Author: awsstudiosart

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

phearnik!® is No Stella Al Fresco

Published on by awsstudiosart2 Comments

Who is Stella Al Fresco

I made a doll and it is not like Stella Al Fresco.

Sunday morning in the NYTimes, I saw an article about how Megan, The Dutchess of Sussex, promoted a doll on her new show “With Love, Megan.” Commonly known Stella Al Fresco, Megan’s daughter’s doll is sold with “a little baguette and a little cheese.” The dolls’ creators claim the dolls and their accessories help kids mimic adult behavior. Says  Acorn Store owner  Heather Hamilton where the dolls are sold, “Kids really like imitating life, and if this is what they’re seeing on their parents’ patio, then they just pretend play.”

A picture of the doll commonly called Stella Al Fresco. It helps to show the difference between it and the aws Studios.art phearnik! plush and how it is different , has a different purpose and is not like Stella Al Fresco.
The doll commonly known as Stella Al Fresco
A picture of the phearnik! 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 phearnik! plush

Which makes me think that my little phearnik!® has a long, uphill slog to the market. How does my slightly scary looking doll/plush that is not like Stella Al Fresco compete with the sweet, cute and Cabbage Patch-like doll? And how does my aws Studios.art doll stack up against a doll promoted by Megan?

phearnik!® is no Stella Al Fresco

phearnik!® is 180° from Stella. But that’s okay. phearnik!® is not meant to mimic adult/parent behavior. phearnik!® stands for something else.

A Little Scary Looking

Yes, phearnik!® is not a sweet looking doll like Stella. phearnik!® actually looks a little scary. It’s supposed to look scary. I made phearnik!® to look a little scary because the plush represents a “little fear.”

The idea behind the phearnik!® doll was to make an object that represents fear.  I would take the “little fear” with me to remind me to keep my fears small. When I keep my fears small, they don’t get big and take control of things I want or need to do. More about where I got this idea here (hint: it’s from Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic: Creative living beyond fear).

A picture of one of the original versions of the phearnik! plush prototype. A small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy-blue jumpsuit, googlie eyes, a crooked mouth and wild hair kids love.
One of the original versions of the phearnik! plush

Sharing the phearnik!® Idea

Initially, I created phearnik!® to help me with my fear of the blank canvas. Then one day my granddaughter spied the doll on my dresser. She wanted one too. (How couldn’t she? With its quirky face and wild hair, I thought!)

A picture of the cover of the original book about phearnik! titled "Adventures with phearnik!." The book has been revised and is now "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears"
The original picture book about phearnik!. Now revised as “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight Big Fears”

While making my granddaughter a phearnik!®, I came up with the idea to tell her its story in a book. Hence, I created the picture book Adventures with phearnik!® and gave her both the book and plush as a birthday present.

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

The phearnik!® Campaign

Since then, I wanted to share the book and the plush with others. phearnik!® definitely helped me. Every day it’s there to remind me not to be fearful of things that are new to me like a blank canvas. More importantly, it helps me with becoming an entrepreneur to promote the phearnik!® idea to others. I believe phearnik!® can help others who, like me, are held back by irrational and debilitating fears.

phearnik!® has helped me do everything I have needed to do to get to this point of launching the phearnik!® Campaign. The campaign seeks to raise funds to support mental health making the plush available to others, both kids and adults, dealing with irrational fears.

A picture of a bookmark that says "Support Mental Health, Join the phearnik! Campaign" with a QR code to sign up.

Yes, phearnik!® is no Stella Al Fresco but That’s Okay

A picture of the doll Stella Al Fresco holding a phearnik! plush symbolizing how the plush reminds kids to keep their fears small.
Stella and phearnik! as friends

phearnik!® is not like Stella Al Fresco. But I like to think that even Stella would like to have a phearnik!® It would remind her to keep her fears small so she can live a more fearless life. Ah, yes, what a vision. Instead  of competing with each other, Stella and phearnik!® could be  friends!

