Do What You Love

This month we celebrated one year of Do What You Love as a registered company (although the dreams have been in the works for much longer than that!)  So much has happened, including the inaugural Do What You Love retreat a full six months ago – as I was reminded by one of the lovely participantsread more >>

A production company working with the BBC is looking for great art  to be featured on hit programme ‘Show Me The Monet’ on BBC Two. (See here for a clip from the last series). As before, the Hanging Committee of three art experts is looking for great art to put into their prestigious exhibition in London whereread more >>

  Every Monday this space becomes a place where brave and inspiring souls share their stories about doing what the love – whether they are doing it now, or whether they are still striving to do it. I would love to share your story here, and give you this platform to help you reach a newread more >>

As a complete book addict and hoarder, I thought it was about time I shared some of my favourites with you!  In each ‘Weekend Book Club’ I post about a set of lovely books, with a different theme each week.  This week’s theme is TEXTILES.  These are the kind of books that make your mouth water, withread more >>

I’m not American and I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but I love the idea of a special day where you thank everyone you love for being in your life.  Recently I seem to have been quite hidden away from the world, busy working on some exciting but full-on projects.  While this has meant I have gotread more >>

It feels like I am slowly emerging from a cave – not any kind of horrible dark place, but just somewhere I have been hidden away like a hermit, working on three projects at once, furiously writing, editing and writing some more.  There is still a way to go and deadlines are looming but progressread more >>

*** Today’s *shared story* comes from artist Soriah Nulliah *** Soraya Nulliah I am an artist. From before I was even born…this is what I am. It’s what makes my heart sing… it’s what fuels and sustains me. However…I didn’t always know this or believe this. I was born into a family and culture thatread more >>

This weekend has been enveloped in a rich mist – a cloud of grey that has hung over the hills and kept out the light. But through the grey, here and there, bursts winter colour, all the more beautiful for there not being much of it. Have you spotted much winter colour your way recently?read more >>

Right, it’s high time for a bit of this… What mischief making are you going to get up to this fine Friday? *** The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design class is buzzing!  Class began on Monday but registration is still open until tomorrow if you want to join the party.  Module 1 won’;t beread more >>

It feels like I haven’t left my office for a month. So many deadlines, so much to do. Loving all the content but need to get out and stretch my legs. So today I am going to get myself a change of scenery, a long walk, and some wind in my hair. How about you? ***read more >>

*** Today’s *shared stories* come from art therapist Jozica Rade in Slovenia and artist Christy Nimeh in the US *** Jozica Rade   For me, ‘doing what you love’ means expressing yourself the best way you can – freely, and with an open heart…  It means going with the flow, forgetting about time, hungry stomachs,read more >>

I have always been a bit scared of drawing formally (still lifes etc) but I hugely admire people who can whip out a fantastic sketch in seconds and would love to be able to do that one day.  I do love peeking into other people’s sketchbooks though, and have many books which either display incredible talent orread more >>

(Image via Gypsy Girls’ Guide) Earlier this year I said that one of my goals was to get featured in one of Stampington‘s beautiful magazines, and now that has happened twice in two months – first with new title Mingle and now with the ever gorgeous Somerset Life – thank you world (and Christen Olivarez)!   (Image via Gypsyread more >>

  Rachael Taylor preparing an audio message for class Working with the very lovely and talented Rachael Taylor on the planning, design and development of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design has been such a fantastic experience.  I have learned so much from Rachael, and had such fun along the way.  I have loved divingread more >>

*** Today’s *shared stories* come from Silky Hart and Nichole Kellerman *** Silky Hart A few months ago, my husband made a most supportive and loving offer. He suggested that I take a year to devote to becoming an artist. He could see that I was feeling a bit scattered and frustrated in trying toread more >>

Last week I launched the Weekend Book Club with the theme ‘Paper’.  This week I am going to share some more of my bookshelves with the theme ‘PATTERN’ – which is very timely with the start of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design a week tomorrow!  In preparing for the class with Rachaelread more >>

   mummy dinosaur / baby dinosaur Remember remember The 5th of November Gunpowder, treason and plot… I have always loved the story of Guy Fawkes, the smell of bonfires, and the beauty of fireworks.  Yesterday we went to gather around a giant bonfire and watch the light dances in the sky.  The rain dampened ourread more >>

Image via the BBC The BBC has done it again. The new series ‘Frozen Planet’ contains some of the most stunning cinematography I have ever seen.  With the wonderful David Attenborough as your guide (wouldn’t you just love to have him as your grandfather?), it whooshes you from one end of our beautiful world to theread more >>

Is it just me or does November bring permission to eat mince pies and play Christmas music?  

Do you know the gorgeous mixed media work of Kelly Rae Roberts?  In the upcoming course The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, Rachael Taylor will be working with some of Kelly Rae’s pieces to show you how to take elements of mixed media paintings and turn them into patterns – which you canread more >>