CREATIVITY + INNOVATION Page 10 of 50

The top 10 things we have learned from five years of teaching online

Posted on 2016-02-13 at 12:37 pm.

Five years ago last week I opened registration for the first ever Do What You Love course. It was terrifying pushing the ‘publish’ button on my blog and the ‘send’ button on my newsletter. I say ‘newsletter’ as if I had a database of people to send it to, but I really mean the email I sent to my friends, and a handful of sweet souls who had stumbled across my blog online and been kind enough to sign up for bits of news from me.

The thing is, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had spent hundreds of hours and a couple of thousand dollars researching by taking other classes and reading a lot (because research is my default defence when I get stuck on something). But I had one thing absolutely right. I had a burning desire to share something with the world and wanted to make a difference with what I had to say. E-courses were still very much in their infancy, so I had to feel my way in the dark, but I refused to give up and worked things out as I went along.

Five years on that first course is still running (albeit with several updates and a complete image makeover) and I have criss-crossed the globe writing, creating and producing e-courses ever since. Some of those courses have grossed over £1 million each. Collectively they have helped thousands of people in more than 100 countries worldwide to follow their dreams and monetise their passion. I feel really proud of how far we have come, and humbled by the stories our graduates share with us day in day out.

Filming our latest course: ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-course Creation Masterclass‘

What have we learned in that time? Well, a lot, and most of it the hard way! We have invested thousands of pounds in filming and branding a course only to scrap it in a matter of months. We have changed the names of courses, pulled them apart and put them back together, been trolled, been imitated, had technical meltdowns and more. But we have come through it all still here, still loving it, so I want to share some of the main things we have learned along the way.

You know deep down when something is right or wrong. You know it in your body. You can feel it in your bones, and in your gut. Your heart sings when the answer is yes, and you should start running when you know the answer is no.
Things go wrong, but if you stay focused on why you are doing what you are doing, and who you want to serve with what you are offering, then things always work out. If you get distracted by the lure of more money for the sake of money, or more fame for the sake of fame, it always comes back to bite you. But if you focus on what really matters, your profile and your bank account will grow anyway.
Sometimes the things that seem like the biggest disasters end up being the greatest blessings. (Put that one on the wall to look at next time you are mid-disaster)
Some people will let you down and others will lift you up. You get to choose who you give your energy and attention to.
When you aren’t loving what you’re doing it’s time to change something.
People with technical expertise, particularly website developer knowledge, are worth their weight in gold. And it’s a lot cheaper to invest in good people early on, rather than wait until things go wrong.
Intuition is one of the most powerful weapons in your armoury. It takes bravery to use it but you must. Always.
Celebrating every step of the way is both fun and vital.
That we are blessed to live in a time when we can work from anywhere, connect with anyone and build a flexible lifestyle doing something we love.
That at the end of the day it’s up to you.

Isn’t it funny that hardly any of the really important things we have learned are actually about practicalities. People are so often terrified by technology etc, but in fact it’s the other things that really stand out after all this time. Of course we have learned a ton about the technical and practical too.

If you want to know what we have learned about the practicalities of teaching online (the how tos and what-not-to-dos, the ins and outs, the highs and lows, the lessons learned and fast track ways to do things—in short, a lot!) don’t miss our upcoming new class ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-course Creation Masterclass’ which distills everything we know and have learned into an online course to help YOU get YOUR e-course out into the world. Class launches on Monday February 29. Hop on the waiting list here.

So what have YOU learned in the last five years that could allow you to teach online?

Are you ready to reach, teach and profit? I hope so!

Beth

Is there an e-course in you? A sneak peek into our new course ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ (coming soon!)

Posted on 2016-02-01 at 5:41 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

On set recording our new course, ‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ last week

Just a few days ago I got an email from someone who has taken five of our online courses, which made me proud and happy… and angry. It went like this:

“This is a slightly random email, I just wanted to contact you after recently signing up to take part in an online course for start up businesses. I have previously completed (five of your courses) so I felt like I knew what I was doing with ecourse studying. Anyway, after starting and not completing this ‘start-up’ course with another provider I felt like I just had to tell you how amazing your courses really are. You have set the bar extremely high. I can only say I was disappointed at the way I have found this other ecourse was set up and run. In retrospect it is because of how well you have developed your courses, the content, management and interaction with your online community is second to none. Keep up the good work, you are helping people reflect on their lives and grow in their personal and professional lives. I will always be incredibly grateful I found your website and took part in your courses.”