Do you agree? What do you think? Have you ever had a doll like Stella? Or phearnik!®? Tell us about it in the Comments.

Find out more about phearnik!® and get a free “How to Use phearnik!®” pdf here.

Support mental health and sign up for the phearnik!® Campaign

Coming soon: the many faces of phearnik!®

Subscribe to aws Studios.art blog.

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.

How the phearnik!® Toy Helps Kids Manage Fear

Published on by awsstudiosart10 Comments

*In my last post I announced my campaign to make phearnik!® available to kids, scared of everything, manage their fear. In this post, I aim to explain how it works. And, how, for children, their loved ones, and caregivers, life is better with the little plush.

The phearnik!® Journey

phearnik!®, a plush toy, used to prompt a mindfulness skill, helps children manage fear

Even before the pandemic, mental health issues were on the rise for children. Unfortunately, the pandemic increased the number of kids dealing with overwhelming fear and anxiety. This often points to a lack of mental health skills.

“So,” you ask, “how does a toy help kids build a skill to make them less scared of everything?” I’ll tell you!

What is this phearnik!® you are talking about?!

The phearnik!® [pronounced: fear-nick] toy or “plush” is a prompt. phearnik!® means “Little Fear” and prompts kids to remember to keep their fears “small.” Importantly, having a “little fear” when faced with non-life-threatening anxieties helps keep kids safe. A little fear helps us to pay attention. Whereas, too much or letting it “get “big” stops kids from doing what they want or need to do. This could be things like joining in and having fun with other kids.

A Prompt to Reduce Fear and Anxiety

Used in many disciplines including education, therapy, and Applied Behavioral Analysis, a prompt is a tool or aid. It works to achieve a desired behavioral response. Prompts can be verbal, gestural, physical, or visual. Also, pictures, videos, or toys such as dolls and plush are types of visual prompts.

A picture of a bulletin board with reminder notes pinned to it.
Yes, A toy as A Prompt!
The image shows a little girl who used to be scared of everything is holding her phearnik! plush. She is smiling and looks like she likes her quirky looking toy.
A little girl holding her phearnik!®

The small phearnik!® or “Little Fear” prompts children dealing with fear and anxiety to keep their fears small. They do this by calming themselves. First they take a breath, let it out, and take the first small “step” of trying a new experience. These can be things like putting a toe into the “scary” water. As well as, stepping just inside the doorway of the dark bedroom holding their stuffie, of course.

5 easy steps to use phearnik! to teach kids to be less scared of everything!

By providing a clear signal or reminder about what is expected, prompts guide the teaching of concepts or skill. This helps to increase the chances of a desired behavior. 

Some examples of Prompts you might recognize…

Teachers might use verbal prompts to guide students through a challenging math problem. Or they may use visual prompts like pictures to help with learning vocabulary. Therapists use prompts to assist clients with many activities. These include visual prompts to guide them through a sequence of steps in a task. And, in the research-based practice, Applied Behavioral Analysis, prompts help to improve problematic behavior.

Manage Fear and Anxiety with Skills

wait! this isn’t life or death!

Many do not experience overwhelming fear in the face of non-life-threatening situations. They are skilled in  transferring these thoughts.

Fearful thoughts begin in the primal limbic area of the brain. Those with the skill transfer these thoughts to the prefrontal cortex. This is where our modern, logical, and practical responses reside.

It’s as though they are saying, “Wait! My brain thinks this is a life-or-death situation but it’s not. I’m safe to give this a try.”  

Mental health made simple! A free skills checklist
Mindfulness with phearnik!®

phearnik!® prompts the practice of switching fearful thoughts from its initial primal reaction to modern and logical calm responses. This skill strengthens mental health. It is an intrapersonal communication skill, a type of mindfulness.

