Juliana Naufel’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Juliana Naufel. Check out our conversation below.

Juliana, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
This year has been all about letting my joy lead the way after a couple of years of navigating grief. I’ve been on a journey of rediscovering hobbies and little things that makes me feel happier. Every week I am picking a small flower bouquet to bring more color and inspiration for my home. I am also taking weekly Belly dance classes and bi-weekly singing lessons and those moments end up being some of the happiest of my week. Yesterday my husband and I also adopted a baby chameleon named Sanji. He’s the cutest and is already bringing a lot of joy in our lives.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi everyone! My name is Juliana Naufel and I was born and raised in Brazil. The past 3 1/2 years I’ve been splitting my time between Brazil & USA. If I had to define myself in a nutshell I’d say that I am a multi-passionate creative with a mission to bring more joy to my days and others through art, creativity and wellbeing practices.

In human design I am a manifesting generator, and in astrology I am a Gemini Stellium (with 5 planets of my birthchart in Gemini). This means that communication, community, belonging are super important to me and to my work. It also means that I thrive when working in different projects and ideas. Focusing on just one thing can lead me into feeling a lack of inspiration and purpose.

In January 2020 I created Naufss Studio, a brand to connecting the threads of everything I do and offer. Part of my work is being a mixed-media artist. Embroidering messages of hope in vintage photos led me to 50+ exhibitions in all types of places all over the world- from coffee shops, to libraries, to galleries and museums. Lately I’ve been exploring a new aesthethic that is still inspired by vintage photos, but creating a colorful, whimsical universe with paint and thread. Apart from offering my artworks and limited editions independently through Naufss Studio, I also collaborate with exclusive collections for PxP Contemporary (online gallery) and Kobbi Gallery, São Paulo, Brazil.

This October I launched “Art for Joy Club” – a Patreon membership that you receive a signed 5x7in mini print and a letter in your home with reminders, reflections and inspiration at a very affordable price – $9/mo! This project is still very new, but very dear to me. I love being able to connect with my community in this way. It feels more personal sending them letters via mail to spread a little more positivity out there than simply connecting online.

Embroidering photos shifted my life in so many ways and showed me that it is a powerful way to make amends with your past and move forward with grace. Hosting workshops and seeing the healing aspects of it led me to a Masters Degree in Art Therapy. For the past 4 years I’ve been working as an art therapist focused on art for self-discovery and art making as a way to heal, nurture and transform. Apart from the Art Therapy degree, I am also a Reiki Healer Level 3 and have a Certification in EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as Tapping. I bring all of those areas and modalities when supporting my clients. The Creativity and Wellness branch of my business is service based. Throughout the year I offer online art therapy groups, art therapeutic workshops and courses for art and self-discovery. Some are recorded – like “Stitched Memories: Celebrating Life with Embroidered Photos” while others are hosted live. I also take 1:1 clients in my Art for Joy & Self-Discovery Program. Art, Energy Healing & Creativity are the anchors to embrace more moments of joy and wellness in your days and finding more balance in your life through creative expression.

Apart from those two branches of my practice I also co-founded Photo Trouvée Magazine with my art bestie Twiggy Boyer. We’re a platform highlighting artists using and inspired by vintage and family photos. I definitely keep myself busy with those 3 different types of offerings, but each of them informs the other, and I couldn’t have it other way! 🙂

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up I always heard that I was shy and quiet. With a lot of therapy and self-discovery I found out that that is not true at all! I love talking and expressing myself in different ways. I think I believed it because I have a very talkative sister and in a way I felt invisible whenever I tried to say something at the dinner table, so I kind of just kept my thoughts to myself. Joining the school’s musical theather group in High School helped me open up and just maturing in general. Once I found people whom I felt safe and comfortable to be myself and were interested in what I had to say, my extrovert side blossomed. Embroidering photos also gave my voice back and made it easier to express myself.

Sometimes we hear something so often that we embrace it as part of our personality. Inner work is so important because it allow us to identify what is our true essence. It might be indeed what you’ve heard, but it could also be just other people’s projections on you. You get to uncover your soul, your characteristics and how do you feel comfortable navigating this world.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I first learned how to embroider in 2016 I thought I was simply saying yes to a new hobby. At the time, I was still struggling a lot to cope with a big T that I was a victim of a couple of years earlier. Life was really challenging in my teenage years and early twenties.
With time, I stopped hiding my mental health struggles and used art to keep going. When I learned how to embroider, I found my voice for the first time. Without even noticing, I started making art to heal, to cope, and to suture the pain and challenges that I was navigating. I felt empowered for the first time to tell my story and to connect to others who had suffered similar experiences.
Embracing the pain and the marks that certain events left on me also was an invitation to understand that even though I was a victim, I could still be the main character of my life and story. My pain was chanelled into activism, my voice was heard through my art and I felt more power than ever before. For the first time I was in charge of my present and future. I learned to navigate life with this new built resilience, acknowledging that the pain, trauma and all the hurt were part of my story but that I didn’t need to be stuck on it anymore.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My biggest mission, not only in my work but at a personal level is spreading messages of hope, of joy and affection, because life can be too harsh and oftentimes we feel powerless and hopeless.

From a very young age I struggled with my mental health. Navigating a severe case of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, big trauma related to gender violence and other events that affected me profoundly, I didn’t believe that I could ever experience joy or inner peace for the longest time. With time and support, I got better and started living in more alignment with my values and what really mattered to me. I started experiencing a loving reality and for the first time, I started feeling good about myself and my life.

This internal shift showed up in how I expressed myself creatively too – so I started embroidering uplifting messages in vintage photographs. I also decided to share my story, hoping it could remind and inspire others that even though we cannot change the past and what we’ve been through, there is still an opportunity to live a gentler life.

Everything we do is infused with the energy in which we do it. I am always trying to focus my intention and my energy into promoting the changes that I want to see for a more loving world to us all. Spreading those messages through my artworks and art therapy practice, as well as on how I aim to interact with others and my surroundings is a lifetime commitment and journey.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
Honestly there are so many answers to this question, but here are my favorite ways to feel most at peace.
Spending time with my husband and loved ones simply by connecting and enjoyoing a good conversation over a meal makes me feel at peace. Cooking also makes me feel grounded and at peace. Art making always soothes my soul and helps me feel grounded, so wether it is for my “serious” work or just art as a hobby, I am making sure to block out time in my week to nurture myself in that way. And last but not least spending time in nature – you truly remember how abundant life is and how we are connected to everything when out on hikes or enjoying the most beautiful scene.