On one hand, these kind words make me proud of our team, and the effort we put in to make our online courses powerful and effective. But these words also make me mad. I get cross and frustrated when I see that there are so many people out there teaching online courses that don’t work, are poorly or hastily put together, or are created with the sole intention of making some fast money.

Apart from being unfair on their students, those teachers are being unfair on themselves. Because teaching online is a brilliant opportunity to build your authority and reputation, to reach a global audience, and to make a real impact in people’s lives, while creating a flexible worklife and potentially hugely lucrative income stream for yourself, IF you do it right. Teaching the right course in the right way makes all the difference.

Pretty much every week, someone approaches us to produce an e-course for them. Much as we love collaborating, we have some really exciting things on the horizon, so the answer these days is very often “Sorry, but no.” Pretty much every day we get questions about how to create online courses that sell, with people wanting to pick our brains about their latest idea. In an ideal world I’d love to sit down with each and every one of them and chat through their ideas. But the reality is, these days I work about 20-25 hours a week, so it’s just not possible.

Interviewing the hugely talented Craig McDougall of Broken Physics for tips on video content

However, I do have a burning desire to help more people get their ideas, knowledge and expertise out into the world by teaching online. WHY?

Because it is a brilliant way to do what you love
Because it allows you to inspire others to do what they love
Because it can generate significant income, allowing you to live a more flexible lifestyle and be master of your own time, so you can do more of what is important to you
Because every single one of us has something to offer and share, and the world needs more alternative learning opportunities outside of the formal systems

So what is a girl to do? My solution is to put everything I know about creating online courses (which, after over five years in the game, is a fair bit), and put it into a masterclass so you can do it too.

‘Reach. Teach. Profit. The E-Course Creation Masterclass’ will be released on February 29.

If you want to start teaching online, hop on the waiting list to get an early bird discount when it is released.

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE PLACE

While you are waiting for the course to be released, I’d love to know what has so far stopped you from teaching online. Or if you are already teaching online, what do you think is missing from your current offerings? Please take our very short survey HERE to help us make sure we cover EVERYTHING you need in this upcoming masterclass.

THE GIVEAWAY PRIZE: One person who responds to the survey by Friday 5 February will win a free place on the course when it is released at the end of the month*.

If you want to know why I’m in the kitchen whipping up a sponge cake, you’ll just have to join us to find out!

Teaching is an honour, and guiding people through personal growth, creative exploration and career development is an incredibly rewarding thing to do. I hope you will take the leap to share your gifts with the world this year, and allow us to hold your hand as you make the jump. Get yourself on that list now, and take the first step.

Beth

*Prize non-transferable, no cash alternative available.

Do What You Love interview – Eliza Fricker

Posted on 2016-01-28 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

We’re delighted to bring you this interview with Eliza Fricker, one half of a talented husband and wife team who create classic, quirky British-made furniture and homewares. The pair launched their business, Baines & Fricker, at 100% Design in 2011 where their Harris Tweed rocker was a Blueprint finalist for Best New Product.

Steve and Eliza are passionate about creating unique pieces that last a lifetime, and this is the ethos behind their brand. From their studio and workshop in Brighton, UK, they create everything from utility furniture to craft, industrial architecture to street signs and their cool and quirky designs have been picked up by the likes of Liberty and Heals.

We couldn’t wait to catch up with them to find out more about the life they have designed, doing what they love… ~Rachel

(more…)

How I generated over $2000 for new adventures from stuff lying around my house

Posted on 2016-01-25 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

At this time of year I always get that feeling that it’s time for a clearout. It might be all the extra ‘stuff’ that comes into our lives over Christmas, it might be that urge to make everything look fresh and clean after the house has been undecorated after the festivities, it might be a hopeful look ahead to Spring. Whatever it is, I want to edit. In doing so I know that I will also miraculously edit my mind, and goodness knows it needs it with so much swirling around lately! And if I make some money in the process, then hello new adventures!

And so begins the sorting. You have probably heard of Marie Kondo’s bestselling book The life-changing magic of tidying. It’s a bestseller for a reason. The MariKon method is simple but genius. I read it when it first came out, and have rolled my tights and t-shirts ever since. From many years spent in Japan I know how space is at a premium, and as a result their storage solutions are many. But the difference with Marie Kondo is that she focused on reducing the amount of stuff, and keeping only what you really need, or what ‘sparks joy’. So it’s OK to keep that one pink tea cosy that your grandma knitted you when you got your first house, even if you always make your tea in a cup. But in doing so, by allowing yourself to cling onto one or two precious things, you are able to let go many other things that you don’t need or even really want.