How to Use the phearnik!® Prompt

The phearnik!® prompt is easy to use
Here’s how:
  • Introduce phearnik!® to the child. Tell them its name, how it’s pronounced [fear-nik] and what the name means – “Little Fear.”
  • In addition, tell them to take the plush with them. It’s small to fit in a backpack or pocket. Wherever they are, when faced with a situation they’re afraid of, phearnik!® is there. Reminding them that a “little fear” is okay. It helps to keep them safe and aware.
  • Let the child know too much or letting their fear get “big” makes them freeze. This means they can’t do things they would like or need to do.
  • phearnik!® wants them to first slowly take a breath in and let it out. It’s okay to do this a few times.
  • Next phearnik!®, not only wants them to think about keeping their fear small but…
This is an image of the phearnik! plush. The plush is a prompt used to build a mindfulness skill to help kids scared of everything gain social and emotional health.
phearnik!®
  • …the plush wants them to think about not letting it get big.
  • phearnik!® reminds them they are safe to take the first step on giving a new experience a try.
  • Tell them phearnik!® is helping them learn an important skill to keep them strong and healthy.
5 Easy Steps to use phearnik! to teach kids to be less scared of everything!

From Fearful to Confident

get healthy with social and emotional skills
This image shows a little girl, who used to be scared of everything, enjoying swimming in the water with her dragon floatie. She used the phearnik! plush to remind her to keep her fear small and not let it get big.
phearnik! reminded Phoebe to practice her mindfulness skill to keep her fear of the water “small.” She had fun swimming with the other kids!

The more the toy is used, the more a child, scared of everything, practices the thinking skill. This skill builds their social and emotional health and becomes less fearful. As with all prompts, the more it’s used the less it’s needed.  The more a child takes the plush with them, the more they will remember to practice the skill. This includes taking a breath, letting it out, and calming themselves toward taking positive action with new experiences. Moreover, this can be done with or without the plush at their side.

Said one grandmother of a phearnik!® owner,

“After a while, all we had to do when she was afraid of doing something that didn’t warrant a lot of fear, like getting in the water, was to tell her to “remember” phearnik!®. And she got it! You could see her thinking about it. And, with a smile, she jumped in the pool with the rest of us!”

Support Kids’ Mental Health

The phearnik!® plush is an easy and fun way to help kids who need it. Building a social and emotional skill, the toy can be life changing.

Make skill building fun! Join the phearnik!® Campaign!

By joining the campaign, you will get:

  • Get more information about phearnik!®  like
  • How the quirky plush came to be
  • Receive campaign updates (like how it will be made available),
  • Get more info mental health skill building and
  • Support the larger mission of boosting children’s mental health!
Join the “phearnik!®” Campaign

Do you have a prompt you use to help you build a skill? Is there anything you don’t understand or are confused about with the phearnik!® plush? Let me know in the Comments or email me: alis@awsstudios.art

If you think someone you know should know about phearnik!®, feel free to share this post.

Next post: The best way to introduce kids to phearnik!® what it is and how it works!

Support Kids’ Mental Health with phearnik!®

Published on by awsstudiosart8 Comments

“My kid is scared of everything”

Parenting fearful kids is exhausting. Furthermore, it’s even more exasperating than just “plain old parenting” which is exhausting enough!  The fears I’m talking about are the non-life-threatening kind and are often about things other children have no issues with.  Importantly, you wonder, why your child is so anxious and scared of everything?

A picture of a little girl in bed in the dark looking very frightened.
From the picture book “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Longing for Curiosity and Courage

Indeed, you would love for your child, lest I say, “To be like other kids.” I’m talking about the ones who don’t seem to be scared of everything. Life would be easier and less stressful. Moreover, it would be great if your fearful child could approach new experiences with curiosity and courage.

Developing Skills

A close up of two kids having fun playing in the surf from an illustration from the picture book.
From the picture book “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Clearly, all kids are different and deal with unfamiliar activities in various ways. This often depends on their skills. We develop physical and mental health over time, frequently without noticing we’re developing skills.  We more easily think about what’s needed for our children’s physical health. The ethereal skills of mental health are harder to pinpoint. In addition, you may ask, what exactly are those skills?

