Our third (and biggest ever) issue of MOYO Magazine. Issue 3 is out now! You can see it here. It includes:
Amy Butler on the business of design
Talking fashion and fabric with Josephine Kimberling
Behind the scenes at the Home Show
A new DIY column from Lil Blue Boo
Announcement of the winner of our Print & Pattern Scholarship
…and much more!
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The co-owner of the lovely shop where I found my perfect dress is being featured in a documentary TV programme on ITV on Thursday! Margaret Spencer and her team made my bridesmaid Heather and I so welcome when we first went in to try dresses, and the whole experience was a special one. Having had a vastly different experience in some snooty big name bridal shops in London, and having made the difficult decision to not go with the designer I originally chose, our time at Abigail’s Bridal Boutique in Leeds was a pleasure from start to finish – and we even left with a bottle of bubbly to take home and savour while we reflected on a fabulous day of shopping.
Margaret Spencer, co-owner of Abigail’s, stars on ‘The Wedding Shop’ on ITV this week
I also love that Margaret pursued her dream in her late fifties, investing her pension in creating this lovely shop, and starting her business when others her age are thinking about retirement. That takes guts, and I think it is brilliant. My own dress has been made for me and is waiting in the shop for my final fitting in a couple of weeks’ time (eek, bettter get down the gym…).
Of course that is a big secret, but for now I just wanted to share a few words from Margaret who is definitely a woman doing what she loves.
Dresses from the shop (I’m not giving away any clues about my own!).
1. How are you doing what you love?
I help brides make their wedding day special by helping them find a dress that they can fall in love with, and enjoy every moment of the experience on the way.
2. What makes your bridal boutique different?
I am absolutely committed to extraordinary customer service for every single bride. Purchasing your wedding gown should be a special experience, and I treat my brides as if they were my own daughters.
3. How did you get to be doing this?
I managed Confetti and Lace (the shop featured in the programme) for many years until the owner Abbi shared that she wanted to open a shop in Leeds City Centre. This was a massive a-ha moment for me, when I realised this could be my opportunity to work for myself and create the shop of my dreams. I invested my pension and Abbi and I became partners. I part-own and manage the shop, and I truly believe we have created the best bridal house in the area.
Margaret (centre) with her lovely team Jacki (left) and Jo
4. What challenges did you face along the way?
Finding the right premises was tough. We tracked all the available shops in Leeds, and found one which we really wanted but it had just been let. It was so disappointing as it was ideal. We had no choice but to look elsewhere and were just about to sign the lease on an alternative place when the original one came back on the market – it was meant to be! Funnily enough it is owned by the council – I was brought up in a council house and never thought I would end my days back in council property, but the premises are perfect! All I wanted was a thick black carpet and a beautiful girlie bathroom for customers. The rest fell into place.
Another major challenge was finding the right team. My gut feeling was to employ friends I knew and trusted. Many people advised me against taking on friends but I went ahead and they have been perfect.
5. What have you learned in the process?
I learn something new about people every day! One thing I know for sure is that although times are changing, girls still want the fairy tale and I’m there to help.
Margaret has been featured in every national TV magazine this week!
6. How do you feel about being on TV?
This week my face has been in every TV magazine and I simply can’t believe it – I’m famous at 58! I started work 43 years ago at the tender age of 15, and never expected this to happen to me. Back then I wanted to be a window dresser in Carnaby Street but my boss said I was wasted in a window and encouraged me to be customer-facing. I am so pleased that she did! I sold my first wedding gown in 1972 and I have always kept the passion for it. My dream is to have the best bridal house in Yorkshire – and I think we are well on the way!
I am grateful for the wonderful experience I had in Margaret’s new shop Abigail’s (not the one shown in the documentary) and wish her and her team the best of luck building her new business!
**UPDATE**
The Wedding Shop aired on ITV at 9pm on Thursday 28 Feb. You can watch it here:
Just found out I have been awarded a place in the ‘Top 42 under 42′ entrepreneurs in Yorkshire! This is a real honour in a region buzzing with start ups and exciting new businesses. These awards recognise ‘rising stars of business’ in the region, so I am looking forward to meeting all the other winners soon!
Thanks to my awesome collaborators Kelly Rae Roberts, Rachael Taylor and Lilla Rogers for their part in Do What You Love’s explosive growth, which has allowed us to help thousands of women all over the world to do what they love!
This brand new course is particularly exciting for us because we get to work with industry veteran Lilla Rogers, who is sharing what she has learnt over three decades as an illustrator and top agent. Lilla is an incredible woman – so knowledgeable and savvy, yet so philosophical and kind. She cares for her own artists like a mother hen, and I am thrilled that we get to expand her virtual nest through Make Art That Sells!