I do my sorting in batches, one room at a time. And if there is a lot to sort, then one corner at a time. I am ruthless these days. I have five piles:

(1) Sell it on Gumtree/CraigsList/eBay or to independent shops

(2) Give it to a friend (but only if they really want it)

(3) Give it to charity

(4) Recycle it

(5) Keep it

(more…)

Last chance to join our life-changing e-course Do What You Love (Starts today!)

Posted on 2016-01-18 at 12:55 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

One of the best parts of my job is guiding people through the Do What You Love e-course journey, because I see them cracking open, unfolding and growing in front of my eyes.

I see people grow in confidence, make bold moves, discover new things about themselves.

They get a ton of ideas for getting paid to do what they love, and put together real plans for moving forward.

Crucially they reorganise their lives around what really matters to them, so they can do more of what they love every single day.

This is the ninth time we have run this course and the results continue to astound us. Just recently one of our course graduates said,

“I can’t believe it’s nearly a year that’s flown by since we took the course and how far I’ve come; physically, emotionally, personally and professionally.”

This is why we do what we do, and I why I started Do What You Love in the first place.

Class begins today, and this will be the last time we run it until the end of 2016 (because I’ll be working on a very exciting project which I will share shortly…)

CLICK HERE to register and begin your journey of self-discovery to find out how to do what you love, every day.

Hope to see you in class for a transformational experience to remember!

Beth

Do What You Love interview – Irene Smit

Posted on 2016-01-14 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

We’re delighted to bring you this interview with Irene Smit, co-founder of one of our favourite magazines, Flow.

If you haven’t seen Flow you’re missing a treat! It’s an inspirational magazine created for women who live busy lives, who enjoy making things, who are interested in practical philosophy and positive psychology, and who want to live in the moment and make different kinds of choices.

Over the last seven years Flow has become an international sensation. Having started out as a small Dutch magazine at the height of the economic crisis in 2008, it’s now available in four languages across 20 countries, proving that if you follow your heart and your passion, anything is possible. Packed full of papery goodness, it’s a wonderful celebration of creativity, imperfection, and life’s little pleasures. Enjoy! ~ Rachel

Irene Smit. Credit Marloes Bosch Fotografie

1. How are you ‘doing what you love’?

When we (that’s me and my co-founder Astrid van der Hulst) started Flow magazine we came up with the line: you can create the most beautiful things when you dare to follow your feelings. So that’s what we did and still do today: make a magazine that is based on our instincts, intuition, and that comes from our hearts. We are both creative directors of the magazine and all the products we make. We love what we do. We especially cherish Wednesday mornings when we sit in a nice coffeehouse, drink Latte Macchiatos and talk about the magazine and products we are making. We generate the best ideas during these inspiring sessions.

Co-founders of Flow magazine: Irene (L) and Astrid van der Hulst (R). Credit Marloes Bosch Fotografie

2. What did you do before this?

I was features editor in chief at Marie Claire magazine in the Netherlands.

3. How did Flow come about?

We felt it was time for another kind of magazine, a magazine that was about us instead of trends and fashion, about real lives and real people, with ‘life lessons’ about daily subjects we dealt with. Things like perfectionism, letting go, feeling guilty (towards our children, friends or family for not spending enough time with them), accepting life as it is, etc. Just before we started we both did a mindfulness course. It was really inspiring and it offered many valuable insights about life and how to get the most from it. We wanted to share that message, together with our passion for paper, creativity and illustrations.

4. What is the philosophy behind Flow and why is it so successful?

Flow is a magazine that helps your reflect on life. Flow celebrates creativity, imperfection and life’s little pleasures. We focus on four themes (feel connected, live mindfully, spoil yourself and simplify your life) and each section is printed on a different kind of paper. We also always add two paper goodies in each issue, like notebooks, calendars, postcards, etc. And we make special editions around one theme, like for example Flow Mindfulness.

Besides that, we also produce products like calendars, diaries and notebooks. I think we are so successful because Flow really comes from our hearts, and it fits so well in the zeitgeist. People are looking for new ways to live their lives: strategies to help them find their passion and purpose, escape the increasing pressures of the digital world, and to make time to relax and just be.

