Author: awsstudiosart

I am a mental health educator, writer, artist, wife, mom, Nana and bike rider!

Fun Bundle for Anxious Kids

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Help for Parents

Finally, help for parents of anxious kids!  The “Fight BIG Fears” picture book and plush Bundle is now available.

Parents of anxious kids, this is for you. Step away from your frustrations and, with your child, enter the world of Phoebe and her phearnik!® Both of you will not only be charmed but changed by the shy and anxious Phoebe.

Help for Anxious Kids

In the picture book, “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears,” written and illustrated by Alis Wintle Sefick, young Phoebe freezes when faced with new experiences. But just like other nervous kids, she hates being left out of the fun she sees other kids having.

To not suffer this indignation any longer, Phoebe creates a phearnik!, a clever way to combat her fears. Now with her new “courage buddy,” she’s able to have fun and play with the other kids.

A picture of the "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" a picture book that helps kids reduce their fear and anxiety.

Kids’ Mental Health Issues Rising

Since the pandemic, kids’ mental health issues continue to rise. Hamstrung by their fears, many suffer anxiety like being afraid of swimming, going to a new school, or getting a shot at the doctors.

Furthermore, they often lack the skills needed to build their social and emotional health. Parents of these children face frustration and need tools and strategies to support them.

Toy as Tool for Anxious Kids

A picture of a little girl holding her phearnik! Courage Buddy. The plush helps her overcome her fears so she can join in and have fun.

Based on the validation of child psychologists, therapists, and counselors, parents and teachers working with anxious kids can rely on the “Fight BIG Fears” Bundle.

Evidence shows plush toys used as mindfulness prompts work to change behavior. The phearnik!® plush acts as a prompt to remind kids to keep their fears small and not let them get big where they freeze, unable to join in and play.

From Anxious to Calm and Courageous

With the soft and adorable phearnik!® plush always by her side, Phoebe’s story reminds kids that they can keep their fears small and manageable. Like Phoebe, children learn to practice the emotional skill of slow breathing to calm themselves. They also learn how a little fear keeps them safe enough to try new things.

Emotional Wellness Through Play

Compared to other plush on the market, phearnik!® checks all the mental, emotional, and social health play pattern boxes. These include learning how to overcome obstacles and

A picture of the phearnik! Courage Buddy bespoke plush. It is a lavender colored doll with wild hair, big eyes and a crooked smile. It is a tool for parents of anxious kids to help them find calm and courage. It is sold with the book, "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" in the "Fight BIG Fears" book and plush Bundle.

the ability to tell stories and deal with challenges. The plush also bridges play between kids and adults, another important play pattern for social and emotional wellness.

The “Fight BIG Fears” Bundle

Designed to offer both an engaging story and a comforting companion, the “Fight BIG Fears” Bundle comes complete with a paperback of the book and a soft and cuddly phearnik!® plush.

The book, printed by Lulu Publishing on sturdy 80lb paper, provides the perfect backdrop for Wintle Sefick’s vibrant and engaging recycled paper collage illustrations.

Lovingly made by the “Friends of phearnik!® Crafters” in the author/illustrator’s studio, the plush, constructed from all new materials of 100% polyester fabrics and yarns, is safe for children aged 4 years and older.

A picture of the "Friends of phearnik! Crafters" working on creating the bespoke phearnik! Courage Buddy plush in the aws Studios Annex.
A picture of the "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" a picture book that helps kids reduce their fear and anxiety.
A picture of the phearnik! Courage Buddy bespoke plush. It is a lavender colored doll with wild hair, big eyes and a crooked smile. It is a tool for parents of anxious kids to help them find calm and courage. It is sold with the book, "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" in the "Fight BIG Fears" book and plush Bundle.

A Great Gift

The  “Fight BIG Fears” Bundle arrives in a neat white box with exciting and vibrant colors inside containing the engaging book and sweet little plush.

This Bundle provides everything you need to enjoy the inspiring story of a child who overcomes their fears.

It’s encouragement everyone can appreciate!

Get your “Fight BIG Fears” bundle here!

How to Manage Fear as an Adult: A Simple 5-Step Tool

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

A Tool for Overthinking, Avoidance, and the Freeze Response

Fear doesn’t disappear when we grow up.

It just becomes more socially acceptable to hide.

Instead of saying “I’m scared,” adults say:

  • “I’ll do it later.”
  • “Now’s not a good time.”
  • “I’m just tired.”
  • “I need to think about it.”
Illustration by aws Studios showing a skinny woman with wild hair sitting in a short red dress looking very scared about something. Illustrating How to Manage Fear.
From the aws Studios Birthday Card

But underneath those phrases is often the same nervous system response children experience — activation, overwhelm, and sometimes a freeze response.

You’re Not Alone

If you’ve ever searched for:

  • how to manage fear as an adult
  • why do I freeze under pressure
  • tools for adult anxiety
  • how to stop avoiding things

You’re not alone.

Fear lives in the body before it lives in our thoughts. When it becomes intense, the brain shifts into protection mode. That’s biology — not weakness.

How phearnik!® the Courage Buddy™ Works

I originally created phearnik!® to help me externalize and manage my fears of running a business. Then my granddaughter wanted one and after that, I wanted to make it available to any kid like my granddaughter and any adult like me that could use a tangible coping tool too.

To help parents better understand how to use phearnik!® the Courage Buddy™ with their kids, I created this free guide. Now, there’s a guide for adults – How to Use phearnik!®: 5 Easy Steps to Manage Fear For Adults.

A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small mental health plush with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary. The plush helped me overcome blank canvas syndrome or overcoming writer's block and is a tool for How to Manage Fear.
phearnik!® the Courage Buddy™

Based on the Science of Fear and Anxiety

Here’s the science-informed framework behind it.