Assessing Skills

To help parents, caregivers, teachers and others assess a child’s mental health, I have put together an introductory skill checklist. The list begins with the basic skills of social and emotional health. Also, the list includes life skills and others for specific emotional needs.

Mental health made simple – A free skills checklist

Importantly, basic mental health begins with communication skills, both interpersonal and intrapersonal. Helping kids to be less ‘scared of everything’ begins with building their  intrapersonal communication skills.

Less Scared of Everything with phearnik!®

Meet phearnik!® –  a toy that helps kids build an essential intrapersonal communication skill!

Who  wouldn’t want a toy that relieves their kid’s fears and be less scared of everything? Well…  phearnik!® is that toy! When faced with non-life-threatening fears, the small quirky plush prompts children to practice mindfulness, an intrapersonal communication skill.

phearnik!® (pronounced: fear-nik) means “Little Fear.” It helps kids to mindfully keep their fears “small” and not let them get “big.” Having a little fear helps keep kids safe. But too much or letting it get “big” stops them from doing what they want or need to do.

“Too little fear and you don’t pay enough attention; too much and you freeze.”

Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land

Support Kids’ Mental Health

This post marks the beginning of my phearnik!® campaign. My goal is to make the cute little plush available to any kid who needs it. I want to bring its subtle powers to  help these kids be less scared of everything.

More about phearnik! here

Over the next few months, I will be talking about phearnik!®:

  • what it is;
  • what it does,
  • how it helps boost mental health and
  • how I am trying to bring it to kids who need it.

Then in October, I plan to launch my 30-day fund-raising campaign to help manufacture, package and ship phearnik!® and its accompanying picture book to kids who need it.

A picture of the phearnik! plush prototype. A small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy-blue jumpsuit, googlie eyes, a crooked mouth and wild hair kids love.
phearnik! prototype

Help Boost Children’s Mental Health –

Join the “phearnik!®” Campaign
  • Get more information about how phearnik!®  works,
    • Find out how the quirky little plush came to be,
      • Get campaign updates (like how phearnik!® will be made available),
          • Get more mental health skill building info and
            • Support the larger mission of boosting children’s mental health skill building!
    Sign up here – Boost Kids Mental Health Skills Today!

    Next blog post – details about how phearnik!® works. Sign up to stay tuned!

    How to Achieve Your Resolution

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    A New Way to Achieve Your Resolution

    It’s resolution time once again. This year, I was intrigued by the NY Times article, “For a Happier New Year, Focus on Your Loved Ones.” In it, writer Holly Burns, posits a new way to make and  achieve resolutions.   Instead of self-focused goals, Burns suggests making other-serving resolutions – goals with or about others. She then supports this idea with research. The study shows that when we take the focus off the “self,” we can positively impact both ourselves and others.

    Struggling with Next Steps

    If you’re anything like me, you struggle with achieving your goals. Also like me, with many steps and so much to do,  it feels overwhelming.

    I have been struggling with my next steps with my aws Studios. My plan is to put most of my efforts into launching my therapy doll into the toy and novelty market. My deadline is this year. It’s a lot to do in a short amount of time. My goal objectives include:

    • Setting up a crowdfunding campaign
    • Getting quotes and samples of the toy and its companion book
    • Creating an eBook
    • Getting a doll and book package designed and
    • Promoting my “product” with this blog and social media posts.

    From Self-Focused to Other-Serving

    I’m guessing that, like me, you make self-focused resolutions. These goals center on becoming a better person, have a better body, etc. Often, we don’t get too far with these promises. But I am digging this idea. I like the idea of taking the focus off us. And, making resolutions that impact both ourselves and others.

     Perfect Timing

    Because of my feelings of overwhelm, I have been looking for a “sign” to keep me going. The idea of making resolutions for others comes at a perfect time for me. we are more apt to keep working on our goals knowing it will affect others. It is the sign I have been looking for.

    What Is Your Other-Serving Resolution?

