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The day I met the future King of England

Posted on 2010-12-06 at 4:54 pm.

Meeting Prince William

Last week I had the privilege of meeting newly-engaged Prince William, the future King of England. Wow, what a lovely guy he is. I have never been a huge fan of the monarchy, but meeting him changed that. I got the feeling he understands what real life is like, and all about. I just know he will make a great King.

I couldn’t resist but ask him about how he proposed to Kate Middleton. He blushed and said he was so nervous beforehand – in case she said no! In case she said no?? She is going to be a princess! Of course she wouldn’t say no!

I think I’d quite like to be a princess. How about you?

Do What You Love interview – Russell Crook

Posted on 2010-12-05 at 7:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

One of my favourite parts of Christmas shopping in London is staring at the mesmorising window displays in places like Liberty’s of London, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. I have often thought it would be a wonderful job to create those window displays, digging deep into the imagination to come up with something more magical, more sparkly and more inspiring than the Christmas before. So I thought I would ask a professional window dresser (or ‘visual merchandiser’ as they are called in the trade), to share some insight into this life.

(Image courtesy of Russell Crook, window of Liberty’s of London)

This Do What You Love interview is with Russell Crook, a freelance visual merchandiser whose client list includes Liberty’s, Nicole Farhi, L’Oreal, Disney and British retail giants BHS and George at Asda. Russell is from my home town of Southampton, but now lives in the arty town of Brighton on the south coast of England.

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Internationally-renowned book artist Rachel Hazell to teach at Do What You Love retreat in England (May 2011)

Posted on 2010-12-03 at 10:01 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Image credit: Kelly Whybrow)

I am hugely excited to announce the second of the three fantastic art teachers who will be joining us for the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in Yorkshire, England next May. Rachel Hazell, known as ‘the Travelling Bookbinder’, has made a career of creating extraordinarily beautiful books in extraordinary places – from lighthouses in the Shetland Islands to on board a ship in Antarctica.

(Image credit: Rachel Hazell)

Joining us from Scotland, Rachel will share her love of all things booky in her workshop ‘Maps, Charts and Other Discoveries: An Extraordinary Expandable Sketchbook Journal’. Rachel invites you on a literary quest of folding, following lines, cutting, composing, gluing and constructing.

One step at a time, with plenty of demonstrations and fool-proof exercises, there will be opportunity for wordplay and expressive adventure. Spread over three days, there will be time to make a literal and metaphorical journey. Building pages of content and layers of meaning into an utterly unique work or art that is private, personal, portable, precious and presentable – a papery expedition of exploration and discovery!

NB: It is likely that much chocolate will be consumed during this workshop…

(Image credit: Shannon Tofts)

Rachel Hazell’s motto is Read Make Love Books. She believes that everyone has a book inside them. Rachel has voyaged far in pursuit of good book art, and with three book-related Masters degrees and a plethora of teaching experience, Rachel is looking forward to another adventure with you.

Internationally-renowned book artist Rachel Hazell to teach at Do What You Love retreat in England (May 2011) static+badge retreat

More information will be available on the Do What You Love retreat website to be launched in December. This retreat will be cosy and intimate – small enough for everyone to get to know everyone – so places are strictly limited. Registration will formally launch with the new website in December, but if you want to be the first to know about it (and get in on the early bird discount), sign up for the new Do What You Love newsletter at the top of this page.

American painter Flora Bowley and British mixed media artist Priscilla Jones will also be teaching at the retreat!

Flora Bowley to teach at Do What You Love retreat in England!

Posted on 2010-11-30 at 11:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I am absoutely thrilled to share the news that American painter Flora Bowley will be teaching a three-day workshop at the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat in Yorkshire, England next May!

(Image: Tyson Robichaud)

Flora’s painting style is gorgeously unique, bursting with colour and beauty, and she is an incredibly gifted teacher. The one day class I took with Flora a while back was one of the most freeing days of painting I have ever experienced. So you can imagine how exciting it is that Flora will be travelling to Europe specially for this workshop, where participants can sink into three days of indulgent creating with this wonderful free spirit.

In “Bloom True – wild and delicious painting with Flora Bowley“, the class will explore a whole new way of painting from a space of freedom, non-judgment and experimentation. This process is about loosening up, letting go of expectations, having fun and allowing paintings to unfold naturally. The class will paint on giant canvasses, with access to acres of stunning countryside for inspiration and outdoor classroom space.

If you are able to join us, I can promise you will never look at painting the same way again.

‘Freed’ by Flora Bowley, acrylic on canvas 36″ x 36″

As part of the retreat’s creative enterprise sessions, Flora will also share some of her experience in making it as an internationally-acclaimed professional painter, who has licenced some of her work with Anahata Katkin’s ‘Papaya!’.

