Do What You Love

This one-of-a-kind stitched postcard, handmade with love all for me winged its way from the US across oceans and land to arrive today, safely, in my letterbox.  Thank you so much Susan Vincent Molinaro, for the care your took in designing something so thoughtful.  I love the phrase on the back: “like sands through theread more >>

Imagine the scene.  Ten people sketching furiously to a strict time limit of ten seconds, one life model pose after another, papers flying everywhere, tossed to the floor on each ring of the bell for a new pose, new piece of paper, new sketch.  A veritable storm of drawing paper and charcoal dust… 10 second sketchread more >>

Today’s Do What You Love interview isn’t really an interview.  It is more of a conversation, with one of the last real professional Icon Painters in Greece.  I dropped in to visit Dimitri Kolioussis in his studio on the beautiful island of Santorini when I was there on holiday recently.  Dimitri learnt all the importantread more >>

When I sat down at my computer this morning I noticed a heart-shaped tangle in the wire of my mouse Have you seen much love in the world around you today? *** See here for the latest on The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

… to get The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap show on the road! All around the world busy bees have been buzzing away at their sewing machines, with their hand embroidery needles, with paper, fabric, ribbon, words, images and anything else they can think of, stitching up a storm. And we are about to findread more >>

Doing nothing does not come easily to me, but island hopping in Greece was the perfect opportunity to take a step back, get some much needed rest, soak up the sun and have no schedule for over two weeks (except ‘swim time’, ‘ice cream time’, ‘dinner time’ etc – you get the picture).  It hasread more >>

(sign at Athens International Airport) Just had to share this awesome TED talk by Chris Guillebeau on tackling fear and giving ourselves permission to choose the life we want to live, and to do what we love Did that resonate with you? *** Back soon with more photos from Greece, where I spent lots of timeread more >>

Just back from a blissful couple of weeks island hopping round Greece with my man. A wonderful sunny break after too much rain in Yorkshire, and I watched in delight as my toes got slowly browner…  Have you gone barefoot lately?

Do What You Love interview: Kresse Wesling Meet Kresse Wesling, young sparky British creator of unique accessories for Hollywood superstars. Kresse is not your average fashion designer. She is one half of the very cool ‘Elvis and Kresse’ brand which took London Fashion Week by storm and has recently announced a collaboration with apple. She isread more >>

Friends are so precious, and losing one is so painful.  An old university friend of mine was killed in a hit and run accident on holiday last week.  I wanted to take a moment and use this space to honour his memory.  Part of me feels this is too personal to share, part of meread more >>

Imagine having NINE children… That is the joy and sunny chaos that fills the daily life of the lovely (and incredibly patient!) Debi Bouffard (and her childhood sweetheart Russ).  Debi asked me to write a guest post about my time spent travelling the world with UNICEF, the world’s biggest organisation working for children and children’s rights.  It’s aboutread more >>

This is the second part of the Do What You Love interview with Kathy Heslop (see here for part 1).  Kathy is an incredible woman who has lived many lives already, as professional musician, nautical globetrotter and serial entrepreneur who has seen multi-million dollar success for her creative businesses. We share a love of good wine,read more >>

Today is the last day to sign up for The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap! I had no idea how cool this was going to be – we have around 50 lovely people from all over the world signed up to create something special to drop into a stranger’s mailbox and brighten their day. Iread more >>