Filming Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers
There are more and more e-courses popping up all over the internet and some are better quality than others but generally I think this democratisation of education is fundamentally a really good thing. Gooodbye restrictions of location, timing, access etc, hello flexibility, anytime/anywhere availability, and international connections. Do What You Love has come a long way since we launched our first e-course two years ago, and we make it a priority to keep learning, researching, trying new things. When you have delivered courses to thousands of people in more than 50 countries, you soon realise that technology can be scary, but it is also fascinating, and is absolutely your friend if you can take the time to understand it, or find someone else who can!
We are often asked for hints and tips on developing e-courses, so I thought I’d share some behind-the-scenes images from the filming of Make Art That Sells with top artist agent Lilla Rogers, which opens for registration next week (we already have a massive waiting list to get on it if you are interested!)
I travelled to Boston last month to film with Lilla and our professional cameraman Kevin Balmer, who joined us from Portland. Prior to the trip we had spent hundreds of hours developing the curriculum, drafting the content, selecting images, building the virtual classroom, planning the production schedule etc all via the miracles of email and Skype. By the time we all got together at Lilla’s studio for four full-on intensive days of taping, we were so excited to get going with the filming piece. Fortunately Lilla is a natural in front of the camera, and was able to share her insights and knowledge eloquently, generously and often humorously on film. Her studio is a colourful, visual feast, full of real products that feature her artists’ licensed work, and we can’t wait to share the videos with participants when the course launches.
Here is a sneak peek of us at work!
Make up (always worth getting a professional on the case when you are filming in HD – thanks Maura)
Getting the mic on
Talking through the talking points!
Lights, camera, action!
Me in Producer Mode
Always time for some art from the illustrator in Lilla!
I hope you enjoyed that little behind-the-scenes tour! If you have ever wanted to learn how to make art that sells, directly from someone who has sold art for products worth over $100 million, then check out Make Art That Sells.
I have had my first wedding wobble this week – nothing to do with actually getting married – can’t wait for that! But more to do with the getting-things-done-by-the-wedding piece. My man and I spent a dreamy day on Sunday planning our service etc, but ever since the long to-do list we created has been weighing on my mind. Haven’t ordered the flowers yet! Or the cake! Or finalised the menu! I am normally a master of organisation and until now have been completely unstressed about it, but this week I just suddenly felt overwhelmed with the need for everything to be perfect, and done already.
But then my lovely man reminded me that whatever happens it will be perfect because we are going to become Mr & Mrs in the company of family and a tiny group of close friends, and it will be a happy celebration of love. It is so true, and deep down I know that, but that doesn’t stop me wanting to make everything by hand and make it all gorgeous.
I was up at 6am this morning sorting all my inspiration images and making lists (my default action when feeling worried about something), and two hours later I felt much better. Sometimes the big things can take on a life of their own which distracts you from the most important thing – WHY you are doing it in the first place. It’s true in business and it’s true in life.
So from now on, for the countdown weeks ahead, I am going to clear my diary of anything that isn’t a priority, breathe deeply, and focus what is really important: Transitioning from one phase of my life to another with the man that I love.
We are so thrilled to announce an incredible line up of top industry talent as contributors to the upcoming new course Make Art That Sells. Not only do you get access to Lilla Rogers, one of the world’s top agents, you will get industry insight and advice from a host of art directors, senior designers and others at the cutting edge. These include:
We already have a MASSIVE waiting list for this course, so if you want to be among the first to be notified (and bag an exclusive discount) then get on the waiting list now. Registration opens next Tuesday February 26 2013 when all course details, price and date info will be released.
‘Love’ by one of my talented business partners Rachael Taylor
I have never really made a big thing of Valentine’s day but this year… well I’m getting married in a few weeks’ time, people! So love is very much in the air, and I am feeling grateful and loved and excited and hopeful and all the good things that come with being about to embark on the rest of my life with someone amazing.
But I also feel the same about my dear business, Do What You Love. One of my treasured business partners Kelly Rae Roberts and I often talk about how our businesses are living breathing things, just like we are, and that we should care for them like people, talk to them, nurture them, champion them, love them. And that is something I am really feeling right now. I want to reach out and give mine a big hug.
There are so many awesome opportunities flying our way, new projects unfolding, spring cleaning of older projects, and on and on. In part that is due to the awesome collaborations I am truly grateful for – with Kelly Rae, with Rachael, with Lilla, and with others we haven’t announced yet (you know who you are!) – I love that I get to work with women like this (and our fab team!) day in day out.
But I want to take a moment to recognise that actually, the fact that I get to do what I love is largely because of YOU. Without your enthusiasm and support, your wholehearted participation in our classes, the stories you share about how they have changed things for you, and your being here, reading this, there would be no Do What You Love.
So this is a love letter to you.
Thank you for being here, for sharing this crazy wonderful business and life journey, and for your courage to follow your dreams.
May this day, and all your days, be filled with love
When it all gets too much remember this. Learn to say no. Hire someone to help you. Delegate. Choose not to do everything, so you can make it possible for you to do anything.