‘Thirty-six’ by Flora Bowley, acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 36″

Flora lives and works full-time as a painter in Portland, OR, where she is inspired by magical forests, abundant gardens and a thriving community of fellow artists. Flora’s love for life and spontaneous nature are clearly visible in her vibrant, easily recognizable paintings. Throughout the year, Flora enjoys travelling, teaching workshops and painting in colourful locations around the world.

Flora Bowley to teach at Do What You Love retreat in England! static+badge retreat

Internationally-renowned book artist Rachel Hazell and award-winning mixed-media artist Priscilla Jones will also be teaching at the retreat.

And then there was snow…

Posted on 2010-11-29 at 9:16 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

We haven’t had snow like this in England in November as long as I can remember. Down to minus 20 in some places and eight inches of snow expected in the next 24 hours.

I know it is nothing like you get in other parts of the world, but somehow snow seems to always take us by surprise here. On the news they keep talking about the travel chaos everywhere, but I am secretly happy about the quiet magic that falls over the countryside when snow comes.

We shuffled downstairs early this morning, before the rest of the world woke up, and sat with steaming mugs of tea looking out over the whiteness.

View from my studio early this morning

View from my attic office skylight

Our little garden

What’s the weather like where you are today?

Is it just me or is the year rushing past?

Posted on 2010-11-23 at 11:42 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I need to breathe.

To take a moment to stop, and just be.

To listen and reflect a bit before leaping ahead.

There are some huge things happening in my life in the next few weeks, not least the culmination of a project I have been working on for over a year, the launch of my new creative business venture (more very shortly I promise!) and Christmas in our new home.

It is all incredibly exciting, but also stressful. Scary even (except for the Christmas bit!)

I have a to-do list a mile long.

I cannot see the floor in my studio for the mess.

And I really don’t want December to come and go without taking time to reflect on the incredible year that will soon be coming to a close.

So I’m going to stop, just for a while.

To breathe a little.

And maybe even drop my to-do list in the bin and see what happens… I dare me…

***

How about you? Has the year flown past for you too? How will you make sure you find time to look back over the past year before December has come and gone?

Taking to the streets in the name of art

Posted on 2010-11-16 at 11:06 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Steaming cappucinos, yards of bunting, warm welcomes, gorgeous art by emerging artists and the chance to poke around people’s houses – what’s not to love about a local arts trail?

I discovered some gems on the inaugural Headingley Arts Trail this week, not least the vibrant paintings of Julia Keates, inspired by her travels across the world. Here are some of her works on display in her lovely home, where she paints in her large attic studio.

Taking to the streets in the name of art HAT2

Taking to the streets in the name of art HAT4

Taking to the streets in the name of art HAT5

Have you discovered any local artists near you lately?

What’s in a blog name?

Posted on 2010-11-12 at 2:20 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Tell me, why did you give your blog the name that you did? I am often fascinated by blog names, and wonder whether there is a story behind them, or whether they just popped into the writer’s head when they were creating their new space. Here are a few names I love:

Pilgrim of the Moon
There is a sweet love story behind this name but you’ll have to ask Judit if you want to know about it. I find this name is really dreamy.

Shin Shin
The name means ‘honest heart’ in Japanese, and Maki describes her blog as ‘little notes to my honest heart’.

Nectar and Light
Home of polaroid photographer Jen Altman, to me this name evokes a summer day – sugary sweetness and sunshine

Tangled Sky Studio
I used to love playing that game where you try to find pictures in the clouds, and this makes me think of a sky tumbling with clouds

Doorways Traveler
The title of Lisa Field-Elliot’s gorgeous photography blog suggests possibility, adventure, the unknown…

My own blog title ‘Do What You Love’ came from a deep belief that the world would be a better place if more people were doing what they love. More time spent on things that make you feel alive, connected, expressive and happy can only enhance the experience others have when they interact with you out in the world. Through this blog I wanted to give myself a space, and a kind of accountability, to do what I love (creating, having adventures, sharing stories) and put it out in the world.

How about you? What is your blog name and where did it come from? What other blog names do you love?

Making plans

Posted on 2010-11-12 at 10:57 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

It’s blowing a gale over here.

Winds of 90 mph in places, our bay tree was sent flying last night.

As the wind whips through the eaves and round the house, I am holed up in my attic office working away on my new creative business venture which I will share with you here very soon.

So very exciting – I hope you will be inspired to get involved!

Chicago city magic

Posted on 2010-11-04 at 4:12 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Having fun with my photos from Chicago, the last stop on my recent US adventure.

They aren’t my normal style. What do you think?

The top two are of Anish Kapoor’s amazing sculpture ‘Cloud Gate’ in Millennium Park. The third is of a smaller sculpture in the same park (‘Sacred Rock’, part of a special exhibition by contemporary Chinese artists), and the last picture was taken at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

If you like any of them, I’d be interested to know which and why…

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More posts from my recent US adventures: