Team building

The process of hand blending and spinning yarn. Orange base with the chakra colours added.

Creating the Cozy Within

What comes to mind when you hear the word cozy? I envision lots of soft fabrics, candles, nice essential oil scents, a glass of good wine or mug of tea, a good book, some beautiful yarns and fabrics to work with. Don’t you feel more relaxed just reading this list? Many of us are pretty…

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Heart shaped grey rock leaning against a tree trunk. Green grass with some red, fall leaves.

Soften & get curious

When life is not unfolding exactly as you expect it to, instead of resisting mightily, getting angry and frustrated, can you soften into it? Can you use your curiosity to understand the wisdom and the hidden gifts of where you are at the moment? This fall I expected to be doing lots of hands on,…

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Client team building results, hand-hooked wallhanging, individual hooked pieces mounted on wooden blocks and a framed vision statement and description of the process

Two Years Later

Some days my business feels like a dream job. Things are flowing, I’m in my creative zone and my clients are happy. Today was one of those days. I received an email from a former client. She wanted to tell me how much our project from two years ago meant to her and her team….

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Author and facilitator Meryl Cook reads from her book, with two photos next to her of participants in her hands-on workshop

You want me to do what?

Challenges in transitioning post-pandemic As a business owner or corporate leader, what is going to be your biggest challenge in getting people back to the office post-pandemic? I heard today about an international corporation who sent out notices saying everyone would be back in the office by September 8. Period. No discussion. How do you…

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Client team building results, hand-hooked wallhanging, individual hooked pieces mounted on wooden blocks and a framed vision statement and description of the process

Reopening – Business as usual or something else?

In many parts of the world communities are gradually reopening as we emerge from the Covid pandemic. In reopening there is an easing of restrictions. Some people are going to restaurants, seeing friends and family they haven’t seen for some time. Maybe they are returning back to work at an office. There are mixed reactions…

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Woman's hands spinning red curly locks on a spinning wheel.

Distracted

– 3 tips for grounding yourself when feeling distracted and ‘off your game’ Are you feeling more distracted lately? With our latest lockdown I’ve been feeling like I’m going a mile a minute and nowhere at the same time. Sound familiar? A case in point – last week I sent out an extra newsletter. Apparently…

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3 tips for Heart Lightening

In my recent work with corporate clients and their teams, and in my own personal experience, my observation is our hearts are heavy. Regardless of where we are in the world we are feeling the impact of the ongoing pandemic. We all are needing to feel a little lighter. What can we do when our…

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Smiling woman wearing running gear, a black hoodie and a medal from the New Orleans Rock n Roll half marathon

Inner Warrior Princess

When is the last time you felt you really ‘rocked it’? I’ve discovered that connecting with my ‘Inner Warrior Princess’ can help me to define a feeling I want more of in my life and business. Thanks to Nicolette Eus (hypnotherapist and coach to many a successful entrepreneur) for the writing exercise that guided this…

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Screen shot of Meryl on Zoom with her hooked rugs in the background.

Building community & connection in a virtual world

Are you tired of Zoom, of trying to connect over Zoom coffees or drinks? Are your team members feeling disconnected from each other and from the work culture? What makes a community thrive and what helps groups and individuals to feel a sense of connection? During this pandemic I’ve observed many groups and types of…

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View of an ocean beach with a journal with writing in it in the foreground

A glimmer of hope … and a warning

Update 2021: We’ve now been in the pandemic almost two years. Vaccination rates are rising, restrictions in some areas are lifting, and there is the threat of the Delta variant worldwide. I was that university student who made it through the term and exams only to fall sick all through the holidays. Sound familiar? For…

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fall leaves with sunlight shining on them, red berries in background

Pause, listen, create

A recent LinkedIn post from my colleague and friend Mary Jane Copps (aka The Phone Lady) got me thinking. Her post was about allowing moments of silence in conversation and how this can deepen a relationship. She said “The relationship resides in the silence I allow within my conversations.” Mary Jane got me thinking about…

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Sketch of resilience, tree trunk and branches

Creativity builds well-being and resilience

We are in a period of prolonged stress and uncertainty due to COVID-19. In most parts of the world we are through the first wave of the virus. Some communities have begun to open up, and in some locations this opening up has led to a rise in the number of infections and a resulting…

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