May 26, 2016

    All About the 2017 Production of “Once Upon a Rocking Chair” in Cobourg

    April 29, 2017
  • Once Upon a Rocking Chair

    Once Upon a Rocking Chair Debuts in Northumberland

    May 26, 2016 /

    I’m thrilled that Northumberland Players has added my play to their upcoming season. Once Upon a Rocking Chair has been staged once before, having a successful run with StoneCircle Theatre in Pickering Village in 2008. Since then my writing has improved, my life experience has expanded so I am taking this opportunity to update the script, strengthen the play and present an updated, refreshed version of the story that goes deeper into the play’s themes. I’m excited to share this story and these characters with my community.

    Read More

    You May Also Like

    What I Loved Most About The Process of Staging My Play

    August 15, 2017

    Once Upon a Rocking Chair: A Playwright’s Journey

    February 8, 2017

    All About the 2017 Production of “Once Upon a Rocking Chair” in Cobourg

    April 29, 2017
  • Northumberland

    Life is Just Better in the Hills of Northumberland

    July 13, 2015 /

    Best Decision

    July 2015 marks my fifth summer of living in Cobourg and working in Colborne and Brighton.  My city friends often ask about what life is like outside of the GTA. The landscape is different. The culture is different. The days unfold with a lot less noise and a lot more beauty. Life in the city has its benefits too–but living in a place where the natural world is so much a part of the human world grounds me in a way that the city can’t.

    Read More

    You May Also Like

    Pop-Up Exhibition of Art in Your Garden

    July 8, 2019

    Sunshine on Port Hope Beach in Winter

    February 17, 2020

    May in Northumberland

    May 11, 2019
  • Book Events

    Cobourg Waterfront Festival July 2015

    July 6, 2015 /

    Another amazing four days at the Cobourg Waterfront Festival in the Rotary Arts & Crafts tents! My aunt Pat Skene and I joined forces selling our books to readers of all ages. Our booth had a stunning view of the Cobourg Harbour and the midway on the Pier. We met many talented artists and artisans. We saw many generous friends and family who bought our new books or stopped by for a visit.

    Read More

    You May Also Like

    The Porch Was Rockin’ on May 7

    May 7, 2011

    Hill Spirits Launches October 11, 2012

    September 18, 2012

    Listen to Jessica’s Story “Family Picnic Magic” on Life Rattle Radio Sunday at 9:00

    May 27, 2011

Hello! I’m Jessica. This is my personal blog with a range of posts from stories about my ancestors to thoughts on life to ideas about creativity and community.

I help people find creative abundance by teaching how we can learn from everything around us, especially nature.

I hope that by visiting you will find something that’s helpful. I’m so glad you’re here.

Do you want to receive email updates from Jessica?

My Poetry

  • The River Under the Road
  • This Elephant Teaches Peace
  • Hometown Hockey
  • And Still She Shines
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Create with Me

  • Order the Book: The Writing Spiral
  • Creativity Coaching Canada
  • Creativity Spiral Workshop

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