Understanding the Freeze Response in Adults

Most people know about fight or flight. Fewer talk about freeze.

The freeze response happens when the nervous system perceives threat but doesn’t see a clear escape route. Instead of running or confronting, the system shuts down.

In adults, this can look like:

  • Procrastination
  • Avoiding difficult conversations
  • Cancelling plans
  • Staying silent in meetings
  • Overthinking without acting
  • Scrolling instead of starting

This isn’t laziness. It’s nervous system protection.

An aws Studios cartoon illustration of a fretful onion. Used as a picture when I'm talking about How to Manage Fear.
aws Studios Greeting Card illustration

When we understand that, shame decreases — and that alone can reduce anxiety intensity.

5 Easy Steps to Fear Less with phearnik!®

The five steps in the guide are designed to gently interrupt that freeze pattern.

1. Take the Plush With You (Externalizing Anxiety)

One evidence-informed anxiety tool is called externalization — separating yourself from the emotion.

Instead of:
“I am anxious.”

It becomes:
“My anxiety is here.”

Holding a tangible object gives fear a boundary. It shifts the brain from fusion (“This is me”) to observation (“This is something I’m experiencing”).

That subtle shift increases cognitive flexibility and emotional regulation.

Externalizing emotions is a strategy used in therapy because it reduces intensity and increases choice.

2. Know That a Little Fear Is Healthy

A small amount of fear activates alertness and focus. It prepares the body for action.

This is called sympathetic nervous system activation — the body’s readiness system.

The goal isn’t to eliminate fear entirely. That would eliminate growth.

The goal is to keep fear within a tolerable range — not so high that it overwhelms your system.

3. Recognize When Fear Is Too Big

When fear exceeds your window of tolerance (the zone where you can think clearly), you may freeze.

You might notice:

  • Mental fog
  • Sudden fatigue
  • Avoidance
  • Decision paralysis

Recognizing this state is powerful. Awareness is the first step in nervous system regulation.

A black and white pen and ink drawing of a young girl looking fearful, nervous or scared. The picture is used sometimes to show a writer's need for overcoming writer's block and How to Manage Fear.

4. Use Breath to Regulate Your Nervous System

One of the most researched nervous system regulation techniques is slow breathing — particularly extending the exhale.

A slow inhale followed by a longer exhale stimulates the vagus nerve, which helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the body’s calming system.

In simple terms:
Slow breathing tells your brain you are safe enough.

The plush acts as a grounding cue — a reminder to pause and breathe before fear escalates.

Grounding tools for anxiety don’t need to be complicated. They need to be repeatable.

5. Keep Your Fear Small

When fear feels enormous, the brain narrows options.

When fear is manageable, cognitive flexibility returns.

Ask:
“What is one small brave step?”

Tiny actions reduce avoidance over time through gradual exposure. The brain learns through experience:
“I survived that.”

Confidence builds through repetition, not force.

Why Adults Need Tools for Fear and Overwhelm

Many adults experience:

  • Chronic overthinking
  • Social apprehension
  • Performance anxiety
  • Avoidance patterns
  • Persistent low-level dread
  • Emotional overload
A picture of the "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" a picture book that helps kids and adults reduce their fear and anxiety and How to Manage Fear.
Both kids and adults like this picture book about how to fear less!

But we rarely give ourselves permission to use tangible coping tools.

Emotional regulation is not childish.
It is neurological.

Externalizing fear, breathing intentionally, and taking small steps are evidence-informed strategies rooted in how the brain and body respond to stress.

Download the Free Guide: 5 Easy Steps to Manage Fear

Download the Free Guide: 5 Easy Steps to Manage Fear

If you’ve been:

  • Overwhelmed
  • Avoiding something important
  • Feeling stuck
  • Caught in self-doubt
  • Frozen before taking action

This free guide offers a simple, practical tool grounded in nervous system awareness.

Download How to Use phearnik!®: 5 Easy Steps to Manage Fear (For Adults).

Fear may always visit.

But it doesn’t have to run the room.

Production Party for phearnik!®, a Mental Health Plush

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Entering a New Phase of phearnik!®

If you’ve been following along on this journey, you know that phearnik!®, a mental health plush, hasn’t just appeared overnight. This little Courage Buddy™ has grown through intentional, thoughtful phases — each one stretching me as a creator and as a business owner.

In my earlier post about theCourage Buddy™  Plush and Its 4 Phases, I shared how phearnik!® has evolved:

  • The Idea Phase – when the concept of a fear-fighting companion was just a spark.
  • The Prototype Phase – when sketches turned into something tangible I could hold.
  • The Professional Sampling Phase – when I began working with a manufacturer to explore quantity production.
  • The Production Phase – the stage where phearnik!® becomes available to many more kids and adults.
A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small mental health plush with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary. The plush helped me overcome blank canvas syndrome or overcoming writer's block.
phearnik! the Courage Buddy, a mental health plush

Well… we are stepping into a version of Phase 4.

But maybe not the way I originally imagined.

Why I’m Self-Producing (For Now)

After working closely with a manufacturer through a number of revisions, the mental health plush was finally ready for an initial order.

Then reality hit.

The cost of producing even a modest run through the manufacturer was exorbitant for this stage of my business. As much as I believe in this plush — and I do — I also need to steward my resources wisely.

So instead of shelving the dream or overextending financially, I decided to…

 Self-produce a small batch of the mental health plush — with help.

This allows me to:

  • Create inventory at a manageable cost
  • Begin bundling the plush with Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fearspicture book
  • Offer the bundle in my Etsy shop
  • Continue building data and momentum before committing to large-scale manufacturing

This is not a step backward.
It’s a strategic step forward.

Introducing… The Production Party 🎉

Instead of doing this alone, I am throwing a Production Party!

In the aws Studios “Annex,” I’m setting up a mini plush workshop in our garage. Friends have offered to join me in manning the following  workstations:

  • ✂️ Pattern Cutting Station – prepping all the plush body pieces
  • 🧵 Sewing Station – assembling phearnik!®’s body
  • ☁️ Stuffing Station – bringing shape and squish to life
  • 🎀 Hair-Making Station – creating phearnik!®’s signature colorful yarn hair
A aws Studios digital art of a sewing machine.

There’s something beautifully full-circle about this stage.

phearnik!® is a Courage Buddy™ — a plush designed to help children (and grown-ups) face big fears. And here we are, stepping into our own brave moment: choosing creativity over fear, community over overwhelm, action over perfection.

One Important Step: Safety Testing

Even though this is a small, self-produced batch, I am committed to doing this responsibly.

One of the newly produced plush will be sent off for professional safety testing. That piece of the process is non-negotiable. If this Courage Buddy™  is going into the hands of children, it must meet appropriate standards.

Quality. Safety. Integrity. I’m in.

Why This Matters

This Production Party isn’t just about making plush.

It’s about:

  • Believing in a vision when the numbers feel intimidating
  • Taking creative ownership of the process
  • Letting community be part of the dream
  • Moving forward instead of waiting for “perfect timing”
A picture of a little girl holding her phearnik! Courage Buddy. The plush helps her overcome her fears so she can join in and have fun.

And perhaps most importantly, it models exactly what phearnik!® stands for:

When fear feels big, we take the next brave step anyway.

Onward and Upward

If you’ve supported this journey — by reading, sharing, purchasing the book, or cheering me on — thank you. This phase is possible because of you.

I cannot wait to see these self-produced Courage Buddies bundled up with the book and heading into homes where they will help someone feel a little braver.

Onward to Phase 4 — community edition. 💜

Failure Is Practice: What Artists Understand About Mental Health

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Building Mental Health Through Perseverance

While reading Real Artists Don’t Starve, by Jeff Goins, I saw a connection between the work of artists and the work of building mental health through perseverance. Says Goins,

“In every failure and disappointment, there is an opportunity to give in to frustration or see such shortcomings as practice. These failures teach us; they are our ‘training camps.’”

He’s speaking to artists.

Moreover, he could just as easily be speaking to anyone learning how to manage fear, regulate emotions, or build mental resilience.

In addition, the truth is this:

Developing mental health skills is not clean.
It is not linear.
And it is rarely comfortable.

It looks much more like rehearsal than arrival.

A picture of a man with a fear of the blank canvas. He is sitting in front of a canvas on an easel scratching his head like he doesn't know what he's going to paint. The picture resembles a Norman Rockwell painting of himself in front of his canvas scratching his head. The picture helps illustrate a need to overcome blank canvas syndrome and Building Mental Health Through Perseverance.
Collage illustration from “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears“

Failure Is Part of Learning Emotional Regulation

When we talk about building resilience or managing anxiety, we often imagine progress as steady improvement.

But neuroscience tells us something different.

The brain learns through repetition — especially repetition after mistakes.

When you:

  • Lose your temper
  • Avoid something important
  • Freeze in a difficult moment
  • Spiral into self-doubt

You are not disqualified from growth.

You are in training.

Every emotional setback is information. It shows you:

  • Where your nervous system activates
  • What triggers overwhelm
  • How your body responds to perceived threat

This is data. Not defeat.

Goins calls these moments “training camps.” In mental health terms, they are exposure, feedback, and refinement.

Building Mental Health Through Perseverance

Goins writes:

“It’s a commitment to persevere, believing one setback will not defeat you.”

From the picture book, "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears." Phoebe's afraid of the dark and takes her phearnik! with her. They finally fall asleep. the picture helps explain Building Mental Health Through Perseverance.

This mirrors what psychologists call resilience — the ability to recover after stress or adversity.

Resilience is not the absence of struggle.
It is the decision to continue practicing after struggle.

When learning how to:

  • Manage fear
  • Reduce avoidance
  • Calm the nervous system
  • Take brave steps despite anxiety

You will have days that feel like regression.

That doesn’t mean you are failing.

It means you are strengthening neural pathways through repetition.

The brain rewires through practice — not perfection.

Setbacks Are Necessary Steps on the Road to Growth

Goins writes:

“You can’t avoid these moments; they are necessary steps on the road to greatness.”

In the world of art, that means bad drafts, awkward performances, rejection.

In the world of mental health skill-building, it means:

  • Trying to breathe through anxiety and still feeling overwhelmed
  • Attempting a difficult conversation and stumbling over words
  • Showing up with courage and wishing you had said more
  • Taking one brave step — and needing to rest afterward

Growth requires exposure to discomfort.

Avoidance keeps fear large.
Practice keeps fear manageable.

Each attempt is rehearsal for the next moment.

Stop Waiting to “Feel Ready”

Goins ends with this powerful call:

“To do the work of a professional, you have to stop waiting to be seen and start sharing your work now.”

This applies directly to emotional growth.

Many people wait to:

  • Feel confident before trying
  • Feel calm before speaking
  • Feel certain before acting
A picture of a woman on stage presenting to a large seated audience. The woman presenting at a podium is looking back at the viewer of this picture with her hand on her phearnik! plush that helps her manage her fear of presenting in front of a large audience. The plush reminds her to stay calm and keep her fear small and not freeze so she can do the presentation. She's Building Mental Health Through Perseverance

But confidence grows from action — not the other way around.

Emotional regulation skills develop through use.

You don’t wait until fear disappears.

You practice working with it.

That is how fear becomes smaller.

Mental Health Skills Are Built Through Repetition

Artists rehearse.

Athletes train.

Musicians practice scales.

Building mental health through perseverance takes repetition. Why do we expect emotional strength to arrive without practicing it ?

Building mental health skills requires:

  • Showing up after a hard day
  • Trying again after avoidance
  • Breathing slowly when your heart is racing
  • Taking one small brave step

Some days will feel messy.

Some days will feel like progress.

Both are practice.

Failure Is Not an Endpoint — It’s Information

Goins reframes failure as preparation for “the next show, the next book, the next chance to do it better.”

In emotional growth, there is always a next moment.

The next conversation.
The next opportunity.
The next doorway.

If today didn’t go as planned, that was rehearsal.

If fear won this round, you gather data and try again.

Resilience is built in the return.

An illustration from the picture book "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" showing Phoebe and her dad at an art show showing their artwork.

The Sooner You Start, The Stronger You Become

There is no perfect time to begin building emotional resilience.

The earlier you practice:

  • Naming fear
  • Regulating breath
  • Taking small risks
  • Responding instead of reacting

The more prepared you become for higher-stakes moments later.

Mental strength is not inherited.

It is practiced.

Keep Trying

Illustration by aws Studios showing a skinny woman with wild hair sitting in a short red dress looking very scared about something.

Learning how to manage fear, anxiety, avoidance, or emotional overwhelm is not about eliminating struggle.

It is about committing to the process.

Just as artists refine their craft through repetition, we refine our emotional skills through lived experience.

Today might not have gone perfectly.

But today was practice.

And practice is how strength is built.

Here’s something to help – the Fearless Toolkit – And it’s free!

Ask yourself these questions to get you building mental health through perseverance –

  1. How do you build mental resilience?
  2. Why is failure important for growth?
  3. How do you stop giving up after setbacks?

Overcoming Writer’s Block: A Way for Writers to Start with Confidence

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Overcoming Writer’s Block

There’s an unmistakable moment for every writer: sitting before a blank page, feeling equal parts excitement and uncertainty, a need for overcoming writer’s block. You may have your favorite pen or keyboard ready and ideas swirling in your mind, but somehow, starting that first sentence feels overwhelming. It’s not the act of publishing that’s intimidating—it’s simply beginning, making that initial mark, and facing the fear of the blank page.

A black and white pen and ink drawing of a young girl looking fearful, nervous or scared. The picture is used sometimes to show a writer's need for overcoming writer's block.

Ready to Begin Your Next Piece but…

Is the dream of writing your next story or article finally calling you to your desk? You’ve imagined the words and phrases you want to use—maybe while juggling other responsibilities. You want to honor your creative impulse as you prepare, so you gather inspiration and jot down notes or outlines on the side. Still, even after knowing your process, you find it difficult to break through the hesitation and type that first word.

Blank Page Overwhelm

Starting a new writing project can feel like staring up at a sheer cliff. The possibilities are endless, and yet the pressure to craft something meaningful can be paralyzing. You want to choose the right topic, select the perfect tone, and let your unique voice shine through. But how do you move past that initial block and let your words flow? The overwhelm is real.

Writing in “Chill”

This is a picture of a young person with their arms raised in celebration on a mountain after climbing to the top. The picture is a metaphor for learning how to fear less when it comes to doing things we want or need to do and the steps it takes to fear less and accomplish our goals. These fears include writer's block.
From the book, “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to approach your blank page with ease, in a “chill” state of mind? Picture yourself beginning each new piece with confidence, trusting your instincts and embracing the unknown. You’d love to brush aside the doubt, knowing your creativity will lead the way.

The Fear of the Blank Page

I’m here to tell you: no matter how daunting that blank page looks, you can move past the hesitation and write something beautiful. I was once the least likely person to take that first step, let alone call myself a writer. If someone as unlikely as me can start writing, so can you.

I was in the same place as you – that place of having a fear of the first sentence. I am a writer and a mental health educator. As a writer, I struggled with “writer’s block,” also known as the “blank page syndrome.” It’s an inability to get started and get the words from your brain onto the page. For a writer, it’s about translating ideas into words on their chosen medium.

Combating the Fear of Getting Started

Because of this “fear,” I did a lot of reading about how to deal with it. I read book like Art and Fear, The Artist’s Way, Affirmations for Artists and other resources. But it wasn’t until I read Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by the Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert that I finally had a breakthrough.  In Big Magic…, Gilbert offers a new way to confront fear. Instead of trying to ignore it or get over it or get rid of it, she suggests we accept and acknowledge fear and “travel with it” [my quotations] without giving it any control. I loved this idea.

Previously, much of the literature about dealing with fear suggested ignoring it or trying to “get over it.” I appreciated Gilbert’s fresh recommendation to not ignore it or try to get over it but to acknowledge fear. She suggests not necessarily embracing fear but to at least recognize it’s always there. In an oft repeated metaphorical vignette about a car ride, Gilbert says to take fear with you. This is what resounded with me that I could do things with fear by my side along for the ride without letting it take control.

A picture of the book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book helped me figure out a way to overcome blank canvas syndrome and overcoming writer's block.

A Way to Take Fear with You

A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary. The plush helped me overcome blank canvas syndrome or overcoming writer's block.
phearnik! the Courage Buddy

But for me the concept wasn’t enough. I wanted an actual “something” to take with me. This “something” would represent my fear. It would remind me that fear is always there. I can acknowledge it but keep it tamped down and under control. Enter phearnik! The Courage Buddy.

phearnik! is a little rag-doll-like plush. The name phearnik! (pronounced fear-nick) means “little fear.” Small enough to take anywhere in a purse or backpack, the little purple plush reminds me that fear is always with me. I just don’t need to let it take control. Plus, a having a little fear helps us pay attention. Thus, helping to keep us safe.

The Courage Buddy opened up my ability to breakthrough my fear of the blank page and more readily start creating. Having the quirky plush by my side reminds me a little fear about what’s going on the page is okay. But it also reminds me not to let it take over and shut me down.

