2026 & Grateful

A SPECIAL WISH FOR YOU

I hope that you had a wonderful festive season for the holidays. Here at home many of my gifting bonanzas were inspired by the Danish/Norwegian winter tradition of Hygge. ​

​https://www.scandinaviastandard.com/what-is-hygge/.

Hygge celebrates warmth, the lighting of a candle, relaxing activities, laughter, comforting food and drink, and gathering with favourite friends and family.

I wish for you a season for 2026 of warmth, kindness, relaxation, mindfulness, and meditation enjoying the activities that you love the most for 2026.

You can view inspirational gift-giving on Etsy under get well soon for Hygge and other ideas. A very wonderful and relaxing special New Year's wish to you and your loved ones!

NEWS

After a shocking year for me health-wise, with successful life-saving surgery in October in Nanaimo, I am very happy to be here. I am grateful for my father, family, surgeon and the kind nurses, and simply just to be here in the moment in gratitude in 2026. And I am grateful to God for showing me the path that I need for continued health.

I was forced to drop everything and suddenly assemble my will very quickly and as a seasoned writer and thinking of so many people that I love, the will ended up totaling at least 26 pages much to the horror of my lawyer! Thankfully I made it through the surgery and am still here to enjoy life with you.

About healthy habits and vices. I gave up everything! From sugar, to meat to all recreational pleasures like alcohol, caffeine, etc., I am now proud to say I am as fully "straight," as one can be. (Note that I never did drink alcohol though.)

As a new vegan, with cheats every so often, I am feeling much better with my 2026 gentle exercise plan. I have chosen walking and ancient traditional Tibetan and Chinese Lymph exercises as I gear my way along to Yoga and Qi Gong! I am excited for a new start in 2026.

How about you? Have you made a New Year's resolution yet? I will be making my yearly Vision Boards soon. If you would like to join me or would enjoy any Vision Boarding tips, just message.

As I recovered from surgery I was enjoying painting abstract with acrylics after a long absence. I am still working on my brushstrokes as a hobbyist. I enjoy art to relax.

In December after I had recovered, I got to work on two new jazz compositions, one meditative, and one hard-boppish dedicated to three separate friends. I love dedicating my songs to people I know or who inspire me. I am excited to continue composing and to be getting my instrument parts together gradually for an eventual jazz album release down the road.

Did you face difficult challenges in 2025? Were you also problem-solving?

I have decided to simplify my life and to downsize and to move into a smaller dwelling for less stress and a simpler lifestyle. If you would like a de-cluttering buddy or think that you need online clutter coaching, message.

If you live on Vancouver Island, I will be selling gardening, garage, kitchen, decorative, seasonal and household items and books with some arts-related and creative items from my home in the next months. If you need anything for your space, let me know, just shoot off a message and I will take a peek to see if I have it here for you and then I can give you a fair price. And we can meet for a friendly coffee or a drop-off.

OTHER NEWS

I very much enjoyed adjudicating in Grants/Grantwriting and judging music at the MiMc Awards through Music in Motion Canada this year. You can hear the winners that were chosen here in Scene Magazine. Congratulations to all the talented participants and the final winners!

I continue judging music talent throughout the year for the Polaris Music Prize and the DownBeat Critics Poll and other organizations. I look forward to hearing your project!

Emerging and professional recording artists can consult with me for grantwriting and study the music industry, polish any writing skills or press/publicity approaches with mentoring and coaching sessions with me in 2026.

OCEANVIEW GUITAR & CREATIVE SERVICES

l offer expert guidance in guitar (beginners are welcome!) I am registering new students now for January 2026 with all services! Spots fill up quickly so message (hit reply) or click BOOK HERE below to reserve your spot(s)! Prices are in USD. (Are you Canadian? Just Google your chosen price to convert from USD to CAD on Google to assess the price.)

​Beginner guitar lessons are here at 39% off! I am also offering deals for all services including Grantwriting.

Re: Grant Writer, Press and Publicity​

For recording artists and creatives: I offer press, publicity, grant writing skills and film assistance, and brand strategy, supporting creatives from opera companies to JUNO and Polaris Music Prize artists and emerging writers, musicians and filmmakers/directors.

30% off is extended into the New Year January 2026. Did you see a service or a workshop that is not marked down, but would like to receive 30% off? Choose your service and use the 30% OFF Discount PROMOCODE is I3X5499 in your shopping cart (click the guitar). Use the code in the gift and discount code section after clicking CHECKOUT.

Conditions: **PROMOCODE does not apply to already marked down on sale services. The senior discount is for ages 65 and up. Disabled clients (all disabilities) will also receive the discount.

