CREATIVITY + INNOVATION Page 44 of 50

Do What You Love interview – Hannah Nunn

Posted on 2011-02-17 at 11:00 am.

Hannah Nunn is a designer/maker who owns a gorgeous lighting shop in the arty town of Hebden Bridge, in Yorkshire, England. Hannah built up her business from scratch whilst being a very young mum. Now her children have grown up and her business is flourishing, both offline and online.

The shop doubles up as her studio, where she crafts beautiful hand-made lamps from paper. I am delighted that Hannah will be joining us at the Do What You Love retreat in May, to share her extensive knowledge of design, manufacturing, production and retail from a small business perspective, in one of the retreat’s creative enterprise sessions.

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Do What You Love interview – Victoria Smith (sfgirlbybay)

Posted on 2011-02-08 at 8:16 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

It is a huge honour to welcome the esteemed Victoria Smith, aka sfgirlbybay for this Do What You Love interview. Victoria Smith is editor/stylist of sfgirlbybay, a San Francisco based design and decor blog. With a cult following of 20,000+ daily readers Victoria has been voted #10 in the London Times Top 50 Design Blogs, and MSN/Glo’s 10 Décor Experts To Watch. Prior to taking up blogging full-time, Victoria worked as a freelance art buyer producing photo shoots for advertising agencies and designers on accounts such as Condé Nast Publications. She has an Advanced Arts degree in Interior Design. Victoria talks to us about her life as a top blogger.

(Image courtesy of Victoria Smith)

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E-course feature: Christine Mason Miller, artist and author

Posted on 2011-02-07 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I am so excited about the stellar line-up of inspiring people whose interviews will feature in the upcoming Do What You Love ecourse. If you haven’t signed up already, register now! Class starts on March 14 and this is not to be missed. Over the next couple of weeks I will introduce the incredibly inspiring people who are going to share their thoughts, insights and advice in a series of juicy interviews for the Do What You Love e-course.

Today I am excited to announce that we will have an exclusive interview with Christine Mason Miller, artist and author of ‘Ordinary Sparkling Moments: reflections on success and contentment’.

Join us in class to hear Christine talk about cultivating awareness, and noticing the beauty all around, to help you identify your passion and ultimately do what you love. Class starts on March 14 for six weeks. Register now!

About the e-course

This online adventure will take you step-by-step on a path to discovering your true passion, and finding a way to make it a greater part of your everyday life.

In six weeks you will expand your comfort zone, nurture your playful spirit and use this to feed your creative soul. You will travel this path with a community of like-minded people from across the world, sharing your stories, forging new connections, and inspiring each other.

Based on the principle that adventure fuels creativity, a rich combination of thought-provoking posts, juicy interviews and stories will be shared, along with journal prompts, photo exercises, tools to explore your path and fun weekly missions.

If you throw yourself into it, you will emerge more confident, more curious and much more likely to end up doing what you love.

Do What You Love. Register now!

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Other exclusive interviews on the e-course include Holly Morris, the original adventure diva.

Holly Morris. Image courtesy of www.hollymorris.com

Holly is executive producer of award-winning PBS documentary ‘Adventure Divas’, correspondent for ‘Lonely Planet Treks in America’ and author of ‘Adventure Divas: Searching the globe for a new kind of heroine’. Join us to hear Holly’s thoughts on living a life filled with adventure, doing what you love. Class starts on March 14 for six weeks. Register now

Do What You Love interview – Priscilla Jones

Posted on 2011-02-03 at 9:20 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Priscilla Jones is an award-winning mixed media artist based in Lancaster, in the north of England who has exported her designs to Japan, the USA and across Europe, including freelance designs for greeting cards, wallpaper, fashion and interior fabrics. Priscilla’s unique art work in both 2D and 3D is known for its etherial feel and shabby chic colouring.

Priscilla is continuously exhibiting her work in exhibitions both nationally and internationally and is a freelance educator in Further/Higher Education and secondary schools. She also runs a programme of independant workshops and talks in galleries, museums and selected venues.

Priscilla will be teaching a delicious workshop – ‘Structure and surface: 3D sculpture with wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials’ – at the Do What You Love retreat in May.

Today we explore her work and influences and find out more about her creative business. (All photo credits: Priscilla Jones)

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Do What You Love interview – Rachel Hazell (podcast)

Posted on 2011-02-01 at 7:15 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Photo credit: Kelly Whybrow)

Meet Rachell Hazell, an incredibly talented book artist who resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, but frequently travels the world to make books in extraordinary places. Rachel will be teaching ‘Maps, charts and other discoveries: An extraordinary expandable sketchbook journal’ at the Do What You Love retreat in England in May. I caught up with her to discuss paper, Paris and penguins. We also talked about really important things like chocolate, artistic residencies and getting commissions. Apologies for all the laughter, it’s an occupational hazard!