5. Flow is such an inspiring read. How do you come up with such great ideas for content?

Inspiration is never a problem for us. We look into our own lives, the things our friends deal with, read things in newspapers, and then we have tons of ideas for articles. As for the paper part, we love visiting children’s bookstores and stationery gift shops. You can do so much more with paper than print letters on it, and we find ideas everywhere for these paper presents in the issues. We add them because we want Flow to feel like a present, something you indulge yourself with and we want to surprise the readers with these paper gifts.

Me (R) generating ideas with Astrid (L)

6. The economic crisis hit in 2008, just as you launched your first issue. How did you get through this, and the digital explosion that followed, and what big lessons did you learn along the way?

The crisis wasn’t a problem for us in fact I think it helped us grow because we were reassured that people really did want to read more about the kind of subjects we were planning to feature in our magazine. At the time there were many issues with welfare and people seemed obsessed with wanting more – everything needed to be bigger and better – but the financial crisis brought about a shift in thinking. Now people seem more focussed on downsizing, living a simpler life, connecting to people with similar values and interests, discovering what really matters to them, etc. And these are the topics we cover in our magazine. I think people are spending less money on holidays in far away places and instead they are looking to make small changes to improve their overall quality of life and that includes enjoying every day pleasures like treating themselves to a magazine like Flow!

As far as the digital explosion: that’s not a problem for us, on the contrary, it fits so well with what we do. Our magazine and our products are for paper lovers who love the tactile feeling of paper and it’s this, combined with the endless possibilities the digital world brings, is what helps us grow. For example: we work with illustrators worldwide and we find them by social media. Pinterest and Instagram are invaluable to us as they enable us to connect with creative people all over the world. And through our website and social media sites we are able to let people all over the world know that Flow exists, give them a feel for what we do and offer a subscription to the magazine.

In the end we hope people go out buy a paper version of the magazine, but we are also delighted when people read our blogs, or comment on things we do on for instance Instagram. With help from social media we can be a platform for creative people worldwide. We have also produced some apps for tablets and iPhones, and we think there are tons of possibilities on the Internet for Flow. We don’t have enough time to work on them yet, but we have big plans for more online Flow-ish things.

7. What are your top three highlights since Flow started?

In 2010 we launched our first international edition, in English, in very low circulation (5,000 copies). That was a special day. Before that we received lots of letters from people all over the world who found us but could not read our magazine, and who asked us what Flow was about, and then they started to write us, saying things like: ‘what a great magazine, this is about me and my life, you feel like friends to me.’ And these letters came from everywhere, from Tokyo, New York, Sydney and more. Every time we receive a letter like this from somewhere in the world, we are so grateful.

Flow magazine – International issue 11

In 2014 we did a talk in a very beautiful bookstore in Tokyo: Tsutaya Daikanyama. It was wonderful to walk into a bookstore, see all our Flow products there and to meet Flow fans from all over the world. Last October we had a similar thing: we did a talk in New York, in Barnes and Noble bookstore on Upper East Side. We talked about our love for paper and hosted a workshop with illustrator Allison Cole. Again it was a really special day with some lovely inspiring people.

8. What gets you up in the morning? And keeps you up at night?

It’s not the magazine but my kids. Of course all the great things that are happing with Flow, the worldwide growth and the new products we are making, are always in my mind, but hey, in the end it is my family that counts.9. How would you describe the way you live? Do you ‘go with the Flow?’

Ha-ha, I wish! If I did ‘go with the flow’ I don’t think I’d be so inspired or productive, especially when it comes to the magazine. I am always busy, I get restless easily, I have tons of creative ideas, and I’m a real perfectionist. Sometimes I have to consciously stop my thoughts, particularly when they aren’t useful, and this is usually when I go off for a run or meditate. Astrid is sort of the same. We aren’t living a Zen-like life at all, but we try to be mindful in all we do.

10. How do you juggle being a great mum and having a fabulous career?

I have two lives. I work a lot when the kids are staying at their father’s house as we are co-parenting. When they are with me I make time for them. So, my working hours are very flexible. I work a lot at night or at the weekends when the children aren’t around. It feels great that I can combine my hard work for Flow with being a mum this way. I also think that part of being a great mum is to show your children how great it is when you’re passionate about your work, and how happy it can make you when you create things you like. I try to raise my children mindfully, so the wise lessons I learn from the magazine I implement at home. I hope that helps them in life.