    To help you think of a resolution that benefits someone else, here is mine as an example:

    In 2025, I resolve to launch my phearnik!® crowdfunding campaign. phearnik!®, or “little fear,” is a small rag doll. It helps fearful kids and adults manage their fears. Once, managed, they can  join in and have fun (more about this here and here).

    My Other-Serving Resolution Can Help You Make Yours

    If you are looking to resolve feelings of fear and anxiety or help others with theirs, phearnik!® can help. The quirky plush teaches fearful kids and adults to be more mindful of their reactions to fear. It prompts its user to make the important brain switch from primitive reaction to a contemporary, non-life-threatening response.

    Let’s Achieve our Resolutions Together

    Fear of the blank canvas!

    In the Comments below, share  your resolution (self-focused or other-serving, it doesn’t matter). I’ll support you in your quest to achieve your resolution.

    And if you sign up to this blog, you’ll be supporting me. I’ll be updating my resolution – all about helping fearful kids and adults learn an important mental health skill.

    Happy New Year!

    Click to see how I do with my resolution!
    Logo for aws Studios - boosting mental health and sharing art

    You’re invited to my holiday gallery opening!

    Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

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    Dear Family and Friends, I am sending you my holiday newsletter. If you would prefer not to receive them in the future, scroll to the bottom and click Unsubscribe. Easy! Happy holidays! Alis

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    In this Holiday 2024 issue: What’s new, Updates, and Coming soon

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    • Well… this newsletter format for one! I hope to put out at least one a month and…

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    • I am unveiling my new online art gallery to give subscribers and guests an easier way to view my art. The gallery is divided into six curated collections….more here​

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    Wooden Cardinal watercolor – new in the gallery!

    Apples for Cider picture book

    • Sales are going well. We (Wauga Printing and I) are already doing a third printing!

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    • The book received the honor of becoming a resource in the National Agriculture in the Classroom’s National Literacy Curriculum Matrix. More here…​

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    • I created a Parent/Teacher Reading Guide to help adults continue the conversation about apples, apple picking, etc. Get your copy here.​

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    • I took the book to the annual “Lafayette Apple Festival” in October and sold out of my festival inventory by 2pm the first day!

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    aws Studios art shop
    • (Well maybe not real soon!) This is a thumbnail sketch of a new collage I started of a farm near Sodus Bay.

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    • I’m getting ready to launch my mental health and social-emotional skill building toy/novelty. Stayed tuned…

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    Enjoy the holiday season with your friends and family. My husband, Jim, and I will be hosting a visit from our son Peyton for Christmas. I’m looking forward to that.

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    #
    Categories Art

    New Online Art Gallery featuring Abstract Collage

    Published on by awsstudiosart1 Comment

    Art and Mental Health

    Hopefully, my readers know I write about both my art and mental health resources. If you are a new reader, well, there you have it – here at the “…Studios” you will get a little of both of my Gemini sides! With today’s post about my new online art gallery.

    This image shows an aws Studios.art watercolor in their new online gallery of a colorful back yard in the fall looking towards a window of a house with a wooden cardinal decoration in the window. The work is titled, "Wooden Cardinal."
    “Wooden Cardinal” watercolor

    Helping Readers Navigate

    I’ve tried to clarify about doing both art and mental health in my blogs over the past year. Still, I figured, subscribers and guests need an easier way to view my art.

    This image shows a collage in the new online gallery of works by Alis Wintle Sefick of aws Studios.art. The collage is an abstract beach scene with beach chairs by the surf, condos in the background, multi-colored shells in the foreground, and postcards blowing around in the breeze. The work is titled, Postcards from the Beach.
    “Postcards from the Beach” collage

    As a result, I am unveiling my new online art gallery. The gallery is divided into six curated collections:

    While I currently work with recycled fabric and paper collage, each collection contains art I created using other media too. These include watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media.

    Art and Mental Health

    Viewing art is good for our mental health. Recently, I did this while visiting my sister in Boston. She treated my other sister and me to a day at the Museum of Fine Arts. Studies show that looking at art can can improve our mental health. This includes stress relief, improving mood, enhancing creativity, give a sense of relief, and improve social connections. Our “sisters trip” to the museum definitely improved our connections. We hadn’t done anything together with just “the sisters” since we were kids! Not only were we treated to the art, but we learned more about each other in the process.

