There's a version of you — maybe from your twenties, maybe earlier — who used to create things. Painted, sketched, doodled in the margins. Something happened somewhere between then and the school forms and baseball practices and the 6 a.m. alarms. It didn't disappear. It just paused.

I know this feeling well. I'm a mom of two, and for years creativity felt like a luxury I hadn't quite earned yet. Then I read Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky and something clicked — creativity isn't the reward at the end of the to-do list. It's the practice that makes everything else more sustainable. That book, and later The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, gave me permission to start again. Not perfectly. Not even consistently at first. Just... start.

Since then I've picked up watercolours on Arches paper(a revelation — I had no idea what I was getting into), borrowed my daughter's sketchbook and POSCA pens for a spontaneous drawing session on a Sunday afternoon, and filled notebooks with morning pages that have cracked open more creative ideas than I expected. What surprised me most? When I started making things again, my kids started joining in. Quietly, naturally — just showing up next to me with their own markers and losing themselves in it the way only kids can. That thirty minutes became one of my favourite parts of the week.

Oh — and the Candy. I recently gifted a bag to a close friend for her birthday and her whole family lost their minds over it. They're not too sweet, they're made by a small business, and they are dangerously good. I now consider them essential. A creative afternoon plus a bag of Candy? That's the gift.

If there's a mom — or really, any woman — in your life who used to create things, or who's been quietly curious about starting, this is a beautiful excuse to give her something that says: there's still space for this. For you.

Here are some of our favourite ways to give the creative woman in your life the one thing she's been missing — time, permission, and the tools to explore.

— Casey James | thryve.ca · @thryve_living · In Her Season Podcast · Substack

1. The Starter Kit — For the mom just returning to creativity

She's been saying "I'd love to get back into it" for a while now. This is her gentle push. A beginner-friendly watercolour or acrylic set paired with a simple sketchbook removes every barrier — no overwhelm, no wrong answer, just a clear, beautiful place to begin.

The goal here isn't mastery. It's that first mark on a page, the exhale that comes with making something just because you wanted to. Clean, cohesive, and giftable — this is the starter kit that actually gets opened.

Good for: The mom who's been saying 'someday' for years — and is finally ready.

2. The Beautiful Sketchbook — For the mom who journals or sketches in the margins of her day

Some moms don't need a full art practice — they just need a beautiful place to think. A sketchbook or art journal with quality paper and a thoughtful cover becomes exactly that: something that's hers. Pair it with a set of fineliners or a pen she'll actually reach for.

Bonus: add The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Her concept of morning pages — three longhand pages every morning to clear the mental noise — changed how I think about creativity entirely. It's less about being artistic and more about giving yourself space to hear yourself again.

Good for: The mom who journals, reflects, or always has a notebook nearby — even if she's never thought of herself as an artist.

3. The Colour Story — Pencils, inks, or a gorgeous paint set

Sometimes inspiration starts with colour. A rich set of coloured pencils, a watercolour pan, a beautiful ink collection — these are the kinds of gifts that make you want to sit down and create the moment you open them. The visual appeal is part of the point.

Caran d'Ache has a way of making you feel like a real artist the moment you pick up the pen. The quality, the weight, the packaging — it's considered in every detail. Their collaborations with artists and creatives are something else entirely. Fair warning: once someone in the house discovers them, everyone wants in. I know a mom who keeps her stash in a separate drawer, clearly labelled "not yours." Completely valid.

Good for: The mom who already loves art materials — or just needs a spark of colour to get going.

4. The Portable Creative Kit — For the mom on the go

The biggest barrier to creativity isn't talent — it's time. A compact travel kit solves for that. Mini paints, a water brush, a small pad that fits in a tote bag. Now she can create during a lunch break, at the park while the kids run, on the sidelines at swimming lessons, or tucked into a carry-on while travelling. The setup takes thirty seconds. The exhale lasts longer.

POSCAs deserve their own moment here. My son is completely obsessed with them, and honestly? Now I get it. They're on-the-go friendly, not messy, available in every colour imaginable, and the ways you can use them are genuinely endless — fabric, wood, glass, canvas, directly onto a skateboard deck (my son designed his at Opus). A mom who discovers POSCAs usually becomes a POSCA person for life. You've been warned.

Round it out with the Opus dot grid notebook — it fits perfectly in a tote, holds the pen, and goes everywhere. And add a bag of the candy jar. Truly, always add the candy. I've gifted them, I've received them, and they are the kind of treat that makes a Tuesday feel intentional. Small-batch, not too sweet, and completely addictive. The perfect companion to a creative afternoon.

Good for: The busy mom who says she has no time — and needs everything ready to go when five minutes appear.

5. The Splurge — A premium gift for the serious creative mom

This one says: I see how much this matters to you. Professional-grade materials, a studio upgrade, or a hero product with real longevity — this isn't just a gift. It's an investment in something she's serious about.

Whether that's a premium paint set, a beautiful lighting upgrade for her workspace, or a Caran d'Ache pen set she's been quietly eyeing, this is the gift for the mom with an established practice who deserves to be taken seriously.

Good for: The mom with a real creative practice who deserves a real creative gift.

6. The Workshop — A creative experience she'll actually make time for

The rarest gift you can give a mom: dedicated time to focus on herself and something that isn't for anyone else. An Opus workshop — beginner-friendly, low-pressure, and genuinely enjoyable — does exactly that. Pair it with a gift card and a small sketchbook, and you've given her a whole afternoon to look forward to.

Good for: The mom who's ready to reconnect with creativity and just needs a reason to prioritize it.

Creative Activites for Her To Do On Her Own Time

7. The Kids & Mom Combo — For families gifting together

Turn Mother's Day into a moment, not just a gift. A simple creative kit that kids and parents can use together — drawing, painting, exploring colour — becomes a memory. Some of my favourite thirty-minute windows have been sitting beside my daughter with markers and a sketchbook, no agenda, just watching where it goes.

This is the gift that turns an afternoon into something worth remembering.

Good for: Families who want to give something meaningful — not just another object.

Creativity has a way of returning when we make space for it. It doesn't ask for perfection, a dedicated studio, or hours you don't have — it just asks for a starting point. This Mother's Day, give the creative woman in your life exactly that.

Whether she's returning to a practice she set aside years ago, exploring something completely new, or deepening a creative life she's already built — there's something at Opus that meets her exactly where she is.

These are just a few ideas to kick-start something really special. Rather than another bouquet of flowers this year — think outside the box. Get creative with it.

P.S. If you're the one reading this and not the person doing the gifting — go ahead and send them a hint. You deserve it. And if nothing on this list lands under the tree, come into Opus and treat yourself. Because that counts too.

From first mark to final frame, we're here for every stage of the creative journey.