11. What are the simple pleasures in your life?

I love allowing myself to have a relaxed Sunday morning with a pile of newspapers and café latte. Starting the day without any plans or to-do lists is difficult for me, but I really try. I live close to the beach and I have a very tiny beach house with a friend, and this is such a great place. Wifi often doesn’t work there and it is so quiet. I love looking at the waves, taking a walk on the beach, smelling the sea.

12. What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity is a very special gift to me and it brings many benefits: it enables me to come up with new ideas easily, find good solutions for problems, and connect ideas in my head. However sometimes it can be a nuisance. My mind works 24 hours a day pulling me in many different directions, and I have difficulty quieting the noise. I often spend too much time pondering life, asking ‘what if…?’, playing out different scenarios in my head, and worrying about what he/she thinks, etc., which can be exhausting. As for creating things, I am not a star when it comes to drawing, I wish I was, but I can crochet and I’ve done several courses in silver smithing.

13. You believe in being mindful. How do you practice mindfulness in everyday life and what benefits does it bring you?

I’ve taken several courses in mindfulness and they have really helped me to change the way I live my life. When I find myself mulling over things too much, I try to look at my thoughts in a mindful way – from a distance – and try to find out what is real and what is just fantasy.

Mindfulness gives me a more realistic view on life: I don’t have to be happy all the time; I don’t have to do everything the best I can; I don’t have to be nice to everyone all the time. Things come and go, feelings come and go, and when I look at myself from a distance, things often feel often a lot better. But as I mentioned before, I am not mindful at all most of the time and I can laugh about that. I write a blog about my attempts to be mindful every Friday on our website, so people who want to read about the ways I try to be mindful can follow me.

14. How can showing ourselves compassion, and embracing minimalism, make us happier?

Well, I think a lot of people – especially women – are too harsh on themselves. We have all these demands and expectations and ideas about how life should be, how we should act, and how we should look. If we can speak to ourselves the way we would talk to a friend, with love, kindness, and compassion, we would stop being so hard on ourselves. I try to remember that when I have these voices in my head like ‘’hey go on, you can’t give up’’ or ‘’it is weak to stop now,’’ etc.

Seeing the bigger picture often means you have a clearer vision of what makes you happy in the end. To me that doesn’t mean earning more money, working harder, owning a bigger house or anything else. What makes me truly happy is the tiny pleasures in daily life. Things like living in my neighbourhood – a place where we support each other in little ways, my children being happy when we bake a cake together, my friends sending me a card, or my colleagues bringing me hot soup just when I need it.

15. What are your New Year’s resolutions?

I never make resolutions because they make me unhappy. I decided a few years ago to stop thinking about what I want to do differently and start focussing on the things that went well last year. It’s a more gentle way to approach the New Year: thinking about what I liked and what I want to bring from that to the next year, such as the great Sunday mornings when I allow myself to do nothing. In the end the result is the same: it means I will try to put less pressure on myself and do more of what I love.

(Our founder, Beth Kempton, is using this very diary this year to plan all her adventures)

16. What’s the big dream for Flow magazine, and for you personally?

For Flow, I hope we can keep conquering the world. We have now licenses in France and Germany, there are French and German teams working on the issues and they are doing a great job. We produce the international (English) edition ourselves here in the Netherlands, I hope one day I can have a bigger team and make more ‘’local’’ issues in for instance the States, UK, Australia or Canada, and work with local teams there also.

Personally, I hope my life will carry on the way it is, balanced with work, my children, and a new love who lives in the south of the Netherlands – a stable rock in my hectic life. And in coming years I also hope I can find more time to do another course in silver smithing, finish all the crochet projects I’ve started, learn how to draw, start my own e-shop selling paper products, re-decorate my house with new wallpaper, plants and lots of other green items, go to Cuba with my children, renew the floor in my beach house because it’s in a horrible state, and organise some drinks for the people in my neighbourhood! And well, let’s keep dreaming!

Image from a Flow paperback book

For more information about Flow magazine, visit flowmagazine.com. You can also follow Flow on Twitter: theworldofflow, Instagram: Flow_magazine and Pinterest: FlowMagazine

***

If you want to get in flow and do more of what you love every day, take the Do What You Love e-course! It’s a powerful five-week experience that will change everything…

Happy New Year! Make this the year you do what you love

Posted on 2016-01-03 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

What is it you really want? The courage to start a new career? The time to pursue passions and hobbies? The freedom to travel and have big adventures? Or simply to “feel differently” about your life, just as it is? All of those wants — and so many others — stem from one big desire… The desire to do what you love.