Want more information or have questions? Give me a call from 9 am to 8 pm PST at 1-250-668-3589. Online lessons and classes and workshops are offered in the USA and Canada and in Nanaimo, BC in the studio.

SERVICES SUMMARY OF OCEANVIEW GUITAR LESSONS & CREATIVE SERVICES

​Guitar Lessons​
​Coaching and Assisting Recording Artists Publicity and the Media Workshop​1.5 hour Coaching or Mentoring Session​
​Sound Bathing​
​Film Lessons for Youth​
​Grant Writing or Writing Services​
​Guest Blogging on In the Zen​
​Guesting in Kerilie McDowall's Newsletter​
NEWSLETTER ADD ON:One Social Media Post on 8 Platforms​

Book a time to chat here:

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FILM UPDATE

Update: Scene Magazine announced it on Instagram, and here is the past article I was invited to write by Ontario's Music in Motion Canada about my short jazz documentary about the life of 20-time award-winning producer/bassist jazz musician-composer Rick Kilburn entitled, In the Zone: Rick Kilburn! View the film trailer below. In the Zone: Rick Kilburn » Scene Music Magazine!

In the Zone: Rick Kilburn is a feel-good, happy and inspiring film with zero violence and is completely “clean.” It was made just before the pandemic and has won 13 awards, the 13th was from the WIN Nanaimo Women of Influence Awards Creative Innovator Award in February 2024.

I felt so humbled and honored to be recognized with the crew and cast by the Nanaimo community. This was work that could not be acknowledged prior due to the pandemic entertainment industry lockdown from March 2020 to May 2022 in Canada. It felt really great to see the crew and cast get acknowledged locally publicly.

The film has already been seen globally and needs to conquer the world! From South Korea, Japan, China, France, London, Berlin, Toronto, BC, Hollywood, Las Vegas, to Switzerland and Australia, the film is getting around!

FILM FESTING CITIES, SELECTIONS, AND NOMINATIONS

Hollywood

Las Vegas

Hong Kong

Seoul

Tokyo

Toronto

Calgary

New York

Brooklyn, NYC

Montreal

Milan

Sweden

London, UK

Fererra, Italy

Paris, France

Switzerland

Berlin

Los Angeles

Vancouver, BC

Canada

San Francisco

Brisbane, Australia

Los Angeles
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Vancouver

Rome

Barcelona, Spain

Victoria

Cannes, France

Utah, USA

AWARDS

Film: In the Zone: Rick Kilburn - 5 Best Short Documentary Awards: Hong Kong International Film Festival 2021, Toronto Independent Film Festival of CIFT, Japan International Film Festival, London Monthly International Film Festival, Vegas Movie Awards, Best Director, Seoul International Short Film Festival, Best Web & New Media: IndieX, Indie Short Fest, Independent Shorts Awards, and more. Recipient of three technology Hollywood film awards: Best Web/New Media. Best Inspirational Film: Vegas Movie Awards. (In the Zone: Rick Kilburn has received global film awards from London, Milan, Toronto, Japan, Las Vegas, Hollywood, China, South Korea. 10 nominations: Berlin, Paris.)

PAST SPEAKING EVENTS, GUESTING, ARTICLES, PRESS

OMG Talk

All About Jazz

Nanaimo Magazine

Women's Spirit Festival

Radio Victoria

Founders Time

Abundant Woman Podcast

ONStage Podcast

What's Next (radio)

Character Driven (radio)

Hot Air CBC Radio

COOP Radio

Afro News

Nanaimo News Bulletin

Times Colonist

Film Daily

Toronto Film Magazine

Montreal Independent Film Magazine

That Eric Alper

PQB News

Guitar Player Magazine

Terminal City

Beyond the Curve International Film Festival

FilmHAUS

MORE

Due to being dedicated to simplifying my lifestyle I am focused on music and other arts-related activities and have put any personal projects of brand new filmmaking/directing on hold for the near future. I am still open to collaborating as a Director's Assistant with other filmmakers. You can view my resume at Film Freeway under Kerilie McDowall or at the The Vancouver Island North Film Commission (INFilm) under Avebury Moon Music & Film.

I would like to finish up the few last touches on post-production to distribute the film. Donors and friends are invited to make a donation by e-transfer at aveburymoon@gmail.com or Pay Pal at keriliemcdowall@gmail.com.

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All film investors and potential donors are invited to get a free link to view the full short documentary In the Zone: Rick Kilburn for future educational distribution, or to view it on Film Freeway. We will be collaborating with one of the USA's top nationwide Los Angeles film professionals. Message and I will send you the private link and fill you in on the exciting and post-production party gathering details!