Having the Courage Buddy by my side helped me break through my writer’s block and made it easier to start creating. The quirky little plush serves as a reminder that it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit of fear about what I’m about to write. But more importantly, it reminds me not to let that fear take over or stop me from putting words on the page.

A phearnik!® Courage Buddy™: Supporting Every Writer with Encouragement

I aim to provide every writer facing writer’s block challenges with a phearnik! Courage Buddy. This cheerful plush serves as a gentle reminder that success begins by keeping fears in perspective and taking the first step beyond one’s comfort zone.

A prototype of phearnik! has been created, and I am currently awaiting a sample from the toy manufacturer. Upon completion, I intend to offer the plush for purchase in my Etsy shop, so individuals can acquire their own phearnik! Courage Buddy.

I’m also considering providing the plush free of charge to artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and both children and adults facing fears who need support. To achieve this, I may seek funding through crowdfunding campaigns or grants.

Let’s Stay Connected

I designed the Courage Buddy as a tool for myself and for other writers who sometimes find themselves frozen by fear before they even begin. If you ever hesitate before starting a new piece of writing, this little plush could be the gentle nudge you need.

If this playful idea appeals to you and you’re looking for a bit of motivation to get your creative energy flowing, I invite you to stay connected with me and get the free Fear Less Toolkit!

get connected – I’ll send you the free “fear less toolkit”

How to Overcome Blank Canvas Syndrome: A Way for Artists to Start Creating with Confidence

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Overcome Blank Canvas Syndrome

There’s an unmistakable moment for every artist: standing before a blank canvas, feeling equal parts excitement and uncertainty, a need to overcome blank canvas syndrome. You may have all the materials ready and creative ideas swirling in your mind, but somehow, taking that very first step feels overwhelming. It’s not the career launch that’s intimidating—it’s simply starting, making that initial mark, and facing the fear of the blank canvas.

A picture of a man with a fear of the blank canvas. He is sitting in front of a canvas on an easel scratching his head like he doesn't know what he's going to paint. The picture resembles a Norman Rockwell painting of himself in front of his canvas scratching his head. The picture helps illustrate a need to overcome blank canvas syndrome
Phoebe’s dad has blank canvas syndrome. From the picture book, “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Ready to Begin Your Next Project but…

Is the dream of creating your next piece finally calling you to the studio? You’ve imagined the colors and shapes you want to use—maybe while juggling other responsibilities. You want to respect your creative impulse as you prepare, so you gather inspiration and sketch ideas on the side. Still, even after knowing your process, you find it difficult to break through the hesitation and make the first stroke.

Blank Canvas Overwhelm

Starting a new project can feel like staring up at a daunting mountain. The possibilities are endless, and yet the pressure to make something meaningful can be paralyzing. You want to choose the right subject, select the perfect palette, and let your unique voice shine through. But how do you move past that initial block and let creativity flow? The overwhelm is real.

“The Hike” from “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Creating Your Art in “Chill”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to approach your blank canvas with ease, in a “chill” state of mind? Picture yourself beginning each new project with confidence, trusting your instincts and embracing the unknown. You’d love to brush aside the doubt, knowing your creativity will lead the way.

The Fear of the Blank Canvas

I’m here to tell you: no matter how daunting that blank surface looks, you can move past the hesitation and create something beautiful. I was once the least likely person to take that first step, let alone call myself an artist. If someone as unlikely as me can start creating, so can you.

I was in the same place as you – that place of having a fear of the first step. I am an artist and a mental health educator. As an artist, I struggled with a “fear of the blank canvas” also known as the “blank canvas syndrome.” It is similar to writers’ block that many writers deal with – an inability to get started and get the words from their brain onto the page. For an artist, it’s about translating ideas onto their chosen medium.

Combating the Fear of Getting Started

A picture of the book "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert. The book helped me figure out a way to overcome blank canvas syndrome.

Because of this “fear,” I did a lot of reading about how to deal with it. I read book like Art and Fear, The Artist’s Way, Affirmations for Artists and other resources. But it wasn’t until I read Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by the Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert that I finally had a breakthrough.  In Big Magic…, Gilbert offers a new way to confront fear. Instead of trying to ignore it or get over it or get rid of it, she suggests we accept and acknowledge fear and “travel with it” [my quotations] without giving it any control. I loved this idea.

Previously, much of the literature about dealing with fear suggested ignoring it or trying to “get over it.” I appreciated Gilbert’s fresh recommendation to not ignore it or try to get over it but to acknowledge fear. She suggests not necessarily embracing fear but to at least recognize it’s always there. In an oft repeated metaphorical vignette about a car ride, Gilbert says to take fear with you. This is what resounded with me that I could do things with fear by my side along for the ride without letting it take control.

A Way to Take Fear with You

But for me the concept wasn’t enough. I wanted an actual “something” to take with me. This “something” would represent my fear. It would remind me that fear is always there. I can acknowledge it but keep it tamped down and under control. Enter phearnik! The Courage Buddy.

phearnik! is a little rag-doll-like plush. The name phearnik! (pronounced fear-nick) means “little fear.” Small enough to take anywhere in a purse or backpack, the little purple plush reminds me that fear is always with me. I just don’t need to let it take control. Plus, a having a little fear helps us pay attention. Thus, helping to keep us safe.

The Courage Buddy opened up my ability to breakthrough my fear of the blank canvas and more readily start creating. Having the quirky plush by my side reminds me a little fear about what’s going on the canvas is okay. But it also reminds me not to let it take over and shut me down.

Having the Courage Buddy by my side helped me overcome blank canvas syndrome and made it easier to start creating. The quirky little plush serves as a reminder that it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit of fear about what I’m about to paint. But more importantly, it reminds me not to let that fear take over or stop me from putting brush to canvas.

