This month’s DWYL news round up is brought to you by our senior Editor, Rachel Kempton.
We have some very exciting news to share this month… there’s a new arrival at DWYL HQ!
Our coos and congratulations go to Beth and Paul who welcomed their second daughter, Maia Seren Bailey Kempton, into the world on Sunday July 19. It’s a magical time and we wish them all the very best as they start this wonderful new chapter as a family of four.
There is, of course, lots more news to report this July too..
1. The Do What You Love e-course is in its final week and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to see so many people embark on their own personal journey to doing what they love. It makes us very happy to see everyone embracing each stage of the course, and getting so much out of it. It’s also great to know that the hard work that goes into designing and creating our content pays off.
2. The Little Beach Hut of Dreams has opened its doors again! We’ve already welcomed a number of ‘Dreamers in Residence’ to our little sanctuary by the sea and they’ll be sharing their experiences via guest blog posts throughout August. UPDATE: The Little Beach Hut of Dreams has been sold as we no longer live in Brighton and only residents are permitted to own beach huts there. This post has been archived for reference but we are no longer accepting applications for Dreamer-in-Residence. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Dreamers-in-Residence for being part of our adventure, and to Towergate Insurance for awarding The Little Beach Hut of Dreams runner up position in Beach Hut of the Year 2015. She was very proud!
3. Finally, we’re sad to say goodbye to our Marketing Officer/Community Manager Rose Radtke who is moving on to pastures new. We only worked with Rose for a few months but in that short time she proved to be a valuable member of the team. She is a very special lady with much to offer the world and we wish her every success in the future.
An update on our collaborations
1. The Global Talent Search is nearly here – and it’s an amazing opportunity to change your life! The Grand Prize winner wins two years’ international representation from Lilla Rogers Studio, plus a host of covetable product licenses, and a series of prizes to support the development of their professional career. You can register here today!
2. Our early bird offers for Make Art That Sells end on July 30 so don’t miss your chance to register. As an early bird you’ll get bootcamp for free when you take MATS Part A, MATS Part B or MATS Creating Collections for Home Décor in 2016. You’ll also save £99 on your next career development course.
1. Summer School is here! Back for a second year, hundreds of creatives are currently taking part in Summer School 2015 – a truly special event which is uniting people across the globe. The first galleries have now been published and you can view them here. As you’ll see, the quality of work is just outstanding.
2. Meet Rachael Taylor at Printsource New York on August 11 & 12. On both days you’ll find Rachael in The Future Cafe at Printsource New York from 4.30pm, as this is where the colour and trend seminars will take place. Rachael will be joining the likes of Pantone and Trendstop on the stage to deliver two fascinating presentations (one each day) about the surface pattern design industry, her journey to success and the opportunities for other designers. Unlike other talks at Printsource, Rachael’s is free to attend so if you’re going to the show, you won’t want to miss it. Find out more here.
3. Registration opens for September’s design courses: Are you interested in becoming a successful surface pattern designer? Are you new to surface design and want to discover more about what the industry can offer you? Or are you an established designer who’s looking to polish your skills? Wherever you are on your creative journey we can help you. Check out the latest courses from Make it in Design: Module 1 – Designing Your way, Module 3 – Monetising Your Designs and The Ultimate Portfolio Builder.
Thought of the month… the importance of family
“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” ~ Barbara Bush
As loving parents it’s only natural to question the amount of quality time we spend with our children – especially when we know how vital it is vital for their development and happiness.
The great news is that every little bit of time we spend actively engaging with our kids – whether it be reading together, having a cuddle, playing a game, doing a jigsaw, making music, flying a kite, cooking a meal, or learning a new skill – is quality time. A recent report on Britain’s children also found that youngsters who spend time talking to their parents regularly are much happier than those who don’t.
When life gets busy it can be easy to rush through the day, without pausing to really enjoy our children. Baby Maia’s arrival at DWYL HQ has reminded me about the importance of spending time together as a family. As the Polish proverb goes, ‘You have a lifetime to work, but children are only young once.’ Reading these blog posts got me thinking about how I can make more time for family fun in everyday life. If you need creative inspiration, check them out!
- 10 Creative Ways to Make Time for Your Kids which shares tips from the busiest mums in the blogosphere on making time for family fun.
- 9 Ways to Maximize Family Time: practical tips to help save time on everyday responsibilities so you can spend more time as a family.
Here’s to happy families,
Rachel
