guest interview: Andrea Chebeleu

​​​This series of guest interviews is part of the Practicing Together project - a 6 month exploration of the 5 Practices framework that I use in my Seeds of Connection groups.  Each guest was invited to choose 5 questions from a list of over 60 questions that were based on the different practices.  The questions are being posted over the next many months on my Instagram feed - follow along and answer them for yourself, and see how others in the community are reflecting on these topics.  A new guest interview will be posted to this blog every Friday from June through November 2022.  Read more about the Practicing Together project and join us for the monthly Community Calls for deeper exploration!

It's easy to have a love/hate relationship with social media, but this week's interview is a great example of something I love about online spaces  - I get to connect with some of the coolest people!! Andrea and I bonded over our love of coffee after I posted a pic of my fancy espresso machine. She is just an all around lovely human, as far as I can tell (she is definitely not giving off any axe murderer or timeshare salesperson vibes!). She is a creative person, an entrepreneur, and someone I hope to meet someday in real life....hopefully over a cup of great coffee!  Check out these questions and answers and get to know Andrea Chebeleu!

Leave a comment here on the blog and share your answers to these questions! Or come find them being posted over on Instagram and join the conversation there.

​What are some of your favorite ways to fill your cup, recharge your batteries, or take care of yourself? 
I love to curl up in the corner of my couch and cuddle with my kitty (Beatrix Potter) as I scroll through TikTok (which feeds me lots of ADHD, Art, Entrepreneur and Cat videos) just as much as I love getting myself out side, preferably in the presence of big trees and bonus if the ocean is nearby.  Most often the couch wins but I aspire to increase the amount of time nature wins.

How does curiosity show up in your life?
As an artist curiosity shows up when reaching for old forgotten supplies as I combine them with current work.  My favorite internal prompt is “what happens when…”

When/how do you find time to play? 
I feel like I play daily but it is sort of tied up with work so the boundaries are not clear.  I like to get away with a creative girlfriend in a local hotel lobby cafe and pretend we are staying there as we art the afternoon away and nibble on fries.

If you are familiar with the framework and resonate with the concept of “love languages”, how do you most like to give and receive love?
Words of affirmation fill me up while my partner is an acts of service guy so by doing things I know he will appreciate I tend to get my affirmation and it is a beautiful thing.

Is it easy or difficult for you to ask for help?
It is difficult for emotional things but not for tasky/project things. 

Has it always been like this for you?
Yes, always.

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BIO

Andrea Chebeleu, owner and artist behind A Work of Heart Studio in San Jose California, started in 1998, loves her daily creative practice and sharing knowledge of materials and process with others. She finds great joy in breaking down seemingly complicated processes into simple steps and has adopted a guiding principle of "First, Not Only" attitude which she passes on to every student.  The attitude of "first, not only" gives us permission to playfully explore without fear.  Pre-covid times Andrea taught in her studio in San Jose and ran the adjacent art supply shop full time.  The shop is still open but many classes are currently happening via zoom which makes taking awesome classes even more accessible to students worldwide.  Andrea is a mom to 3 grown children and a wife to an engineer husband who loves to indulge her in the latest tech gadgets the latest being a laser cutter and 3-d printer on which they design one of a kind custom products to include in class kits.  When not focusing on art and the business Andrea enjoys fostering kittens for her local county and takes pride in placing each and every furry baby in loving homes.  Check out Andrea's website: www.aworkofheart.com or find her on Instagram: @aworkofheartstudio

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