A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary. The plush helped me overcome blank canvas syndrome.
phearnik! the Courage Buddy

A phearnik!® Courage Buddy™: Supporting Every Artist with Encouragement

I aim to provide every artist facing blank canvas challenges with a phearnik! Courage Buddy. This cheerful plush serves as a gentle reminder that success begins by keeping fears in perspective and taking the first step beyond one’s comfort zone.

A prototype of phearnik! has been created, and I am currently awaiting a sample from the toy manufacturer. Upon completion, I intend to offer the plush for purchase in my Etsy shop, so individuals can acquire their own phearnik! Courage Buddy.

I’m also considering providing the plush free of charge to artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and both children and adults facing fears who need support. To achieve this, I may seek funding through crowdfunding campaigns or grants.

Let’s Stay Connected

I designed the Courage Buddy as a tool for myself and for other artists who sometimes find themselves frozen by fear before they even begin. If you ever hesitate before starting something new, this little plush could be the gentle nudge you need.

If this playful idea appeals to you and you’re looking for a bit of motivation to get your creative energy flowing, I invite you to stay connected with me and get the free Fear Less Toolkit!

get connected – I’ll send you the free “fear less toolkit”

Making Sense! Child Behavior Problems Solved

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

A Helpful Guide Gets Child Behavior Problems Solved

Child behavior problems solved? Yes! Here’s how –

Most parents don’t search for child development information when things are going smoothly. They search when their child is melting down, refusing to cooperate, acting aggressively, or pushing every limit — and they feel frustrated, discouraged, or unsure what to do next.

When behavior is challenging, it’s easy to wonder if something is wrong — with your child or with your parenting. One of the most helpful shifts I’ve learned over the years is this: many difficult behaviors are developmentally expected, even when they’re exhausting.

A picture of a parent talking on the phone holding an infant with a younger child holding on trying to get the parent's attention. This parent wants their child behavior problems solved.

That’s why I (more about me here) continue to rely on the NYS Office of Child and Family Services Child Development Guide — and why I created a simplified, easier-to-use version for parents, teachers, and caregivers.

Why I Made a Simplified Version of the Guide

The original NYS Office of Child and Family Services guide is an excellent resource, and in my version, Making Sense: Child Behavior Problems Solved, I:

  • Credit and link directly to the original publisher
  • Use Part 1 only, which focuses on developmental stages
  • Link each stage on the Contents page directly to its explanation, so readers don’t have to scroll

This makes it much easier for parents and caregivers to quickly look up the stage they need — especially in moments when behavior feels overwhelming.

How Making Sense! Helps When Children Misbehave or Frustrate Us

An illustration of a teen in a crowd of other teens. I also use it it show how teen behavior is included in the child behavior problems solved guide.
Peer pressure influencing a teen trying alcohol for the first time

What I appreciate most about the Making Sense… guide is that it doesn’t ask parents to simply “fix” behavior. Instead, it helps adults understand:

  • Which behaviors are typical at certain developmental stages
  • Why children may struggle with impulse control, emotions, or transitions
  • What parenting behaviors best support development at each stage

This understanding changes how we respond.

Instead of reacting with anger or punishment, parents can respond with structure, calm, and intention — because they know what their child is capable of right now.

A Real-Life Example — Connected Directly to Making Sense!

Imagine a young child who frequently has tantrums when it’s time to stop playing and move on to the next activity. In the moment, this can feel defiant or manipulative.

According to the Making Sense! guide, behaviors like this are often expected during stages when children:

  • Are learning independence
  • Have limited emotional regulation
  • Struggle with transitions and delayed gratification

The guide doesn’t stop at explaining the behavior — it also outlines recommended adult/parenting responses, such as:

  • Giving advance warnings before transitions
  • Keeping expectations simple and age-appropriate
  • Staying calm and predictable during emotional outbursts
  • Helping the child label emotions after they’ve calmed down

When parents follow these recommendations, the goal isn’t to stop the tantrum instantly — it’s to build the child’s emotional and self-regulation skills over time.

This shift helps parents think:

“This behavior fits this stage — and I know how the guide suggests I respond.”

That clarity reduces power struggles and helps parents feel more confident and less reactive.

A picture of the cover of "Making Sense: Child Behavior Problems Solved." The guide helps parents identify which developmental stage their child lacks and parenting practices to get them caught up.

A Gentle Alternative to Punishment-Based Advice

So much parenting advice focuses on stopping behavior as quickly as possible. While limits are important, they are most effective when they align with a child’s developmental capacity.

This guide encourages adults to ask:

  • What skills is this child still developing?
  • Are my expectations realistic for this stage?
  • How can my response support growth rather than escalate behavior?

This approach is especially meaningful for foster and adoptive families. Children who have experienced trauma or instability may have missed developmental milestones, even if they are older chronologically.

The guide allows caregivers to:

  • Identify which stages or skills were missed
  • Understand the behaviors connected to those gaps
  • Support development by responding to the child’s developmental needs, not just their age

A Resource for Parents, Teachers, and Caregivers

Whether you’re a parent dealing with daily power struggles, a teacher supporting emotional growth in the classroom, or a foster or adoptive parent helping a child catch up developmentally, Making Sense! Child Behavior Problems Solved offers reassurance and direction.

It reminds us that behavior is communication — and that understanding development helps us respond with patience, confidence, and compassion.

Get Making Sense! Child Behavior Problems Solved

If your child’s behavior is leaving you feeling confused or frustrated, Making Sense! Child Behavior Problems Solved can help.

Download the free Making Sense! Child Behavior Problems Solved guide here

Use it as a quick reference when behavior feels hard. Instead of guessing how to respond, you can look up your child’s developmental stage and feel more confident about what they need from you right now.

Understanding development doesn’t remove challenges — but it does replace self-doubt with clarity.