With costs like future regular formatting editing, close captioning, additional add-on filmmaking, employee staffing costs, incorporation, commercial insurance, marketing, website creation, travel, memberships and user fees, your donation or investment to In the Zone: Rick Kilburn, In the Community can make a world of difference!

I am open to discussing collaborations and offering sponsor ads in the In the Zen blog.

Donors: Enjoy an eight hour creative or business workshops gift with Kerilie McDowall for all donations of $2500 and up.

Or 10 private 2 hour workshops totaling 20 hours for gifts for donations of $10,000 or more.

To assist the regular island film and music community: I will share your name or business name, title, and 30 word star bio FREE in the new Stars In the Community feature in the In the Zen Blog.

All non-anonymous donors and investors will have their business name featured in Star Donors in the Community. Investors can request a full story interview article in the In the Zen blog. Send your 30 word bio and the rest of your details or get in touch to discuss, here.​

Read a Quick Bio about Kerilie McDowall HERE! ​

MORE information: BIO , BIO 2 , and /or BIO 3. Testimonials info. and Awards HERE.​

New students: Feel free to reach out and let me know how I can best assist you with your 30-minute FREE GIFT and I will mark your session on my calendar!

NEW YEAR LIGHT VEGAN RECIPE

Yes I am a new vegan who cheats occasionally! Here is what has been on the menu lately!

Mt. Benson Super Monster Salad (gluten free!)

by Kerilie McDowall

(1 large serving, double it for 2)

1 cup or more of washed organic romaine lettuce

1/2 large organic garden beefsteak tomato

6 organic cherry tomatoes

1/4-1/2 cup organic black beans or 2-3 Tbsp organic hommous

1 serving of organic tofu sauteed in organic sesame oil with 3 tbsp. of sesame seeds and 1/8 cup small organic chives or green onions

4 large organic mushrooms of your choice

1 handful of organic walnuts

1/2 handful of fresh chopped organic parsley

A sprinkle of fresh broccoli sprouts, or bean sprouts

A good sprinkle of organic hulled pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and sunflower seeds

For those who use dairy add feta cheese. (Vegans add sprinkles of nutritional yeast.)

Dressing:

1/4 cup of organic extra virgin olive oil to taste

5 tbsp of red wine vinegar

1/4 cup of organic balsamic vinegar with 2-3 crushed organic garden garlic cloves and seasoned with organic Celtic sea salt and organic pepper. (Or use President's Choice organic balsamic vinegar salad dressing.)

Seafood version: Add 6 wild caught prawns instead of tofu with a squeeze of 1/2 organic lemon, juice of.

Detox version: Add 4 tbsp of cilantro and/or arugula leaves.

** for a fresh zing add chopped organic mint leaves and or goji or blueberries!

To blend the flavors, pre-prepare and refrigerate the dressing for 1-2 hours. It will taste better the longer it is in the fridge. If you like you can crisp up the salad in the fridge, too.

You will eat this salad recipe up fast so feel free to double or quadruple the recipe, my family thinks it's delicious!

CONTACT

Whether you're looking to invest, donate, shred on the guitar like a pro, master your favourite songs, need grant writing help, want to take workshops, or need expert support for your creative or film projects, you've come to the right place!

Need mentoring or lessons for yourself or your students? Visit: SERVICES, Find out about Kerilie McDowall's music, film and B2B services in the page tabs from Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services.

With my business Avebury Moon Music & Film in the community I am offering keynote speaking appearances, webinar, summit, and festing coaching spots to those who are interested and creative workshop topics and expertise with discounts for seniors, the disabled, and non-profits and schools.

Visit my website at https://kerilie.com to learn more about services and take a peek at workshops in the STORE to receive exclusive tips and AWESOME DISCOUNTED future offers.

​https://kerilie.com/contact (or click reply) 1-250-668-3589 in Nanaimo, BC. Services are available in studio and online in Canada and online in the USA.

Warmest,

Kerilie McDowall
Founder/Owner
Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services and
Avebury Moon Music & Film

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Connect here! Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services is on Facebook and Insta!

Facebook: Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services​

Instagram: Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services​

Recording artists: Book a $100 CAD ($70 USD) coaching session or consult.

Award-winning TV Director/radio host, jazz guitarist, and composer. Polaris Music Prize juror/DownBeat Critics Poll judge Kerilie McDowall instructs and coaches guitarists, creatives, writers, non-profits, businesses, on-the-rise musicians, and new film directors at Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services in Nanaimo, BC, Canada.

Prices in USD.

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©️2026 Kerilie McDowall. All rights reserved.
​https://kerilie.com 1-250-668-3589. @keriliemcdowall