And if that’s what you want, you’ve arrived in the best possible place you can be. This is your launchpad — and this is your community. And the Do What You Love e-course might just change your life.

Do What You Love is about re-opening doors that you thought were locked shut… re-opening possibilities that you thought were long gone… and illuminating possibilities you never knew existed.

If you find yourself thinking things like: “I can’t afford to _______” … or “I’m too old to _______” … or “I’m going to need years of training before I can _______” … or “It’s just not realistic for me to _______”… or “But what if ______”, Do What You Love will show you that all of your options are still open, no matter what your current circumstances and responsibilities may be.

Inside this course possibility is your new reality.

Make this year the year you start doing what you love. Find out more or register HERE.

Merry Christmas from Do What You Love (+ 10 alternative gift ideas!)

Posted on 2015-12-21 at 2:58 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Christmas is just around the corner, and we are feeling oh-so-festive in this corner of the world. This is our first Christmas in our new house, and baby Maia’s first ever Christmas. And Christmas Day is Sienna’s birthday, so there is much to look forward to.

2015 has been an amazing year, a challenging year, and a happy year, but also a tough year for many people we know. This time of year brings many things into focus, and we hope that whatever kind of a year you have had, you have a very happy festive holiday.

Here’s to celebration and happy moments

Beth and the Do What You Love team

Our 10 favourite alternative Christmas gift ideas…

(1) Make a memory movie

(2) Write a story (use our free resource Winter Writing Workshop to help you!)

(3) Create a mixtape

(4) Create vouchers for your time (teach someone something, mow their lawn, do the washing up etc)

(5) Create a book of family recipes

(6) Give them a voucher for the Do What You Love course to help them make a major change in their life* (course starts Jan 18, 2016)

(7) Design a scavenger hunt with a map and clues hidden across your town or city, in places that remind you of special times

(8) If you are feeling very generous, and want a gift for someone who loves adventure, this Exploring Mindset trip down the Mississippi would be an amazing present!

(9) Book a ticket to a free event (museum, public lecture, street market etc) and take them along

(10) Write a letter telling someone how much you appreciate them

And if you want some tips on present wrapping, no-one does it like the Japanese!

*If you want to buy a gift voucher please drop a line to [email protected], and be sure to mention the discount code DWYLXM50 to get £50 off, if you book by December 31, 2015

Do What You Love interview – Su Blackwell

Posted on 2015-12-17 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today we bring you an interview with the fascinating Su Blackwell, a talented and creative lady who makes intricate art-works from every-day objects, and transforms books and clothes into spectacular three-dimensional forms.

“Paper has been used for communication since its invention; either between humans or in an attempt to communicate with the spirit world,” Su says. “I employ this delicate, accessible medium and use irreversible, destructive processes to reflect on the precariousness of the world we inhabit and the fragility of our life, dreams and ambitions.”

In 2011 Su set up her own business to work on a variety of projects, commissions and collaborations. Since then her exquisite work has been on display in galleries and museums all over the world and she has turned her hand to art-direction for commercials for clients such as Crabtree and Evelyn, Nicole Farhi, Volvo and British Airways. She has also designed fabrics for Liberty London, illustrated The Fairy Tale Princesses for Thames and Hudson Books and designed the set for The Rose Theatre’s production of The Snow Queen.

We were excited to hear more about her story… ~ Rachel

Working on a commercial project

1. How are you ‘doing what you love’?

I’m doing what I love because I’m resilient, stubborn, rebellious, passionate and slightly obsessive about my work with paper. After leaving school and trying my hand at lots of different things, I stumbled into a textiles course run by the local college. While studying, I applied to local crafts markets, and I got a buzz out of people wanting to buy things that I’d made. I think this gave me the building blocks for understanding business early on. I continued to study art and textiles at BA and MA level, and was always hands on when it came to selling my work or working voluntarily within the community. During my studies, I gained a lot of different experiences, before becoming self employed, and eventually setting up my own company in 2011.