Listen to the full interview here:

[audio:https://cdn.dowhatyouloveforlife.com/110201_Do-What-You-Love-interview_Rachel-Ha.ell.mp3|titles=110201_Do What You Love interview_Rachel Hazell]

(Photo credit: Shannon Tofts)

To find out more about Rachel please visit her website Read Make Love Books, her photo blog Obsessions of a Travelling Bookbinder or connect with her on Facebook.

More on the art, supplies and experiences mentioned in the interview can be found here:

(Photo credit: Rachel Hazell)

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See here for more interviews with inspiring people who are doing what they love.

100 days to go until the Do What You Love retreat

Posted on 2011-01-31 at 5:05 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

(Photo credit: Papakata)

Have you secured your place yet?

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This is me

Posted on 2011-01-25 at 12:15 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

So how did this crazy, mad, happy creative journey begin anyway?

Where did this artist thing come from?

And why does it matter?

Find out in my Art Saves story over on Crescendoh.com

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I am honoured to be Guest Curating on Crescendoh.com all this week. Pop over to see my collection of inspiring posts from other artists and writers.

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Join us in the stunning English countryside for the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat (May 11-15 2011). Combining creativity, enterprise and community, it will give you the time, space, tools and inspiration to help you do what you love. Choose from art workshops with outstanding teachers including painter Flora Bowley, mixed media artist Priscilla Jones and book artist Rachel Hazell, and put your burning creative business questions to successful entrepreneurs. See here for more details and registration.

saving time

Posted on 2011-01-24 at 9:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Time is precious

We try to save it, to make it, to manage it.

But sometimes it just seems to slip away.

Someone told me the word ‘chronophage’ means ‘time eater’?

I’m not sure if it is really a word, but I like it.

I think the online world is a chronophage.

So I made on little change in the organisation of my day, and it has made a huge difference.

I just separated my to-do list into ‘online’ and ‘offline’.

Now I get distracted a whole lot less.

And I have more precious time to spend on precious things.

How do you manage your time?

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I am Guest Curating on Crescendoh.com all this week. Pop over to read my Art Saves story, and see my collection of inspiring posts from other artists and writers.

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Gratitude

Posted on 2011-01-18 at 11:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

I have been completely blown away by the response to my new creative business venture, and am feeling slightly overwhelmed with gratitude.

My old blog had a healthy following of lovely souls, but I have had more visits here in 10 days than I had there in 10 months.

I have had a flood of emails containing both support for my dream, and shared stories of how this new site and Do What You Love philosophy has already inspired people to rethink what they are doing with their lives.

The first person signed up for the Do What You Love art and creative enterprise retreat within the first hour of going live. We have have creative souls signed up to travel thousands of miles to join us here in England in May, and I am so happy that so many individuals recognise the importance of investing in ourselves.

It is one thing to dream, but another thing for people to share that dream – and make something really special happen – that ultimately benefits us all.

I believe we all need each other to help each other to make ourselves the best we can be.

I really believe that if we are doing what we love, we can make a more positive and meaningful contribution to the world, and be happier as a result. I have believed this for a long time, but I cannot tell you what it means to me to know that there are so many of you out there who believe it too.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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Friday is the last day to take advantage of the £50 off Early Bird Discount for the retreat. What are you waiting for? Sign up and join us! It is going to be AWESOME (and it might just be the most important investment you ever make in yourself and your creative business).

Get a sneak peek of our gorgeous accommodation here.

Sew Somerset feature

Posted on 2011-01-17 at 10:00 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Priscilla Jones, one of the incredibly talented artists who will be teaching at the Do What You Love art retreat in May, is featured on the front page of the latest edition of Stampington’s Sew Somerset.

Priscilla’s mixed media work is gorgeous – she fuses wax, wire, paper, canvas, paint and stitch to create delicate fun 3d sculptures and paintings. Priscilla will be teaching ‘structure and surface: creating 3D sculptures with wax, wire, fabric, paper and found materials’. A delicious, hands-on, dive-in workshop. Not to be missed!

You have until Friday to take advantage of the special £50 early bird discount when registering for the Do What You Love art retreat. It is going to be so special. Register here!

Get a sneak peek of our gorgeous accommodation here.