How to Build Courage to Stop Fears

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Why I Made phearnik! The Courage Buddy and Who It’s For

Tired of Being Fearful

Are your fears tiring you out? Does your anxiety run you ragged? Additionally, do you see others doing simple, everyday things that you feel you want to do but you’re unable to? Would you like to stop fears from getting in the way of your joy?

If your answers are “yes,” it’s safe to say, you don’t like these feelings. They make you feel like such a weakling. You’re embarrassed and you’re exhausted.

Illustration by aws Studios showing a skinny woman with wild hair sitting in a short red dress looking very scared about something.

Towards Courage

It would be nice to stop fears from interrupting your life. Moreover, you would love to not be afraid of doing things others do as a matter of fact. Being more courageous is on your list. All of this would make you feel more free. You want to be released from the heavy cloak of fear. It’s a cloak that holds you back from doing things with ease and joy.

Something to Build Courage

If you relate, I have something for you. I made it especially for you. It’s something that can help you be more courageous and stop fears. It will help you step out of your comfort zone. With this special something, you will learn to not to be afraid. And, you too will do things with ease you see others doing . This “thing” will give you freedom. It will release you from the heavy cloak of fear you wear. Additionally, it will get you doing things you were once fearful of. And you will begin living your life with more ease and joy.

Courage Building Plush

Believe it or not, this “something” is a plush. Yes, a plush or a little stuffed novelty toy like the new LaBubu, the old Beanie Babies, or the popular Squishmellows. But my “something” plush was designed to be more than just a novelty or toy or favorite huggable. My “something” plush helps people who struggle with, the sometimes daily, non-life-threatening irrational fears. My plush helps these people fear less. The “something” plush I created is a phearnik!® or Courage Buddy™.

phearnik!® The Courage Buddy

The phearnik!® Courage Buddy is a small, soft purple plush with wild hair that looks like a ragdoll. I created phearnik! for myself. I believe others can benefit from using a phearnik!® too.

I created phearnik!® to help me build courage to stop fear. As a kid, I struggled with fears that seemed irrational compared to other kids. I was afraid of swimming in the ocean but saw other kids doing it and having fun. I was often afraid of joining in and playing with other kids standing on the side lines unable to leave my mother.

A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary.
phearnik! the Courage Buddy

A Desire to Stop Fear

As an adult and artist,  I struggled with a “fear of the blank canvas.” This is like “writers’ block” that many writers experience. It is a fear of the “blank page.” The feeling overwhelms the artist or writer so that it’s difficult to get started, to get words on the page or paint on the canvas.

Also, as an adult, I spent a lot of time researching and reading about how to deal with this debilitating fear. I was not alone as the books I read suggested others needed help with this issue too.

The Answer in Big Magic

But it wasn’t until I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s (of Eat, Pray, Love fame) book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear that I finally discovered  a way to move beyond my fear. An idea Gilbert presents in the book finally lead me to unburdened and joyous creating.

In the book, Gilbert suggests the artist accepts their feeling of fear. She points out that fear is always with us sometimes in full control and other times silent. Instead of trying to “get over fear” or ignoring it, Gilbert suggests we acknowledge fear. But, and it’s a big “but” to not let it take control of what we are trying to do.

Beyond Big Magic

As the story goes (I’ve written about it here and here), I loved this idea of accepting and acknowledging fear but not letting it take control. But I wanted to go one step further. I wanted to have an actual fear. I wanted an actual item that I could hold. if needed I wanted something I could take with me. Because of this, it needed to be small – small enough to fit in a purse or backpack or even a pocket. Hence, phearnik!®The Courage Buddy was born.

How the phearnik!®Courage Buddy™ Works to Build Courage and Stop Fear

The little plush acts as a prompt to remind individuals to keep fear small. This helps people be safe while stepping out of their comfort zone to do new things that are desired or needed to do.

phearnik! is a technique to reduce fear. I made it for both kids and adults. It’s for kids and adults who are a bit neophobic or unsure of trying new things. These individuals  could be overly cautious, shy, or timid. Or they could often experience feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or hesitant. I often use the terms fearful and anxious when describing who the Courage Buddy is for.

phearnik! is a fun way to practice and acquire a mental health or social emotional skill. Using the little plush helps the user remember to practice mindfulness during times of anxiety causing action.

Learning the skill is easy. Click here to learn how.

I made phearnik!® the Courage Buddy for both kids and adults who struggle with:

  • Neophobia – unsure of trying new things
  • Being overly cautious, shy, or timid
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Consistently feeling unsure or hesitant
  • Non-life-threatening fears
  • Anxiety

Join the phearnik!®Courage Buddy™ Campaign

The phearnik! Courage Buddy Campaign works not only to help people understand what the plush is and how it works but to also build awareness to the importance of mental health skills and social emotional learning. When we learn social and emotional skills, we positively impact the prevention of mental illness and mental health disorders.

Join the phearnik! Courage Buddy Campaign

Support Mental Health

By participating in the Campaign, you demonstrate your commitment to supporting mental health. More specifically, it reflects your endorsement of the value in developing social and emotional skills, which are fundamental in preventing mental illness and related conditions.

Picture of a small, sad boy hugging their mom.

Get a Courage Buddy!

Joining the Campaign also contributes to making the therapeutic plush accessible to individuals of all ages who experience fear and anxiety. Additionally, as a subscriber, you will receive updates regarding the availability of the plush. To join, click the button below!

Support Mental Health – Join the courage buddy campaign!

for more about the courage buddy, Read “Why I made “Phoebe and phearnik!®: Fight BIG Fears” picture book“

Looking for members – join the Courage Builders Facebook Group.

Overcoming Barriers to Launching Your Small Business 

Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

Ready to Start Your Small Business but…

Is the dream of running your own business finally becoming a reality? You have read a lot about what you need to get started. Maybe you are still working in another job. You want to be cautious about your start-up. So, you work on it on the side. But, even after knowing what you need to do, you’re unable to take those first steps. There are barriers to launching your small business.