2. Tell us about your childhood; what did you do for fun and what did you want to be when you were growing up?

I liked making my own entertainment and was happiest playing on my own in a small bit of woodland at the end of the cul de sac where I grew up in Sheffield. I built dens, climbed trees and imagined different Worlds. I dreamt of being an art student, but I didn’t dream of being a working artist, that just wasn’t in my vocabulary as a child. I remember going to the careers advisor at school, and saying I wanted to do something creative, and I think they suggested teaching. I didn’t have a formal art training until I was 20, and before that I used to paint and draw and keep scrapbooks from cut out pictures in magazines that captured my attention.

Me painting, aged two

3. When did you first start making sculptures from books?

The first book sculpture I made was using a book called The Quiet American which I bought on the Kao San Road during a month long trip to Thailand in 2003. It had beautiful, pictorial Thai inscriptions in the margin, and this provoked me to think about the book’s history, and how I could turn it into something tangible, and give it extra dimension above and beyond the text.

My father had passed away while I was studying at the RCA, and I was thinking about life, death, and the in-between. I cut moths from the book with a craft-knife. The piece was inspired by a Chinese legend, about two lovers whose souls re-emerge from burnt ashes in the shape of two moths. I felt bad cutting into the first page, but I had courage in my conviction knowing I could turn it into something magical. I began working with paper, because of its connection to spiritual rituals that I encountered in South East Asia and this was the beginning of what has become knows as my book-cut sculptures.

My very first book sculpture: The Quiet American

4. What are your favourite books and have these inspired any of your projects?

I think stories were an integral part of my growing up, I could identify with the characters in the books that I read. They opened up possibilities outside of my normal life. At school, I always felt like an outsider, looking in.

I especially love fairy tales, they are part of the national psyche and have such a universal appeal. I’m particularly drawn to European fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm. These stories have been with me since I can remember. Fairy tales work on so many levels, therefore they are an endless pot of inspiration.

5. Where do you find the books you use for your art and do they always inform the narratives you create?

I lived and worked in Carlisle when I left college and by chance I found an amazing treasure trove of a second hand book shop, a huge palace full to the brim with musty leather bound books on five floors. The top floor housed all of the very rare antique books, books which were in locked cabinets, and required an effort to view. There they had there a section of children’s books, like Alice in Wonderland, Chronicles of Narnia and The Secret garden. These are books that I had adored as a child, but had forgotten about into adulthood. Rediscovering them brought back memories and connotations associated with my childhood. Books like Alice through the Looking Glass and The Secret Garden have beautifully preserved illustrations from a bygone era. I bought a huge bundle of books, and then I started one by one to cut out the illustrations and create scenes around them.

Now I make a concerted effort to visit second hand book shops and to trawl through their dusty shelves, picking out books which appeal to me in one way or another. The book has to resonate with me somehow, either in an illustration, or in part of the story. I need that spark of inspiration. The books always provide the narrative, and core inspiration for the work.

6. You must have an amazing imagination, great vision and incredible concentration to create such magical works. Are these traits that come naturally or are they skills that you’ve worked to develop over the years?

I have honed these skills over the years, but I think they were skills that were always there. I have always been very imaginative. As a child, I was given a lot of freedom, freedom to be by myself and make up stories and games. I think that’s important for children.

7. What does the process of making a book sculpture involve?

I start by reading the book, and then thinking about the work, and what I want to say. I start by sketching a few ideas. I usual have a general idea of what I want to create, and I will do some research, and some more in depth drawing. I then draw templates, and trace these onto the pages of the book, and cut the templates out with a sharp scalpel. It’s very complex working on such a small-scale.

If I’m making a sculptural object, I sometimes use wire to make a model to wrap the paper around. When I think the sculpture is nearly complete, I add the lights, and a bespoke box is made to house the sculpture. The whole process from start to finish usually takes between six and eight weeks.

8. What materials and techniques do you use most in your work?

I try only to use the material that I am deconstructing, whether that be the pages of a book, or say the cotton material of a garment, I try to use in essence only that same material. Occasionally, I need to use wire or balsa wood to strengthen the models, and glue, that’s about it.

9. When, and why, did you start lighting your sculptures?

I began to use light in my work because I wanted to create shadow, and make the invisible more visible. I look at it like theatre design, where the lighting plays an integral part.

One of my recent works called The Ice Maiden – before (above) and after lights (below). Credit: Yeshen Venema

10. What’s a typical day like for you?

I live just a few minutes, walk from my studio in West London. I get to the studio for 7am with a coffee, and then I work until 7pm. I make a list of what I’ve got to do each day and I work through the list. There is always something to keep me busy. I’m happy working on my own, but I have an assistant who works with me a couple of days a week, and it’s great to speak to her about the projects we’re working on.

