Do What You Love

  (Left: Jo Packham, right: Leslie Shewring) For me The Creative Connection event was all about the people.  It was a huge event with over 700 creatives gathered from across the US and futher afield, each with something to share and a curiosity to learn from others.  It was a fantastic opportunity to hear fromread more >>

  I am opening up the doors of Do What You Love for a four-week work placement beginning Monday October 24. (***Please note this is a local opportunity for someone based in or near Leeds, UK).  Do What You Love is a young, dynamic company at an exciting stage of growth. This is a rareread more >>

Do you remember I told you about an explosive painting class I took back in February with the one-of-a-kind self-taught creative fireball Jesse Reno?  Well he kindly invited me to his studio in Portland and I spent some time learning more about his life as a painter, playing with his dog and marvelling at his raw unique paintings.  It wasread more >>

*** Today’s *shared stories* come from artist Nicole Docimo and nutritionist Sue Ann Gleason *** Nicole Docimo A funny thing happens when you become an adult.  All of the things you imagined for so long as a kid come along, but they’re nothing like you though they would be. I’m not sure I had a completelyread more >>

I am opening up the doors of Do What You Love for a four-week work placement beginning Monday October 24.  Do What You Love is a young, dynamic company at an exciting stage of growth.  This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a number of pioneering projects and see behind-the-scenes of a creative start-up. read more >>

(image by Kevin Balmer) A magical forest, a fantasy land. Chaotic and wild in places, serene and dreamy in others. A magenta and orange bird sits majestically on a twisted branch, surrounded by teal, gold and snow white leaves. A river of dreams rushes beneath – a private Shangri-la. As I watch Flora Bowley paintread more >>

Do you ever find yourself wondering how something really good happened?  That is what I am asking myself today, as I sit here in a cafe in Minnesota with internationally renowned mixed media artist and author Kelly Rae Roberts putting the finishing touches on a collaboration which has the potential to rock your world.  Asread more >>

*** Today’s *shared stories* come from artists Miriam Miller and Valerie Weller *** Miriam Miller I would say I am on my way for doing what I love in life. I have loved being a mom-which included being a volunteer, a gardener, a friend, a wife, a counselor, a housekeeper, a seamstress, a ‘chef’, aread more >>

I’m at The Creative Connection in Minnesota and the energy is fantastic.  I have so much to share, but for now I just wanted to give you a peek into a fantastic class I took with Leslie Shewring yesterday - Crafting with Washi Tape (possibly my dream crafting class!) (the postcard used is one of Leslie’sread more >>

Just wanted to pop in to remind you that the early bird discount (£20 off) for The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor ends tomorrow, so be sure to sign up if you want to benefit from this special launch offer!  Find out more and register here…. You are going to LOVEread more >>

Have you heard about ‘Mingle’, the new magazine from Stampington? It is all about creative gatherings and is sure to be full of delicious images and inspiring words.  I am excited that the Do What You Love retreat is going to be featured in the inaugural issue, out on October 1!  NB: For those of you likeread more >>

It’s been a while since I looked forward to a business trip quite this much.  After only getting back from our roadtrip round the US just a couple of weeks ago I am off there again!  First to New York, then to Minneapolis for The Creative Connection, and then on to Portland.  I have aread more >>

*** Today’s *shared stories* come from Jill Metz, Laura Gates and Johwey Redington *** Jill Metz In 2007 I was happy. But not the kind of happy that fills you up. I was satisfied but still hungry. I think that was the first step for me in doing what I love, realizing I wasn’t filledread more >>

(Image: Cover of ‘Kodansha Bilingual Encyclopedia of Japan) I am a wanderer at heart, but I am also Taurean through and through – which means I like to surround myself with beautiful things, and create a secure home.  This internal contradiction often pulls me in different directions, and right now has manifested itself as aread more >>

I am so excited to unveil this exciting project which I have been working on for the past few months…  It is a huge honour and privilege to announce a collaboration with incredibly talented designer Rachael Taylor… ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design featuring Rachael Taylor’ is the definitive guide to becoming a surface pattern designer –read more >>

  Yesterday I received a lovely email from someone thanking me for changing the course of their life.  We all influence other people’s lives in different ways, and there are people out there who have influenced the course of each of our lives. But how often do we take the time to let them knowread more >>

I don’t really know what to say about the Catskills.  Up in the mountains the views are amazing, and I can imagine it is a fantastic place to ski in winter.  But we had a bizarre experience there and surprised ourselves by not staying very long.  It was the height of the tourist season andread more >>

… I am sooooo excited I think I might burst… I cannot wait to share some big news on Thursday!  Let’s just say I have been working very hard on a collaboration with an awesome designer and we have something very special for you!    If you can’t wait until Thursday either, sign up below to findread more >>

*** Today’s *shared stories* come from Angie Fraley, Tamarisk Saunders-Davies and Marian Buck-Murray *** Angie Fraley I am absolutely doing what I love…..creating an extraordinary life out of ordinary moments while teaching others to do the same.  I do this through creatively blending the vehicles of art and yoga my (two biggest passions) to uplift andread more >>

So much beauty blooming in all corners of the world!  180 people in 20 countries stitched beautiful postcards with the theme ‘Bloom’ and sent their tiny works of art to new friends across the oceans.  The mosaic above is a snapshot of a few of the lovelies created.  See more in the Great Big Stitchedread more >>