Small Business Start-up Overwhelm

Getting a small business off the ground is a lot of work. First you need a business name. Then you need to decide what type of business to set up like a limited liability company / LLC or some other entity. Additionally, you need to set up a website. And if you are selling online, you need to create sales funnels. Then comes the marketing. This is when you try to get the public to know about you – your product or services. All of this before having to deal with shipping and taxes! And how are you going to do that ?? It’s overwhelming, to say the least.

Small Business Start-up in “Chill”

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could plug away at your business idea in “chill”? It would be great to take each step as they come, one at a time, with confidence. You would love to approach each task knowing and feeling that, yes, you can do this – even shipping and taxes!

The Fear of Getting Started

I’m here to say, even with all the work and steps and tasks, you can do it. I am probably one of the most unlikely people to start a small business. If an unlikely specimen like myself could do it, so can you.

I was in the same place as you – that place of having a fear of taking that first step. I am an artist and a mental health educator. As an artist, I struggled with a “fear of the blank canvas.” This is similar to writers’ block that many writers deal with – an inability to get started and get the words from their brain onto the page. For an artist, it’s the struggle of putting the ideas in their head with paint onto a canvas.

A picture of a man with a fear of the blank canvas. He is sitting in front of a canvas on an easel scratching his head like he doesn't know what he's going to paint. The picture resembles a Norman Rockwell painting of himself in front of his canvas scratching his head.
Unable to get started

Combating the Fear of Getting Started

Because of this “fear,” I did a lot of reading about how to deal with it. I read books on the subject like Art and Fear, The Artist’s Way, Affirmations for Artists and other resources. But it wasn’t until I read Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by the Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert that I finally had a breakthrough.  In Big Magic…, Gilbert offers a new way to confront fear. Instead of trying to ignore it or get over it or get rid of it, she suggests we accept and acknowledge fear and “travel with it” [my quotations] without giving it any control. I loved this idea.

Previously, much of the literature about dealing with fear suggested ignoring it or trying to “get over it.” I appreciated Gilbert’s fresh recommendation to not ignore it or try to get over it but to acknowledge fear. She suggests not necessarily embracing fear but to at least recognize it’s always there. In an oft repeated metaphorical vignette about a car ride, Gilbert says to take fear with you. This is what resounded with me that I could do things with fear by my side along for the ride without letting it take control.

A Way to Take Fear with You

A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary.
Current version of phearnik!® The Courage Buddy

But for me the mere concept wasn’t enough. I wanted an actual “something” to take with me. This “something” would represent my fear. It would remind me that fear is always there. I can acknowledge it but keep it tamped down and under control.

Enter “phearnik!® The Courage Buddy”

phearnik! is a little rag-doll-like plush. The name phearnik! (pronounced fear-nick) means “little fear.” Small enough to take anywhere in a purse or backpack, the little purple plush reminds me that fear is always with me. I just don’t need to let it take control. Plus, a having a little fear helps us to pay attention. This helps to keep us safe.

The Courage Buddy opened up my ability to breakthrough my fear of the blank canvas and more readily start creating. Having the quirky plush by my side reminds me a little fear about what’s going on the canvas is okay. But it also reminds me not to let it take over and shut me down.

What’s This Got to Do with Starting a Small Business?

For me, everything. aws Studios is where I sell my mental health/social emotional learning resources and art online. When I wanted to transition these hobbies into a small business, I experienced a fear of getting started. I worried about taking those first steps. I knew what needed to be done but it all felt so overwhelming. How was little old me going to get the NY state government to give me an LLC? How was I going to sell my mental health resources and art online? And how was I going to tackle shipping and taxes?!

The Courage Buddy to Remind You

Just like breaking through my “getting started painting” fears, my Courage Buddy reminded me to keep my fears of starting a business small – oh, so very small. By doing this, I was able to take those first steps. I applied for an LLC with the state of NY. Scary! I also applied and received a registered trademark for phearnik!® Also scary especially when you’re doing it all by yourself! And phearnik!® helped me set up two online stores. Full disclosure, I’m still struggling to better understand shipping and taxes! I’m confident phearnik! will get me through those hurdles too.

This is a picture of the original phearnik! Courage Buddy plush that helps fearful kids and adults fear less. It is 6" with an off-white body made of cotton fabric, wears a green dotted dress, sports a head of wild hair made of yarn and a face made with buttons and beads.
The first phearnik! prototype

A phearnik!® Courage Buddy™ for Every Entrepreneur

Here’s my wish – every would-be-entrepreneur has a phearnik!® Courage Buddy. The fun little plush will help remind them that “you can do it!” By keeping fears small and taking a baby step out of your comfort zone – like learning how to get an LLC or open an online store – you can slowly and confidently get the tasks done that move you to opening day (maybe hold off on the shipping and taxes for now)!

How to get your own phearnik!® Courage Buddy

This image represents "The phearnik! Campaign Roadmap." It shows what aws Studios plans to do over the course of the year to make the plush available for fearful kids and adults who want to build courage.
The phearnik! Campaign Roadmap

The opportunity to own your own Courage Buddy is in the works. I want to make the plush available in my Etsy and Amazon shops for people like yourself and others like writers with writers’ block and artists with a ‘fear of the blank canvas’ to be able to have their own phearnik! Courage Buddy.

Currently, I am waiting to receive a sample of the plush made by a toy manufacturer. In the meantime, if you would like to follow the Buddy’s journey to the market, join the phearnik!® Courage Buddy Campaign. By signing up for the Campaign, I will keep you abreast of when you can own your own fear less phearnik!®

join the phearnik!® Courage Buddy Campaign and launch your business!