Stills from a music video I worked on

Each working day can be quite different from the last, and each day brings with it new challenges. I never know what the next project that comes through into my inbox is going to be, and that keeps it exciting. About 70% of the projects proposed to me, don’t make it into reality. You get quite good at being able to tell which ones will make it, but there are some surprises. Work has taken me to places I wouldn’t normally have travelled to. Recently I was invited to work on a big project in Kuwait City.

11. What do you do to relax?

I’m relaxed when I’m working, and when I’m not working for a period of time, I start to feel anxious.

It is important for me to be able to switch off from work occasionally though, and my 3-year-old daughter sees to that. I make sure I take at least one day off a week to spend with her. She is great fun. We often go to Kew Gardens or Syon Park for a walk and for lunch in the café, and in summer I take her camping or we go to a music festival.

12. Tell us about some of the amazing projects you’ve done in the past. Which ones have you most enjoyed?

For the work that I did, the Bronte project was the one of the most enjoyable. I was given free reign of the Bronte Parsonage to install my art-works into their collection. Thinking back, it was quite a brave thing for the Parsonage to do. I loved the opportunity I was given there.

A project for The Bronte Parsonage Museum, Haworth, West Yorkshire: working in the Bronte’s bedroom

The work I did for the Bronte’s nursery

For the people and experience, it was probably a project I worked on in Jakarta, Indonesia, where I art-directed a music video. It was a huge project with a low budget, but it is such a different culture out there, they made it seem like anything was possible. There were no health and safety issues at all, you just came up with a crazy idea and they made it a reality. After we finished filming, everyone (cast and crew) went around hugging and thanking each other. It was really beautiful.

13. What are you working on at the moment? And are there any exciting projects planned for 2016?

I am moving house next year, moving out of London to be by the sea, and so I’m not taking on any big projects for 2016. Rather, I’m working on commissions for book sculptures, am exploring the possibility of an animation project, and will be exhibiting some dress installations in Museum Sinclair near Hamburg in Autumn 2016, which I’m really excited about.

14. What’s your ultimate dream?

I’ve never had an ultimate dream. I prefer to let things happen naturally, and like a leaf blowing in the wind, see where life takes you. I feel that that when you’re open to new possibilities, rather than being set on making your ultimate dream a reality, life can throw you some wonderful surprises.

For more information about Su and her work watch the video below and visit www.sublackwell.co.uk

Su Blackwell on CBBC Channel from Su Blackwell on Vimeo.

Do What You Love interview – Tom Hodgkinson + Win The Gift of Knowledge This Christmas

Posted on 2015-12-10 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Back in 1991, bored to tears by his job, 23-year-old journalist Tom Hodgkinson lay on his bed dreaming of starting a magazine called The Idler. He’d found the title in a collection of essays by Dr. Johnson, himself a constitutionally indolent man. How to live, that was the question. How to be free in a world of jobs and debt? And ditch that dreaded alarm clock.

“I was sacked from my first proper job in 1993 and I put the magazine together while on the dole” Tom explains. “That was the Idler and it has been going in one form or another for 22 years now. I have done all sorts of things to avoid a ‘proper’ job, including freelance journalism, writing books, creative consultancy, being very thrifty, importing absinthe, running areas at festivals and Airbnb.”

In 2002 Tom quit the commercial world and retired to a farmhouse on the coast of North Devon to write books. His first book How to be Idle was a global best-seller and was followed by How to be Free, The Idle Parent and Brave Old World. 12 years on he and his wife, Victoria Hull, returned to London to start their own school in Notting Hill, The Idler Academy of Philosophy, Husbandry and Merriment.

The Academy at 81 Westbourne Park Road, London, W2

“During the day our London HQ operates as a calm, quiet bookshop selling beautiful, useful and unusual books and gifts. We serve Monmouth coffee, tea and cake, and there is an enclosed medieval garden to retreat to,” says Tom. “We teach Greek philosophy, handwriting, ukulele and lots of other useless skills and you can enjoy learning in convivial surroundings with like-minded and interesting people. In the evening we have all worst of interesting people dropping by to run events, give talks, do gigs and run courses.”

We were excited to catch up with Tom to find out how we can all achieve more by doing less… ~ Rachel

The Idler cafe

(more…)