    A picture of Alis of aws Studios.art with her sisters, Sue and Carol, on the subway to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
    Sue, Alis, and Carol

    Which is Your Favorite?

    I hope you enjoy a look around my gallery. In “Comments,” I’d love to hear which is your favorite collection or art work. Or tell about your experience with art and mental health.

    If you are interested in any of the art, email me at alis@awsstudios.art

    As always, enjoy and thanks for reading –

    New Picture Book about Apple-Picking!

    Published on by awsstudiosart1 Comment

    (If you don’t see the newsletter, click on the blue “AfC Newsletter Announcement” and it should appear. You don’t have to download it unless you want to.)

    AfC Newsletter AnnouncementDownload

    Lessons Learned from My Print-On-Demand Journey

    Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

    Dream Come True

    When I found out I could have my original artwork reprinted on home and personal products, I was thrilled and excited. I have always wanted to share my “Apple Trees and Cores” design with others. But I wanted a way where I didn’t have to make multiples of the products myself. Enter Print-On-Demand. POD gives artists the ability to have their designs printed and not only on T-shirts and sweatshirts. The manufacturers also offer items like wall art and personal accessories. These include tote bags, purses, pillows, wrapping paper and even cell phone cases. (See the “Apple Trees and Cores” design products here.)

    Original Apple Trees and Cores watercolor with pen and ink

    Whoops!

    When I started designing products, I took time to learn the process. Unfortunately, when I laid out my ATC design for a purse, I thought the same design would be used on both sides. I didn’t realize I needed different designs for the front and back. When I got the final product, the front had my design, but the back was white.

    Lesson Learned

    I complained to the manufacturer only to learn that they were just following my direction. Since I didn’t specify a design for the back, it was left blank (which turned out to be white). I have since corrected this design error. The fun purse now happily displays the pattern on both front and back sides. Lessons earned from my Print-On-Demand journey. I must say, though, the one purse with the white-only back looks good. It looks like I planned it that way!

    Guaranteed

    I have learned the ins and outs of using POD to print products with my designs (though, I’m sure my learning is not over). If you ever have questions or concerns about a purchase from my shop, understand, I am here to make it right.

    A New Etsy Art Shop Amidst Controversy

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    New Etsy Shop and Controversy

    Just after opening my aws Studios art shop on Etsy, my husband heard a report on NPR about Etsy. The broadcast told of how the company was involved in a controversy. The hubbub is about how the online marketplace has been inundated with third-party sellers. These sellers may sell arts and crafts but they are not artists nor craftspeople themselves. From the beginning, Etsy has been known as a place for artisans to sell their art.

    Of course! I thought – a controversy just when I took a chance to open a shop!

    New Etsy Art Shop Amidst Controversy

    Going with Etsy

    Controversy or not (read more about it here), I am sticking with Etsy. I chose the online marketplace as my shop host because of its experience and focus on artists. Around since 2005, I shopped on Etsy soon after it opened, finding it both a smooth and fun experience.

    My aws Studios Etsy Shop banner

    As an Etsy seller, I appreciate the ability to set up a shop where I can showcase my artwork. I also like having an online shop without the hassle and extra cost of doing it on my own. Thank you for this Etsy. Plus, the site offers me a lot of support. With its Marketplace dashboard, I can easily access things like my listings, orders, and financial account.

    A Platform to Showcase Original Art

    It’s unfortunate third-party sellers moved in to sell on Etsy. My new Etsy art shop amidst controversy will, many other true artisans, will stay open. We will continue to use the supportive platform to showcase our art.

    How about you?

    Are you an Etsy shopper? Seller? What are your experiences with the platform? Good? Bad? Let us know in the Comments section below.

    Note: This is not a paid endorsement or otherwise. It is my opinion with transparency about my decision to use the Etsy marketplace.