Local women create inspiration

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Where there was once a debilitating illness there is now hope, a little magic and a whole lot of inspiration for one Strathmore woman who has used her artistic talents as healing powers following a life-changing illness several years ago.
Lainey’s Inspirations was born in April 2017. Elaine Svrcek learned that making things with her own hands could guide her healing process after being diagnosed with an undisclosed illness.
“There is so much therapeutic value in creating something with your own hands,” said Svrcek who has not been able to return to work but instead attends markets to sell her creations and wares. At the markets, she uses her experience and story to make a connection with people. She has learned there are many others like her who have gone through or are also dealing with illness.
Lainey’s Inspirations offers hand-crafted neck pillows, magic bags for pain relief, gemstone jewelry, bookmarks, temporary manifestation tattoos, rock art, aromatherapy jewelry, vehicle diffusers and essential oils.
One of the more unique items she creates are inspiration trees made of wire and gemstones mounted on hand-picked Alberta rocks. Svrcek and her daughter started making the trees together and although they are similar, they are also very different from each other as each style is unique yet still manages to complement each other.
“Each tree is made differently, either by inspiration from trees in nature or ones that I imagine… we collect the rocks (the trees) are mounted on from different places in Alberta. After we gather the rocks, we clean them and put a clear polish on them to bring out the colour and beauty,” said Cassidy Sullivan, 14, who started making the inspiration trees just under two years ago as a creative outlet.
Sullivan, who currently attends Strathmore High School, eventually hopes to become a veterinarian, and she said she believes it’s important to follow your dreams as it make people who they are and makes life more meaningful.
“I feel it is very important to express myself through art; it seems to be the only way that I can truly express how I feel some days,” said Sullivan, who enjoys creating anything artistic and uses her spare time to do photography, draw, paint and make the inspirational Mystical Trees by Cassidy.
Svcrek decided on the name for her shop to complement her healing process. Lainey was the nickname she was given by her grandmother, who she remembers as being very nurturing and affectionate.
“I chose ‘inspirations’ because it is such a hopeful word; a word of powerful creation and magnificent dreams. When I was really ill, and I had good days where I could actually create and make things, all of my hope and wishes for healing would go into my work; and it still does to this day,” said Svrcek, who has not been able to return to her former profession as a certified payroll and benefits specialist since her illness.
She has instead focused her time creating and following her business’s motto of making handcrafted creations and wares that comfort, bring joy and inspire others – something she aspires for all her creations and wishes her consumers can also feel.
Lainey’s Creations can be found on Facebook and will set up shop locally at the Strathmore Farmers Market Christmas Market on Nov. 24 at the Strathmore Civic Centre and at the Aspen Crossing Christmas Market on Nov. 17-18.
For now, Svrcek and her daughter hope to continue doing what they love – creating and connecting with people at the markets they attend, and for Svcek to continue her healing journey.
“If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that life is precious and nothing is certain … we need to do and be what genuinely makes us happy; what feeds our soul and inspires us so that we are able to truly be healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.”